Tadashi Tokieda's creative teaching style uses everyday objects to explain concepts, showcasing his expertise and creativity.
Tokieda's diverse background in languages and world travels provides a unique perspective on history and dialects, shaping his creative beginnings.
Overcoming language barriers and lack of mathematical background, Tokieda's determination and resilience led him to self-teach mathematics, emphasizing problem-solving and perseverance.
Deep dives
Introduction to Todashi Tokieda and His Unique Approach to Teaching Concepts
Professor Todashi Tokieda is known for his whimsical approach to explaining fundamental concepts using everyday items like rubber bands or paper clips. Despite being a mathematician, Tokieda's expertise extends to languages and world travels, providing him with a diverse insight. His unconventional teaching style captivates viewers, showcasing his expertise and creativity.
Tokieda's Childhood and Cultural Background
Growing up in Tokyo and later moving to the area between Kyoto and Osaka, Tokieda shares insights into the history and dialects of Japan, offering a unique perspective. His early interest in drawing and painting, along with exposure to traditional Japanese humor and storytelling, shaped his creative beginnings.
Tokieda's Passion for Languages and Self-Teaching Mathematics
His fascination with historical languages like classical Chinese and Greek led Tokieda into the field of classical philology. However, a serendipitous encounter with a biography of physicist Landau sparked his interest in mathematics. Overcoming language barriers and lack of mathematical background, Tokieda embarked on self-teaching mathematics, driven by a personal challenge.
Transition to Mathematics and Dedication to Learning
Despite the initial lack of background in mathematics and Russian, Tokieda's determination led him to immerse himself in a rigorous program of Russian mathematics problem-solving. He encountered challenges in understanding mathematical concepts like calculus but persisted, devoting long hours daily to his studies. His fascination with problem-solving and resilience paved the way for his transition into the world of mathematics.
Passion for Mathematics and Language Learning
The speaker recounts their journey of studying mathematics at Oxford without knowing English, illustrating a makeshift learning process. Despite mispronouncing words like 'jail' as 'Gaul', they pursued a mathematics degree as a mature student, delving into old textbooks like Hüttek and Watson's 'A Course of Modern Analysis'. The fascination with mathematics stemmed from observing the subject's logical nature and the academic culture that values clarity and understanding.
Teaching Approach and Personal Connections in Mathematics
The speaker reflects on their teaching philosophy, emphasizing the importance of presenting mathematics as a second encounter to aid comprehension. Having sympathy for learners due to their own late start in mathematics, they prioritize natural problem-solving over difficulty. Their belief that personal connections enhance understanding extends to their approach in conveying mathematical concepts, valuing clarity and relatability over complexity.
Tadashi Tokieda is a Professor of Mathematics at Stanford University - and a popular contributor to videos on our Numberphile video channel. But his path to mathematics was unusual.
