Learning To Speak Math...Again!

I dislike it when people butcher different languages. 

In fact, I say...if you can't speak the language correctly then don't do it at all.

(The French teachers I have seen/heard so far in the Public Middle Schools system are...errrr....okay?)

I myself, have stopped speaking French because it just sounds so bloody awful to me now.

(All my French friends agree ;-(  )

However, how can one improve unless they practice?

I'm trying to be OPEN to this new approach. Allow people to openly butcher a language so they can learn from their mistakes...okay fine, let's try.

 (one eye is already twitching)

Who better to use as an example then myself?

This is a video of me butchering Math.

When I say butcher, I mean not using one word of math vocabulary or terminology to help communicate my ideas.

Yuck!

Don't believe me?

 Here is a student that I has to work with in my second practicum. This student is showing me and helping me understand the process of how to subtract decimal numbers using expanded form....

...listen carefully.

Again I ask: Did you hear any math terminology/vocabulary coming out of my mouth?

Even once? And how many times do I say the word "okay"?

I stopped counting after seven.

* THANK GAWD FOR MY ASSISTANT TEACHER: SHE IS THE EXPERT *

Of course, it's not easy to be self-critical - and most people don't like to do it publicly on a blog - but my reasoning is, when you sound like a baboon... YOU SOUND LIKE A BABOON!

Why lie to yourself? 

I think there's a flaw in letting teachers teach their weaknesses instead of their strengths. If you can't speak French or don't know how to express yourself in math-friendly terms then you should not be applying for that job.

 Are you really helping students? Are you really helping yourself in the long run?

If the answer is yes then fine. I most respectfully agree to disagree with you.

But really, c'mon...

Who are you are trying to fool? 

I say teach to your strengths (because we all have them) and develop your weaknesses because in a perfect world we would all like to JUST teach our subjects but sometimes that doesn't happen...

SO be prepared and improve your own learning until you comfortably pass the level of butchery.

Kapish?