INTERMEDIATE Etiquette ESL Lesson Plan: Warm-up (Pair Work)

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?
Dealing with the Situation: Ten Etiquette Scenarios for Discussion (Group Work)
1. The Bill You go out for lunch with a friend. He claims he forgot his wallet but promises to pay you back
if you pick up the check. You agree. You have seen him twice since and he has not offered to repay you.
2. Dress Code Weeks ago, you received a printed invitation to a breakfast seminar at a hotel. You
RSVPd 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.
3. Bad Date You are out on a date with a new person. You can sense that the date is going to be a
disaster. You are not sure whether you should make up an excuse to leave or stick it out.
4. Tipping You are at a restaurant in the US. The waiter was rude and the food mediocre. You dont
want to leave a tip but your friend says you ought to because its the custom.
5. The Gift Your partner has just given you a sweater-vest for your birthday. Its 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 offer 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 dont want to be seen as a non-team-player.
8. Smells One of your coworkers dresses well but wears far too much cologne. Another smells as if he
doesn't shower at all. When both odors are mixed together, you can hardly breathe.
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 dont really want family
invading your online social life. But, you know shed be upset if you refused her request.
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Etiquette ESL Lesson Plan: Match the words with their meaning as used in the article.
1. RSVP (verb)

a. fail to notice sth

2. overlook (verb)

b. enter a place (usually in large numbers) and disturb it

3. attire

c.

4. stick sth out (phr. verb)

d. average

5. hideous

e. make sb feel upset

6. mediocre

f.

7. hesitant

g. am/are/is bad (used to say something is bad)

8. offend sb (verb)

h. healthy; in shape

9. fit

i.

a smell, especially one that is unpleasant

10. odor

j.

clothes

11. suck (verb)

k.

Repondez sil vous plait (please reply)

l.

very ugly

12.

invade (verb)

uncertain

accept or tolerate sth difficult or unpleasant

Master the language: Connect the below ideas to make a sentence. (good for homework)
government / crush / uprising

e.g. The government plans to crush the uprising.

overlook / RSVP
attire / hideous
job / stick it out
mediocre / service
hesitant / speak
offend / comment
hope / fit
odor / bus
suck
invade / privacy
Etiquette ESL Lesson Plan: Etiquette Robot
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)

- eating at a restaurant

- driving a vehicle

- business etiquette

- dating

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- international travel

- mobile phone usage

- writing e-mails
- _______________ (other)

Etiquette ESL Lesson Plan: Discussion Questions

1) Is it old fashioned to think a lot about the rules of etiquette?
2) What rules of etiquette would you like to change?
3) White Lies: Is it okay to lie in order to avoid hurting someones feelings?
-- Manners Lesson plan copyright Matthew Barton of Englishcurrent.com

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