FAQs

The most effective strategies for learning abacus mental arithmetic are incorporated into every session in a fun and engaging way by means of multimedia teaching. Using memory games, lots of hands-on activities, songs, individual and group challenges, and supplementary on-line practices, young children and even adults will gradually be able to perform speedy mental calculations.

Learning CMA abacus mental arithmetic can:

• improve the accuracy and speed of computing skill or logical reasoning 
• build stronger memory power 
• promote longer concentration span 
• enhance imaging skills or photographic memory 
• create higher learning capability and self-esteem 
• increase the level and speed of understanding (comprehension) 
• have better sense of observation and visualisation power 
• sharpen sound judgement and hearing skill 
• reduce stress and enjoy fun learning

The content of the abacus mental arithmetic curriculum that needs to be mastered is the same for twice-a-week programme and once-a-week programme. However, students who attend the twice-a-week programme will progress faster as they gain more guidance from the trainers and their brains become more stimulated.

Arithmetic is remarkably important for helping young children build up a solid academic foundation. Teachers who work with young children know that it is not easy to introduce the concept of numbers and their values. It is a long learning process for young children to comprehend the concepts of mathematics when presented only in the abstract form. By abstract it means using nothing but brain power to solve problems. It is difficult for children to comprehend numeric relationships without using a concrete object such as the abacus beads to relate numeric values. Learning how to compute numbers mentally is equally important as it will effectively tap the unexploited parts of the brain and therefore promote the overall intelligence. The practice of mental arithmetic will sharpen the imaginative and memory power. According to a scientific research, a child who lacks good mental formation can experience a sharp decline in mental abilities even as early as the age of 20. On the other hand, a child who receives this formation by the age of 12 will continue to remain brilliant even up to the age of 70.

For a child to do well in mathematics, he needs to develop his abilities in calculation. Learning abacus-mental arithmetic can quickly enhance his competency in calculation. Professor Huang Guo Rong from the National ChangHua University of Education in Taiwan studied the effects of abacus-mental arithmetic education on children’s academic performance in areas of mathematical abilities and comprehensibility, and reported the startling discoveries:

• Children who have undergone mental arithmetic classes achieved far better results than other students (who have not taken part in such training) in the following areas: comprehension, mathematical abilities (including recognising and understanding mathematical concepts, calculating abilities, and mathematical problem solving skills), mathematical performance, and IQ tests. 
• Students who have had one to two years of training in mental arithmetic are found to possess a better grasp of mathematical concepts, calculations, and are more efficient in solving mathematical problems than those who have less than one year’s training. Students with more than two year's training showed even better results. Thus this indicates that the longer a child is exposed to such training, the better his mathematical abilities.

Although calculators and computers have replaced human brain in computing numbers, learning abacus is a must for every child because it is instrumental in developing whole brain and lifetime skills. Using abacus requires co-ordination of the main nerves of the human body, such as sight, sound, and finger movement which will induce the growth of brain cells. The mind undergoes three main stages of development, namely physical contact, logical explanation, and visualization, throughout the process and the abacus acts as a medium that connects the three stages. More than 80% of the world's population is right-handed and right-handed people normally have more developed left brain and less developed right brain. The creativity side of the right brain is more than a thousand times that of the left brain. Learning abacus will stimulate the development of the right brain at an early age.

Conventional abacus lessons used only single-hand teaching. As a result, only the left hemisphere of the brain is stimulated and right half of the brain is ignored. Also, most conventional abacus lessons used 2/5 abacus (i.e. 2 beads on top and 5 beads at the bottom) while CMA uses 1/4 abacus (1 bead on top and 4 beads at the bottom) in the training process.

There are four ways in which we assist parents:

• Regular seminars organised by our centres help guide parents in assisting their children in their learning. These talks will include techniques of beads stirring and calculating involving the four operations of numbers. 
• Take home VCD. At the end of each lesson, your child will bring home a VCD for him/her to review and revise the lesson taught in class. You are encouraged to watch it with your child. 
• Online VCD. Attending CMA students will be given a password to access the online VCD tutorial. 
• Teachers. Communication between parents and teachers is important. Teacher will highlight the child's weaknesses and provide guidance for parents to teach him/her at home.

1:30 hours for all Programmes.