We Break the Rules: This is not your run-of-the-mill "repeat-after-me, do-a-few-drills, play-a-few-games, here's-some-color-pictures" type of language course. Written by artists/writers/scholars/educators, HyperChina is a program with character. It is a creative effort at designing the best possible course for you. If something bores us, we won't put it in the program to bore the user. We do everything to make sure that you can understand the material perfectly and that you will be able to actually use what you learn. Yes, we do care about how well you learn the language.

Totally Fresh Design: HyperChina is designed from the ground up to take advantage of computer-aided learning. We offer a new pedagogy in studying Chinese. It is not a computerized version of existing textbooks or phrasebooks.

Friendly Guidance: You will feel just like studying face to face with two experienced (and tireless) teachers of Mandarin Chinese. We don't throw information or grammar rules at you - we explain everything in detail and without reservation (for example, there are extensive usage notes for every single word and sentence, not just a translation). We guide you through the whole course, giving you tips and advice along the way. There is even a special section that discusses the best strategies for studying Chinese effectively, based on our extensive teaching experiences (you don't get this from most Chinese teachers).

Interactive Environment: Not passive learning - you really get involved. Interactive drills, animated calligraphy, talking clock and dictionary, and much more.

Ease of Use: Completely graphical interface. Just point-and-click, so you can concentrate on learning the language, not the software. Instant on-line help, Dictionary, and User Manual are also available.

Lots of Clear Sounds: 2,000 words and phrases, all with clear sound for repeated listening.

The Right Accent: Not only do you get high-quality recordings of the voices of native speakers for every word and sentence, but you also have special sections devoted to improving the learner's accent, pronouncing difficult consonants and vowels, and correcting commonly made mistakes.

Real Chinese: You'll learn only what the Chinese people actually say in real life, in the 1990s (no more political jargon from the Cultural Revolution days or made-up diplomatic dialogue that you find in most textbooks).

Depth of Material: Learn to speak, read, and write standard Chinese - this is a complete, two-year college-level Mandarin course. This is not a flashcard drills or tutorial program to learn a few dozen words and phrases with.

Culturally-Oriented: Should you learn Chinese without learning how to hold your rice bowl when eating? No. You will find cultural information and tips all over HyperChina - how to bargain when shopping in China, how to decipher a Chinese menu and order authentic Chinese food, a taste of classical Chinese poetry, Chinese etiquette, etc., and there is even a whole section on Chinese popular music!

No-nonsense Grammar: Chinese grammar couldn't be easier to understand. There is a complete Grammar section for each lesson. Also, we don't confuse you with difficult grammar patterns that you'll never have a chance to use in real life.

You Are in Control: You can decide how and how much you want to study. Jump to any section, listen to any word 200 times - you're in control. You don't have to follow a linear learning pattern if you don't want to. You can learn a lot by just jumping around in the program.

Hear Your Own Voice: Record your pronunciation and compare it to the teacher's. This is a language lab at your finger tip.

Calligraphy Lessons: Learn to write hundreds of Chinese characters. Animation shows, stroke by stroke and in real time, how each character is written. And you can practice writing with the mouse or graphics tablet right on the screen.

Great for Educators!: Leave the repetitive tasks of tutoring pronunciation, substitution drills, and explaining grammar to HyperChina. It will save you energy and precious time.

Free Update and Support via Internet: Support for HyperChina users can be found in our electronic magazine, Chinese Learner's Alternative Site. There you can find additional study material and information on language and culture, as well as useful links to China-related WWW sites. This enables the learner to be on top of what's happening in the world of Chinese language and culture, and to exchange ideas and thoughts on studying Chinese with others.

And It's Fun, Too!: Music, graphics, interactive drills, and games actually make studying Chinese painless!

In Other Words - We want to hear you speak perfect Chinese!