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Lesson 9: Table Manners
Could you please stop slurping your noodles?

I can discuss good and bad table manners.

INTRODUCE

Table manners are different in every culture. It’s helpful to explain Japanese table manners to your foreign friends who visit Japan.

PRESENT

STEP A VOCABULARY

I. Listen and repeat.

slurp

burp

talk with your mouth full

cross your chopsticks

put your elbows on the table

pick up your bowl

茶碗を持ち上げる

II. Which of the things above do you think are good manners? Which ones are bad manners?

  • good manners

  • bad manners

III. Practice reading the words.

/cr/

/cl/

cross

close

crab

club

crop

clop

STEP B GRAMMAR TIP

When two verbs are next to each other in a sentence, they usually follow one of two patterns:

  1. (verb) + (gerund)
  2. (verb) + (to-infinitive)

However, some verbs can use both patterns.

You can use both pattern 1 and pattern 2 with the following verbs. The meaning is more or less the same.

start

continue

prefer

hate

like

love

  • I love slurping ramen.
  • I love to slurp ramen.

You can use pattern 1 or 2 with the following verbs, but be careful: The meaning changes.

remember

forget

stop

Use pattern 1, (verb) + (gerund), to show that the second verb happened before the subject stops, remembers, or forgets.

  • She visited this bakery twenty-five years ago and still remembers ordering their chocolate cake.
  • The boy’s mom yelled at him, so he stopped talking with food in his mouth.

Use pattern 2, (verb) + (to-infinitive), to show that the second verb happens after the subject stops, remembers, or forgets.

  • She remembered to order a chocolate cake for the party.
  • The jogger’s friend waved at him, so he stopped to talk.

UNDERSTAND

SPEAKING

Ai and Jake are having their anniversary dinner. Ai prepared a very special meal.

Jake:

Ai…

Ai:

Yes, honey?

Jake:

Could you please stop slurping your noodles? It’s so rude.

Ai:

Slurping your noodles is rude in Canada, Jake. This is Japan.

Jake:

Yes, but I’m Canadian.

Ai:

Well, you love talking with your mouth full, but that’s rude in Canada too. You also like to put your elbows on the table. And do you remember burping during lunch yesterday? That was–

Jake:

Okay, okay, I’m sorry! Let’s just enjoy the nice dinner that you made. I may not like watching you eat, but I love eating your cooking.

TRIVIA

Although it is considered bad manners in most countries, burping is actually polite in some countries like Bahrain and China. It shows that you enjoyed your meal and are full.

PRACTICE

STEP A EXERCISE

Complete the sentences using the pictures and words in the parentheses. More than one answer may be possible.

(stop / put my elbows on the table)

1. I _____ years ago.

(hate / leave food)

2. I _____ on my plate.

(love / eat pizza)

3. I _____ with a fork and knife.

(remember / pour a drink)

4. I almost forgot, but then I _____ for my boss at our party last night.

STEP B EXERCISE

Complete the dialogue using the words in parentheses. More than one answer may be possible.

Tutor:

This ramen tastes amazing!

Student:

I noticed that you like (eat ramen with a fork).

Tutor:

Yeah… Is that bad?

Student:

Well, it’s not bad, but since you’ll be staying here for a while, you should start (use chopsticks).

Tutor:

Okay. I’ll do my best.

Student:

Remember (not cross your chopsticks). It’s considered rude.

Tutor:

Oh, whoops. Sorry! By the way, do you also use chopsticks to eat curry? I think that’s really hard.

Student:

Well, Japanese people usually prefer (use a spoon) for curry.

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

You volunteered to be a tour guide for a small group of foreign tourists. It’s their first time in Japan.


Take them to lunch and answer their questions about Japanese table manners.

Today's grammar tip

  • (verb) + (gerund)
  • (verb) + (to-infinitive)

Challenge 2

Discuss your ideas.

If Time
Allows
1

TABLE MANNERS

2

EATING JAPANESE FOOD

3

FOOD CUSTOMS

1

TABLE MANNERS

  1. Do you sometimes talk with food in your mouth?
  2. Do you sometimes put your elbows on the table?
  3. When you’re in a bar or izakaya, do you worry about having good table manners?
  4. Do you know any foreign table manners?

2EATING JAPANESE FOOD

  1. Do you like to eat sushi with wasabi?
  2. Do you often put condiments on Japanese food (ex. soy sauce, sesame oil)? If so, what foods do you put them on?
  3. Do you prefer to eat sushi with chopsticks or with your hands?
  4. Do you use a spoon to eat miso soup?

3FOOD CUSTOMS

  1. Do you always say itadakimasu and gochisousama deshita?
  2. Do you usually eat everything on your plate?
  3. Do you think eating while walking is okay?
  4. Do you think eating on trains is okay?

FEEDBACK

I can discuss good and bad table manners.

LESSON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT

  • 4
    Very Good

    Could complete the task with ease

  • 3
    Good

    Could complete the task with some clarifications

  • 2
    Fair

    Could complete the task with additional instructions

  • 1
    Poor

    Could somehow complete the task with difficulty

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK