Tuesday, May 3, 2011

"Fear of Mathematics" by Mamadou Gaye

Many people feel anxiety about taking math course. Math anxiety or fear of math is quite common. In " Tackling the math monster" by Roshmi Raychaudhuri published on May 19, 2004 in the Asia Africa Intelligence Wire, the author described the important place of mathematics in our society.

The extreme fear of math can compromise the future career of certain students. Today the knowledge of calculus is unavoidable for students, who are in research. Students must be good in logical mathematics, as well as making mathematical connections to every day. In addition the universities expect first of all to their students, the mastery of calculus. An analytical brain is another important thing to be admitted in Universities. Many professions need the knowledge of math concepts in higher education.

Our society is held together with math. Every little bit of human society require mathematics. Science, communication, construction, cartography, and music are things that touch every person's lives at one point or another and they all require math to do. The mathematical concepts and methods are not just for the pleasure. They have many benefits that impact on the real-life. These mathematical ideas must be easy to understand. Students should have the strategies to identify any mathematical problems and their utilities.

The author of this article was talking to African and Asian people in their handicap to follow mathematics in their real-life. The backwardness from these two countries in mathematics concepts and methods leads them in underdeveloped. He appeals the readers to get idea about the unavoidable utility of mathematics in daily-life. He uses the causes and effects of mathematics in our modern society.

Actually, I don't believe in mathematic phobia because a phobia is an irrational fear. And I think mathematics phobia is an entirely rational fear and it is a fear of the unknown and undoable. Tell yourself that math is not a scary monster or an aptitude that people are born with. It is a skill that can be acquired. Many students get nervous at the thought of studying or using math. In most cases, the more math you do, the less scary it becomes.

In my opinion, this article is the successful; but, doesn't effective. The author of this article doesn't mention: How do students overcome to this type of fear? I think a positive attitude will help to understand mathematics. However, positive attitude come with quality teaching. Any math problem can be isolated, examined closely, and understand what it's made of. When you do that, you'll soon find the fear goes away.

When I read this article, I feel concerned at all because I came from a country, where utility of mathematics is unknown by most people. Every day, we copy the technology from Europe and America. But, we haven't found yet our own way to make the mathematical concepts and methods profitable for our people in daily-life. I learn from this article the modern society is led by the mathematical concepts and methods. But, I'm still persuaded others things must be considered and consolidated for every step of modern society.

In conclusion, after reading " Tackling the math monster" I get a pleasure to see how author purpose the important place of mathematics in our society. However, the mathematics have never been a monster, only some teachers don't explain as well as the interest of these concepts and methods in real-life. Good teachers can help students to overcome to math anxiety by showing the easy to solve mathematics problems and their utilities in the real life.


Source Citation;
"Tacking the math monster." Asia Africa Intelligence Wire 19 May 2004. General Reference Center Gold. Web. 4 Mar. 2010.

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