Words that Students Don't Know

[Juvenal]

Slide rule.

Well, that's not exactly a word, but a concept and a physical item.  There is NO reason they need to know it, but it's a pity that the slide rule world is gone.  Frankly, it made me think more about keeping track of exponents and significant figures and estimating than any calculator or smartphone does for today's cohort.

I still have mine.  And, yes, there are incomprehensible scales on it, but I still can multiply/divide and do squares and cubes and associated roots.  Not that I need to do much of those last two in retirement.  "Multiply/divide"?  Tax time is coming.  I wonder if the IRS will validate figures from slide rule work?

[wareagle]

Heifer.

In a class of students who thought they were going to become veterinarians.

[Aster]

My dad had a slide rule and tried to show me how it worked, but I could never figure it out.

Slide rules are magical.

[San Joaquin]

Apparently, anything involving data is magical, and to be feared.

[mamselle]

I have a slide rule my dad gave me, too.

I kept trying to u understand "why" it worked so I never figured out "how..."

I'd set up an equation and try to solve it, then get lost in the exponents...

M.

[San Joaquin]

"Lost in the Exponents" is going to be the name of my next book. 

[mamselle]

Do I get a royalty for supplying the title?

;--}

M.

[kiana]

"Rectangle".

............

[apl68]

"Perspicacity." 

I've heard it defined as meaning that one sweats a lot, but that was somebody deliberately being a smart-aleck.

[Aster]

Once again, the word "drab" has befuddled somebody.

Thinking back now, every person that has asked about this is a non-native-english speaker who has recently immigrated into the U.S.. Today it was someone from Argentina I think. Last time it was someone from the Middle East. And another person from either the Middle East or North Africa. Before that it was someone from another country, but I can't remember the accent.

I am not so irritated anymore. I look forward to the next cultural incident to confirm my hypothesis.

[uni_cyclist]

Fortress.

A student raised his hand during an exam because he didn't understand one of the questions, in which I used the word fortress.

For context, we had discussed the role of fortresses in Medieval Europe.

[Juvenal]

Fortress.

A student raised his hand during an exam because he didn't understand one of the questions, in which I used the word fortress.

For context, we had discussed the role of fortresses in Medieval Europe.

Perhaps uncertain about the gender significances involved in "Fort" vs. "Fortress."  Can't afford to put a step wrong these days.

[fishbrains]

Not really words, but many of my students can't read the face-clock in the classroom, especially if the clock has Roman numerals.

For timed tests, they have to put away their phones, so I have to tell them what time it is at regular intervals. A bit surreal there . . .

[Morris Zapp]

None of my students had ever heard the term noblesse oblige. Surprising.

[mahagonny]

Heifer.

In a class of students who thought they were going to become veterinarians.

Heifer loaf is better than none.

I have a Brazilian student who understands 'there' 'they're' and 'their' better than many Americans. It's not a matter of how good your teachers were. It's a matter of whether you care or not. Seventh grade material.