TLF Prep Clubs: Mathematics & Computer Science
This fall, we’re launching weekly, English-medium clubs that help motivated students explore beautiful Math and CS, strengthen core skills, and prepare for TLF entrance exams—without hype or empty promises.
Who it’s for
- Ages 14–15 who want challenging, beautiful mathematics or practical programming.
- Students preparing for next year’s three-year Technology Leaders of the Future program or just interested in Math and CS.
Language
All sessions are held in English. We know English is not native for most students; improving academic English for STEM is one of our goals.
What you’ll do
Mathematics Club
- Solve beautiful, non-routine problems across algebra and geometry.
- Discuss written and oral exam tasks typical for TLF selection.
- Bridge school math ↔ olympiad thinking: strategies, proofs, clear reasoning.
Format:
- Weekly live Zoom session: short lecture → collaborative problem solving + discussion.
- Weekly homework via a Telegram bot:
- part auto-graded;
- part human-graded with feedback from mathematicians.
Fee: €100 / month.
Computer Science Club
Two parallel groups:
Beginners (Python + projects):
- Learn Python fundamentals through concise theory blocks.
- Solve algorithmic problems in an automatic testing system.
- Alternate algorithms with LLM-assisted mini-projects to practice real-world thinking.
Advanced (Algorithms + projects):
- Dive into core topics used in admissions, competitive programming, real-world engineering, and company interviews: Graphs, Dynamic Programming, Two Pointers, and more.
- Alternate advanced algorithms with LLM-assisted projects (deeper scope and rigor).
Format (both groups):
- Weekly live Zoom session: focused theory → guided problem solving.
- Homework in the testing system + project milestones.
Fee: €100 / month.
How it works
- Cadence: one structured online session per week.
- Practice: in-session problem solving + weekly homework.
- Feedback: instant checks where possible; targeted human feedback where reasoning matters.
- Tools: Zoom for classes; Telegram bot (Math) and an online judge / project workflow (CS).
When & Logistics
- Dates: exact schedules to be announced soon.
- Language: English.
- Participation fee: €100 per month per club.
Why join
- Build deep problem-solving habits (not just formulas).
- Learn to explain reasoning clearly—useful for oral exams and interviews.
- Practice algorithms and projects that reflect modern CS and TLF expectations.
- Improve STEM English in a supportive, international setting.
Admissions Note
Participation helps you prepare, but does not guarantee admission to TLF. We’ll be transparent about expectations, workload, and typical task difficulty so you can track real progress.
Mathematics Program
Our extra-curricular mathematics classes have two goals:
- 1. To strengthen students’ understanding of the school curriculum.
- 2. To introduce them to ideas that go beyond the standard program.
Here are just a few examples of what we will explore:
Quadratic equations—then and now
Many students are already familiar with solving quadratic equations using the method of “completing the square” or the discriminant formula. What is less known is that this method was first explained over a thousand years ago by the great mathematician al-Khwarizmi, who presented it through geometric reasoning. By retracing his arguments, students will see a familiar tool in a new light and appreciate how algebraic facts may be geometrically visualised.
Prime numbers in mathematics and cryptography
Prime numbers—2, 3, 5, 7, 11, …—cannot be broken down into smaller factors. But why are they so important? From a mathematical point of view, they are building blocks for all integers, implying many fundamental properties. From a cryptographic perspective, they are used in one of the most popular encryption algorithms, RSA. We will talk about the properties of these numbers and even get acquainted with the main ideas of RSA. On the way, we will surely take a break playing with affine ciphers, which rely on modular arithmetic.
A puzzle from a postage stamp
What about just having a bit of fun? Look at this German stamp from 1998:
It shows a large square divided into 11 smaller squares. If the top-left square has side length 110, what is the side length of the smallest square? Is this a problem of geometry, or algebra, or both? Students will explore it and discover the connections themselves.