Lesson 1 - Etiquette and Manners

Etiquette and Manners
Pre-Advanced. Lesson 1
Lesson 1. Etiquette and Manners
“ Manners maketh a man”.

- William of Wykeham
1. Warm Up
1. Are the people of your country well mannered
compared to other nationalities?
2. What customs or social rules does your country have
that a foreigner might not know?
3. What examples of bad manners do you often see?
4. Do you have any customer service horror stories?
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5. Is it old fashioned to think a lot about the rules of

etiquette?
6. What rules of etiquette would you like to change?
7. Your company has designed a robot. Your job is now to
program the robot to interact properly with humans. What
instruction do you give the robot in the following areas?
- greeting people – interacting with women (or men)

– mobile phone usage – business etiquette
– international travel – driving a vehicle
– eating at a restaurant - dating
- writing emails
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 2. Pre-Listening Activity
Match the words and phrases in the table to their
definitions.
a. anthropological b. branded c. broadly
d. clasped e. common ground f. comply
g. defuse h. mercilessly i. rub along together
j. shortcut k. stereotype l. trip-wire
1. If you take a [………………..] you use a route which is shorter than the
usual one.
2. 2. If you are [………………..] it means you are have a negative reputation.
3. 3. […………..…..] is the things that people can agree on when they have
different opinions or habits
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4. [………………..] means in general.

5. If something is [………………..], it is held very tightly.
6. When people […….………..], they are friendly and cooperate together
under difficult circumstances.
7. If you [………………..] a situation or a conflict, you take away the cause
of tension.
8. A [………………..] is a popularly held belief about a type of person or a
group of people which does not take into account individual differences.
9. A [………………..] here means a mistake that you can easily make
without knowing.
10. [………………..] means concerned with the study of humankind.
11. [………………..] means without pity.
12. If you [………………..], you act in accordance with someone's rules,
commands or wishes.
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3. Listening (3.1)
https://6a63fca904fd268f15f7-
d5770ffdd579eb31eaa89faeffc55fe7.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/uk-culture-
manners.mp3
After listening Exercise
Decide if each of the following statements about the text are true or false.
1. The interviewer is going to talk to a particular type of person

2. One person thinks people’s manners are worse on public transport
3. Simon Fanshawe thinks class affects people’s manners when eating
4. Fanshawe thinks that manners are a way for friends to interact peacefully
5. The interviewer thanks Simon Fanshawe for speaking.
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Useful Vocabulary
Nouns Adjectives Verbs Phrasal Verbs

Etiquette Polite Swear Tuck in
Courtesy Hygienic Shout Give up
Protocol Disrespectful Interrupt Take off
Convention Gentlemanly Respect Keep off
Consideration Ladylike Eavesdrop
Custom Offensive Offend
Tradition Appropriate Consider
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4. Reading
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has raised an issue of letter-
writing etiquette many older people have long been aware of – the
disappearance of the opening word “Dear” in e-mails. WSJ
reporter Dionne Searcy said times have changed regarding this
traditional greeting. She wrote how Abraham Lincoln started an 1863
letter, “My dear General.” President Lincoln also started letters to Mrs
Lincoln, “Dear Wife.” Ms Searcy compared this to a recent e-mail to
reporters from Giselle Barry, a spokeswoman for a U.S. politician, that
started “Hey, folks.” Searcy says the use of “Dear” is going the way of
sealing wax and the handwritten letter. Ms Barry believes people are
no longer using it because it is too intimate.
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The WSJ quotes business etiquette expert Lydia Ramsey

who believes people who do not start e-mails with “Dear” will
“lack polish”. She says: “It sets the tone for that business
relationship, and it shows respect. Email is so impersonal it needs
all the help it can get.” Jean Broke-Smith, an etiquette teacher
agrees. She writes on the BBC website: “We're losing the art of
letter writing. E-mails are becoming like texts - everyone is
abbreviating. If we don't get a handle on it, future generations
won't be able to spell at all.” English teacher Katie Craig offers the
following advice: “The rule is, address your reader as you would in
the context with which you are replacing the e-mail.” The same
goes for the minefield of signing off a mail.
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Comprehension
1. Determine whether the following sentences are true or false
a.Many older people are not aware that “Dear” is disappearing.

