This book presents and explains the process, cognitive models, and characteristics of Western learners’ acquisition of Chinese characters and words from the perspectives of cognitive psychology, psycholinguistics, and communicative linguistics. It uses copious and vivid teaching examples to demonstrate how to apply the theory into teaching practice. On the basis of theories and empirical studies, the author proposes two highly operable characters and words instruction models for Chinese as a second language (CSL). The book is mainly intended for CSL educators. It is also an ideal textbook for college undergraduate and graduate students specializing in teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages.

Helen H. Shen, professor of College of Lliberal Arts & Science at The University of Iowa, academic director of the Chinese language