A Course in Contemporary Chinese 當代中文課程

What is A Course in Contemporary Chinese?

A Course in Contemporary Chinese (當代中文課程), known universally as "Dangdai," is the flagship Mandarin curriculum produced by the Mandarin Training Center (MTC) at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU). First published in 2014 and continuously revised, it is the textbook series against which all other Taiwan-based Mandarin curricula are measured.

Unlike older generation textbooks — many of which teach a somewhat formal, Beijing-influenced Mandarin — Dangdai teaches the language as it is actually spoken and written in contemporary Taiwan. The vocabulary covers night markets, the MRT, high-speed rail, democratic elections, LINE messages, and boba tea shops alongside the essential grammar structures. Students emerge fluent in real Taiwanese Mandarin, not a museum-piece version of it.

The series spans six volumes and takes students from absolute beginner to near-native fluency. Each book targets a specific TOCFL certification band: Books 1-2 map to Band A (Novice), Books 3-4 to Band B (Intermediate), and Books 5-6 to Band C (Advanced). This alignment is not coincidental — the TOCFL vocabulary lists were developed by NTNU, the same institution that produced the curriculum.

Dangdai uses Traditional Chinese characters exclusively, which reflects Taiwan's written standard. Every dialogue, reading passage, grammar note, and vocabulary item appears in Traditional script — which means that studying this curriculum builds the exact character knowledge required for daily life, signage, media, and professional communication in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

The curriculum's structure

Each lesson in the series follows a consistent format: an opening dialogue in colloquial Mandarin, vocabulary lists with pinyin and English glosses, grammar explanations with pattern drills, and reading passages that grow in complexity and formality as the series progresses. From Book 4 onwards, the curriculum introduces Shūmiànyǔ (書面語) — the formal written register that governs academic papers, legal documents, and news media in Taiwan. This transition from spoken to written Chinese is the single most important inflection point in the series, and one that catches many learners off guard.

The audio recordings throughout the series are produced with Taipei-accented Mandarin speakers, which means learners develop a phonological baseline aligned with Taiwanese speech patterns rather than Mainland Chinese pronunciation. This matters in practice — tone sandhi rules, the treatment of neutral tones, and certain vocabulary choices differ meaningfully between Taiwan and Mainland Mandarin.

Dangdai vs. Other Mandarin Textbook Series

The four most widely used Mandarin textbook series are Dangdai (當代), Integrated Chinese (中文聽說讀寫), Practical Audio-Visual Chinese (實用視聽華語), and New Practical Chinese Reader (新實用漢語課本). Each targets a different learner profile. Here is how they compare on the criteria that matter most.

Who should choose Dangdai?

Dangdai is the right choice if you are studying at or planning to attend MTC at NTNU, living in Taiwan, preparing for the TOCFL exam, or want Traditional Chinese as your character standard. The six-book arc is the longest of any major series, which means it remains useful well into advanced study rather than running out at B2.

Integrated Chinese is the standard choice for university-level Mandarin in North America, where both Traditional and Simplified editions are available and HSK alignment is sometimes preferred. PAVC is an older series from the same NTNU family that some MTC alumni recognize; Dangdai replaces it as the current curriculum. NPCR is the right choice for learners targeting Mainland China and the HSK exam.

Editions, Workbooks, and Where to Buy

A Course in Contemporary Chinese was first published in 2014 by the National Taiwan Normal University Press (國立臺灣師範大學出版中心). A revised second edition followed in 2017–2018 with updated dialogues, minor vocabulary changes, and new supplementary exercises. The second edition is the current standard.

What each volume includes

Each of the six books is sold separately. The complete set for each volume consists of three components:

• Textbook (課本) — the main volume with dialogues, vocabulary lists, grammar notes, and reading passages. This is the primary learning material.
• Workbook (練習本) — a supplementary exercise book with listening, reading, writing, and grammar drills for each lesson.
• Audio files — originally included as a CD, now distributed as downloadable MP3 files from the publisher. The audio accompanies all textbook dialogues and workbook listening exercises.

Where to buy

The most reliable sources for purchasing the physical textbooks are:

• NTNU Press official store — the publisher's own online shop, which ships internationally from Taiwan.
• Amazon — carries the major volumes, though availability varies by region and prices may be higher than purchasing direct from Taiwan.
• Eslite (誠品書店) and other major Taiwanese bookchains — all volumes are stocked in-store in Taiwan at standard retail price.
• The MTC campus bookshop — if you are attending MTC at NTNU, the campus bookshop carries all volumes and the staff can advise on which edition and which workbook you need for your class level.

The textbook and workbook for each book are priced separately and typically range from NT$400–600 each (approximately US$13–19). The full six-book set (textbooks only) costs approximately NT$2,800–3,200.

2nd edition vs. 1st edition

If you already own 1st edition copies, they are still usable — the core grammar sequence and most vocabulary are unchanged. The main differences in the 2nd edition are updated dialogue scenarios (some 1st edition dialogues referenced specific technology or cultural scenarios that dated quickly), slightly reorganized workbook exercises, and corrected errata. Most MTC classes now use the 2nd edition; check with your instructor before purchasing.

Audio and Supplementary Materials

The audio files for A Course in Contemporary Chinese are produced by NTNU MTC with native Taipei-accented Mandarin speakers. This means learners develop phonological habits consistent with Taiwanese speech rather than Mainland Chinese pronunciation.

What the audio covers

• Lesson dialogues — every main dialogue is recorded in full at natural conversation speed.
• Vocabulary lists — all new vocabulary items are read aloud with correct tones.
• Listening comprehension exercises — the workbook's listening sections are on the audio tracks.
• Pronunciation drills — Books 1 and 2 include guided tone and initials-finals practice.

How to access the audio

Audio files are available through the NTNU Press official distribution. Physical copies of the textbook (older print runs) include a CD; newer purchases come with a card or code for digital download. If you purchased a second-hand textbook without the audio, contact NTNU Press directly — they have historically provided audio access for legitimate textbook purchasers.

Teacher's manual

A teacher's edition (教師手冊) exists for each book, covering suggested classroom activities, answer keys to workbook exercises, and lesson plans. These are available through NTNU Press and are primarily intended for certified Mandarin instructors.

Digital companion tools

The physical textbooks do not include a built-in spaced repetition or flashcard system — vocabulary retention is left to the learner. This is where Zhong Chinese fills the gap: the app covers all vocabulary from Books 1–6 using the FSRS spaced repetition algorithm, so you get the structured retention mechanism that the textbook itself does not provide.

Self-Studying with A Course in Contemporary Chinese

Dangdai is designed as a classroom curriculum — each lesson assumes a teacher to explain grammar, a partner for dialogue practice, and workbook sessions for drilling. Self-learners can and do use it successfully, but the gaps need to be consciously filled.

What self-study cannot replace

• Speaking feedback — the textbook has no mechanism for checking your tones or output. You need a tutor, language exchange partner, or iTalki session to catch errors before they fossilize.
• Listening input — the audio files alone are not sufficient for developing listening comprehension at speed. Supplement with Taiwan-produced podcasts (如 SoundOfText, ICRT) and YouTube content at your level.
• Vocabulary retention — the textbook introduces words but provides no systematic review mechanism. Use a spaced repetition system (Zhong Chinese, Anki with a Dangdai deck) from day one.

A realistic self-study timeline

These estimates assume consistent daily study with active grammar drilling, vocabulary review via SRS, and at least one speaking session per week. Progress accelerates significantly if you are based in Taiwan with daily immersion.