Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Turkish use simpler number words and express math concepts more clearly than English, making it easier for small children to learn counting and arithmetic, research shows. Chinese has just nine number names, while English has more than two dozen unique number words.

Chinese is better for math, research shows “The digit system is very simple in Chinese,” Leung says, “making at least arithmetic very easy to learn.” Researchers of early childhood education have found that the way a language describes numbers can affect how quickly children do sums.

Unlike traditional methods in the U.S. that stress memorization, Japanese math emphasizes problem solving. Its sansu arithmetic aligns with the Common Core standards, providing a strong incentive for teachers to adopt the pedagogy. It’s an invaluable way for teachers to improve their instruction.

Mathematics in China emerged independently by the 11th century BC. The Chinese independently developed a real number system that includes significantly large and negative numbers, more than one numeral system (base 2 and base 10), algebra, geometry, number theory and trigonometry.

While students typically dislike word problems, extracting the nouns, verbs, and modifiers from a spoken/written language and translating them into a mathematical equation is a valuable skill to have. Word problems improve comprehension and increase problem-solving skills.

It gives us a way to understand patterns, to quantify relationships, and to predict the future. Math is a powerful tool for global understanding and communication. Using it, students can make sense of the world and solve complex and real problems.