Degree maths (the 2nd Edition)
Following on from my last entry about Algebraic Curves, I thought I'd just express my anger at the course's lecturer.
He's Russian. This isn't an immediate disadvantage or A Very Bad Thing at all, it's just that it's sometimes very hard to understand what he's saying (especially when he misses words out of sentences or pluralises something that shouldn't be – because the number of things makes quite a big difference in mathematics) and even harder to understand when he writes stuff on the board. Sometimes he just misses random letters out; this I can cope with. It's when it loses all grammatical sense I just can't work out what it means. It might make a little more sense if I knew what he was talking about in the first place, but how am I supposed to do that if I can't understand him? See what I'm getting at?
That's one thing. The other thing is equally silly but easily rectifiable. He told us about the book that he is basing the course on; Complex Algebraic Curves by R. Kirwan, I believe. The library has 2 copies of this book and they're both out. HE HAS ONE OF THEM. Given that he is also in possession of his own Complex Algebraic Curves by R. Kirwan this strikes me as a little daft. In fact, very daft. Who are the library books supposed to be for? Hmmm?
And they still expect me to get a 2:1.
My God.
14 Jan 2005 16:01
| 
Comments (3)
| 
Report a problem
Loading…
Buy a copy of the book. Stop going to his lectures. Read the book instead. Savour the time and stress you've saved yourself. Try to ignore the cost of the book.
"A lecture is just a talking book anyway and you can read faster than anyone can talk"
Discuss.
15 Jan 2005, 01:46
Lorna
James, are you a maths student?
Have you ever tried to sit down and read a book about maths? I mean, when you weren't using it to send yourself to sleep/insane?
15 Jan 2005, 10:10
lol!
Yes I'm a Maths student. Yes I've tried to read a book about Maths. And yes I wasn't using it to send myself to sleep/insane. It's really not that difficult, they are just like other books once you get used to the style – note to people who write Maths books: That style is SO 1950s okay? We all know Courant & Robbins, Hardy & Wright etc. are great but let's not imitate them too much yo.
I am aware this isn't the case for many – a lot of friends on my course think I'm BAD for skiving lectures, but I too have lecturers who are (in my opinion) not very good. I'm enthusiastic about the subject so I find other ways to learn it.
Bo.
15 Jan 2005, 23:09
Add a comment
You are not allowed to comment on this entry as it has restricted commenting permissions.