Our Philosophy
Before delving into our approach to teaching mathematics, it’s important to provide some context. My wife originates from Brazil, and I’m from the UK, two distinct variations of Western culture. As luck would have it, we both ended up in Asia, and before we knew it, we had spent most of our lives there. This journey allowed us to experience culture, life, and parenting across China, Japan, and India. It was a lot of air miles, for sure, but the experiences were invaluable.

As parents, we immersed ourselves in the Asian education system, but more significantly, our children lived it firsthand. Now, years later, life has brought us back to Europe, where our young daughter attends a typical European school. Once again, we find ourselves in the familiar role of helping our children with mathematics and other subjects. However, this time, we bring with us a unique perspective—a blend of experiences from Asian and European approaches to education, combined with the ever-present bombardment of modern educational marketing philosophies.
When examining many Western-produced learning tools, certain patterns emerge. While it’s a subjective take, the focus seems to be more on:

- Convincing parents to subscribe through flashy websites and highly animated user interfaces that could rival Disney’s creativity.
- Emphasizing monthly subscription models that disguise their long-term costs (e.g., $9.99 per month, which subtly adds up to $119.88 per year).
- Creating the illusion that children will be so captivated by the app that no parental supervision will be necessary.
In Asia, the financial reality for most families often doesn’t allow for indulgence in expensive learning apps or other ‘convenient’ solutions. The classic method prevails: a textbook, an older student hired as a tutor, and hours of focused effort. It’s not that parents wouldn’t embrace Western-style learning tools if they could, but the cultural emphasis on hard work, discipline, and hands-on supervision continues to dominate.

The differences between these educational philosophies are profound. Western approaches often prioritize making learning entertaining and self-directed, while Asian methods emphasize rigor, repetition, and external accountability. This isn’t to say one is inherently better than the other, but rather that each has its strengths and weaknesses. The Western model fosters creativity and independence, but it risks undermining the importance of structured practice. The Asian model builds discipline and mastery but can sometimes stifle creativity.
Our philosophy, therefore, aims to integrate the best of both worlds. We believe in the value of supervision and discipline, paired with tools that genuinely enhance understanding rather than merely entertain. A balanced approach—one that combines structured guidance with engaging, well-designed materials—has the potential to unlock a child’s full potential in mathematics and beyond. By blending these cultural insights, we hope to offer an approach that is both practical and transformative, bridging the gap between philosophy and effective practice.