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Level 2 is Here!

After over a year of work, Mandarin Companion level 2 is now available! The first level 2 title is Charles Dickens masterpiece Great Expectations. However, we are not releasing only one book, this tale will be released in two volumes; Part 1 and 2. Each book is approximately 30% longer in length than Level 1 and represents a step up in vocabulary and grammar used. Furthermore, both volumes will be available in print and ebook at the same time! Traditional Chinese versions will come shortly.

Great Expectations: Part 1 《美好的前途(上)》
Great Expectations: Part 2 《美好的前途(下)》

The ebooks are available on Amazon (part 1 and part 2). The print books are available for purchase (part 1 and part 2). Check out the book pages of Great Expectations (part 1 and part 2) for an overview and a small sample.

Next Steps for Mandarin Companion

This is literally a new chapter for Mandarin Companion. With the experience we have gained in producing our first 7 books at two different levels, we are poised to increase the number of titles we will release in 2016 and beyond.
So many people have sent us emails wanting to know how they can help because they have found the magic of reading. You can help! Here are some things you can do.

  • Write reviews on Amazon and other platforms.
  • Tell friends and teachers about the series and what it has done for you.
  • Become more familiar with the principles of extensive reading so that you can better understand what we are trying to do, how it affects you, and how to discuss it with others (it will also make you look pretty smart at dinner parties).
About

Jared Turner

Co-Founder, Mandarin Companion
Host, The You Can Learn Chinese Podcast

47 replies on “Level 2 is Here!”

Glad to see that the first level 2 book is out! Years ago, you mentioned that you had plans for audiobook versions. Is there still any chance of that happening? I’d find it extremely useful for practising listening comprehension, and it seems to me (perhaps mistakenly?) that it would be relatively easy to create (I mean, you have the material, and it seems that all you’d need is a few recording sessions, some editing, and then some method of distribution – and the latter shouldn’t be hard to find).

Hi Anders, I appreciate your comment! We definitely want to do audio books, however I think we’ve realized that the priority at this stage is to produce more books. This coming year we have plans to produce many more titles. We have limited resources and I do wish we had the time, people, and money to do the audio books but we would have to trade one for the other at this point. More good things to come!

Could be great to have an email update for this 🙂 I think those who are subscribed to your mail list (like me) will find it useful

Hello Jared,
I love this company because it provides interesting readers that are so satisfying to read. I’ve been trying to find a way to communicate with you guys, I’m glad I found your website.
I want to tell you that I got your Level One books in iTunes and even though I am super excited you have the traditional characters versions, there are two characters that appear in the simplified form in a systematic way. 听 should be 聽, and 里 should be 裡 (or 裏). I thought this could be good feedback for future editions and for the release of Level Two books in traditional characters. Thank you for the books I enjoy them a lot!

Hi Cesar, thanks so much for your encouragement! Thanks for bringing up those issues in the traditional versions. The characters you mention have since been correct a while back but I suppose it was after you had already purchased them. Funny enough, the ebook platforms (Amazon, iBooks) don’t automatically update the ebooks to the newest versions. Thanks again and enjoy the new Level 2 series!

I binge read both level 2 books within four hours. Excellent adaptation, loved the improved difficulty level, and I’ll likely reread both before January ends!太谢谢你们,别的公司的书没有Mandarin Companion 那么好!

Hi! Thanks for your books! They are incredible for practicing chinese! Do you have any release dates for the following Level 2 books?

First, Thank you for these excellent Mandarin readers..Sherlock Holmes worked fine with Kindle on my Samsung Android 442 and Samsung phone. Same goes for The Secret Garden. However, I have problems with Great Expectations 1 and 2. Part 1 causes Kindle to crash immediately on two Samsung Tablets. So I had to read it on my Phone (inconvenient). Now I have bought Part 2. This does not cause a crash, but some characters are just blank squares on the tablet. The book is fine on my phone. I have given feedback to Amazon Kndle several times, to no avail. I also emailed your address about the Part 1 problem, but no reply. Can you Please help?

Hi Mandarin Companion,

Thanks for the books. I have just found your website, and recently bought The Great Expectations. I read through the first one, and feels great. I can understand everything! I’ve always pushed myself in studying Chinese, and would try to read things above my level. I believe right now I am in Upper Intermediate, trying to break to Advanced. But I now realize, that reading Chinese just to enjoy it (not necessarily for learning anything new), is an important aspect, and it’s still a form of passive learning as it reinforces concepts and words we have encountered before.

However, I do hope that you will be able to publish the next levels soon, perhaps level 3 and 4. I think I read somewhere that you took 1 year to prepare Great Expectations? Wow, I never thought it would take that long, but hope you’ll be successful, and can publish more great titles.

Awesome! Will there be a Skritter word list released for them as well? I use them to prep before reading each book, and in this case there will be a big jump in new vocab to preview.

Guys, can you make the books accessible in Chinese Apple Store too? Or at least Amazon. Both won’t let me buy it with my Chinese account.

Hi Vladimir, we wish we could! The publishing in China is highly regulated by the government. Therefore, the China and non-China Kindle/Apple/Amazon platforms are entirely separate. It’s something we would like to do but we have to go through an existing Chinese publisher.

I am a former Chinese language teacher, have been out of the game for a few years and looking for something to maintain and improve my own proficiency, while at the same time being enjoyable. Looks like Mandarin Companion is perfect fit. Please tell me there is a level 3 in the works, and level 4 while you’re at it 🙂

Hi Aaron! We are working hard right now to bring more level 1 and 2 books. We definitely have plans for levels 3 and 4 but no clear timeline yet. We’ve learned that creating the standards for a new level requires a lot of analysis, testing, and revisions before we get it right. All of these things will come in time. Thanks for your question!

Hi
I am also loving your books (bought Great expectations) but they are too easy for me. Really really looking forward to the higher levels coming out!
I feel as if i am in a place where most readers are too easy, while reading actual books and new papers is too difficult. Please consider those of us who are at this level and produce some higher level books! Pretty please with sugar on top!

Great work on these two volumes! Are there any other Level 2 books that are planned? I can’t wait to read the next one

Yes, indeed. I’m working hard on not only finishing the traditional version of Great Expectations, but also a new publication system that means that both simplified and traditional versions can be released at the same time for all future titles! We’re very excited about it.

Hi,
Very excited about this, but I want to ask is there a version with traditional characters instead of simplified as well? Thanks.

Yes, indeed. I’m working hard on not only finishing the traditional version of Great Expectations, but also a new publication system that means that both simplified and traditional versions can be released at the same time for all future titles! We’re very excited about it.

Hey guys,

Just bought Great Expectations Part 1 and looks like it will be good consolidation reading for me, while not really expanding my vocab much.

Just adding my name to the “I would definitely buy a Level 3 book” list, so you can gauge the demand!

Anyway, in the meantime, I will read both the Level 2 books (and any subsequent ones that are released).

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