Open Letter to Math Tutor

Dear Mathematics Tutor,

Dealing with numbers requires a little bit of English, provided you are willing to learn it.

This is an opportunity to explore many options in the Queen’s language while still maintaining preference for your chosen subject.

In the past, our teachers were obvious of what was obtainable on the international scene and the acceptable standard of the topic. They therefore taught us this the best way they could.

Few of the topics which exposed them include multiplication, addition, score, power and measurement. They are expatiated and exemplified below.

1. MULTIPLICATION
Two times one TWO❌

Two times two FOUR ❌

Two times one IS/ARE two.✔
Two times two IS/ARE four.✔

2. ADDITION
Ten plus five equals to fifteen.❌

Ten plus five EQUALS fifteen.✔
Ten plus five IS EQUAL to fifteen.✔

3. SCORE
Moses, did you get ten over ten?❌

Moses, did you get ten OUT OF ten.✔

4. POWER
5² = 5 raise to power 2❌

7³ = 7 raise to power 3❌

7³ = 7 cube ❌

5² = 5 RAISED TO THE POWER OF 2✔

5² = 5 SQUARED✔

7³ = 7 CUBED✔

7³ = 7 RAISED TO THE POWER OF 3✔

5. MEASUREMENT
5m² = 5 metres square❌

7mm³ = 7 millimeters cube❌

5m² = 5 square metres

7mm³ = 7 cubic millimetres

As a mathematics teacher, always remember to use the instrument of English Language to teach your preferred subject, as exemplified above. Its teaching cannot be overemphasised.

PS: Did you observe that while I did capitalise English Language, I didn’t capitalise mathematics. The truth is, it can only begin with a capital letter if it and other subjects begin a sentence, with English, French and German as exceptions (when taught as languages).

Mathematics scares me (mathematics begins this sentence).✔

Effiong takes (not OFFERS) Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, English and French.❌

Effiong takes (not OFFERS) chemistry, physics, mathematics, English and French (the last two are language subjects; hence they should always be capitalised).✔

In addition, note that students TAKE subjects/courses; they don’t OFFER them as educational institutions do.

Yours sincerely

Alli, Olusegun Moses

Olusegun Alli is a passionate writer and editor, interlocutor, poet, eloquent speaker and Public Relations expert with productive years of experience.