林中斌 部落格 / Blog Chong-Pin Lin

TABLE MANNERS

Suggestions to My College Students

Chong-Pin Lin ✽ 林中斌

Revision: December 13, 2008  (Original: September 30, 2005)

1. NO SOUND: Keep mouth closed when chewing.

              Avoid slurping when eating soup or drinking liquid

2. ERECT POSTURE: No slouching. Train with book(s) on head and under arms

3. ELBOWS OFF THE TABLE: Hands on table wrist slightly bending back (European)/Hands under table (American)

4. NO STICKING OUT OF THE TONGUE: Do not catch food with your tongue sticking out. Foodàmouth; Not mouthàplate/bowl.

5. NO GRIMACE CLEANING TEETH

6. CONVERSE, BUT NOT DURING CHEWING: Learn from your neighbors/Avoid talking about yourself most of the time. Don’t talk loud.

7. FOLD NAPKIN NEATLY: When done/place on chair when leaving temporarily

8. CLEAN YOUR PLATE: It is not a sign of poverty, but rather good upbringing.

9. SERVE LADIES & THE AGED (FIRST):Pull chair and serve food.

10.ENTER & EXIT FROM THE LEFT OF THE SEAT

11.DO NOT STARE AT THE FOOD: Look ahead and scan the room occasionally with smile. Avoid staring at unusual diners (foreigners/disabled/celebrities etc.)

12.ACKOWLEDGE YOUR NEIGHBORS’ PRESENCE IN PUBLIC: Ask for permission to share the table. Do not act as if no one were around.