A1 Level – Elementary
1. What is a polite word to say?
2. Is it polite to eat with your mouth open?
3. What makes a good thank you note?
4. Is it rude to be late?
5. Do you like shaking hands?
6. What should you say when you leave a party?
7. Is it polite to use your phone at the dinner table?
8. What is a common way to greet a teacher?
9. Do you send birthday cards?
10. What is proper public behavior?
11. What should you do when someone gives you a gift?
12. Do you use a knife and fork when you eat?
13. What is a common mistake in public manners?
14. Is it polite to interrupt someone who is talking?
15. What are the rules for being quiet in a library?
A2 Level – Pre-Intermediate
1. What are the key differences between formal and informal social etiquette?
2. Describe a specific cultural etiquette rule from your country that is unusual elsewhere.
3. What are the modern rules of etiquette for using mobile phones in public spaces?
4. What are the challenges of navigating etiquette when traveling to a new country?
5. Have you ever committed a social blunder because you didn’t know the local rules?
6. What is the proper etiquette for tipping in restaurants in your country?
7. Do you think strict etiquette rules are necessary for a functional society?
8. What is the role of proper etiquette in making a good first impression?
9. What are the rules for gift-giving etiquette (e.g., when to open a present)?
10. What is the difference between table manners in a family home and a fancy restaurant?
11. How does online etiquette (netiquette) differ from face-to-face rules?
12. What are the common etiquette rules for using public transportation?
13. What is the proper way to apologize sincerely to someone?
14. Do you think etiquette rules change faster in the younger generation?
15. What is the importance of “reading the room” before speaking in a group?
B1 Level – Intermediate
1. Discuss how the concept of “politeness” differs dramatically between individualistic and collectivist cultures.
2. How can schools and parents effectively teach children complex social and public etiquette rules?
3. What are the ethical issues surrounding the use of digital communication that allows for instant, but often rude, responses?
4. Do you agree that traditional dating and courting etiquette has been completely replaced by modern rules?
5. Describe a situation where following the rules of etiquette actually caused an awkward or negative interaction.
6. To what extent should people be forgiving when a foreigner breaks a local rule of etiquette?
7. What role does non-verbal communication (body language) play in expressing politeness?
8. How do professional etiquette rules differ from social etiquette, especially in the workplace?
9. Discuss the psychological phenomenon of social anxiety caused by fear of breaking etiquette rules.
10. What are the challenges of creating universal etiquette rules for global digital platforms?
11. How do rules for public speech (e.g., volume, word choice) change in different environments (church, bar, meeting)?
12. Should there be stricter rules about conversation topics that are considered rude or inappropriate?
13. What is the importance of formal titles (e.g., Mr., Dr.) in professional or academic etiquette?
14. Describe a specific etiquette rule that you find completely unnecessary or illogical.
15. What are the pros and cons of using humor in an attempt to ease a tense social situation?
B2 Level – Upper-Intermediate
1. How does strict social etiquette contribute to or detract from genuine human connection and honesty?
2. What is the difference between a simple rule of etiquette and a deep cultural value (e.g., saving face)?
3. What ethical problems arise when businesses use knowledge of local etiquette to manipulate or persuade customers?
4. Should there be specific etiquette guidelines for interactions between people of vastly different wealth or power levels?
5. What are the psychological reasons why people strictly adhere to rules of politeness, even when alone?
6. Discuss the idea that the rules of politeness are constantly being rewritten by young people and technology.
7. What are the arguments for and against the use of formal titles and dress codes in the professional world?
8. How do etiquette and rules of address reflect the historical hierarchy and social structure of a country?
9. What are the challenges of creating etiquette guidelines for virtual reality and metaverse environments?
10. Discuss the concept of “microaggressions” and how unintentional breaches of modern etiquette can cause offense.
11. What is the role of empathy in correctly interpreting and responding to the non-verbal cues of others?
12. Should people be expected to learn the specific etiquette of every country they visit, or is basic politeness enough?
13. What is the difference between being sincerely kind and simply following a rule of etiquette?
14. How does the need for political correctness affect the spontaneity and freedom of public speech?
15. Discuss the idea that sometimes the most effective communication is achieved by intentionally breaking an etiquette rule.
C1 Level – Advanced
1. Analyze the historical process by which certain class-based rituals evolved into common, accepted public etiquette.
2. To what degree should the legal system regulate behavior that is merely “rude” or “unpleasant” but not illegal?
3. Discuss the philosophical concept of “social contracts” and how etiquette serves as an unwritten one.
4. Evaluate the impact of increasing cultural diversity on the possibility of maintaining a single, unified national etiquette.
5. How does the architecture of public spaces (e.g., queue design) implicitly enforce certain rules of behavior?
6. Examine the historical purpose of specific greeting rituals (e.g., bows, kisses, handshakes) in establishing trust.
7. What ethical guidelines should govern the teaching and promotion of etiquette, ensuring it is inclusive and not discriminatory?
8. Discuss the concept of “face” (social dignity) and its influence on communication etiquette in East Asian cultures.
9. How do different national laws govern the acceptable distance (proxemics) between people in public and private?
10. Analyze the interplay between formal rules of address and the modern trend toward casual, first-name interactions.
11. What are the ethical challenges when people pretend to understand a conversation to avoid breaking etiquette?
12. Debate whether the increasing reliance on digital devices is leading to a permanent decay of public, real-time social skills.
13. How does the use of irony or sarcasm complicate the interpretation of politeness in a conversation?
14. Discuss the concept of “linguistic politeness” and the specific strategies used to avoid causing offense.
15. To what extent does the mastery of social etiquette act as a hidden barrier to upward social mobility?
C2 Level – Proficiency
1. How do you analyze the idea that all rules of etiquette are fundamentally mechanisms for maintaining social hierarchy?
2. Formulate a critique of the historical texts and figures that codified and imposed formal European social etiquette.
3. Analyze the intersection of political correctness, linguistic evolution, and the rapid obsolescence of traditional polite language.
4. Discuss the philosophical distinction between “morality” (right/wrong) and “etiquette” (polite/impolite).
5. Critically evaluate the concept of “non-verbal leakage” and the difficulty of completely controlling non-verbal signals.
6. Propose a system for classifying and mapping global etiquette norms to help aid international diplomacy and travel.
7. Examine the psychological function of ritualized adherence to manners in reducing cognitive load during social interaction.
8. How does the semiotics of clothing and personal appearance communicate immediate information about a person’s social compliance?
9. Discuss the ethical responsibilities of media personalities to model respectful and civil public debate behavior.
10. Analyze the historical relationship between the development of courtly manners and the eventual emergence of middle-class etiquette.
11. Articulate the inherent tension between a person’s individual expression and the collective need for harmonious social ritual.
12. Debate whether a system of hyper-personalized, AI-driven etiquette advice would improve or destroy human spontaneity.
13. Assess the long-term societal effects of decreased public civility on the quality of life in large cities.
14. Discuss the philosophical definition of ‘respect’ and how it is demonstrated through different cultural forms of address.
15. How might the principles of effective communication etiquette be used to model processes of organizational efficiency?