b.President Abraham Lincoln wrote “Dear Wife” in letters to Mrs. Lincoln.
c.A U.S. politician’s spokeswoman said the use of “Hey, folks” is bad.
d.The spokeswoman believes the use of “Dear” is too personal.
e.An etiquette expert said people need to polish their keyboards.
f.A teacher said the letter-writing art is getting better as we write more.
g.The teacher suggested people in the future will be poor at spelling.
h.A teacher says signing off e-mails also presents many problems.
2. Do you agree the word “Dear” will and/or

should disappear completely from e-mails?
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3. Which do you want to use? Rank these and share your rankings with your
partner. Put the one you most want to use at the top at the top.
•Yo! •To whom it may concern

•Dear •Sir/Madam
•Hello •Hi
•My dearest darling •No salutation
4. Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word
‘letters’.
5. What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘dear’?
6. Is letter writing in your own language the same as that in English?
7. Do you think it’s important to show “polish” in e-mails?
8. Are things like e-mail and texting making younger people poorer at language in your
country?
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5. Grammar Focus
Past Tense vs. Present Perfect Tense
You must always use the Present perfect when the time of an action is not important
or not specified.
You must always use the Simple past when details about the time or place that an
action occurred are given or requested.
Past Tense Present Perfect Tense

I have lived in Lyon. I lived in Lyon in 1989.
They have eaten Thai food. They ate Thai food last night.
Have you seen 'Othello'?. Where did you see 'Othello'?
We have been to Ireland. When did you go to Ireland?
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Grammar Exercise
Put the verbs into the correct tense to complete the dialogue between a mother and
her daughter.
Mother: I want to prepare dinner. (you / wash) _________________ the dishes yet?
Daughter: I (wash) _________________ the dishes yesterday, but I (have / not)
_________________ the time yet to do it today.
Mother: (you / do / already) _________________ your homework?
Daughter: No, I (come / just) _________________ home from school.
Mother: You (come) _________________ home from school two hours ago!
Daughter: Well, but my friend Lucy (call) _________________ when
I (arrive) _________________ and I (finish / just) _________________ the phone
call.
Mother: (you / see / not) _________________ Lucy at school in the morning?
Daughter: Yes, but we (have / not) _________________ time to talk then.
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Grammar Exercise
Choose the past simple or the present perfect:
1. Last night I __________________ (lose) my keys – I had to call my flat mate to let me in.
2. I __________________ (lose) my keys – can you help me look for them?
3. I __________________ (visit) Paris three times.
4. Last year I __________________ (visit) Paris.
5. I __________________ (know) my great grandmother for a few years - she died when I was eight.
6. I __________________ (know) Julie for three years – we still meet once a month.
7. I __________________ (play) hockey since I was a child – I’m pretty good!
8. She __________________ (play) hockey at school, but she __________________ (not / like) it.
9. Sorry, I __________________ (miss) the bus, so I’m going to be late.
10. I __________________ (miss) the bus, and then I __________________ (miss) the airplane as
well!
11. Last month I __________________ (go) to Scotland.
12. I’m sorry, John isn’t here now. He __________________ (go) to the shops.
13. We __________________ (finish) this room last week.
14. I __________________ (finish) my exams finally – I’m so happy!
15. Yesterday, I __________________ (see) all my friends. It was great.
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6. Vocabulary Match
a. very ugly
1. foot the bill
b. pay the check
2. reimburse sb (verb)
c. try to find out information about other
3. RSVP (verb)
people’s private lives
4. attire
d. give up or surrender sth to sb
5. flop (noun)
e. get rid of sb/sth because you no longer
6. stick sth out (phr. verb)
want them/it
7. ditch sb (verb)
f. accept or tolerate sth difficult or
8. hideous
unpleasant
9. yield sth (verb)
g. am/are/is bad (used to say something is
10. stench
bad)
11. suck (verb)
h. a complete failure
12. pry (verb)
i. a strong unpleasant smell
j. clothes
k. repay sb
l. Repondez s’il vous plait (please reply)
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7. Dealing with the Situation

