Welcome to UCMAS Egypt!
Now available here in Egypt after achieving success worldwide
Seize the opportunity and unlock your child’s potential to “Discover the Genius within”
What is UCMAS?
We are proud to introduce for the first time in Egypt an amazing new concept for developing skills, namely the “Universal Concept in Mental Arithmetic System” or more commonly known as UCMAS Program, with the aim of providing training courses for children to assist them in upgrading their mental capacities and thinking level in general, with the aim of ensuring that the learning process is fun. This modern representation of the ancient art of mental mathematics is a unique and scientifically proven concept that is gaining popularity worldwide as a powerful learning tool in helping millions of children to develop their intellect from an early stage and overcome their fear of mathematics. Armed with enhanced memory, concentration, comprehension, attentiveness, quick-wittedness, grasping, creativity and self-confidence, UCMAS students are more able to overcome exam-related tensions and excel in all subjects. This is a whole brain development program catering to the needs of children between the ages of 4 and 12 years, based on a confluence of an ancient Chinese concept and modern scientific research to bring about speedy and accurate calculation using a very simple tool called the abacus. The abacus, an old Chinese medieval calculator, is being used as an educational aid for the first time in our centers in Egypt to activate and develop the mental faculties of children through development and stimulation of the brain. Developed in Malaysia from “Zhusuan Methodology” as of 1993, the UCMAS system has already achieved enormous international success in developing an allover excellence in the academic lives of millions of children throughout Asia, the Gulf, USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Australasia and now in Egypt since the first of August 2004, carrying ISO-9001:2000 accreditation. The Program of using the abacus in mental arithmetic when developed as a skill not only leads to an increase in concentration but will also train the memory of the child in the formative years and help in habituating the mind to function diligently from an early age through stimulation and balanced development of both the left and right hemispheres of the brain. With deft and coordinated movement of fingers and quick reflexes, children achieve greater speed and consistent accuracy in mathematical calculations, essential for success in our highly competitive world. The course is provided in ten phases, starting with lessons on using the abacus, and thereafter lessons on addition and subtraction. Following a temporary withdrawal of the abacus, students are then taught to use their hands while doing mathematical equations to derive solutions. Often students from our centers are able to function faster than with a calculator, achieving addition and subtraction of a ten digit number in ten steps within a period of less than one minute with pinpoint accuracy. Our fastest children can mentally add 10 rows of 12 digit numbers within 30 seconds, all in their head! Division is taught in the fifth stage, with multiplication being introduced in the seventh phase. It is possible to learn addition, subtraction, multiplication, exponents, factors and percentage on the abacus. Children actually succeed in developing a liking for mathematics and a general rise in confidence levels.
What are the Goals of UCMAS?
Intelligence is the most valuable human asset. The UCMAS is a powerful training tool, which helps to explore, develop and maximize children’s intelligence from an early stage, and with consistent application the following skills can be successfully accelerated:
• Concentration:
The UCMAS teaching methodology increases attentiveness and concentration. • Comprehension:
The concept of using the abacus and flash cards leads to quick-wittedness and better understanding and grasping powers. • Memory:
The concept of thinking in pictures leads to better understanding and enhanced memory, improving student performance in mathematics and excellence in all subjects. • Speed & Accuracy:
This program is essentially about speed and accuracy through constant practice, thus achieving an improvement in mathematical calculation and the general overall performance of children. • Listening Skills:
Constant practice of calculating sums dictated by the course trainer to acquire speed and accuracy in calculation sharpens listening skills. • Imagination:
After withdrawal of the abacus at a certain stage, the student works with an imaginary abacus, which hones imagination skills through constant practice. • Creativity:
The concept of right brain development leads to enhanced creativity in students. • Presentation:
This ancient art of mental mathematics is primarily about arrangement and appearance and constant practice will improve students’ presentation skills. • Self Confidence:
The confidence of being released from the fear of mathematics and possessing advanced general mental capabilities and life-long skills for success. • Self Reliance:
Free from a reliance on calculators, computers and other gadgets, students become totally self reliant to use their brains, their inborn calculator!
What is the Best Learning Age for Children to begin UCMAS?
There is no limit to the potentiality of the human brain. However, not only does brain function require cultivating from childhood, but it also needs to be constantly used throughout. UCMAS Program is a tool for whole brain development incorporating concentration, attention, memory, quick-wittedness, imaging skill, logic, confidence turning intelligence, academic and general behavior to be more outstanding since childhood.
.
