22/07/2008 (by RODRIGO CAVALHEIRO)
El profesor Adolfo Quirós evalúa el resultado de la olimpiada que ha reunido a estudiantes de matemáticas de 97 países. España ha quedado en el 43º puesto
Anfitriona por primera vez de una Olimpiada de Matemáticas, a España no le han salido de la mejor manera las cuentas. Ha quedado en el 43º puesto entre los 97 participantes. Más exactamente entre Georgia y Suráfrica, y por detrás de otros países iberoamericanos como Brasil (16º), Perú (18º), México (37º) y Argentina (41º). Aunque sea un resultado discreto, se trata del mejor en los juegos que desde 1959 reúnen anualmente a estudiantes de secundaria.
El reto es mejorar. “Hay que hacer como con los deportes. Necesitamos a más gente practicando. Solo así los estudiantes van a tener aprecio por las matemáticas”, señala el profesor Adolfo Quirós, portavoz de
la Real Sociedad Matemática Española (RSME). “Aquí se tiene la sensación de que las matemáticas son horrorosas, que uno no se puede divertir con los números. Y más, los españoles presumen de no saber matemáticas”, añade.El ritmo de preparación influye en el resultado. Los seis españoles participantes han asistido durante 10 días a un curso preparatorio en Barcelona de ocho horas diarias. Los chinos, los ganadores, pasan tres años estudiando tres horas diarias, especialmente para
la Olimpíada. Es la octava vez en las últimas 10 ediciones que se alzan con el primer puesto. “Los chinos son muchos, pero eso no es decisivo. Los países del Este europeo no son muy poblados pero tienen aprecio social por las matemáticas. En España se dice ‘soy muy malo con los números’ como si fuera un mérito”, declara Quirós.El número de aficionados y el gusto por las matemáticas explica apenas en parte el resultado. Otros países donde dedicarse a los cálculos es también considerado algo aburrido se han colocado mejor que España. Brasil ha quedado en el 16º puesto, el mejor situado entre los de habla portuguesa o española. Individualmente, el mejor iberoamericano ha sido el peruano Fernando Manrique Montañez, que se aseguró el 12º puesto y la 18ª posición general para su país.De los 535 participantes finales, sólo tres han logrado resolver correctamente los seis problemas (dos chinos y un estadounidense). Diego Izquierdo, de 18 años, uno de los tres españoles mejor clasificados (238º puesto), todavía intenta encontrar la respuesta para el sexto problema. En su opinión, la manera de acercar los números a la población española es mejorar la enseñanza. “La mala imagen que tienen las matemáticas se debe a que se enseñan mal. Son formas muy mecánicas de aplicar unos teoremas. Los problemas de
la Olimpíada muestran que hay una creatividad matemática“, sostiene Izquierdo, ganador de una medalla de bronce, como otros dos compañeros. “Claro que nos podríamos preparar más, pero tampoco es bueno hacer como los chinos, que cogen a los participantes y les hacen estudiar solo eso. No necesitamos máquinas“, concluye el estudiante que el año que viene empezará la carrera universitaria. En Matemáticas.La próxima parada, AlemaniaAdemás de Diego Izquierdo, Arnau Messegué y Gabriel Fürstenheim quedaron empatados en el 238º puesto, por lo que lograron medallas de bronce. Otros tres han conseguido menciones honoríficas. Es la primera vez en 26 participaciones que los seis miembros del equipo español obtienen galardones y la cuarta que se consiguen tres medallas. La 50ª Olimpiada Internacional de Matemáticas ocurrirá en 2009 en Bremen, en el norte de Alemania, también en el mes de julio.
1) Why do you think that in Spain people don’t mind confessing that they don’t like Math?
2) Do you agree that the bad image of math in Spain is becuase of how we learn Math? How can overall Math education improve?
This message is just to try that this activity works. And to encourage students to participate in this activity.
I’m looking forward to reading your comments.
Bye.
Carlota
1) Why do you think in Spain people don’t mind to confess they don’t like Math?
I think that Spanish people don’t mind to confess that they don’t like math because, in the actual society, people think that “as more hooligan are you, as more cool are you”. This is the result of the differences between studious people and the hooligans. Hooligans hate studious people and they treat them bad. Sometimes is for jealousy, another’s for fury, etc… So, in the modern society, people say “I don’t want to be like this swot, so I don’t want to study math”. This situation is very deplorable.
2) Do you agree that the bad image of math in Spain is becuase of how we learn Math? How the education of Math can improve?
