Differentiating the Real from the Imagined/Expected

Drawing 

In my drawing lesson today, I was introduced to the idea that organic shapes such as the contour lines of a pumpkin, coffee cup or dancer, can be broken down into geometric shapes: circles, squares, rectangles, trapezoids, and ovals.

Instructor's example:

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I sketched two drawings: an already quite geometrical African drawing, and a cactus. As you can imagine, the cactus was a challenge. I had never thought of all the small triangles within my cactus, nor the cross-cutting lines. I did not succeed at drawing realistic contour lines for the new 'shoots' that were at the bottom and front of my plant that I had placed just before me. I expected these shoots to be triangles, but, in fact, I saw they were, I think, circles or even more like trapezoids.  I think with time, as I look for geometrical shapes, and as I step back from what I 'know' to what I really see, my drawings may appear more realistic. Knowing that the shapes exist and looking for them I am confident is useful tool.  Here are my first drawings.  This is about the journey, I am reminding myself. 👍

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Language Learning 

It has been brought to my attention again how important 'connected speech' awareness is for language learners. We hear what we expect, or don't hear what we don't know exists. For example, learners of English hear "a nice cream" when the speaker is saying "an ice cream". Today, in Spanish, I listened to a dialogue in Duolingo and tried to repeat and visualize exactly what I heard, rather than what I knew should be said grammatically.

The speaker said the following: Sara se depiertasustada y mira asuperro dormido el suelo. 

The correct version was the following: Sarah se despierta asustada y mira a su perro dormido en el suelo. 

A consonant was left out, words were run together and the word, en, was omitted.  When a listener knows these kinds of changes can be made in natural speech, he or she may make allowances, and comprehension may improve. Understanding and practicing the 'connected speech patterns' in a new language can prove a useful comprehension tool.