"We were thrilled when we knew we won," said  Chinese American Po-Shen Loh, professor at Carnegie Mellon University and head coach for Team USA for the 56th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), when recalling the moment the U.S. team won.

The Chinese Team scored 181, 4 lower than the U.S. team. “It’s not a surprise that the US triumphs in IMO. The Chinese team is still the best in the world, but the U. S. team is a strong rivalry,”Chinese American Feng Zuming, scorer of IMO. Feng used to be the coach of Po-Shen Loh.

U.S. selection of contestants for the IMO is harsh. Six contestants of the U.S. team are selected from around 200,000 people via fierce competitions. Besides, American mathematical Olympiad summer camps have been sprouting up in past 10 years, and there are rich online resources about mathematical Olympiad. However, Feng believes it’s not advisable that all kids go for studying mathematical Olympiad.

“It’s too shallow that one’s dream is just to get gold medal in IMO. Never make it your life goal.” Feng suggests children should make preparation to be an average person.

Feng always makes his students find out what they are suitable for doing before they choose to study mathematical Olympiad. “Teachers should help students to choose things good for their long-term development.”

In his opinion, learning goals are the fundamental differences in education between the East and the West.” Asian students face huge pressure from examination so they seldom ponder why the exams. They try to do well in exams for chances to enter a good college. But in U.S., one who does well in exams do not necessarily enter a good college,” said Feng.

He added it’s ridiculous China suppresses the study of Mathematical Olympiad because the fundamental problem of Chinese education is all studies are exam-oriented. 

This article was edited and translated from 《华人教头率领美国奥数夺冠内幕》,source:China Youth Daily