Bilingual Math Education: Bridging the Gap Between Languages

A student attending a local school decided to transfer to a bilingual institution, driven by parental concerns over intense academic competition and the desire for broader long-term opportunities. This kind of story is far from unique and has become increasingly common in today’s society.

Parents hope that a new learning environment will expose their child to a wider perspective and provide more diverse opportunities. However, such a decision is rarely easy. Many families face internal struggles and countless worries, such as whether the child can adjust to a new social circle, adapt to a foreign language environment, and cope with a fundamentally different learning style.

After transferring schools, new challenges emerge in rapid succession. For instance, many classes are taught entirely in English, posing a dual challenge of listening and comprehension for students accustomed to instruction in Chinese. Mathematics presents a particularly distinct challenge—not because of the subject itself but due to the difficulty of interpreting problems written in English and understanding mathematical definitions expressed in English. Long application problems require careful analysis of each word, and the combined effort of reading comprehension and logical reasoning can often feel more taxing than straightforward English reading.

Changing tracks is never an easy feat.

Mathematical terminology tends to be precise and well-defined. For example, while “radius” and “diameter” may seem related, their meanings are fundamentally different. If you’re unclear about the term “altitude,” you won’t be able to interpret a problem accurately, potentially leaving you unable to solve it at all. Math problems are often concisely written—neither verbose nor overly sparse—so misinterpreting even a single word can lead to entirely incorrect conclusions.

Compared to domestic math curricula, the difficulty of bilingual or international school mathematics may be slightly lower in terms of depth, but its breadth is far greater. Students are required to quickly grasp diverse topics and frequently switch between them. Furthermore, mathematical proofs and logical reasoning are emphasized more heavily than in local curriculums. For students just acclimating to this English-learning environment, achieving basic scores may not be difficult, but excelling and achieving high scores requires considerable effort.

Learning math in English requires adapting study methods. One highly effective approach is to take notes on unfamiliar mathematical terms and pair them with illustrations or simple examples to aid memory. For instance, when noting “diameter,” you could draw a circle and label its diameter; for “altitude,” sketch a triangle and indicate its height. Additionally, extensive reading is crucial. While the process may be slow (avoid falling for shortcuts promising quick mastery), it is essential for building a solid foundation.

Switching languages is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires gradually building your vocabulary and cultivating strong reading and reasoning skills. If you choose a bilingual, international, or expatriate education path, you will likely encounter math programs such as SAT, AP, or IB in the future. These programs not only test your computational skills but also challenge your critical thinking and expressive abilities.

If possible, it’s recommended to practice one application problem each week, aligned with your school’s current progress in any subject area. If resources are limited, reach out to your school teacher, private tutor, or supplementary classes for assistance. In the absence of such options, feel free to message us. We’ll do our utmost to support you and make your learning journey smoother.