I think that no (of course, no!). This is usually an excuse for lazy persons. It is true that some teachers explain better than others, but it’s very easy that, instead of think “I don’t understand this. I have to study it during more time. I have to make an effort!”, say “This is so boring! I don’t understand anything! This teacher doesn’t know how to explain this subject!”. It’s very easy to blame the others for your own failure.
I think that math education could improve using new technologies and doing some interesting activities for students. For example, last weekend, in the Razzmatazz disco (at Poblenou), some people were doing an exposition about sciences. That was incredible! You could walk with some special glasses that made you felt like if you were drunk (apart form other activities)! These are little celebrations that help people to show interest in these difficult subjects.
by Roger Marí Molas, 2nd A of ESO
Why do you think in Spain people don’t mind to confess they don’t like Math?
I think, for my opinion that Spain don’t mind to confess they don’t like Math because they think that math is not really important to survive in this world because we have a experts, calculators, formulas, etc. I think that they don’t like think too. But in this world all it is form for math( area, formulas, build constructions) In my opinion without math we can’t survive because we calculate all things with some object or mental math. But some peoples think when we have a calculator why we think with mind, and them use the calculator.
Do you agree that the bad image of math in Spain is because of how we learn Math? How the education of Math can improve?
I don’t agree with this first question because, its true that are some process or concepts that are difficult but for this reason are Mathematicians that are study for do easy process or concepts. Here a few years in Spain and other countries wild be some easy Math, but we have to have patience.
The education of maths can improve with do math with patience and some funny, but to do this Olympiads they can study some days before the exam of six questions because they studies 3 days before they wild be have a 0.
“This are my opinion about the questions”
By: Miquel Marsà Pérez 2B
I think that Spanish people sometimes can be really fool, ‘cause math is always necessary to learn, and I don’t think it’s good to not knowing anything. I’m not really good at math (that is: usually I’m a completely washout, you may be agree or not but it’s the truth), but I never give up, and I try to “challenge” myself. Oh, and I completely agree with the professor! He has good reasonings. And I (still) don’t think maths’re horrible, and I hope to not change my mind (at least for now… Ok? -did it wash?- hehe. I’m joking).
Cristina Ruiz
I think that this article is a greaterst trae, but I thing that is a think that our generation can change too this change will be large and difficult, but we have to work hard and practice maths with more intestitive.
Carles Vázquez
I think in Spain, a lot of young people enjoy don’t knowing maths, that’s right. But not all they. And when the people is older than before, they want to know more, and don’t want to be more stupid than the others. In my opinion the phrase “los españoles presumen de no saber matematicas” will have to be “los jovenes españoles presumen de no saber matematicas”.
Max Birk
I think because for many spanish people mathematics are for the boring persons or because between the young people be clever it’s not good, but I don’t think that .
I’m agree because it’s very mechanic and it should be more fun but not like a joke.
Raquel Segura
For me, I think that Spanish people don’t mind to confess that they don’t like math, because they think that is boring, not interesting, difficult and don’t important subject and the can survive without maths, if they need calculate theyuse the calculator. In the world all is around mathsandwe can’t survive because if we need calculate something, or mental maths we need know it.
How the education of Math can improve? I’m not degree with th first question because, there is right that there are some concepts that there are more difficult like others, and the teachers and Mathematicians are thinking the method to do the concept more easy. The second question I don’t know how the education of mathematics can improve, but some ideas are using new technological anddoing more activities or jokes for the students because like this they like more.
Leyre Martinez
I think that in Spain we don’t think that don’t like maths, maybe they say it because they don’t want to say that maths are very difficult and sometimes we have to let’s go beyond and make an effort and it coast a lot. But also I think that they say it because they didn’t maths trought English with Carlota.
I’m not very agree with that because, maybe there are some teachers that don’t teach with emphasy but some of them do it, I think that there are a lot of countries and a lot of time to be better and win this Olympic games of mathematics. We don’t know but maby one day somebody on this class win this prime, so we have to wait and see and study a lot of maths(but not like chinese people).
Mariona Tapia
1. Why do you think in Spain people don’t mind to confess they don’t like Math?
I think that Spanish people say that they don’t like Math because this society believes that people who like Math are strange people, that they are so boring.
So, I think that people say “I don’t like Math” because they don’t want the others to see them like a strange person, and if they like Math they don’t say it because they are scared of the people’s comments.
Do you agree that the bad image of Math in Spain is because of how we learn Math? How the education of Math can improve?
I really disagree with this sentence. It’s true that Math are difficult, that some teachers don’t explain them very well and that sometimes they are so boring. But everyone has to do and effort to learn and understand Math because they are very important to survive in this world.
