Laying the foundations
My daughter, at the grand old age of 13, is still afraid of the dark. While I was teasing her for being afraid when we had electricity and lived in such a densely built up environment, she responded,
You wouldn't understand. After all, you grew up in a hut!
I was incredulous and pointed out to her that I had lived in a HDB flat, like her, my whole life. That we had electricity, indoor plumbing and running water in the 70s. What about the times, I asked, when I had pointed out where I had lived?
And then a penny dropped and Gail said, Oh you mean you lived in those buildings? And then, So when you said you and Uncle Eugene lived one field away from each other growing up, you meant like a park and not a field with lallang?
And there it was. My little anecdote for class about how if students' preconceptions were inaccurate or not addressed, they would hear what you said, but make erroneous connections anyway.
You wouldn't understand. After all, you grew up in a hut!
I was incredulous and pointed out to her that I had lived in a HDB flat, like her, my whole life. That we had electricity, indoor plumbing and running water in the 70s. What about the times, I asked, when I had pointed out where I had lived?
And then a penny dropped and Gail said, Oh you mean you lived in those buildings? And then, So when you said you and Uncle Eugene lived one field away from each other growing up, you meant like a park and not a field with lallang?
And there it was. My little anecdote for class about how if students' preconceptions were inaccurate or not addressed, they would hear what you said, but make erroneous connections anyway.