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A 9-year-old math prodigy began university life yesterday - and promptly declared his first lesson "easy".

"I learnt it two years ago," March Tian Boedihardjo said after attending the lecture on mathematical analysis at Hong Kong Baptist University.

Asked what he had learned, he said: "You would not understand that."

The Hong Kong-born Indonesian-Chinese was admitted to a five-year undergraduate and master's program in math by the university last month after obtaining an A in both math and further math, and a B in statistics in the General Certificate of Education (GCE) A-levels in the United Kingdom. He has also taken courses in Oxford.

The Hong Kong university's decision to admit him had sparked debate on whether such a young child could communicate with the older students and get used to campus life.

Yesterday, March was accompanied by his father, who carried his son's school bag and raincoat. He will attend his son's lessons for the first six months.

The little genius had a hectic schedule. He had a math class at 8:30 am, followed by a two-hour Spanish class at 11:30 am. He attended the convocation ceremony after lunch.

March said he felt excited getting into university as he could continue learning math.

However, unlike at the press conference held last month to announce his admission - where he seemed relaxed and toyed with the microphone - March appeared impatient and annoyed when meeting the media yesterday, continually asking his father whether he could leave.

March said he was confident that he would adapt to campus life and that he preferred to live in Hong Kong. "Life in the United Kingdom was boring," he said.

March's schoolmate Janice Yim, a translation major, said she attempted to greet the prodigy.

"But he did not respond. He was surrounded by his father and university staff. He was too shy," she said.

But Fion Wong, a fellow student in the Spanish class, said she was impressed by March.

"He introduced himself in Spanish. He was eager to express himself and chat with the teacher," she said.

Extra security staff was deployed on the campus to prevent reporters from sneaking into the classrooms.

University president Ng Ching-fai said they were confident that March will be nurtured well as they will allocate extra resources to help the child with his social skills and a tailor-made curriculum.

"We will adjust the curriculum if he finds it too easy," he said.

"He is very impressive. He is still a child, but speaks in an orderly and logical manner," he said.

Ng urged the media not to put the child under the spotlight.

"The pressure will affect his studies and annoy his schoolmates," he said.

(China Daily 09/05/2007 page 1)

Vocabulary:

prodigy：天才

Questions:

 

1.  What subject is March Boedihardjo studying at Hong Kong Baptist University?

2.  Which other country has March studied in?

 

3.  What concerns did people have about allowing a 9-year-old to take classes in university?

 

Answers:

 

1.  Math.

 

2.  The United Kingdom.

 

3.  If such a young child could communicate with older students and get used to campus life.

（英语点津 Linda 编辑）

About the broadcaster:

Bernice Chan is a foreign expert at China Daily Website. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Bernice has written for newspapers and magazines in Hong Kong and most recently worked as a broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, producing current affairs shows and documentaries.