And I think that there are some forms to learn Math that can make them easier: using new technologies, as computers, calculators,… and explaining some thinks like a game. If we do it this way I think that people will have a good remember of maths.
Ana Adrove
Why do you think in Spain people don’t mind to confess they don’t like Math?
I think that Spanish people don’t mind to confess that they don’t like math because those students that say that think that math are not important but all that is in the Universe has a mathematical expression. Some of the students don’t know that Physic or Technology (those are examples) are math applied.
Do you agree that the bad image of math in Spain is because of how we learn Math? How the education of Math can improve?
This is a difficult question to answer. I think that it’s only a excuse to say to the fathers that they suspend math because the teachers don’t know how to explain math but there are exceptions.
Math can improve doing more projects like math through English, ESTALMAT or probes CANGUR.
Sergi H.
Why do you think in Spain people don’t mind to confess they don’t like Math?
I thing they don’t mind doing that because in fact it is not so personal, I mean, it isn’t so amazing that you say this because probably you are saying it to a person that doesn’t like maths either. I think too that actually there are calculators and objects than help us doing operations, so people thing that they don’t have to “know” maths , and that they can use only calculators the rest of their lives.
Do you agree that the bad image of math in Spain is because of how we learn Math? How the education of Math can improve?
I thing that how we learn maths isn’t the thing that gives the bad image. I thing people that don’t like working, that are lazy, don’t want to have problems, so they say that they don’t “understand” it because it isn’t well improved. And I also thing that most of the people would like maths if they listen to how many things can be solved with, for example, two algebraic expressions.
Noelia Ramirez Ramos,2nA
Why do you think in Spain people don’t mind to confess they don’t like Math?
I think that Spain people don’t mind to confess they don’t like math, because I think that they think that maths are not important in this society and they think that we can survive without maths. But I think that in this society the maths are very important to survive…
Do you agree that the bad image of math in Spain is because of how we learn Math? How the education of Math can improve?
I don’t agree with this sentences, because is true that is more easy say that you don’t understand or say that this teacher not explains well this subject, but if you try, and you make and effort, at the end you understand all.
I think that education of maths can improve using new technologies and I think that if we study maths with plays, interesting activities we were more motivate and we learn more.
Clàudia Perona Garcia
Why do you think in Spain people don’t mind to confess they don’t like Math?
I think that the people don’t mind to confess that they don’t like Math because everyone says this and the people think that maths are boring and this makes that they don’t have desire to study maths. I also think that it is because the people see some things that do the matematicians and think: “It’s very difficult” and then they don’t try to learn something of mathematics (some people isn’t very studious), they also think that it is something very “strange” and that they don’t need mathematics for their daily live. So, they don’t mind to say that they don’t like Math.
Do you agree that the bad image of math in Spain is because of how we learn Math? How the education of Math can improve?
I think that yes, and I don’t think that it is because maths are difficult or the teachers doesn’t explain maths well. I think that it is because the people see them like something very abstract and distant. So, I think that if the Math education should bring the mathematics over the daily live, then the people will not see them like something strange and they will be more interested in Math.
I think also that the education of Math can improve with projects related to math and daily live or something that interest to the people.
Alba Hahn.
Why do you think in Spain people don’t mind to confess they don’t like Math?
In my opinion some Spanish’s people like maths, and another small part think that its are stupid, bored or impossible to understand. I always say that for enjoy a subject you have to understand it, or know the basic information. Almost always there is someone that hate maths in our family. When something bad is happening you say it, but if it is something good it isn’t important, like the news, it’s ok, is more easy complain.
Do you agree that the bad image of math in Spain is because of how we learn Math? How the education of Math can improve?
Well, that is a good question, but I can’t answer it, because I don’t know anything about other methods to learn maths different of my school. I think that a good method for learn maths is doing plays about the unit, with a funny but responsible teacher and some one next to discuss an exercise or something.
Júlia Pérez
I think that the Spanish people don’t mind to confess that don’t like maths because in Spain don’t know maths is not important, the people think that is a jokeand don’t matter what the people think about this.
Yes, I agree with the bad image of maths is because of how we learn, because not make fun or interesting. The education of maths can we improve. Could be motivating the students and bring imagination in how to teach maths.
