I Can Read

Ideal For: Ages 2-6.

Do you want your child to learn to read Chinese, but have a hard time sustaining his or her interest? Cheng & Tsui is proud to offer this effective solution. Designed for the youngest students of either Mandarin or Cantonese, the I Can Read series is eye-catching and fun. Children learn Chinese characters through a series of brightly colored story books, which are distinguished from general ones by the thoughtful educational philosophy that lies behind the program.

The series emphasizes character recognition through visual and sound repetition, and builds vocabulary through short, colorful stories. Classes in Hong Kong using the series have had outstanding results. The series has also been adopted by foreign language schools in Singapore and San Francisco. Stories are available individually or in a set; the stories gently progress in complexity within the levels and from one level to the next. Sets include audio CDs with Mandarin and Cantonese pronunciation. The large versions offered for some books (available where indicated) are useful as visual aids in a classroom setting, allowing teachers to read the texts aloud while presenting them to students.

These books teach a total of 661 words in the 48-volume set. Designed for use by children ages three to seven in a Chinese-speaking environment, the books are also appropriate for older children in a non-Chinese environment that does not offer daily reinforcement of language skills. Simplified editions include pinyin.

Additional Series:

For students who have completed the I Can Read series, the Words Through Poetry series acts as a sequel, teaching reading through textbooks of easy-to-read poetry, along with workbooks and CD-ROMs. Following the Words Through Poetry series is the Rainbow Reading series, which offers fun and accessible short stories for young Chinese learners. Cheng & Tsui offers materials from both these series, including the Words Through Poetry Level 2 Textbook and Exercise Book, Level 3 Textbook, Level 1 CD-ROM and the Rainbow Reading Yellow Series, Book 1.