The BCR has been revised. The new edition will be in simplified characters with traditional characters playing the role that simplified characters did in the original version. The content has also been updated and many new features added. Watch for a new product called ENCOUNTERS CHINESE, also by Yale Press, which will incorporate the new BCR. This is how John's admiring colleagues are memorializing him.
Professor DeFrancis wrote some really incredible books for Chinese Language Students. I use his Beginning Chinese Reader all the time and I only wish he had written a simplified version of the same text. Now that he is gone, this is left to someone else to take up. We must carry on his work of making Chinese more accessible to language students around the world.
The greatest language teacher who completely changed my life, and many other English speaking students. He opened up the Chinese language and culture to us back when doing so was still difficult.
To this day, I find all of his 40+ year old language texts--clearly labors of love-- to be indispensable. (And note that almost all of them have quietly returned to print!!)
The professor is a hero!
Now in the twilight of his life, I wish him continued good health!
Rest In Peace..
Mandafars 3 years ago
The BCR has been revised. The new edition will be in simplified characters with traditional characters playing the role that simplified characters did in the original version. The content has also been updated and many new features added. Watch for a new product called ENCOUNTERS CHINESE, also by Yale Press, which will incorporate the new BCR. This is how John's admiring colleagues are memorializing him.
mehni888 3 years ago
Professor DeFrancis wrote some really incredible books for Chinese Language Students. I use his Beginning Chinese Reader all the time and I only wish he had written a simplified version of the same text. Now that he is gone, this is left to someone else to take up. We must carry on his work of making Chinese more accessible to language students around the world.
lemuelgulliver2000 3 years ago
1. I want to hear more about Lu Xun as well.
The cut is strange at the Lu Xun's part at the beginning.
late 30s, terminology
2.thank God, pinyin is the only thing I use for Chinese inputting, I think it helps me to learn English.
liuartemis 3 years ago
Ode to Professor DeFrancis!
The greatest language teacher who completely changed my life, and many other English speaking students. He opened up the Chinese language and culture to us back when doing so was still difficult.
To this day, I find all of his 40+ year old language texts--clearly labors of love-- to be indispensable. (And note that almost all of them have quietly returned to print!!)
The professor is a hero!
Now in the twilight of his life, I wish him continued good health!
guilao888 3 years ago