Maria Merino
Why do you think in Spain people don’t mind to confess they don’t like Math??I think it’s because
of the actual society; now a lot of people say maths are boring or not important. There’re also many children and teenagers that prefer another kind of jobs and activities. They start using calculators and computers and they stop using their brain. Studying maths means making a mental effort, but if you’re not ready it can be more difficult. And then they start hating what they’re studying. It’s the influence of the society: the more people hate maths, the more people will say it too. In Spain it’s serious, but it happens everywhere.
Do you agree that the bad image of math in Spain is becuase of how we learn Math? How the education of Math can improve??I don’t know, it depends. It’s an eventual question: some schools are teaching maths in a mechanic way and anothers are teaching it in a very interactive way. I think that harmony it’s important here: the perfect maths class is an interactive class that allows your learning many new things without forgetting the importance of mathematics.
Micaela.
Why do you think in Spain people don’t mind to confess they don’t like Math?
I think that Spain people don’t mind to confess that they don’t like Math, because I think taht in Spainthere are not many jobs that require a large base of mathematics, well math teachers or mathemathics yes but.. well, also I think that Spain people don’t like math because as we have calculators that resolved all what we need to learn math? Also I think that math are a boring subject but I like it because I want to learn very much. But without math,wouldn’t do anything. We could not even calculate the area of a football field.
Do you agree that the bad image of math in Spain is becuase of how we learn Math? How the education of Math can improve?
I’m not agree with the first question, because teachers are not to blame that perhaps there are some studentsthat theywere bad inmath, because teachers teach good. The education of maths can improve with memory games to memorize concepts, but teachersshouldn’t put a lot of work anda lot of homeworksto the students, because if they don’t know how tothey losing their patience. But everything is possible with patience.. and there are my answers of the two questions of about math.
See you next class!
Carla Antunez García.
Why do you think in Spain people don’t mind to confess they don’t like Math?
I think that Spanish people don’t mine to confess they don’t like Math because the people are more interesting in the physic instead of intellectual. I’m agree with Roger’s opinion.
Do you agree that the bad image of math in Spain is because of how we learn Math? How the education of Math can improve?
I don’t know how Chinese (for example) study Math, but is possible that in other countries the method was different. I think that because in the project Maths Through English we learn more than the other classes because we do more funny the classes and is more easy to understand. I’m sure that if all the schools in Spain do the classes more interesting with games the Spanish people can be more intellectual.
Georgina.
Why do you think in Spain people don’t mind to confess they don’t like Math?
I think that Spanish people don’t mind to confess they don’t like Math because the Spanish people think that the Math is very boring and very difficult because they don’t understand the explication of the teachers and they don’t try to understand and other person don’t learn Math. Other explication is that one person confesses they don’t like Math to other after other confesses and other………….
Do you agree that the bad image of math in Spain is because of how we learn Math? How the education of Math can improve?
Of course no, the bad image of math in Spain is because that some people don’t like Math and don’t learn it, and in the Math class some people are doing other think that isn’t Math’s.
We can improve Math when we are aware, try to understand, if you don’t understand said to the teacher to explain the theory or think again, do the homework and study every day 10 to 20 minutes.
Fong.
In my opinion, spanish people don’t mind confess they don’t like maths, because they think maths it’s boring, and if it is boring it isn’t “cool” (I think this is very stupid from their part).
I think that the method that the teachers use to teach maths, doesn’t matter. It isn’t the problem. The problem, is that a lot of people don’t want to colaborate, so this is very difficult for the teacher that want to teach, and for the students that want to learn.
Andrea Extraña
Why do you think in Spain people don’t mind to confess they don’t like Math?
Because the Spanish people thing that math is not an essential thing for our life, since him using the calculators.
Do you agree that the bad image of math in Spain is because of how we learn Math? How the education of Math can improve?
Yes, because here the math are teaching in a way too much mechanical and traditional.
It would improve using a more ludic, experimental and significant method.
Paula Ramírez Puig.
My opinion for “los españoles presumen de no saber matemáticas”:
I think that this coment is false, in my opinion. I read the article and I red that the spanish matematicians are a very clever students. They were in the 43º placeof the olimpic mathematics. I think, in the real life, that the people who don’t like mathematics say this. There are more people, that in an exam, they take out a seven. And there minus people, that in an exam they take out a nine or a ten. There are more people, to whom it costs the mathematics that not the people that they solve mathematical problems in a moment. In my final opinion, I believe that not the whole world presumes not to know mathematics, besides everything, it is not a thing dela that great people this one proud.
The one who is proud of the lack of knowledge?
Adrián González
1) Because they think that it isn’t so important, for them it isn’t necessary.
2)I think that no, it isn’t true. I think that Math in Spain can be great with new projects or new things