We specifically teach NOT to say DEGREES after a HEADING.
which, in the UK, led to several pilots climbing to their heading, or more frequently just reading back the figures, eg.
Me "Turn left heading 120 degrees"
Pilot "120"
I fell foul of this many years ago on EGLL Final Director when instructing a Panam 727 (showing my age!) to reduce speed to 180kts - his response - "180". Guess what he did - turned on to 180 degrees.
That's why we say degrees after a heading instruction (best practice is after all headings) and knots after a speed instruction. It's worked for me!