Weekend 46_4

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14 Education | Mental Math for kids Faster, smarter, problem-solvers Nurturing creativity in kids with mental arithmetic Saudia Afrin “17 plus 12 minus 15 is equal to..?” While listening to the numbers, little Saraf’s fingers were moving through his imaginary abacus beads. And his instant answer was 14. Saraf Islam Nuhil, a student of grade one from Birshreshtha Noor Mohammad, is one of the distinction winners of the 10th National Level Abacus and Mental Arithmetic competition. With the slogan, “building genius”, Aloha Bangladesh is helping children gain brain development through Mental Arithmetic. “Nowadays, most of the families are nuclear with only one child. The absence of playground, a lack of reading habit and excessive video games and cartoons make a big impact on children’s mind. Watching video games and cartoons impedes imagination. For these reasons children are using the right side of the brain (RSB) much less than the left side (LSB),” said Ali Haider, the Managing Director of Aloha Bangladesh. “That is where Mental Arithmetic comes in,” Ali Haider said. Mental arithmetic is used all over the world and it is particularly useful for stimulating both sides of the brain. In the process, the child is given an Abacus to calculate. Later on, he or she is introduced to an imaginary abacus where he or she can count with the help of his or her imaginary abacus beads. “When he or she is visualising while doing maths, it basically acts as a stimulation for the right side of the brain. On the other hand, calculation is enriching his or her left side,” Ali Haider explained. Around the country, from Rangpur to Chittagong, 30,000 students are being groomed by Aloha. The classes entail physical activities, oral calculation, meditation and other individual or group activities. The impact of oral calculation is so brilliant that it increases children’s power of listening, boosts memory, visualisation and imagination. “A lot of people think of Aloha as a coaching centre for mathematics. In reality we work to help children gain brain development; maths is only used as a medium in mental arithmetic,” Ali Haider said. Photo: Courtesy While not a coaching centre for school maths, the thankful by-product of the Aloha classes is that the Aloha students seem to be solving their school mathematics work with 100% accuracy. Afzal Uddin Sahil, a student of class 7 at Oxford International School, who aspires to work at Microsoft, said, “I no longer fear exams. I can solve mathematical problems without using a calculator.” “Take home assignments are given regularly,” said by Ali Haider. After attaining one class work per week, the children are given homework including oral calculation. Oral calculation requires help from guardians at home. Since parents cannot always make time to help their children students often end up trying to solve a week-long assignment in one and a half hour. According to Ali Haider, the quality among students start varying from there. The children who practice regularly perform much better than those who try to complete their assignments in one day. Children with special needs can become more responsive through mental arithmetic. It might take time, but the impact on them is quite evident. However, these children need one to one specialised teaching module for six days, which is quite expensive. Initially, Aloha had a few such cases, but it became unsustainable. one of the biggest challenges, said Ali Haider, who have been working with Aloha since its inception, is that it is still not affordable for the middle class families. The cost of the course out of Dhaka is around Tk600, A lot of people think of Aloha as a coaching centre for mathematics. In reality we work to help children gain brain development whereas within Dhaka it ranges from Tk1400 to Tk2000. However, Aloha is planning to launch a self learning module, so that the cost can be cut by half. Ali Haider thinks mental arithmetic should be taught in schools. He said, “Many developed countries are applying such methods at their schools. And the learning can be provided by either Aloha teachers or by the school teachers after training.” Last month, Aloha Bangladesh organised its 10th National Level Abacus and Mental Arithmetic competition. Around 1600 students from over 300 schools around the country, solved 70 mathematical problems in five minutes, and a total of 199 winners were announced.• WEEKEND TRIBUNE | FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017
