If something as complex as a human language can be institutionalized and taught to every sane person, as it is done today, to me it means that *any* skill -- however nerdy -- can be taught to everyone.
A two year old picks up language without even much teaching. Does that mean she's ready to learn calculus? Or could it be that 'language learnability' is just there in our genes?
I think that every person has the potential to learn complex skills, including calculus. And the fact that (s)he can pick up something so complex as a language proves that the potential exists. The brain is wired to do many things. When it comes to language, I observe that in addition to brain, a lot more go into making learning a language a very successful event -- the encouragement from parents, constant prodding and teaching by the family and more importantly, the lack of inhibition in the child. Apply these same factors to all skills. All skills can be learned is what I think.
The way calculus is taught is the reason why it appears complex. Break it into chunks, frame a gradually progressing syllabus and teach it from simple addition examples, spread over 8 years or so. Calculus will not be complex.
right. language forms the basis of all our experiences in life. my expression is limited by the words that i know.
it is not co-incidence that great readers have been great thinkers, writers, philosophers etc. vivekananda, former indian president. radhakrishnan, aurobindo, J. krishnamurthy.
robinson curriculum (which provides tools/curriculum for Home schooling kids in the US) stresses this fact. by forming early language skills [talking first, reading, then later writing], all the other subjects are introducted slowly. kids learn science, math, history, electronics.. everything, all the way including calculus, organic/inorganic chemistry, human genome by SELF study! And they typically end up scoring higher than school going kids in SAT, GRE etc.
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-Sharada
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The way calculus is taught is the reason why it appears complex. Break it into chunks, frame a gradually progressing syllabus and teach it from simple addition examples, spread over 8 years or so. Calculus will not be complex.
Cheers
Varaha.
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it is not co-incidence that great readers have been great thinkers, writers, philosophers etc. vivekananda, former indian president. radhakrishnan, aurobindo, J. krishnamurthy.
robinson curriculum (which provides tools/curriculum for Home schooling kids in the US) stresses this fact. by forming early language skills [talking first, reading, then later writing], all the other subjects are introducted slowly. kids learn science, math, history, electronics.. everything, all the way including calculus, organic/inorganic chemistry, human genome by SELF study! And they typically end up scoring higher than school going kids in SAT, GRE etc.
-sri.
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