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Sunset at the North Campus © Roland Baege​/​TU Dortmund
Project By The Faculty Of Computer Science And The Department Of Foreign Languages At The Center For Higher Education

New Platform Makes Learning Math Terminology Easier

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On blue background are black symbols and numbers. © Pixabay
Technical terms in the field of mathematics can be an obstacle for international students. A new digital learning platform aims to help.
A digital learning platform aims to help international STEM students get off to a good start at TU Dortmund University. “Mathematics German: Let’s Talk Math” is the name of the platform developed in the framework of a collaborative project between the Faculty of Mathematics and the Department of Foreign Languages at the Center for Higher Education. The tool, which is optimized for smartphones, presents mathematics terms using mathematical symbols and written German as well as audio and video recordings.

Mathematics terminology comprises not just a universal character code. In university lectures and tutorials, communication takes place in the local language. This means that above all international students of STEM subjects are faced not only with topic-related but also linguistic challenges. This is the starting point for the project “Mathematics German: Let’s Talk Math”.

The learning platform lists “vocabulary” from the basic areas of mathematics: The most important technical terms are presented in the form of mathematical symbols, written German and as an audio or video recording. Topics such as sets, analysis or numbers are structured in clear learning units. Special attention is paid to including all common ways of expressing the same thing: For example, the variant “one plus one is two” as well as “one plus one equals two”. A light-hearted test to check listening comprehension rounds off each section.

Originally designed for self-study by international STEM students, the intention now is for the digital platform to form part of preparatory and introductory math courses at TU Dortmund University. Since the 2019/20 winter semester, the technical language courses run by the Department of Foreign Languages at the Center for Higher Education – “German for STEM Students” – can also make use of the new learning platform and integrate it in teaching.

The project was made possible by funding from the “Bildungsengel” initiative.

Learning platform “Mathematics German: Let’s Talk Math”

 

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