“HSK1+ Reading & Listening” by Yun Xian

In 2020 a series of Chinese graded readers was published by Yun Xian.  Yun Xian is a professional Chinese language teacher with over 18 years of teaching experience teaching Mandarin worldwide.   Her students requested supplemental learning materials in addition to the Standard Course HSK.  Not satisfied with what was available, she developed her own graded readers ranging from HSK 1 to HSK 6.  These books are available in both Kindle and paperback format.

At this time, I am studying HSK 4 materials with a teacher I found on italki.  Just as Yun Xian’s students like supplemental materials, I too see the benefit, especially from Chinese graded readers.   My goal is to read the entire range of the Chinese Graded Readers series.   I have a few comments about the first book, “HSK1 + Reading & Listening”.

HSK1 + Reading & Listening has three sections:  conversations, expressions, and vocabulary.   On the last page, a QR scan code grants access to free audio files so you can download them to a smartphone or tablet.

This book and the entire series meet my criteria for a Chinese graded reader.   The first thing you will see is the primary text, without any pinyin or English translation.   So when you read the text, you have to make the connections on your own.    Following the text, there is a section that has both Chinese and pinyin together.  The author suggests first reading the text along with the audio and read it aloud.   This enables you to master new words and use them in context.  This will also benefit your conversation skills.

This isn’t a deal-breaker for me, but I like that the book has no diagrams or photos.   I cannot pick up any visual clues; my understanding must come about because I know the characters or can figure them out from context.  This book’s beauty is its sheer simplicity.

Even though this is written for an HSK 1 level, I still learned by reading this book.   Review and repetition s bolster the language learner’s ability.  So once you have finished your Chinese homework, grab a copy of this book and start reading!