(Liu Jianhua)
Dear managing directors, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning! It gives me great pleasure to come to the beautiful Toronto to hold the Second Meeting of the Fifth Standing Council of the World Association of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic (hereinafter referred to as the “WAAMA”). First of all, on behalf of the WAAMA, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all managing directors and colleagues present at the meeting. I would also like to express my heartfelt thanks to Ms. Wang Lisha, the managing director of ISTAR Education of Canada, who has contributed enormously to the successful convening of the meeting.
Next, on behalf of the WAAMA, I would like to deliver a report on the work for your deliberation in the Second Meeting of the Fifth Standing Council of the WAAMA.
I. Review of the Work of the Fifth Standing Council of the WAAMA since its Inauguration in 2018
The past 12 months was the first year in which the Fifth Council of the WAAMA performed its duties, and it was also a year in which the world’s abacus and mental arithmetic cause developed vigorously. Thanks to the joint efforts of all member organizations, the WAAMA has made remarkable achievements in theoretical research, competition appraisal, teacher training, international exchanges and publicity. We have done the following work in the past 12 months:
(I) Theoretical research on abacus skill as well as abacus and mental arithmetic continued to advance
Since 2010, the Chinese Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association (hereinafter referred to as the “CAMAA”) has entrusted famous research institutions in China to conscientiously carry out three important scientific research projects and have achieved fruitful scientific research results in further exploring and proving the scientific rationale that abacus and mental arithmetic education is conducive to the development of children’s intelligence potential. Research results show that: (1) Abacus and mental arithmetic training can greatly improve children’s mathematical ability, promote the development of digital sensitivity and digital cognition, and significantly improve children’s mathematical visual space and logical reasoning ability. (2) Abacus and mental arithmetic training is related to executive function and has a transfer function, which can promote academic performance in other disciplines, improve children’s executive function and working memory (the core content of IQ), and promote children’s cognitive flexibility. (3) Abacus and mental arithmetic training can affect brain plasticity and promote the participation of the right brain in mathematical tasks. It can promote rapid information interaction between left and right brains, improve the working efficiency of the brain, improve and optimize the brain network, and promote the development of children’s brain.
In 2019, the CAMAA once again held the “Demonstration Meeting on Project Research & Setup”. At the demonstration meeting, Professor Chen Feiyan’s team from China’s Zhejiang University presented Research on the Influencing Factors of Universal Abacus and Mental Arithmetic’s Transfer Ability and Its Cognitive Behavior and Brain Mechanism, Researcher Jiang Zhifeng from National Institute of Education Sciences presented Research on Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Curriculum Design and Teaching Practices in Primary Schools, and Professor Zhou Xinlin’s team from Beijing Normal University presented Comparative Study on Training Effects of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic and Two Other Typical Methods and Their Respective Brain Mechanisms. After making favorable comments on the novel topics, scientific designs and advanced research methods of the three projects, the expert panel unanimously give their evaluation opinions for project establishment. We expect the new research results to continue to provide theoretical support for the popularization of abacus skill as well as abacus and mental arithmetic around the world.
(II) Abacus and mental arithmetic teacher training were carried out in an orderly manner
On August 6-10, 2019, the CAMAA’s first training course for abacus and mental arithmetic trainers (junior) & abacus and mental arithmetic inheritors was successfully held in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. A total of 175 abacus and mental arithmetic teachers attended the training. This training course was a pilot work to align with the implementation of the Program of Chinese Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association for Certification of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Trainers. The training course arrangement, teaching contents and teaching schedules were all in line with the standards and requirements of the Certification Program. After the training course was completed, the trainees were given with standardized examinations and those who passed the examination were presented with CAMAA Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Trainer Qualification Certificates.
On February 12, 2019, the directors of Japan’s National Association of Abacus Educational Organizations (NAAEO) visited Japan’s MEXT, and presented to Minister Masahiko Shibayama a proposal for strengthening abacus education in lower grades of primary schools. Mr. Hirakami Kazutaka, Vice President of WAAMA and President of the League for Soroban Education of Japan. Inc., Japan, reported to Minister Masahiko Shibayama on the dispatching activities of Japanese volunteer abacus teachers, and expounded the situation of abacus education among lower-grade students in Japan. Japan’s MEXT Minister Masahiko Shibayama pointed out that Grade 2 primary school students should understand the composition of numbers and can add and subtract 2-digit numbers by writing. It is appropriate for schools to choose more suitable and specific teaching tools in lower-grade mathematics according to actual teaching needs. Minister Masahiko Shibayama said that he personally attached great importance to and respected all kinds of teaching activities organized by schools. Abacus teaching can significantly improve students’ understanding of numbers, and it is hoped that similar activities can be promoted continuously in future teaching work.
