Becoming a Dragon

Proverbs are an important and characteristic feature of Chinese language and culture. There is a Chinese proverb for almost any situation, and judicious use of proverbs is regarded as a sign of good education. Proverbs are often derived from classical stories or historical events, and offer a multi-dimensional resource for learning Chinese. Becoming a Dragon: Forty Chinese Proverbs for Lifelong Learning and Classroom Study, is a bilingual (English-Chinese) collection of proverbs, popular phrases, and two-part allegorical sayings. Each proverb is set out with all the materials needed for self-study and classroom teaching: the story behind the proverb and its source in both English and Chinese, a literal translation, the figurative meaning, English equivalents, a vocabulary list, and examples of how the proverb is used in modern written and spoken Chinese. Illustrations and vocabulary lists are also available online for use in classroom presentations.