Academic anxiety certainly isn’t limited to math, but it does seem to happen much more frequently, and cause more harm in that subject. So why would that be? Researchers aren’t yet sure, but some studies suggest that the way children are exposed to math by their parents and teachers play a large part. If parents talk about math like something challenging and unfamiliar, children can internalize that. Teachers with math anxiety are also likely to spread it to their students. Pressure to solve problems quickly dials up stress even more. And in some cultures, being good at math is a sign of being smart in general. When the stakes are that high, it's not surprising that students are anxious. Even Maryam Mirzakhani, an influential mathematician who was the first woman to win the Fields Medal, felt unconfident and lost interest in mathematics because her math teacher in middle school didn’t think she was talented.

　　学术焦虑症当然不限于数学，但是确实在该科目上的发病率似乎更高一些。原因尚不明确，不过一些研究表明，家长和老师在这里起到了很大一部分的作用。如果家长谈到数学就是一副“啊数学好难好陌生”的态度，那么孩子也会这样认为。老师的数学焦虑也很可能传染到学生。需要快速解决问题而带来的压力更是加重了紧张感。而且在有些国家，数学好是聪明的标志。风险如此之高，也难怪学生会焦虑。就连Maryam Mirzakhani这位第一个获得Fields Medal的女数学家都会不自信并对数学失去了兴趣，就是因为她的初中数学老师认为她没有天赋。

　　internalize something = to make a feeling, an attitude, or a belief part of the way you think and behave例如：

　　Minority groups tend to internalize the values of the dominant society.

　　stakes = something that you risk losing, especially money, when you try to predict the result of a race, game, etc, or when you are involved in an activity that can succeed or fail例如：

　　How much was the stake (= how much did you bet)?

　　They were playing cards for high stakes (= a lot of money).

　　With only two points separating the top five players, the stakes are high as they enter the final round.

　　So if you experience mathematical anxiety, what can you do?

　　下面就是克服数学焦虑症的方法了：

　　Relaxation techniques, like short breathing exercises, have improved test performance in students with math anxiety. Writing down your worries can also help. This strategy may give you a chance to reevaluate a stressful experience, freeing up working memory. And if you have the chance, physical activity, like a brisk walk, deepens breathing and helps relieve muscle tension, preventing anxiety from building. You can also use your knowledge about the brain to change your mindset. The brain is flexible, and the areas involved in math skills can always grow and develop. This is a psychological principle called the growth mindset. Thinking of yourself as someone who can grow and improve can actually help you grow and improve.

　　放松术，例如short breathing练习可以帮助有数学焦虑症的学生提高考试成绩。把你担心的事情写下来也是有帮助的。它能帮你重新评估一个让你紧张的情况，把被占用的working memory释放出来。如果有机会，体育活动例如快走，可以使呼吸变沉，帮助缓解肌肉紧张，防止焦虑加重。你还可以利用你所知道的有关大脑的知识来改变你的心态。大脑是很灵活的，大脑中管理数学技能的区域是可以被进一步开发的。这在心理学上叫做“成长心态”，如果你把自己当成是一个可以成长和进步的人，那么就真的能成长和进步。

　　free up = to make somebody / something available for a particular purpose例如：

　　The government has promised to free up more resources for education.

　　mindset = a set of attitudes or fixed ideas that somebody has and that are often difficult to change例如：

　　a conservative mindset

　　the mindset of the computer generation

　　If you're a teacher or parent of young children, try being playful with math and focusing on the creative aspects. That can build the numerical skills that help students approach math with confidence later on. Importantly, you should give children the time and space to work through their answers. And if you're an administrator, make sure your teachers have the positive attitudes and mathematical confidence necessary to inspire confidence in all of their students. Also, don't let anyone spread the myth that boys are innately better than girls at math. That is completely false.

　　如果你是老师或者孩子的家长，试着以轻松愉快的方式让孩子接触数学，并且注重创造力方面。这会培养孩子的数学技能，帮助他们日后自信的学习数学。重要的是，你应该给孩子足够的时间和空间来解决问题。如果你是学校的管理者，确保你的老师们对数学有着积极的态度和自信，这样他们才可以激发所有学生的自信。并且，不要让任何人传播“男孩子天生比女孩子擅长数学”的谬论。

　　work through = to resolve (a problem, especially an emotional one), by thinking about it repeatedly and hence lessening its intensity either by gaining insight or by becoming bored by it

　　innately = (of a quality, feeling, etc.) that you have when you are born例如：

　　He believes that humans are innately violent.

　　Racism is the belief that one race is innately superior to another.

　　If you experience math anxiety, it may not help to just know that math anxiety exists. Or perhaps it's reassuring to put a name to the problem. Regardless, if you take a look around yourself, the odds are good that you'll see someone experiencing the same thing as you. Just remember that the anxiety is not a reflection of your ability, but it is something you can conquer with time and awareness.

　　如果你有数学焦虑，可能光知道它的存在对你并没有什么帮助。或者，可能知道这个问题叫什么会有些安心的作用。无论怎样，如果你看看周围的人，很有可能你会看到跟你有类似经历的人。记住，这种焦虑并不能反映出你的能力，你是可以用时间和意识战胜它的!

　　put a name to somebody / something = to know or remember what somebody / something is called例如：

　　I recognize the tune but I can't put a name to it.

　　the odds = the degree to which something is likely to happen例如：

　　The odds are that (= it is likely that) she'll win.

　　What are the odds (= how likely is it) he won't turn up?

　　The odds are heavily against him (= he is not likely to succeed).

　　The odds are very much in our favor (= we are likely to succeed).

　　教师简介：

　　朱博，新东方口语讲师，毕业于985院校大连理工大学，硕士保送一等奖学金。在校期间曾游学美国，任出版社英语出版中心校对四年，工作严谨，活泼开朗，让大家快乐的学习英语。

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（编辑：何莹莹）