Because of the language changes that have taken place in the People's Republic of China since 1949, Chinese can be seen as a language divided between the pre-1949 varieties and the post-1949 ones. What is taught in the United States does not reflect the current Chinese situation, partly because most of the native language teachers in the United…

This paper attempts to provide guidelines for writers who are preparing new materials as well as to offer suggestions to language teachers who must use prescribed texts. The basic assumption is that scientific grammars only describe the production of language by native speakers, while pedagogical grammars are sets of rules ordered in such a way as…

Second language learning today requires new materials. One type of learning unit suggested would have a simple format, limited scope and objectives, and diversity of content, form, learning strategies and activities. In spite of the problems involved in the production of this format, such units might be worked out in teacher-training programs, by…