![]() Now let’s look again at those two numbers. In some languages (for example Italian) these two sounds don’t exist, and so it is difficult to distinguish between them. Pay special attention to the shape of your mouth and the position of your lips Many people find it difficult to hear the difference between these two numbers. Let’s try a quick test with two numbers you might find particularly difficult to distinguish between – 40 and 30. It can be very difficult to link familiar numeric symbols with unfamiliar words, particularly when the individual sounds do not exist in your own language. ![]() When we are growing up, our brains connect the sounds of our native language with numeric symbols such as 1, 2, 3, etc. The first difficulty we all experience when learning numbers in a foreign language is to make a visual link between the number and the sounds we hear in words. Part 1: Saying and understanding spoken numbers Now let’s look at each topic, so you will understand and eliminate each problem. How to use the thousand separator and the decimal point.Pronouncing and understanding spoken numbers.Learners typically have 5 main difficulties with numbers in English: Hopefully you have never been in any of these situations. You should have checked if your host was American or British! Was that February, 3rd (month, day) or the 2nd of March (day, month)? There will be a nasty shock when the credit card bill arrives! You see a handbag for $10,000 and think you are getting an amazing bargain for $10.00. You understand fifty (50) and you miss your flight. “Would remaining passengers please report immediately to gate fifteen” (15) You arrive late at the airport to hear the final announcement for your flight It’s not hard to imagine how situations like these could lead to disaster… ![]() Numbers are an essential part of our lives – negotiating a price, checking dates and times for a meeting, writing down a telephone number – just to mention a few examples. This article will explain the biggest problems with using and understanding numbers in English, and how you can avoid and correct them. If you’re like the people I teach, you’ve probably had similar problems, no matter what your level of English. Have you noticed that in English some things about numbers are very different compared to your language? For example, how you say large numbers, or prices, or dates? How often do you ask ‘is that three zero, or one three?’ Or ‘just send me an email’? Why is it easy to understand the difference between 13 and 30 when you read them, but it’s difficult when you hear them? ![]()
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