doesn't expecting the unexpected make the unexpected become expected?

very nice line with no or very deep meaning. but can be used on many occasions to confuse other .

I do get your students poitn of view. The only thing is it can be in two ways. In a controlled environment for instance things can be predictable even when you don't expect it. You can't prepare yourself when you get into a care accident but you know it can happen so you buy insurance. When you do get into that fender bender you are prepare for teh worse case scenario, whatever that may be. I think he's trying to talk more about self-fulfilling prophecy. if you think of something anf you keep expecting it knowing that it won't happen you tend to change your actions unconciously so they do happen.