DAD'S GOOD SAMPLE IN CONVERSATION        Maria Letter No.31               1/85
--Maria to Juan

         1. HAVE YOU NOTICED HOW WHEN DAD IS TEACHING & he asks a question & somebody gives the wrong answer, that he tries as much as possible to give them some kind of approval or try to show in some way how the answer they gave can fit the question? Even if your answer's completely wrong, he says something like, "Yes, in some cases that could be true" or "Well, I can see why you would say that" or "Yes, that was the answer I wanted last time", or "That was the answer to the question I asked before."
         2. HE ALWAYS TRIES TO SAY SOMETHING POSITIVE, SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DIDN'T COMPLETELY BLOW IT, EVEN IF YOUR ANSWER'S COMPLETELY WRONG. It's really amazing the things he says to help make people feel comfortable, even if their answer's wrong. I've been amazed sometimes when somebody gives an answer that's completely off the track & he makes them feel good by saying something like, "Well, I understand why you'd say that & that's perfectly logical to assume that or to answer that way, but in this case it's something else." He doesn't make you feel like you're way off the track or that you're dumb or stupid or that you weren't listening, instead he gives you some credit for at least saying something & attempting to answer, which is really good. It's a principle, especially in talking to people or teaching, that you need to encourage people for trying & not embarrass them for their wrong answers. Like Dad says, "I really admire you for having the guts to come out with it." He always gives you credit for at least trying, even if it's completely wrong!

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