-NiE ,
INTERMEDIATE Social skills
8 February 2017
9
Magic manners
POLITE words like “please”, “thank you” and “excuse me” make other people feel appreciated and respected. You can show kindness and respect for other people’s feelings by speaking politely to them. Good manners requires thinking about other people, instead of just thinking about yourself. Other people will feel comfortable and happy to be around you when you are polite and treat them with respect.
Read this article that appeared in The Star on Sept 11, 2016. Then, answer the following questions.
Mind your manners, please IT is important for young people to have good manners and conduct. Sadly, many children seem to lack basic courtesy. Looking up to acknowledge a person in a room, or to say “hello” are basic manners that young people must have, but many just don’t seem to have it. Showing good manners reveals that you have respect for others as well as for yourself. Recently a VIP recalled an incident where students who received ang pows did not even say “thank you”. They obviously were excited about the cash gifts, but surely, the children could have shown their appreciation by saying the “magic word”. Using “please” and “thank you” are important words. While there are some who may not use these terms, there will be others who will notice and admire us for being polite and courteous. Good conduct and values do play an important part in shaping young people. Educators and policy-makers also have a role to play, and must ensure that values are instilled and practised. We need to constantly speak to our children about values and etiquette, for only then will it be ingrained in them. By doing so, we hope they will become adults with character and integrity.
NiE Activity 1 Critical thinking
MS ETIQUETTE Kuala Lumpur
l Identify
l Reason
Creative thinking 1. Can you remember a time when someone did something nice for you or gave you a gift? How did you show appreciation to that person? …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2. Why it is important to show thankfulness? Discuss your answers in pairs using the following points: that person - more likely to help you - or to be kind - in the future. makes everyone feel good. shows respect to - the person - who helped you or gave you a gift. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3. As a class, discuss different ways of expressing gratitude besides verbalising a “thank you”. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. The writer believes that educators and policy-makers, too, have a role to play to make sure that our children grow up with good manners. Do you agree with the writer? Explain your answer. ……………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………
l Imagine l Brainstorm
l Connect l Invent
Problem solving l Question l Recreate
l Present
……………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5. If you and your group members were such policy-makers, suggest one way your team would go about moulding the children of our nation into “adults with character and integrity”. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
NiE Activity 2
l Connect
l Brainstorm l Invent
Problem solving l Question
l Present
l Recreate
Communicating l Written
Note to teacher
l Imagine
for NiE Activity 1, Page 4:
Creative thinking
There may be some awkward moments as students try a round of introduction. Allow other students to provide feedback about what they see after each group has presented the skit. Ask if there were “awkward” moments or pleasant, smooth ones.
l Organise
l Reason
The rule of thumb is as follows: After Mr. Ho and Simon exchange greetings, Simon should introduce Lisa to Mr. Ho as Mr. Ho is the eldest in the group. It is also common for ladies to extend their hands first for courtesy handshakes. Simon can then use some information to break the ice by telling Mr. Ho a little about Lisa.
l Identify
It is always appropriate to send a thank you card or note when you receive a gift. It is one way of expressing thanks. Now, think of someone who has helped you, given you a gift, or been especially kind to you in some way recently. Write a thank you note to give to this person. Specifically mention what you are thanking the person for and what you liked about the gift, or how you were helped by the action. Use at least three descriptive words from The Star in this note. You can do this activity in your exercise book, using appropriate pictures from The Star to decorate your note.
Some cultures do not encourage handshakes between different genders. What’s the best way to approach this cultural practice when in a local or foreign setting? Discuss with the students.
Critical thinking