Developing Chinese (2nd Edition) is a set of nationally planned textbook for higher education during the “Eleventh Five-Year”. Based on the well-designed structure of the first edition, this edition adds more elements in tune with the times.
It includes 28 volumes with altogether 34 books. Combining the cultivation of integrated language skills with the training of specific language skills in its compilation, this set of textbooks can be divided into three levels (elementary, intermediate and advanced) and five series (comprehensive, listening, speaking, reading and writing), among which the comprehensive series is the bulk and the others are the accompanying series. The overall purpose is to develop and improve the students’ Chinese language skills, Chinese communication skills, integrated Chinese capabilities as well as enhance their interest and ability in learning Chinese.
Advanced Writing Course (Ⅰ), following Intermediate Writing Course (Ⅱ), is suitable for students who have finished learning Intermediate Writing Course (Ⅱ) or textbooks of the equivalent level, have accumulated about 3,000-3,500 Chinese words and are familiar with the common ways of expression in the written language. There are altogether 12 lessons, each of which takes 2-4 class hours. The whole book centers around the current hot topics or topics that are closely related to students themselves. Through discussing and studying the model composition, students can gradually master the key points about writing taught in each lesson and improve their writing skills. Meanwhile, sections like “read and practice” and “exercises for reference” are designed to help students further develop and reinforce their writing skills. The model compositions are interesting, practical and highly imitable; with a progressive increase in depth, the exercises are highly relevant to the key points about writing; the writing task after each lesson is properly designed. By learning this book, students will develop an increasing desire to write in Chinese. The sections in the book are clearly marked, which can facilitate teachers' use.
Cen Yuzhen is an associate professor in the School of Liberal Arts, Renmin University of China. Ms. Cen graduated from the Chinese Department of Beijing Normal University in 1983 and has been teaching Chinese as a foreign language since 1987. She was in charge of the development of Dictionary of Practical Chinese Adverbs and participated in the compilation of the book Analysis of the Difficult Grammar points in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, both of which are Hanban research projects. She has published many papers, including "Observation and Analysis of the Semantic Meaning and Usage of the Word ‘轻易’".