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Yifan Wei
Ms. Prak
ENGL 106I
February 11, 2015
The Mathematic Education Difference between China and America
Mathematics, as an important implement used in scientific research, commercial
trade, and other fields, undoubtedly permeates our daily life and work. No matter
what data we meet, number or graph, we cannot operate them without using
mathematics. Thats the reason that all of the country in the world put more and more
emphasis on mathematic education. Though most of the students in the world begin to
study arithmetic, one part of mathematics, since they are admitted into primary
school, the mathematic education they accept varies from one country to another.
Whats more, mathematics can cultivate the way one person thinks in logical and
influence their values. So it is vital for us to study the mathematic education between
countries.
As an international student from China, I always hear that the mathematic
education students accept in America is much better than what students have in China
in my early age. People usually criticize Chinese mathematic education in several
aspects. The first disadvantage that Chinese mathematic education has is the
difficulty. Many citizens claim that the mathematic knowledge which Chinese
students learn is too difficult for students to study. Because of its difficulty, it seems
impossible for students to get fully understanding on what they learn, which will exert
unfavorable effect on their future development. By comparison, students feel that
learning mathematics is easier in America. However, as a master of mathematics in
high school, I do not think that the mathematic knowledge I acquire in China is too
hard to learn. Only those who seldom work hard will pass the buck to difficulty. I also
study some Olympic Mathematics in high school and I win several prizes. So I

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consider that mathematics is friendly but not like a monster in China. Secondly, some
people assume that there are too much homework and exams in China. With the
difficult mathematics, students will suffer great pains while learning mathematics.
Moreover, students will attach too much importance to the score that they get in the
exam, which may develop their senses of utilitarianism. In other words, their values
will be distorted. They only focus on the score instead of what they have absorbed. In
America, the academic pressure from the homework and exams are not serious so that
student can perform better in mathematic learning. But I do not consent that there are
too many assignments and exams while I am in high school, and I think everything is
ordinary for high school students to adapt. Score is important, I acknowledge, but
what we have acquired is more significant. I cannot believe that my values can be
reversed just because the academic pressure.
In addition to these two statements, there are many other announcements that
depreciate the mathematic education in China. I admit that it is true that mathematic
education in China truly does have some problems. But I do not approve that America
mathematic education in high school is far more advanced that in China. Now I am a
student whose major is mathematics in Purdue University and I am assuredly
interested in figuring out the issue which bothers me for a long time. Whose
mathematic education is better, China or America? Or both have their advantages and
disadvantages? I also want to trace the influence that these two kinds of mathematic
education give to students. Above all, researching on mathematic education can help
me get a more clear understanding on what I have absorbed in my high school and
help me notice my deficiency in the past mathematic learning. As a mathematic major
student, it is vital for me to gaze at what I studied in the past.
All in all, the research on the mathematic education difference between China

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and America is under progress. Based on my own learning experience in high school,
I will interview some native students in America about what they learned while
studying mathematics in their high school, and the details about their homework and
exams. It is also important to meet some transfer students who transfer from China to
America in high school and I will ask them their feelings about the two different
mathematic education systems. Other questions such as person opinion about teaching
mathematics will be mentioned if I have chance to meet the professors or instructors
who teach mathematics. To study the influence, I will ask some students to do some
mathematic exercise and ask them what come into their mind while working the
problem. These processes and questions will help me finish the survey and I will also
read some reference book to help me comprehend the data I get and the analyses I
operate.