On May 20-21, 2019, the Association of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic of Hubei Province, China organized the third training course for abacus and mental arithmetic appraisers and referees in Hubei Province. A total of 46 abacus and mental arithmetic teachers from Hubei Province attended the training. The purpose of this training was to establish a high-quality team of abacus and mental arithmetic appraisers and referees, to help them master the appraisal, competition knowledge and practical operation process of abacus and mental arithmetic in a more comprehensively and systematically manner, as well as to improve the professional quality of the staff and abacus and mental arithmetic teachers in performing their duties.
(III) Member organizations have carried out numerous and colorful abacus and mental arithmetic competitions.
In the first half of 2019, “the 28th Cross-Strait Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Communication Competition” jointly organized by CAMAA and Taiwan Chamber of Commerce was a complete success, thanks to strong support from many abacus and mental arithmetic associations as well as the good work of the Organizing Committee. The number of participants in the 2019 competition totaled 226,000, an increase of 14,000 over the 2018 competition. So far, the total number of participants in the twenty-eight (28) Cross-Strait Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Communication Competitions has exceeded 7.073 million. According to relevant regulations of Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, no fees will be charged for the 2019 competition, and 10% of the participants will be presented with the Winning Award Certificates, while Coach Award Certificates will be issued to coaches according to 1% of the number of participants.
On August 8, 2018, the League for Soroban Education of Japan. Inc., Japan held the All-Japan Abacus Championship Contest, which was participated by a total of 682 people. In the individual comprehensive competition, six players got full marks (1,500 points), while Hiroka Takezawa (竹澤祥加) from Chiba Prefecture won the honor of “Japan’s No.1 Abacus Player”. In the primary school group, Kana Fuwa (不破花菜) from Gifu-ken scored 1,450 points, becoming “Japan’s No. 1 Abacus Player Among Primary Schoolers”.
In 2019, the SEMPOA SIP National Championship organized by SEMPOA SIP was held in Semarang, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia. One thousand contestants registered for the competition and 2,000 parents attended the event. The atmosphere in the competition venue was warm and the contestants were enthusiastic. Their exquisite performance and superb skills won bouts of applause from the audience.
On July 25, 2019, the CAMAA held the 24th Chinese Ethnic Minority Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Competition in Lanzhou,
Gansu Province, China. A total of 14 teams from 13 ethnic minority regions and more than 130 players and coaches took part in the competition. Since its inception in 1982, the Chinese Ethnic Minority Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Competition has been successfully held for 23 times. This competition series have made useful attempts and positive contributions to the inheritance of abacus culture, the dissemination of abacus and mental arithmetic, the development of intellectual science, the expansion of exchanges with ethnic minorities and the promotion of friendship among ethnic groups.
Many WAAMA member organizations have also held colorful competitions. For example, Korea Abacus Committee of South Korea held the World Youth Mental Arithmetic Conference; the Russian Growth Point Center held the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Olympic Competition; The Jiangsu Abacus Arithmetic Association of China held the 24th Jiangsu Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Competition.
