How to Connect the Humanities with Mathematics

At the Intersection of Competencies — or How to “Befriend” the Humanities and Mathematics

People often believe their lives have nothing to do with mathematics and that there is no need to explore the depths of the subject, especially in English. But numbers surround us everywhere: telephone numbers, credit cards, flight numbers, and more.

Is studying mathematics really a serious and responsible undertaking? And if it has to be learned in English, is it mission impossible? Why is it necessary to understand English mathematical terminology? How can we motivate philologists to discover mathematics and mathematicians to learn a foreign language? And how are local education projects catching the bilingualism trend and turning it into an accessible tool for well-rounded development?

The material below will be useful to everyone: both enthusiastic mathematics fans and humanities students far from the world of exact sciences.

In a rapidly changing world, the requirements for a graduate profile are growing. A student must speak a foreign language at a high level, which increases competitiveness in education and the labor market. This raises the question: why not practice English while improving mathematics skills? All that is needed is the desire to try something new.

What Are the Benefits of This Method?

1) Using language as a tool for developing mathematical skills motivates:

• Humanities students to become more engaged in STEM lessons.
• Students with an aptitude for exact sciences. They learn mathematical terms in English and deepen their knowledge of topics such as combinatorics and probability theory.

2) If you are planning to study at an English-language school, college, or university:

• SAT Reasoning Test
• ACT (American College Testing)
• GMAT — a comprehensive test for business schools.

These tests assess mathematics knowledge. Studying in English helps students adapt to the requirements of international education.

3) Children find it difficult to understand why they need English.

In mathematics lessons, English becomes a tool for learning. Students see its practical application, which increases motivation.

4) Knowing mathematical terms in English is a practical skill.

It allows students to use vocabulary in real-life situations.

Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL):

What Is CLIL?

CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) is integrated subject-and-language learning. It is used to combine a foreign language with an academic discipline.

Benefits of CLIL:

• Develops students’ thinking and creative potential;
• Increases motivation and confidence;
• Improves language competence and speaking skills.

GIOS can help — it is a platform for interactive mathematics learning in English for students in grades 5–9.

The platform makes it possible to watch lessons in English, solve interactive tasks, and study new topics.

Conclusion: GIOS is a unique opportunity to integrate English into mathematics lessons. The platform makes this process easy, modern, and engaging.

Oksana Kovalenko, Oleksandra Buhaiova

Mathematics teachers, Specialized School No. 2, Chernihiv

The article was created in cooperation with the GIOS online platform.