[ckpwong]

I learned my multiplication table in Chinese (mother tongue), which was way easier when every line has the exact number of syllables (4), almost like a poem. I believe I was taught at school in grade 1 or 2 back then, but I (and most other people) had it memorized at an earlier age. It's easy enough to "teach" my 3-year-old just by reciting it in front of him.

Memorizing multiplication table in English is a lot less intuitive, which I attribute to many people's disdain (or pure hatred, depending on whom you ask) of it.

I'm all for teaching a man to fish, but if he's starving at this moment, save him now by giving him the fish fish first before teaching. A dead man doesn't do much learning.

As for my son, he hasn't learned the multiplication table yet, but he's always interested to have us repeat it to him. (Ah, the curious minds of 3-year-olds.) In a few years, once he has learned the concept of multiplication, it'll be easier for him to apply it for the rest of his life if he has the table memorized. Before that time comes, the table is nothing but nursery rhyme to him. And that's fine with me.