Unit 4 grade 8: Our Customs And Traditions – Communication

1. Task 1 Unit 4 Grade 8 Communication

Look at the pictures below. Print pairs, discuss the (Look at the pictures below. In pairs, discuss the differences between them.)

Guide to answer

Picture 1:

+ People are sitting on the mat to have the meal.

+ People are using the chopsticks and bowls.

+ The main foods are soup, boiled vegetable, rice,…

Picture 2:

+ People are sitting around the dinning table.

+ They are using cutlery.

+ The main foods are bread, vegetables…

Translated:

Figure 1:

+ People are sitting on boards eating meals.

+ They are using chopsticks and cups.

+ Main food is soup, boiled vegetables, rice…

Figure 2:

+ People are sitting around the dining table

+ They are using knives.

+ The main food is bread, vegetables…

2. Task 2 Unit 4 Grade 8 Communication

Guide to answer

1. F 2. T 3. F 4. TILLION

5. F 6. F 7. F 8. BILLION

first. The knife is held in the left hand and the fork is held in the right hand.

(The knife is placed on the left and the fork is placed on the right. )

2. You shouldn’t point the prongs of the fork upward during the meal.

(You should not point the teeth of the fork out during the meal. )

3. People use the same cutlery to eat the main course and the dessert.

(People use the same knife for main course and dessert. )

4. When the meal is finished, you should place the knife and fork on the plate.

(When the meal is over, you should put the knife and fork on the plate.)

5. You can use your fork to take more food from the serving dish.

(You can use your fork to get more food from your plate. )

6. You should use your knife to cut the bread.

(You should use a knife to cut the bread.)

7. Guests should start eating before the host starts eating.

(The guest should start eating before the host starts eating.)

8. You should ask someone to pass you a dish.

(You should ask someone to pass the plate to you.)

3. Task 3 Unit 4 Grade 8 Communication

Now listen to Nick giving a presentation on table manners in Britian and check your answers. (Now, listen to Nick give a presentation on British eating and check your answers.)

Click to listen

Audio scripts:

In the UK, we eat around the dining table. We follow lots of table manners. Fristly, we use cutlery — you know, knives, forks and spoons – to eat most of the food. We hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right. You should hold the handle of the knife in your palm and your fork in the other hand with the prongs pointing downwards. There is also a spoon and a fork for dessert. When you finish eating, you should place your knife and fork with the prongs upward on your plate. Second, you should never use your own cutlery to take more food from the serving dish — use the serving spoon. Now if there’s bread on the table, you can use your hands to take a piece. Then break off a small piece of bread and butter it. Thirdly, if you are a guest, you have to wait until the host or hostess starts eating and you should ask another person to pass the food. Next, never chew with your mouth open and don’t talk with food in your mouth…

Translate Script:

In England, we eat round tables at dinner. We have many rules on the dining table. We use knives – you know, knives, forks and spoons – to eat oysters like all food. We hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right. You should hold the handle of the knife in the palm of your hand and your fork in the other hand with the prongs pointing downwards. There is also a spoon and another fork for dessert. When you’re done eating, you should place your knife and fork with the prongs on top of your plate. Second, you should never use your own cutlery to take shared dishes – use a shared spoon. Now if there is bread on the table, you can use your hand to grab a piece. Then break a small piece of bread and butter it. Third, if you are a guest, you must wait until the host or host starts eating and you should ask someone else to deliver the food. Next, never make a sound and don’t talk to the food in your mouth…

4. Task 4 Unit 4 Grade 8 Communication

Work in pairs. Discuss if you folow these table manners in your family. Are there other table manners you follow? (Work in pairs. Discuss whether you follow the eating pattern in your family. Is there a way you should follow?)

first. We sit around a dining table to have meals.

2. We use rice bowls and chopsticks.

3. When chewing food, we talk less.

4. The host/ hostess invites everybody to start eating.

5. The host/ hostess offers to serve the food for the guests.

6. When we have finished eating, we place our chopsticks on top of our rice bowl.

Translation:

first. We sit around a dining table to eat.

2. We use cups and chopsticks.

3. When we chew our food, we talk less.

4. The host invites everyone to start the meal.

5. The host offers to serve food to the guests.

6. When we finish eating, we put our chopsticks on the rim of the cup.

Guide to answer

In my family, there are some table manners. First, we usually use rice bowls and chopsticks, only small children use spoons instead of chopsticks. Second, when chewing food, we talk less.. finally, when we finish eating, we place our chopsticks on top of our rice bowl.

