LESSON 1

A. Discuss the questions:

1. Do you feel that people are usually polite? Give exemples.
Many people try to be polite, especially in social and professional settings, as it
fosters good relationships and helps maintain social harmony. For example, when
greeting someone older or of higher status, people typically bow slightly and
address them with appropriate titles like "anh" (older brother) or "chị" (older
sister).
2. Are you ever unsure about manners in social situations? Give examples.
Yes, it’s common to wait for the eldest person to start eating before you begin.
Sometimes, I feel unsure about when it’s appropriate to start eating, especially if
the dining customs difference from what I am used to.
3. Look at the photo. What is the man doing? What do you think of his behavior?
In this photo, I can see that the man is sleeping in the classroom. Maybe he felt so
sleepy and he couldn't stand it anymore, so he asleep in class, but this behavior can
be considered being disrespectful to teacher because the teacher is lecturing but he
is sleeping and not listening. In this situation, he should go out and wash his face to
be more awake and focused.
E. Complete the survey:
1. At the dinner table, serve the adults first. Then serve children.
- 2 (True in the past, but not now)
In the past, it was common to serve adults first out of respect. However, nowadays,
it’s also common to serve children first, especially since they might need more
attention during meals. This shift reflects a more flexible and family-oriented
approach to dining.
2. Never come to the table with dirty hands or uncombed hair.
- 3 (Still true now)
Washing your hands before eating is important for cleanliness and health, as it
prevents the spread of germs. Combing your hair and being neat also shows respect
for those you’re dining with. These are basic hygiene practices that are still
important in both casual and formal settings today.
3. Eat slowly for good manners. Don't talk with food in your mouth.
- 3 (Still true now)
Eating slowly is seen as polite because it shows you’re enjoying the food and not
rushing. Talking with food in your mouth can be messy and hard to understand, so
avoiding it is still considered good manners. These rules help keep meals pleasant
for everyone.
4. A man should take off his hat when he goes into a house.
- 2 (True in the past, but not now)
This was once a strict rule, especially in formal settings, to show respect.
Nowadays, it’s less common, and many people don’t follow this rule as strictly,
especially in casual situations. However, some people still practice it as a sign of
politeness.
5. A man should always carry packages for a woman.
- 2 (True in the past, but not now)
In the past, it was expected that men would carry packages for women as a sign of
chivalry. Today, this expectation has changed, and it’s more about offering help to
anyone who needs it, regardless of gender. This reflects a shift towards equality
and mutual respect.
6. Do not speak in a language that others in your group do not understand.
- 3 (Still true now)
Speaking in a language everyone understands is still important to avoid making
others feel left out. It’s considered polite to include everyone in the conversation,
especially in social or group settings. This helps create a comfortable environment
for everyone.
7. Home is the best place to learn good manners.
- 3 (Still true now)
Many people still believe that learning manners starts at home because it’s where
you spend the most time with family and learn basic social skills. Parents and
family members often teach and model good behavior, making home a key place
for learning manners.
8. Being polite means we want to make everyone around us comfortable.
- 3 (Still true now)
Politeness is still about making others feel respected and comfortable. This idea
hasn’t changed over time, as being polite helps create a positive and friendly
atmosphere in any situation. It’s about showing consideration for others’ feelings
and needs.
Listening 1: Be polite
A. Vocabulary
1. courtesy
2. behavior
3. etiquette
4. polite
5. manners
B. Read the sentences. Then circle the answers:
1. admit → a. agree it is true
2. society → b. the people of one country or area
3. increase → b. growing number.
4. violence → b. actions done to hurt someone
5. Scream → a. speak in very loud voices.
Listening skill: Predicting
D. Preview
When someone is rude, the best way to respond is to stay calm and polite. Instead
of being rude back, try saying something like, "I see that you’re upset, but let’s talk
about this calmly." This can help make the situation less tense and show that you
want to be respectful.
E.
Part 1: the guest’s name, job, reasons why he’s invited, topic of the talk
Part 2: Does he really think that people are neder now than in the past? Lynn
Hancock will answer that he thinks so and it is a serious problem.
Part 3: The host feels that it isn't easy to do about being polite when others are
rude. Hancork will say: " It's not easy, but Forni has some ideas about how to do it"

