Learning Mandarin - Russian or English textbooks? This question is addressed to native Russian speakers who had experience of learning Mandarin. Is it better to use a Russian textbook or an English textbook? I have noticed that some grammar constructions in Mandarin are closer to those in Russian rather than in English. So, I thought that maybe a Russian textbook would be a better choice for me (since Russian is my mothertongue). Do you know a good Russian textbook on Mandarin? I am sure that there should be some printed in the "pre-democracy time".