A hands-on introduction to Mandarin Chinese, this set of videos provides vocabulary, pronunciation, syntax, appropriate usage, and the realistic setting for the words and phrases. The narrative concerns Virgil, a young tourist visiting China; scenes of contemporary China provide the context for the language skills taught. The communication topics consist of Food and Eating, Buying Things, Planning the Day, Getting around the City, and Getting There; the combination of animation and documentary footage is designed to motivate interest and make the lessons more easily remembered.

*Five-part set, 15 minutes each.