(IV) International and regional abacus cultural exchange activities have
achieved remarkable results
On March 31, 2019, the International Symposium on the Inheritance of Chinese Abacus Culture and the Promotion Conference on the Achievements of Abacus Resources Database, jointly sponsored by CAMAA, the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association of Shanxi Province and Shanxi Finance & Taxation College, was held in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province. More than 100 people attended the meeting, including leaders of WAAMA and CAMAA, leaders of some WAAMA member organizations and experts in abacus and mental arithmetic education and research. Delegates at the meeting highly praised the achievements made by the abacus resources database, especially the 3D online museum built as part of the database, which keeps numerous ancient mathematics books and abacus in the form of electronic data. It not only comprehensively preserves the history, but also, more importantly, spreads the abacus culture through the Internet and provides a wealth of information for abacus fans. At the Symposium, participants shared their own practices and thoughts in the field of abacus and mental arithmetic from different angles and levels. Ms. Huey-Chiang Ma, WAAMA Consultant and Chairwoman of Chinese American Abacus Association, the United State, as well as WAAMA consultants Harry Ma and Sally Chou reviewed the promotion of abacus culture and abacus and mental arithmetic teaching in the United States, expressing sanguine prospects. Mr. Hwang Ho Joong, Vice President of WAAMA and President of International Abacus and Mathmatics Association of South Korea, delivered a speech titled The Status Quo of Abacus Education in South Korea. Mr. Wu Baiming, Chairman of Association of Professional Abacus Education (HK) Limited, Hong Kong SAR, China, expounded the concept and practice of promoting abacus and mental arithmetic teaching by using the Abacus Treasure APP. The Symposium, linked by the promotion of the achievements of the abacus resources database, aims to provide a valuable exchange platform for the inheritance and innovation of abacus culture, was highly praised by the participants.
On January 14-20, 2019, the 25th Cross-Strait Abacus Seminar was successfully held in Chinese Taiwan. Through this exchange activity, we have gained a deep understanding of the current situation of abacus and mental arithmetic education in Chinese Taiwan for children, primary schoolers and the elderly, further enhanced mutual understanding among WAAMA member organizations, and promoted the joint development of abacus and mental arithmetic across the Taiwan Straits. During the Symposium, the delegation from Chinese mainland also held extensive and in-depth exchanges with some WAAMA member organizations in Chinese Taiwan and paid visits to some abacus and mental arithmetic education institutions there.
(V) Abacus intangible cultural propaganda work is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people
In June 7-10, 2019, the national main venue activity for the 2019 “Cultural and Natural Heritage Day” intangible cultural heritage publicity and exhibition, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China and the People’s Government of Guangdong Province of China, was held in Guangzhou Baiyun International Convention Center. Leaders of WAAMA and CAMAA attached great importance to this event and invited two WAAMA member organizations, Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association of Jilin Province and Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association of Shanghai, as well as famous Chinese abacus experts to participate in the main venue activity. A series of interesting and professional exhibition activities attracted the attention of onsite visitors and well received unanimously, including the display of precious abacus objects in the Chinese Abacus Museum, the performance by abacus contestants of all ages, the assembly of small abacus and the lectures delivered by abacus experts.
The ISTAR Education of Canada organizes teacher training once a year, organizes two abacus and mental arithmetic competitions and exchange activities every year, and conducts an assessment of abacus and mental arithmetic grade every two months. In March 2019, an abacus and mental arithmetic publicity and exhibition was held at the Toronto Museum.
From 2018 to 2019, the students trained by the ISTAR Education of Canada were admitted to world’s famous universities with excellent results, including two students admitted to Harvard University, one to Yale University, two to Cambridge University, one to the MIT, two to UC Berkeley, two to the Business School and one to the Law School, Toronto University.
From 2018 to 2019, Chinese abacus and mental arithmetic calculators Wang Tongjing, Wu Meiling, Wu Yaqi and Pan Yuying took part in CCTV’s “Lesson 1 of School Opening” and “Challenge Impossible” and other large-scale domestic variety shows, and achieved excellent results, which add glory to the development of abacus and mental arithmetic endeavor. In addition, the “world abacus and mental arithmetic website” is increasingly improved, with an ongoing growth of hits and visits and giving the promotion role of WAAMA into full play. Member institutions combine traditional promotion with modern science and technology via the Internet, actively cooperate with the promotion of the WAAMA to expand the influence of the WAAMA, and continuously contribute to the inheritance and development of the abacus and mental arithmetic endeavor.
II. Problems encountered in the development of the WAAMA
Dear managing directors, reviewing our work in the last year, we achieved some progress with our arduous efforts. However, there are still some problems that we need to solve urgently.
First, after the term change of the WAAMA in 2018, the number of member institutions decreases from 60 when the WAAMA was founded to 47 now, and the number of members has decreased.