F RUDER

T
D.
1. What happened?
She accidentally bump into someone on the bus.
2. Was it an accident or did she do it on purpose?
It was an accident.
3. What did the man do?
The man yelled at Lynn: “Look where you’re going!”.
4. How did Lynn respond?
She said calmly and politely that it was an accident and he didn't need to yell
because the bus was crowded.
5. Was the "civility solution" successful in this case?
Yes, it was useful. At first the man was surprised, but then he said sorry to Lynn
and explained that he was tired today.
E. Fill in the missing words:
1. solution
2. rude
3. normal
4. circle
5. polite
6. breaks
7. words
8. society
Discuss the questions in a group.
1. Think of a time when someone was rude to you. What did you do and say?
When someone was rude to me, I stayed calm and didn’t react right away. I just
said, "I'm sorry if I upset you," to keep things polite. Later, I explained my
perspective politely, which helped to calm the situation down.
2. What do you think of Professor Forni's ideas? Are they easy to follow? Do they
work? Why or why not?
Professor Forni’s idea is to respond politely when someone is rude. This can help
reduce fights and make things better. It’s not always easy to do because we might
want to be rude back. But it can work because it can surprise the rude person and
make them think about their behavior. Lynn’s story shows that being polite can
sometimes make the other person act nicer too.
3. Imagine that many people start to follow Professor Forni's ideas. Can this
change society?
If many people began to follow Professor Forni’s ideas, it could lead to a
significant positive change in society. By breaking the cycle of rudeness, social
interactions could become more respectful and less stressful. This shift could
reduce conflicts, lower stress levels, and create a more courteous and cooperative
environment. Over time, this could lead to a culture where politeness is the norm,
making society more harmonious and pleasant for everyone.
LESSON 2:
Note-taking Skill: Organizing notes
politeness today, past
1. Table manners
Roman times to present
eating with fingers is bad
2. Public behavior
talking during concert today = bad
past, people talked during concerts.
Preview the listening
A. Vocabulary
1. respect
2. Principal
3. influence
4. deal with
5. valuable
6. shout out
7. improve
8. attentive
9. courteous
Work with the listening.
A. Listen and take notes
children don't have good manners, parents are busy to teach their children, they
don't learn good table manners, don’t know how to behave → adults
B. Listen on the rest of the new reports and take notes.
Schools give etiquette classes, teachers spend time to deal → bad behavior,
children learn table and classroom manners, how to relate adults, important to use
thank you, please; should raise hands, not shout out; have good influence, grades
went up, students are more attentive, save time, less violence and fights, parents
also like, little things make a big difference.
 Polite children

Using polite words such as please, thank you, excuse me

Students are more attentive in class

There are fewer fights in the school.

The class helps out at home, too, since the students also learn something
about manners at home, not just the classroom

F. Complete each sentence

1. Raise your hand
2. Shout out the answer
3. Mr., Mrs., or Ms
4. Say “excuse me”
5. Say “please”
6. Get into fights
7. Say “thank you”
8. Don’t talk too loud in the classroom, keep silent when teachers are teaching.
Discuss the questions:
1. Is it true that parents today are not teaching good manners to their children?
Why or why not?
It's not entirely true to say that parents today aren't teaching good manners to their
children. Many parents do emphasize the importance of politeness, respect, and
good behavior. However, the challenges of modern life such as busy schedules,
increased screen time, and changing social norms can sometimes make it harder for
parents to consistently reinforce these lessons. Additionally, societal influences like
media and peer pressure can impact a child’s behavior, making it seem like
manners are less emphasized. Finally, it varies from family to family, but many
parents still prioritize teaching good manners.
2. How did you learn about manners or etiquette? Give examples.
I learned about manners and etiquette from a variety of sources. My parents played
a big role by teaching me basic politeness, like saying "please" and "thank you,"
and showing respect to elders. At school, teachers reinforced these values by
encouraging us to take turns, listen carefully, and be kind to one another. I also
observed how people interacted in different social settings, picking up on behaviors
like shaking hands and making eye contact. Additionally, cultural norms influenced
me, such as greeting elders with a slight bow or using respectful titles. These
experiences combined to shape my understanding of good manners and etiquette.