Chinese For Today - Textbook 1' contains 35 lessons in Mandarin preceded by a concise introduction to the speech sounds and tones of modern Chinese. Each of the texts of these lessons consist of lively and true-to-life dialogues that deal with actual situations a foreigner traveling or living in China is likely to find him or herself in. This textbook works as well for regular classroom teaching as it does for self-teaching purposes. Chinese For Today will help you acquire a solid command of Mandarin in the four most important areas of communication: listening, speaking, reading, and writing . This book also provides concise annotations on the cultural and historical background of China. Four CDs in Mandarin Chinese are included to help you strengthen your listening and speaking skills. Simplified Chinese characters, Pinyin, and English.