Fix These Etiquette Mistakes To Be The Best Host/Guest/Wedding Date Ever 



You may think your manners are on point, but you could be making a gaffe without even knowing it. Just in time for peak wedding season and a social calendar full of summer dinner parties, etiquette expert Myka Meier outlines the top ten etiquette faux pas you don't even realize you're making.

1. Never shake hands while seated. If someone walks up to your table, do not extend a hand while sitting. Always stand—no matter your gender!

2. Regarding the cheek kiss: It's one kiss (right cheek to right cheek) in America. If you travel to Europe, it can be two, or even three, depending on the ｃountry.

3. The guest of honor at an event always sits the right of the host or hostess.

4. The French don't say bon appétit at the beginning of a meal, and neither should we! Instead try "please enjoy." The commonly metisused phrase has a physical connotation in France, meaning "hope you digest everything okay" instead of wishing guests an enjoyable meal.

5. Regardless of whether it contains wine or water, if a glass has a stem, that is where you should hold it.

6. Soup should always be scooped away from you.

7. At the end of a meal, your napkin should be pinched in the middle and is placed to the left of your plate to signify that you are finished.

8. Other than marital or religious jewelry, diamonds should only be worn after 6 p.m.

9. When you send out an invitation, never say "please RSVP" because that phrasing is redundant. RSVP stands for répondez s'il vous plaît, which means "Please respond," so the "please" is already included.

10. If you need to leave a room, simply say "please excuse me," never "pardon me." Asking for a pardon is reserved for service staff.

Article Source: http://www.delish.com/food/a54092/etiquette-mistakes/
Image Source: http://www.rd.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/02/april-2016-modern-manners-paying-bill.jpg

VOCABULARY WORDS:
1. Gaffe (n.) ~ an unintentional act or remark causing embarrassment to its originator a blunder
2. Faux pas (n.) ~ an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation
3. Pinch (v.) ~ grip (something, typically someone's flesh) tightly and sharply between finger and thumb
4. Signify (v.) ~ be an indication of
5. Connotation (n.) ~ an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1. Why is it important to follow social etiquette when someone is in social gathering?
2. What are the important etiquette mentioned in the article? Discuss each briefly.
3. In your ｃountry, what are the biggest social faux?