20171216, Article, Taichung

[Jasmine0316]

網站 http://www.happyforum.org/ 歡迎超連結並轉寄網址
論壇 http://www.happyforum.org/happy/ 歡迎至論壇討論

歡迎加入Taichung Happy English Club粉絲團



Time：第 414 會，2017 年 12 月 16 日（週六）下午2:30~5:30
Place：
http://www.happyforum.org/happy/viewtopic.php?t=15

Agenda
14:30~15:30 Session One
15:30~15:50 Speech Session
15:50~16:00 Change Group and then Break Time
16:00~17:15 Session Two
17:15~17:30 Happy Time

Host: Kevin Liu
Assistant Host:

Topic:
10 British Etiquette and Customs you should learn
Source:
http://internationalscholarshipguide.com/10-british-etiquette-customs-shouldnt-forget/


Please Note:
Venue:台中市南屯區 大業路182號 Mos Burger二樓
Thanks a lot for your attention.

Questions:
1. Do you know any etiquette and customs in Taiwan? Do you think they are important? Are they easy to follow?

2. Have you read any British novels or watched any British movies? What’s your favorite part of British culture?

3. Different nationalities may have different personalities. What stereotypes have you heard about different nationalities? How true are stereotypes?
◦ You can talk about any countries you know. For example: UK, America, Italy, France, Spain, Canada, Greece, etc.
◦ Discuss both positive and negative stereotypes.


例會須知
時間地點須知：
http://www.happyforum.org/happy/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15
協會章程：
http://www.happyforum.org/Association_Principle.htm
各分會章程：
http://www.happyforum.org/Club_Principle.htm
協會會員會費及各分會會員會費及入場費：
http://www.happyforum.org/15.htm
參與例會，請自行列印當週的討論文章，並帶至現場
http://www.happyforum.org/happy/viewforum.php?f=33
參與例會，請勿討論政治/種族/宗教/性，經勸導無效者，不得參加本會任何活動
http://www.happyforum.org/happy/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1766
週六晚餐(Saturday Dinner)
http://www.happyforum.org/happy/viewforum.php?f=76
戶外活動(Club Outing)
http://www.happyforum.org/happy/viewforum.php?f=72
所有行程(All Schedule)
http://www.happyforum.org/happy/viewtopic.php?t=883

[Jasmine0316]

Dear Taichung Happiers,

Despite different cultures, what leads everything back to harmony and light? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcPRNIycl7U

Former Danish Minister of Culture Uffe Elbaek remarkably revealed why we should hold Culture in high regard. “We need new ideas, we need new ways of doing things and we need a whole new way of approaching each other with much more empathy and understanding. This means that the rest of society really needs to focus on the world of art and culture as a vital source for not only solutions, but also ways of finding solutions… and a whole knew concept of what a valuable life really means.” All across the world, people feel they are so alike. All across the world, people feel they are so different. All across the world, people feel their culture has won. All across the world, people feel their culture has lost. All across the world, people look at other people in astonishment and admonishment, and then gaze off into the distance. There are standards in all walks of life; nevertheless, people are not so different, we all ultimately want the harmony and light from life. In this Global era, to feel the harmony and light is to do with the way we increase culture synergy to enhance productivity. Our host Kevin Liu is giving us an encouraging smile for the learning experience in the two main elements of culture--etiquette and customs. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to join us for this interesting, inspiring, and intriguing discussion.

What does etiquette really mean to you? How does etiquette serve in society? Do you consider it proper social etiquette to dress up a cat or a dog? The power of etiquette is beyond description—sometimes, even a sincere eye contact can make someone a day. American essayist, lecturer, and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson (May 25, 1803 – April 27, 1882) clearly indicated “Life is not so short but that there is always time for courtesy.” Etiquette makes a difference in every society; etiquette provides guidelines for us to give others a good impression; etiquette makes us and people surrounding us feel comfortable in any situations. The significance of etiquette needs no exaggerations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DAldi0Hxo8 Etiquette is an investment as good as education. Occasionally, we feel etiquette has really changed due to the context and the relationship we have with the person we are interacting with. Our expectations and assumptions about how other people will behave shape so much of what we consider etiquette. In other words, it’s all about what the society really expects. https://soundcloud.com/everydayetiquette Etiquette teaches us about dignity--we don’t earn dignity by high education, nor by achievements and privileges--we earn dignity by giving others more space. Etiquette is nothing more than a kind heart and selfless nature. Except for politeness, etiquette also requires respect, loyalty, and honesty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85AAtP-45yI&app=desktop

