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Ideal for: Beginning. Compiled under the sponsorship of the China National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (NOTCFL) and in consultation with the Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK) Guidelines, the New Practical Chinese Reader (NPCR) series is designed to help native English speakers easily learn Chinese. Based on the time-tested Practical Chinese Reader (PCR), the entirely revised and updated NPCR combines the grammatical strengths of the old PCR with contemporary material and more emphasis on learning to use Chinese in everyday conversation. NPCR consists of 70 lessons in six volumes, covering beginning to intermediate levels, for three years of instruction. Features include balanced training in speaking, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary; gradual increases in difficulty, and a cyclical approach to learning with constant review of language structures, functions, and cultural knowledge; an abundance of practice material suitable for students to use inside and outside the classroom; and a new, systematic approach to the teaching of Chinese characters. Students first learn the fundamental rules of Chinese script and basic strokes, and then progress to simple characters that form the foundation for mastering multi-component words.