1. The Bill – You go out for lunch with a friend.
He claims he forgot his wallet but promises to repay you
if you foot the bill. You agree. You have seen him twice since and he has
not offered to reimburse you.
1. Dress Code – Weeks ago, you received a printed invitation to a breakfast
seminar at a hotel. You RSVP’d but overlooked that it said the dress code was
business attire. You enter the conference room in business-casual clothes
(khakis & a collared shirt) only to find everyone in suits.
2. Bad Date – You are out on a date with a new person.You can sense that
the date is going to be a huge flop. You are not sure if you should stick it
out or make up an excuse to ditch him (or her).
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4. Tipping – You are at a restaurant in the US. The waiter was rude and
the food mediocre.You don’t want to leave a tip but your friend says you
ought to because it’s the custom.
5. The Gift – Your partner has just given you a sweater-vest for your
birthday. It’s hideous. You are considering asking for the receipt so
you can exchange it for something else.
6. The Seat – You are seated on the bus. At the next stop, a woman
gets on. All seats are occupied.You are hesitant to yield your seat to
her because it might offend her. She looks fit but she could be 65 years old.
On the other hand, she could be much younger.
7. Team-Player – The new company director has organized a team-building
exercise this weekend. The event is paint balling. You have no desire to go, but
you don’t want to be seen as a non-team-player.
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8. Smells – One of your coworkers dresses well but wears far too much
cologne. Another smells he doesn’t shower at all. When both stenches are
mixed together; you can hardly breath.
9. The Truth – Your friend wants to be an artist. Everyone (but him)
thinks that his work sucks. You are considering suggesting to him that
he try another career path.
10. Facebook - Your aunt wants to add you as a ‘friend’ on
Facebook. You don’t really want family prying into your online social life.
But, you know she’d be upset if you refused her request.
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8. Master the Language

Connect the below ideas to make a sentence.
government / crush / uprising e.g. The government plans to crush the uprising.
argue / foot the bill

company / reimburse
attire / hideous
worry / flop
job / stick it out
ditch / brother
courteous / yield
stench / bus
suck
reporter / pry
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Express Yourself
1. Do you think rules of etiquette are important? Why?

2. What do you think are some of the best rules of etiquette?
3. Are there any rules that you think are silly or unreasonable?
4. What manners were you taught as a child?
5. What’s the best way to teach manners to children?
6. Do you think etiquette has deteriorated in modern society? In what ways?
7. Do you think manners can affect your success in life? How?
8. Do you think manners are affected by income and social status?
9. What are some actions that are considered good manners in your country?
10. What are some actions that are considered bad manners in your country?
11. Why do you think some people stare?
12. Have you ever seen someone with very bad manners? What happened?
13. Can manners and etiquette ruin a person’s fun at a social event?
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8. Master the Language
Discuss the article below.
http://www.illinoisearlylearning.org/tipsheets/manners.pdf
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Etiquette and Manners

“ Manners maketh a man”.

5. Is it old fashioned to think a lot about the rules of

- greeting people – interacting with women (or men)

4. [………………..] means in general.

1. The interviewer is going to talk to a particular type of person

Nouns Adjectives Verbs Phrasal Verbs

The WSJ quotes business etiquette expert Lydia Ramsey

a.Many older people are not aware that “Dear” is disappearing.

2. Do you agree the word “Dear” will and/or

•Yo! •To whom it may concern

Past Tense Present Perfect Tense

7. Dealing with the Situation

8. Master the Language

argue / foot the bill

1. Do you think rules of etiquette are important? Why?

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