Translated:

In my family, there are several table manners. Firstly, we usually use rice bowls and chopsticks, only children use spoons instead of chopsticks. Second, when we chew our food, we talk less.. Finally, when we finish eating, we put our chopsticks on top of the rice bowl.

5. Task 5 Unit 4 Grade 8 Communication

There is a British exchange student in your class. You invite her to dinner at your home. Play the following roles. (There is an English exchange student in your class. You invite her to a meal at home. Role play.)

Translated:

Bright: Hi Jessica! My family wants to invite you to dinner.

Jessica: Great… but I don’t know anything about Vietnamese dining.

Bright: Well, what do you want to know?

Jessica: Well, do you guys eat around the table like in England?

Bright: No, my family sat around a board with food in the middle.

Jessica: Really?

Guide to answer

Bright: Hey Jessica! My family would like to invite you to dinner.

Jessica: Oh, that’s nice but… I don’t know anything about Vietnamese table manners.

Bright: Well, what do you want to know?

Jessica: Well, do you eat around the dinner table like in Britain?

Bright: No, actually we sit on a mat with the food in the middle.

Jessica: You’re kidding!

Bright: No, it’s true. We usually sit around a tray on a mat to have meals.

Jessica: And how do you serve meals? Do you use fork and knife?

Bright: No, we use rice bowls and chopsticks.

Jessica: Do you start meals before the host invites?

Bright: No, we only eat after the invitations of the host.

Jessica: It sounds good. How do you give signal to the other that you don’t want to eat anymore?

Bright: We place our chopsticks on top of the rice bowl.

Jessica: Oh, it’s interesting. Thanks for your tips on table manners.

Translated:

Bright: Oh, Jessica. My family wants to invite you to dinner.

Jessica: Oh, that’s great but… I don’t know anything about Vietnamese dining table rules.

Bright: Well, what do you want to know?

Jessica: Well, do you guys sit around the table like in England?

Bright: No, we were actually sitting on mats, with food in the middle.

Jessica: Are you kidding?

Bright: No, that’s true. We sat on a mat, around a tray to eat.

Jessica: So how do you eat? Do you guys use forks and knives?

Bright: Are not. We use rice bowls and chopsticks.

Jessica: Do you have a meal before the host invites you?

Bright: No, we only eat at the invitation of the host.

Jessica: Good eh. What signs do you give others that you don’t want to eat anymore?

Bright: We put our chopsticks on top of the bowl.

Jessica: Oh that’s interesting. Thanks for your great tips on eating etiquette!

6. Practice

Choose the letter A, B, C or D to complete the sentences

Question 1: Before beginning the meal, we should __________ for the oldest person to start.

A. wait B. to wait C. waiting D. waited

Question 2: You don’t have __________ tips for the waiters in Vietnam.

A. leave B. leaving C. to leave D. left

Question 3: We reached the house after __________ for almost an hour.

A. cycled B. to cycle C. cycling D. cycle

Question 4: Our customs are passed __________ from generations to generations.

A. down B. up C. to D. over

Question 5: Some fortune tellers can read your future by looking __________ your palm.

A. to B. in C. at D. for

Question 6: I’m so __________ about exploring customs of your country

A. excited B. interested C. fond D. keen

Question 7: Although I have never been to the place, it has a __________ of belonging to me.

A. prong B. palm C. course D. sense

Question 8: My teacher paid me a __________ because I finished all difficult tasks.

A. cutlery B. compliment C. offspring D. manner

Question 9: This filmstrip __________ the daily routines of a typical Vietnamese family.

A. reflect B. accepts C. obliges D. sprays

Question 10: He __________ try to be more punctual; or else, the manager will get angry.

A. must B. should C. need D. may

7. Conclusion

Through this lesson the children need to do the full homework, know the difference in the culture of the East and the West and list the rules in their family; At the same time, memorize the words in the lesson:

• chopsticks /ˈtʃɒpstɪks/ chopsticks
• cutlery /ˈkʌtləri/ knife, fork
• dessert /dɪˈzɜːt/ dessert
• knife /naɪf/ knife
• fork /fɔːk/ fork
• table manner /ˈteɪbl/ /ˈmænə/ table manners
• invitation /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃn/ invitation
• host /həʊst/ host (male)
• hostess /ˈhəʊstəs/ hostess (female)
• tip (n) /tɪp/ tip, know-how