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Post by raindrop on Oct 24, 2008 14:35:42 GMT 8
How do you read these numbers?
1,600 = one thousand six hundred ? or sixteen hundred?
2,500,000 = two point five million? or 2 million 5 hundred thousand?
which way is more commonly used? thanks.
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Post by junkdna on Oct 24, 2008 14:57:31 GMT 8
All the ways are correct in the US.
But 'most commonly' would be the easiest to say, ie, "sixteen hundred" and "two and a half million".
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Post by Otaku on Oct 24, 2008 16:12:20 GMT 8
I think the biggest difference how numbers are said is how they are being used. When I'm speaking to another English speaker and we are having a conversation that does not involve teaching English in a classroom, I tend to shorten everything up and make things more concise and less wordy. '2.5 million' in favor of 'two million five hundred thousand'. However, in a learning environment, you need to learn the correct way, FIRST.
I think this is one of the major problems with Japan's English system. They try to teach correct and casual English at the same time (do not --> don't).
Going back to your original question, in the English classroom, I would teach 'one thousand six hundred' and 'two million five hundred thousand'. However, in a ‚¹‚ñ‚½‚ class, I might leans towards teaching them more casual and easier-to-say terms.
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Post by jed on Oct 24, 2008 16:17:46 GMT 8
as for me, I do use all of them, but if I had to choose the one I said the least.
It would be "sixteen hundred"
.... my 2.6c worth
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Post by raindrop on Oct 27, 2008 8:00:07 GMT 8
got it... thanks a lot, all.
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Post by junkdna on Oct 27, 2008 8:06:42 GMT 8
Before I begin, I just want you all to know this is NOT directed at anyone in particular. I just thought I would jot it down here for anyone who cared to read it. I am sure many of you have similar feelings.
***
Over this last year, I have been realizing something about myself: I am more interested in getting the students to remembering the basic idea of the language rather than getting everything right, especially with my elementary school students when I'm introducing a subject.
That is to say, I would rather my students get the idea of what I am trying to teach, than to have them remember words perfectly. Whatever gets the idea into their head and keeps it there, is clever.
For instance, for years I have struggled with 'Wednesday'. Finally, this year, I came up with 'Wentzday'. Wentz, as in Eiji Wentz, the half-English (?) singer from WaT. All the kids know him from GE GE GE NO KITARO. It works SO WELL. Most of the kids remember right off when they see the 'W' now.
My point is, it doesn't matter what you teach them in the beginning, as long as they remember some semblance of the word. Learning is a lifetime process and my introduction of the word Wentsday is not going to be their last encounter with it. They will be corrected via their own learning or through others. Learning takes time, so let it, I say.
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Post by raindrop on Oct 27, 2008 8:27:42 GMT 8
that is very true junkanda,
I see kid students do that very often. Just the other day when I was trying to teach the word "leave" and this girl said, "leave 21! (from the commercial on TV for hair implantation.). then she immediately found a way to memorize the word "leave" ... because the hair leaves and they need implantation! lol. its great when it works like that cause they will never forget those words.
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Post by Otaku on Oct 27, 2008 8:56:04 GMT 8
What you both are talking about is 'mnemonics'. It's linking information students already know with information they are trying to learn.
It can be very useful but it can easily backfire when the examples aren't understood. For example, is the WaT singer probably going to be popular in 10 years from now? Probably not...so, while using him as an example NOW might be good, I think the best mnemonic examples are ones that are timeless.
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Post by junkdna on Oct 27, 2008 11:35:07 GMT 8
actually I knew this, i just cant spell very well. as for Wentz, well, I won't be around in ten years, so 'WaT do I care?' HAR HAR HAR HAR! And you never know. SMAP has been around for 20 years now, LOOOOOOONG outliving their Hikaru Genji backdancer beginnings. Fear it. What you both are talking about is 'mnemonics'. It's linking information students already know with information they are trying to learn. It can be very useful but it can easily backfire when the examples aren't understood. For example, is the WaT singer probably going to be popular in 10 years from now? Probably not...so, while using him as an example NOW might be good, I think the best mnemonic examples are ones that are timeless.
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Post by gsuiris on Oct 27, 2008 12:46:20 GMT 8
I think as long as it works for them, it is fine. I know sometimes when I study kanji I make up my own ways to remember them and these don't always work for everyone. My friends and I used to make up silly ones together in class.
My kids like to say "Ebi Friday" since it is easy for them to remember them. Heck, I had a kid who called the insect "fly" and ebi fry because he could remember the name for the bug that way.
BTW - I think Wentz's dad is from Germany. Wikipedia says German-American though, so whatever.
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Post by junkdna on Oct 27, 2008 13:00:18 GMT 8
YUP! I teach my kids ebifryday too.
Ah, I couldn't find that info on English Wikipedia. Why don't the damn fools just translate each other. Sometimes it really is a kick in the gnards to have to visit both Wikis to get ALL the info possible.
Anyway, it says "ƒhƒCƒcŒnƒAƒƒŠƒJl", so he is American. You are right.
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Post by raindrop on Oct 27, 2008 13:08:02 GMT 8
yeah he is but he doesn't speak a word of English..
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Post by junkdna on Oct 27, 2008 13:15:20 GMT 8
I know, and I tell my kids that too. They think it's pretty crazy. So I tell them, let's not be like Eiji Wentz and they all cheer. HAAHAHAHA! yeah he is but he doesn't speak a word of English..
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Post by gsuiris on Oct 27, 2008 15:20:54 GMT 8
It is on the English wikipedia, just not on his page for some reason (it's on the WaT page). Yeah, I know, stupid. But that is wikipedia for you sometimes!
haha Let's not be like Wentz! Do kids really dislike him? I know that Teppei is more popular (or was at least).
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Post by junkdna on Oct 28, 2008 7:34:45 GMT 8
Well, I don't think it's a matter of not liking Wentz, I think it's just a cult of personality. Specifically mine. When I get the kids fired up, they'll go for anything... even poop-laced ice cream!
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