KUCHING: A debate on why some students do better in math than others has come up again. Some say practice makes perfect, others say it’s a cultural thing, and some believe it’s all about being naturally smart.
Lim Boon Yann, who heads the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at Batu Lintang Teacher Education Institute, has been observing how well Chinese students do in math.
“Chinese students often solve math problems more quickly,” said Lim.
“But does this mean they’re smarter, or does it just mean they have spent more time practicing?”
She gave an example from her own life to make things clearer.
“My older brother was always the top student in math back in primary school. But when I was at the same age, at St. Mary’s school, I had to stay longer after class until I could remember all my multiplication tables,” she said.
According to Lim, being good at math isn’t just about being naturally smart. Instead, she thinks that culture and language can also make a difference.
“When I was a child, I helped my father at his shop. I had to learn to count fast and correctly so we didn’t lose money. In Chinese schools, we get a lot of homework – that means a lot of practice. Also, our culture pushes us to work hard and be good at math,” she said.
Lim also mentioned something unique about the Chinese language that could be helping Chinese students get better at math.
It’s known as the ‘Chinese Number Advantage’ (CNA). The Chinese counting system is simple and clear, making it easier to understand numbers and how they work together.
“For example, in Chinese, the word for 11 is ‘shi yi,’ which directly translates to ‘ten-one,’ and 12 is ‘shi er,’ meaning ‘ten-two.’ This simple pattern continues even with larger numbers. So, the number 20 is ‘er shi,’ which means ‘two-ten,’ and 59 is ‘wu shi jiu,’ meaning ‘five-ten-nine,'” explained Lim.
This clear counting system, said Lim, helps Chinese students understand the subject better, because they can easily figure out new numbers and understand how they are organised.
Lim gave these insights on the heels of a recent directive by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to the Ministry of Education (MoE) that a special task force be established.
The primary goal of this team would be to create strategies to enhance children’s interest in science and technology-related subjects.