Can you imagine why people in Switzerland don’t cut glass on Sundays? What is the nationality of Santa Claus? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts0hU7gHOt4 Education philosophy differs in every society, and there are also norms and traditions that every culture has. Hostess: “Would you like some cake?” You: “No, thanks.” Hostess: “Would you like some cake?” You: “No, thanks.” (mouth watering…..) Hostess: “Would you like some cake?” You: “No, thanks.” (too much water, hard to swallow) All right, now, you can have the cake. What do you feel when we don’t wear this kind of culture? Customs teach us where we are from; customs calm us as the right things we should do automatically exhibited in our minds. https://matadornetwork.com/read/10-interesting-customs-around-world/ Blaise Pascal (19 June 1623 – 19 August 1662), a French physicist, inventor, and writer, simply asserted “There are three sources of belief: reason, custom, inspiration.” To respect our customs is to believe in the potential in our blood and root; meanwhile, to accept and appreciate customs and traditions of other cultures is to broaden our horizons. However, to attain the goal of balancing and benefiting from individual and social development, it takes patience and proficiency to conquer the challenges in cross-cultural teaching and learning processes. https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2013/11/good-teachers-embrace-their-students-cultural-backgrounds/281337/

Have you watched a film without subtitles (and you don’t know its language) and “understood” all the scenarios with your wild imagination? We don’t know we don’t know until we know. Cross-Cultural Competence deserves a life-long learning journey. On the personal basis, Cross-Cultural Competence helps improve communication skills and enlarge our global perspective. On the professional basis, to insure the future in a fast-changing world, especially, when businesses in a global scale are mushrooming in almost every corner of the world, Cross-Cultural Competence is the cornerstone for every business to make a positive difference. Author, speaker, and founder of the NPO Common Purpose, Julia Middleton strongly suggests culture awareness is equally important as culture intelligence for the pursuit of Cross-Cultural Competence, and the most difficult culture to understand is our own culture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izeiRjUMau4&spfreload=5 Yes, we carry the culture with us--our culture directly and indirectly influences how we think, how we behave, how we make decisions, and how we build trust. When we lift the lens our culture lends us and transfer our gaze to the bigger world, we are perfectly puzzled: do we have stereotypes of another culture because of too much or too little knowledge of it? Be aware of the impact of culture. Many parts of cultures are invisible but enormously important, so it’s necessary to check our assumptions. Shine some light on it--for fish to see the water. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGYewQIixBM Nevertheless, although we don’t need to paint a gloomy view of it, there is a hint of hesitation in Miss Globalization’s voice. Above all, Cross-Cultural Competence is all about practice. Perfect practice makes perfect—should recognize the mindsets and values in a specific culture; respect the culture differences; reconcile and transform culture differences into the leverage of settling more and serving more. Based on a true story and encouraging Cross-Cultural Competence, the film VICTORIA & ABDUL is a must that will blow your mind. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T504u17Ao9A

“Empathy” (by George Eliot)

Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible
Comfort of feeling safe with a person,
Having neither to weight thoughts,
Nor measure words–but pouring them
All right out–just as they are
Chaff and grain together,
Certain that a faithful hand will
Take and sift them,
Keep what is worth keeping,
And with the breath of kindness
Blow the rest away.

Harmony and light are within us—restore the faith, please. Whoever builds the culture builds the world; therefore, always welcome people into the home of our culture. For this weekend, we understand Happiers’ growing excitement at the notion of attending the gathering again and practicing X’mas customs and the art and etiquette of gift-giving during the dinner party. It will be a lot of fun to come along and enjoy this collective reflection. Do we spread right ideas for Cross-Cultural Competence? Do we keep learning them? Are we adaptive to the changes of etiquette and customs? Harmony and light are within us. Restore the faith and pray for the force to be with us. Now, let’s Despacito Despacito, shall we? Join us. Thanks!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1PXJ-MC1vA





With Gratitude,
Jasmine

[Kevin01]

20171216, Gathering, Taichung

[Kevin01]

20171216, Gathering, Taichung