Why are Chinese People so Good at Maths?

Discussion in 'Chinese Chat' started by minimo, May 30, 2007.

  1. minimo

    minimo Member

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    I have found that most of my chinese friends including myself prefer to study maths and sciences rather than subjects rather than english and history. I am curious to know whether this is just my friends or whether the majority of China is just highly mathematically skilled?
     
  2. minimo

    minimo Member

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    My maths teacher also gave me an article on the differences between english and chinese university admission tests (related to maths) and the chinese one is bloody impossible.
     
    #2 minimo, May 30, 2007
    Last edited: May 30, 2007
  3. gawain187

    gawain187 Well-Known Member

    Maybe we are naturally good at life sciences, while the english are good at english hence its their language to begin with.
     
  4. Candyshots

    Candyshots Well-Known Member

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    Because we've got strict parents :p

    My mom used to forced we doing math :(
     
  5. dim8sum

    dim8sum ♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪....

    i dont think chinese are especially good because they are chinese

    its all to do with upbringing

    chinese parents/culture emphasize education a lot and maths is something that is seen as vital
     
  6. ab289

    ab289 Well-Known Member

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    i'm Chinese and I hate Math! Had to do Calculus 1-4 in college ... and after I'm done with Cal4; I swear I'm not doing anymore math!
     
  7. super_lover

    super_lover Active Member

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    Maths isnt that bad. Quite liked doing it in school and now I'm doing a degree in it. How sad lol
     
  8. 無得頂

    無得頂 Well-Known Member

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    I hate math. I am better with languages, humanities, and social science courses.
     
  9. brown_bear

    brown_bear ☆‧° ☆﹒﹒‧ ☆ ﹒﹒‧☆‧° ☆

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    im chinese im not good at maths i hate it...im more of a english person...
     
  10. rsx

    rsx Well-Known Member

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    I'm Chinese and I dread math. I only took up to statistics and calculus (both required) and nothing beyond that. I am really the opposite of what you mentioned -- good at English and History, yet bad at Math and Sciences.

    As mentioned here already, it really depends on the persons upbringing. The ones I've known that are good at math are either naturally intelligent or that their parents forced them to learn Calculus in the 6th grade.
    The ones who immigrate from China are smart in math because they PROBABLY learned algebra in the 2nd grade, geometry in 3rd, calculus in 5th and so on (these are just guesses). Their education system is hella more stricter than the American system, it's not surprising that they're more knowledgable in math.
     
  11. edli888

    edli888 Active Member

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    In general (there is always exception) it is harder for Chinese or Asian (who were not raised in an English speaking country) to compete with Caucasians on English Literature fields. As one posting said it is there native language after all. We compensate by working extra hard on science/math fields.
     
  12. vincentfok888

    vincentfok888 Well-Known Member

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    I guess we are good at math because we are all cheap ppl who like to count our pennies.
     
  13. xixi

    xixi Well-Known Member

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    but it is a real sterotype, most people that i meet take for granted that i am better at math...and this happends to be true. but on the other hand i have a chinese friend that is really scared of maths and is vey talented in the languages,so it my little brother for that matter. so i think it depend totally on the individual.
     
  14. Phoenix

    Phoenix *~Though she be but little, she is fierce~*

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    i dont kno..i think prob cos my maths teacher likes to push my class thats why me and my friends (chinese) end up being good at it n are taking it for A Levels..

    on the contrary..i also like english..even tho some of more chinese friends hate..i think its just a matter of preferences n maybe how we're brought up..n also depends if we can 'hack' the maths aswel..
     
  15. dim8sum

    dim8sum ♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪....

    yeh i remember seeing a programme about schools in china, they teach advanced stuff way before any children in western countries will learn it
     
  16. drsnoopy

    drsnoopy Well-Known Member

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    it's because the engrish not so good. lol
     
  17. HellGuard99

    HellGuard99 Well-Known Member

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    why i suck at maths. i get a 60-85 in the tests.
     
  18. PhY pHy

    PhY pHy Well-Known Member

    im retarded in math...i would even
    do some running rather than do math...
     
  19. wongv78

    wongv78 Well-Known Member

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    Cause if we suck, we get smack in school... brings back the horrifying memories.
     
  20. Taxloss

    Taxloss Stripper Vicar

    Yup, another Maths hater here! I've probably scored a low grade record at my school and I was relieved I could drop the subject by the end of 3rd grade in highschool otherwise I would have never gotten my diploma. For my finals I just needed a minimum of 3.1 (out of 10 points) and you've already earned yourself 1 point if you showed up and can write your own name on the paper. -lol

    ...the first time I didn't pass as I scored an amazing 2.8 and the 2nd time was a 9.9 (! My first and last good grade for Maths ever) because I forgot 1 lousy detail.

    But to answer the original question: Guess Chinese put more value in money/business than arts/humanistik and language than other cultures, hence Chinese parents try to push their kids to do their best for Maths?