im quite good in eng. but when it comes to english maths...i feel like giving up slowly..well before this i knew maths in my mother tonge.. english people???? help me!!!!!!
2006-07-10 04:04:43 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
First of all, this is coming from someone just like you, whose first language was not English but now I am living in the USA and I am about to get my degree in Mathematics (yes, I am a math major). I know exactly what you are going through because I went through it myself and constantly see other people going through it.
There are a bunch of reasons for that. First of all, English is a stupid language. All languages are but English in specific is more screwed up than other language. I am talking about grammer rules. I am talking about where to put the accent on, the pronounciation. The spelling rules in particular almost impossible to master. There can be two words that are spelled differently but they sound the same AND there can be two words that are spelled exactly the same but pronounced differently depending on the meaning.
This sort of makes sense when you think about it because not a lot of languages are designed (spoken languages I mean). No one sat down and said, okay this how we are going to spell and pronounce. This will be the sentence structure. Every sentence HAS to have a noun and a verb. Language develops over time and it evolves over time. Words are obviously not spelled the same they were a thousand years ago and words don't have the same meaning they had a 1000 years ago.
The point is language is not based on logic.
The problem is math IS based on logic.
Now think of math like a language. This is why it is called a universal language because 2+2=4 anywhere on the planet. Obviously there is going to be a problem when you are going to translate from one language to another.
This is the reason that word problems, always, always, always, are the hardest things to do at ANY math level because you have to translate from English to Math. To be able to do this, you HAVE to be good at both. If you don't know German, how in the world are you ever going to translate from English to German. You could have a doctorate in English but if you don't know any German, you can't translate.
Usually, I don't really know why, but usually people are only good at one or the other so there is a problem. I don't really believe in that using only one part of the brain theory that you are either left-brained or right-brained. That's why, there are brilliant scientists but they suck at doing a presentation. They couldn't teach a class if their lives depended on it. They are horrible public speakers. They are horrible with word play. They just seem not to have any mastery of the language. That's why "nerds" are reputed to have really bad personal and social skills. They don't know how to talk. They don't know how to manipulate language. They don't know how to communicate. That is why they hang out in groups because it is easy for a mathematician to speak to another mathematician (because they speak the same language).
The moral of the story is, you don't have to like English...you just have to be good at it!
2006-07-10 11:52:04 · answer #1 · answered by The Prince 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Just as other people are doing bad in math you need help with math in English. First you should try doing it on your own no mater what score you get. Keep trying and never give up, but remember that it is okay to ask questions and get help. You could get a translator that knows math. Try everything you can and just don't give up. I hope you have a great time learning math in English.
2006-07-10 04:35:00 · answer #2 · answered by Eric X 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are having the same problem as Americans have with Metrics. American math is not English math. Our math is unique to America.
You can blame it on the British Pilgrims who came here. We know that many Pilgrims were released prisoners and many had little or no education.
The earliest knowledge I have of Pilgrim's abilities in measurements, from my experience in the shoe business, is that they used measurements of shoes by Barley Corns. Yup, barley corns.
Even as more Britions arrived, some genious decided to no longer use metrics, in order to further defy the Kings, I suppose, and devise our present day measurements. We're not speaking of methods of calculating, this goes beyond America, but we're speaking of our measure. Inches, feet, yards, etc., aside from fractions, decimals, of an inch. 1 mm is near 1/16 of an inch.
Am I right? How in the world can I begin to give you enough usable knowledge in this limited forum?
I'm almost 80, had a good education up to the 12th grade. Spent 50 years in retail, selling, buying, management, 35 in my own business. Went through the advanced "school of hard knocks".
If you think I can be of any help in your math, I'd be happy to try, eejayi @yahoo.com.
I have more knowledge in math that most, less than some. I would prefer that you advise your parents if you decide to contact me. They themselves are welcome to first do so . In any event, Good Luck?
Can't use "spell check". Forgive any typos.
2006-07-10 04:35:53 · answer #3 · answered by ed 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well numbers are numbers so I would learn math in your native language first and then all you have to know is the english names for the numbers. I've heard that people always do two things in their native language - count and curse.
2006-07-10 04:09:00 · answer #4 · answered by fidowithaspot 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In order for you to receive help, you must ask a question.
2006-07-10 04:08:43 · answer #5 · answered by bogoyatoo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What do you need help with? what is your first language?
2006-07-10 04:08:40 · answer #6 · answered by Mayishi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sorry but what do u need help in......contact me and ask questions........may b i will b thr to help u out
2006-07-10 04:14:57 · answer #7 · answered by atimsa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
? help what in...
2006-07-10 04:08:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