Foreign students in local programs | Education 15 Foreign students on life in Bangladesh Sohel Iqbal It was a sunny January afternoon internationalisation they should when I caught up with some naturally welcome foreign students of the nine Ugandan students and also benefit themselves from at BRAC University (BRACU), international collaborations on as they stood waiting for BRACU capacity building through faculty transportation running between and student exchanges and joint its Mohakhali campus and Niketan academic programs to create highvalue degrees. hostel, a 10-minute’s drive. Our light-hearted conversation A report published in the local began with life in Uganda where they dailies recently reported the were among 5,000 secondary level University Grants Commission’s deep students getting support from Brac concern in its 42nd annual report and Master Card Foundation. During regarding the decreasing number a visit to Brac Uganda a couple of of foreign students studying in years back, Brac chairperson Fazle private universities in 2015 despite Hasan Abed KCMG had offered five the establishment of more new annual BRACU scholarships for these universities. According to the report, students. there were 1,548 foreign students in The students joined in observing the International Mother Language Day, on February 21 The nine students, including two private universities in 2015 compared female students, were subsequently to 1,643 students in 2014. The selected through a competitive number was 1,612 in 2013, 1,642 in admission process and arrived in 2012 and 1,651 in 2011. groups over the last two years. Unfortunately, for many BRACU provided transportation internationals students, the and assistance in visa processing dream can turn into a nightmare and choosing insurance companies if they are not provided proper for medical coverage while the accommodation facilities. Kisuule scholarship covered lodging, meals Gordon, one of the nine Ugandan and some additional allowance. students, now in his fifth semester Universities are by nature in the mathematics and natural international institutions, so sciences department commented when it comes to the question of about the safe and internationalstandard accommodation facilities of BRACU that resembled a homely environment comprising a small community of foreigners. “To be honest it was a cultural shock when we first came in,” said Gordon about his first impression of Bangladesh. “Now things are normal and the campus culture and student clubs have helped us to adapt,” he added. “I am expecting a good life ahead at BRAC University. Life in Bangladesh is good. I am spending quality time here and learning a lot about the country. People are friendly, their hospitality amazes me,” said Wakyaya Brian, whose experience on Photo: Courtesy arrival, had not been pleasant. “I lost my luggage at the Dhaka airport...I felt lost,” he said. However, BRACU was there by his side. “I didn’t expect such levels of help that the university offered. The airline eventually could not return my luggage but with the help of the communications and relationship management office, I did receive compensation,” he added. Vice chancellor Professor Syed Saad Andaleeb summarises the efforts of BRACU for every student in a message saying, “We MUST let our students know that we care about them, greeting them each day with a smile to brighten their lives and ease their burdens. This is the extra emotional labour that can help build long-lasting relationships with our students.” The conversation shifted to food habits with Tebusweke Godfrey and Bisoboka Claire Precious expressing delight at having tasted two local dishes – biryani and khichuri. “Food is a great experience here! The menu is delicious but mostly rice based,” said Mugenyi Raymond. However, Nanfuka Milly lamented over not having tasted such items as green banana or Matoke as it is known in Uganda, in a long time. In attempts to shape their careers, BRAC University hopes that they can help the students prosper in life, whether it be locally or globally, through five core skills it strives to instil – critical thinking, communication, quantitative skills, digital awareness and global thinking. Education for students on any foreign land has always been a struggle, whether it be Bangladeshi students in the West or Ugandan students in Bangladesh. The culture shock they face initially, the feeling of not belonging, or the inability to engage in social life, all of which contribute to making things a bit difficult. Mutebi John Kenneth recalls the moment his friends pointed out that he had paid exorbitantly for a pen. He says not only Bangladeshi traders but also those in Uganda perceive foreigners to be rich travellers and a means to make large gains. Kenneth quotes Chinua Achebe, a Nigerian novelist. There is a saying in his novel No Longer at Ease that goes like “It’s only in a foreign land where your motherland becomes a name to you.” He, however, states that nothing can stop him from enjoying his time in Bangladesh. • The writer is the head of Communications at BRAC University WEEKEND TRIBUNE | FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017
Page 1: Dhaka Tribune vol 4 Issue 46 | FRID
Page 4 and 5: 2 News | This week Explosion on hig
Page 6 and 7: 4 Tailored | Fashion editorial Thin
Page 8 and 9: 6 Cook your own way | Kitchen chron
Page 10 and 11: 8 Event | Food festival Christoph V
Page 12 and 13: 10 Photo Story | DolYatra WEEKEND T
Page 14 and 15: 12 Art | Impressions of Dhaka ‘Im
Page 18 and 19: 16 New startups | Pathao Pathao: Cr
Page 20 and 21: 18 stay in Clues ACROSS 1 Wrongly d
Page 22: 20 Ticket | Jhalmuri S3 Jhalmuri Se

Weekend 46_4

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