Chinese Multiplication Tables

When I was young math student in America, we memorized up to 9x9, which is 81. In Hong Kong, my primary two student - a second grader - must memorize everything up to and including 12x12, which is 144. I think this difference really underscores the basic skills gap, the division in knowledge between Westerners and Asians; but it also highlights the discrepancies in learning styles as Hong Kong people most likely will continue to memorize everything in every subject, not content to leave rote learning for the fundamental facts whereas, eventually, creative thinking in Western education, even in maths, will eventually bear fruit.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• maths
• math
• mathematics
• education
• teaching
• learning
• multiplication
• tables
• memorization
• memory
• students
• hong
• kong
• hk
• china
• chinese

[minghan05]

Some amount of rote learning is required to get the foundation right. It's like remembering or memorising basic grammar rules in English. There 's hardly room for creativity in Maths (whether pri, sec or uni) other than appreciating the different methods that can be used to get the answer. What an asian-style education at pri/high sch level doesn't teach is making student appreciating the practicality of learning those stuff.Western edn may teach one to think liberally,but it has breath,no depth

[ContaMuir17a]

When I was in school in the USA (a few years back) we also had multiplication tables that went to 12 X 12.

The difference is the American education has been dumbed down to an unbelievable extent. Get involved with kids and start teaching what the schools aren't.

Hey show 'em how an abacus works. Not sure yourself? Find out then teach em! :))