UCMAS is well structured for children of 4 to 12 years because this period is the formative age of children and the time when the most brain development occurs. Children in this age group have more imagination and quicker learning ability, having approached the sensitive period of thinking in their visual receptivity, aural recognition of sound and flexibility of finger muscles, thus making it the best time to explore and enhance children’s intelligence. (Children less than 4 years cannot be admitted because the program requires a student to be able to identify one to nine digits and write them, as well as identifying the concept of addition and subtraction in Mathematics.) The degree of mental development achieved by children during this time has a great influence over their future and a child who has received good mental formation by the age of 12 will continue to remain brilliant even up to the age of 70. Conversely, a child who lacks this formation can experience a sharp decline in mental capabilities even as early as 20. The brain is made up of two hemispheres, the left and the right. Research in brain science reveals that the left hemisphere provides analytical information concerning language and sound, whilst the right hemisphere provides integral information process dealing with information concerning shape and space. UCMAS is not about rote learning or honing one side of the brain only. Training on Abacus Mental Arithmetic System accelerates whole brain development by promoting development of the right brain by ultimately stimulating both sides of the brain to the maximum, which is the basis of UCMAS training. It’s medically and scientifically proved that creativity is at its highest when both sides of the brain are communicating and cooperating with each other. There has been a focus for a long time on left-brain development such as reading, writing, calculating, analyzing and logic, but training for the right brain through limb action also has a great influence on brain development. Children are taught from infancy to use more their right hand for most work such as eating and writing, therefore making their right brain function not as well developed. So, Abacus Mental Arithmetic System is all about tapping the full potential of the child.
What is an Abacus?
For centuries, the abacus was the Chinese shopkeeper’s calculator, but with the advent of modern calculators and cash registers it slowly disappeared from the business scene. In recent years however, it seems to have made a comeback, although not in its traditional environment. The abacus is used by UCMAS as an educational tool for developing the mental ability of children, especially their mathematical aptitude. It is made in different sizes to suit the different stages of the program and bright colors to attract the younger children and make training more fun. In this system calculation is made with the fingers, notably the thumb and forefinger, the nerves of which connect directly to the brain. Initially children are taught to calculate to manipulate the beads with both hands. By using the two-hand technique, both sides of the brain can be developed easily. The science behind brain development links the right hand to the left side of the brain and vice versa. We train children to place the abacus on a flat table and stir the beads with their fingers, as using the correct finger technique is paramount for achieving proficiency and reaching a higher level of speed, accuracy and concentration, all of which are very important in training. The abacus essentially teaches children to first become skilled in rapid mental mathematics with the help of the abacus beads before they can move on to mental calculation. Mental arithmetic in connected to the ability to visualize. Basically, the children are taught to picture the abacus in their minds. The figures that are to be calculated are visualized as beads on the abacus, as opposed to numerals, i.e. a “picture upon picture” concept. The visual is converted into a number and the child works out the mathematical configurations mentally. This crucial concept of thinking in pictures leads to clearer thinking, improved memory, higher levels of speed, efficiency and accuracy, not only enhancing arithmetic ability but also overall academic proficiency. The abacus is considered as an “educational toy” to attract children, as children worldwide have a tendency to dislike calculation, although it is extremely important in our lives. Children who dislike calculation tend to have difficulties that might result in a delay in the development of the brain functions relating to calculation. Research has proven that children who use the abacus are more intelligent.
Course Description:
The UCMAS Mental Arithmetic system has been developed over many years and revolves around mastering the art of mental arithmetic. It is not only time tested, but its claims have been proven by scientific research in several countries around the world. This highly developed program allows even young children to enter and complete the program within 10 levels. Generally an improvement can be witnessed in the academic performance of virtually any student within the first six weeks, with a noticeable improvement after four to six months. However, this should not be considered as being the peak of achievement as students would have to complete all 10 levels in order to achieve the full benefits of the concept. At the end of the term, students will see an improvement in their academic performance, having started the path to creating a genius by discovering their brainpower within! Only one class is required per week (which may be taken during the weekend so as not to interfere with studies) with 10 to 15 minutes daily practice at home to increase speed and accuracy in calculating sums. 1. Name of the Course:
UCMAS Abacus Reckoning & Mental Arithmetic 2. Nature of the Course:
Active numerical and image processing brain training using the abacus and subsequently imaginary abacus beads to process arithmetic calculations which seeks to promote development of the left and right hemispheres of the brain. 3. Relevancy of School Standard:
Suitable for KGs, primary and preparatory school students. 4. Entry Requirements:
None 5. Certifying Authority:
UCMAS Abacus Reckoning and Mental Arithmetic Academy, in collaboration with the China Zhusuan (Abacus Reckoning) Association. 6. Teacher Student Ratio:
1:15 recommended 7. Duration of the Course:
30 months, divided into 10 levels of 3 months per level. 8. Course Session:
2 hourly sessions, once per week with a 15 minute break 9. Instructing Language:
English - French The UCMAS program offers international grading and certification to ensure similar standards are maintained in all countries. Grading examination: One per term. A five to 15 minute examination at the end of each level to monitor student performance with a 60% score required to qualify to the next level. National Competition: Once yearly to help students know their standing on a national level.
|
