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math textbooks for non-native speakers

 
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kungfucowboy83



Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 479

PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2008 6:22 am    Post subject: math textbooks for non-native speakers Reply with quote

well the international school i work at has decided to revamp it's middle and highschool math program and use entirely new textbooks. since i am the only one who cares, has a the nessciary background in math and is a native speaker of english i'm assisting our school in their selection.

right now i'm hoping that anyone working at an international school could let me know what text's your school is using for math (if they teach math in english) and the teacher's opinions of them. If you feel uncofortable posting it on an open forum you could send me a pm instead

Thank's in advance.
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11:59



Joined: 31 Aug 2006
Posts: 632
Location: Hong Kong: The 'Pearl of the Orient'

PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2008 6:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm glad you're teaching Maths and not how to use apostrophes!
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kev7161



Joined: 06 Feb 2004
Posts: 5880
Location: Suzhou, China

PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2008 8:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Amongst my many subjects, I teach Math using Harcourt-Brace textbooks (now Mifflin/Harcourt). The kids use the hardbound books for in-class work, then have workbooks as "homework" or "night work". I also have an assessment guide so I don't have to sweat over creating tests and I've bought manipulatives over the last couple of years to go along with the lessons.

A student hard back costs roughly $60.00 or $70.00 (but of course can be used for several years if you can keep kids from writing in them) and the work books are about 10 or 11 bucks. Teacher's texts are EXPENSIVE though.

PS: This is primary school, but I know they have texts for all levels.
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kungfucowboy83



Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 479

PostPosted: Sat May 17, 2008 4:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

thanks kev i'll look check out the publisher.

Quote:
I'm glad you're teaching Maths and not how to use apostrophes!


as i tell my kids, this is why i'm your math teacher not your english teacher Very Happy
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waxwing



Joined: 29 Jun 2003
Posts: 719
Location: China

PostPosted: Sun May 18, 2008 5:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Our school has Chinese students but we send almost all of them to foreign Unis - don't know if we qualify as international in that sense.

We teach IGCSE (Extended, Additional) and A-level , which is age range 15-18 generally. I guess that doesn't quite mesh with your groups but perhaps overlaps.
We use Cambridge's own Neil and Quadling for the A-level (these books are specifically designed for our A-level exams) along with Bostock and Chandler (they're a bit of an institution in the UK), and for the IGCSE we also have the Cambridge, but we supplement a bit with Chinese books (obviously those are taught by Chinese teachers...)

I'd mention that, in general, taking a British or American or Canadian, Aus etc. Maths text directly into the Chinese classroom is a thorny issue. Firstly, if you go with a home-country text you're going to be looking at spending an awful lot of money. Secondly, there is a very real danger (i.e. a probability rather than a possibility) that the material will be far too easy, if you choose something at the same age level. This is our problem with the IGCSE because the basic GCSE Maths is way too easy for our 15 and 16 year olds (admittedly, they're already heavily selected by our entry exam).

I guess it really depends on what qualifications your kids are ultimately aiming at?


I guess my post isn't likely to help very much, but I'm interested to hear more about your situation and how you made your decision, good luck.
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kungfucowboy83



Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 479

PostPosted: Mon May 19, 2008 1:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
there is a very real danger (i.e. a probability rather than a possibility) that the material will be far too easy, if you choose something at the same age level


i agree my initial idea is to take highschool level or ap middleschool books and and give them to the middleschool students. ie. start grade 7 on algebra 1 (using the american designation) as long as it discusses negative numbers (and it should) though the chinese math classes and elnglish language math classes the kids have most of the basic arithmetic and pre-algebra they need.
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