Contemporary Chinese is a textbook designed for students whose native language is English. The ultimate goal of this book is to develop the student's ability to comprehend and communicate in the Chinese language. Specifically, it provides training in the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing Chinese.
   
The whole series consists of four volumes. You may work through the whole series or use only the volumes of your choice.
   
The following are to be used together with the Textbook:
     ◆Exercise Book
     ◆Character Book (only for Volumes One and Two)
     ◆Audio and video materials
     ◆Teacher's Book
     This textbook:
    ★is concise, practical, authentic, and topical,
    ★is adaptable to the varied needs of different students,
    ★gives equal attention to listening, speaking, reading, and writing,
    ★guides your learning step by step.
    
After working through Volume One,  you should have a good command of 325 Chinese words and expressions, 244 Chinese characters, 22 grammar items and 23 communicative function items, and thus have a basic command of Chinese.
    
Learning Chinese is not so hard.