Second, with the vigorous development of abacus and mental arithmetic endeavor, various kinds of appraisal activities of abacus and mental arithmetic competitions are held worldwide and various organizations of abacus and mental arithmetic are springing up. Most of them are really spreading the culture of abacus and mental arithmetic, while a few only focus on pursuing economic interests, which damage the reputation of abacus and mental arithmetic education.
Third, the WAAMA faces bottleneck in various work, with the contradictions between the old issues and the new ones intertwined. Overlapping of global and regional issues makes it more difficult to make decisions and push ahead with various tasks. The communication channels between the Secretariat and the members are blocked and the means are not diversified. We need to make reform and innovation boldly.
III. Several suggestions for the WAAMA work in the next stage
Dear managing directors, to disseminate and develop abacus and mental arithmetic in the world, we should keep pace with the times featuring innovative development and adapt to the new requirements of the times and the new concept of inheriting and protecting intangible cultural heritage of humanity. I hereby offer three suggestions for the WAAMA work in the next stage:
First, efforts should be made to broaden channels of communication, make close ties between member institutions and actively play the leading role of the WAAMA. We should make full use of the advantages of modern science and technology, give full play to the important role of the Internet in communication, and constantly strengthen the links between the Secretariat and the member institutions, as well as among member institutions. Through experience sharing and multi-party cooperation, we will bring our strengths and potentials into full play and better promote the work of the WAAMA gradually. The Secretariat of the WAAMA should actively strengthen its contact with its member institutions, actively assist their business development and strive to set up a good platform for international exchanges among the member institutions of the WAAMA. The WAAMA Secretariat should attach importance to the editing and publishing of the “WAAMA News”, make full use of the platform of “WAAMA News” to display the work results of member institutions, exchange with each other, learn from each other and complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses. We should actively play the role of the world abacus and mental arithmetic website and expand the promotion of the WAAMA member institutions. Also, we hope that all member institutions will support the work of the Secretariat as before, provide timely and accurate information to the Secretariat, continuously enhance the cohesion and creativity of the WAAMA, and give play to the leading position of the WAAMA in carrying forward and protecting the development of abacus and mental arithmetic endeavor.
Second, we will actively expand the scale of the organization, adhere to international standards in planning the various operations of the WAAMA, and promote its healthy and sustainable development. We should uphold the principle of sincerity, friendship and equality, actively accept more like-minded organizations to join the WAAMA family, actively expand the member institutions, and strictly enforce the membership access and withdrawal mechanism, and improve the rules and regulations. We should strive to strengthen the international academic exchange activities organized by the WAAMA, hold high-standard international academic exchange forums, and constantly explore new methods, new ideas and new experiences for the development of abacus and mental arithmetic through academic exchanges. We should conscientiously organize and actively participate in high-quality abacus and mental arithmetic events, and earnestly prepare for the 2020 WAAMA abacus and mental arithmetic competition. Through this important event, we will continue to strengthen the important influence of the WAAMA international events. We should insist on doing a good job in the appraisal of the abacus and mental arithmetic standards of the WAAMA. Through standardized and continuous appraisal, we can improve the learning ability, volitional quality and overall quality of the abacus and mental arithmetic learners.
Third, we should keep pace with the times, constantly reform and innovate, and strive to achieve innovative development of abacus and mental arithmetic. With a time-honored history, the innovative development of abacus and mental arithmetic, on a basis of the abacus, has enhanced the innovative vitality of the abacus. We should always insist on theoretical innovation, arithmetic innovation and educational practice innovation. We should fully mobilize the enthusiasm, initiative and creativity of member institutions, adhere to the combination of concept innovation and practical exploration, and make use of modern science and technology to break through the traditional teaching mode. We will explore the Internet + of the abacus and mental arithmetic development, make full use of the modern teaching mode, and create a new chapter of abacus and mental arithmetic cultural development.
Dear managing directors, colleagues and friends, “no matter how far the destination is, we will get there as long as we have perseverance; no matter how difficult the task is, we will finish it as long as we have determination.” In face of future, we should take a long-term view and cooperate sincerely to draw a grand blueprint for the development of abacus and mental arithmetic in the course of carrying forward the abacus and mental arithmetic culture and prospering the abacus and mental arithmetic education. I believe that as long as we work together and help each other, even though far apart, we will surely be able to achieve a bright future of abacus and mental arithmetic.
Thank you.