WEEK 13 PRACTICE 11

TALKING ABOUT EATING-OUT IN RESTAURANTS

Upon completing this unit, students are

expected to be able to:

Discuss a menu

8.1 INTRODUCTION
Recommend dishes

Order a meal at a restaurant

Identify table manners

(Taken from http://watchfit.com//)

Warm Up

What comes to mind when you see these pictures?

https://www.vectorstock.com/ https://tanvisparekh.blog/
 THEORITICAL BASE

Table Manners and Dining Etiquette

For Meals in a Social or Professional Setting

Regardless of where you are eating, proper etiquette at the table is important. Even
when it's just you and your family having a meal together, you still want to set an
example for your kids.

Getting Started
Napkin
As soon as you sit down, turn to your host or hostess and take a cue for when to begin.
Once the host unfolds his or her napkin, you should remove your napkin from the table
or plate, and place it on your lap. If you are dining out, you should place your napkin in
you lap immediately after you sit down.

Keep your napkin in your lap until you are finished eating. If you must get up at any
time during the meal and plan to return, place the napkin on either side of your plate.
After you are finished, place your napkin on the table to the left of your plate.

When to Eat
If you are eating out, you should wait until all the members of your group have been
served before picking up your fork. At a private dinner, observe the host or hostess and
pick up your fork when he or she does. However, if you are at a buffet, you may start
when there are others seated at your table.

Eating
Table manners were designed to keep people from scarfing food down like animals, so
learn them before you eat with others. Here are some essential dining etiquette rules
that you should follow:
 Turn off your cell phone before sitting down. It is rude to talk on your phone or text
while in the company of others.
 Never talk when you have food in your mouth. That’s just gross. Even if someone asks
you a question, wait until you swallow before answering.
 Taste your food before you add salt, pepper, or other seasoning. Doing otherwise may
be insulting to the host or hostess. If you are dining with a prospective employer, the
person may perceive you as someone who acts without knowing the facts.
 Don’t cut all your food before you begin eating. Cut one or two bites at a time.
 Never blow on your food. If it is hot, wait a few minutes for it to cool off. Scoop your
soup away from you.
 Some foods are meant to be eaten with your fingers. Follow the lead of the host or
hostess.
 If you are drinking from a stemmed glass, hold it by the stem.
 Break your bread into bite-sized pieces and butter only one bite at a time.
 Try at least one or two bites of everything on your plate, unless you are allergic to it.
 Compliment the hostess if you like the food, but don’t voice your opinion if you don’t.
 Use your utensils for eating, not gesturing.
 Keep your elbows off the table. Rest the hand you are not using in your lap.
 Eat slowly and pace yourself to finish at the same approximate time as the host or
hostess.
 Avoid burping or making other rude sounds at the table.
 If you spill something at a restaurant, signal one of the servers to help. If you spill
something at a private dinner party in someone’s home, pick it up and blot the spill.
Offer to have it professionally cleaned if necessary.
 When you finish eating, leave your utensils on your plate or in your bowl.
 Never use a toothpick or dental floss at the table.
 You may reapply your lipstick, but don’t freshen the rest of your makeup at the table. 

After the Meal

After you finish eating, partially fold your napkin and place it to the left of your plate.
Wait until the host or hostess signals that the meal is over, and then you may stand.
After the meal is over, don’t eat and run. If nothing is planned after dinner, stick around
for approximately an hour before saying good-bye to the host and thanking him or her
for the dinner. If the event is informal, you may offer to help clean up.

(Taken from https://www.thespruce.com/table-manners-and-dining-etiquette-

1216971)
 A. GRAMMAR BOOSTER

Grammar
booster
Using Articles
Articles are words that we need to put before some nouns. There are two types of
articles:

The definite article the the grapes

The indefinite articles a and an a peach

an orange

Articles come before any adjectives or adverbs that describe the noun.
the delicious grapes a very big orange an old peach

DEFINITE ARTICLE: ‘THE’

We use the when the noun refers to something specific or known:

 a noun that the speaker and the listener both know about

I told my son to wash the car.

 a noun that has already been introduced in the conversation

I ate an apple. The apple was awful.

 a famous noun that most people know about

The Gobi desert is beautiful.

The world is a wonderful place.

 INDEFINITE ARTICLES: “A” AND “AN”

We use a or an when a noun is new or unknown.

I ate a banana.
I ate an apple.

We use a before words that begin with a consonant sound (a carrot) and an before

words that begin with a vowel sound (an orange, an hour).

We only use a or an with singular nouns.
a banana
an apple

NO ARTICLE
We don't need to use articles when we talk about a plural or uncountable noun in
general.
I love apples.
I always use too much salt in my food.

WHEN TO USE ARTICLES

Article Singular countable Plural countable nouns Uncountable
nouns nouns
the The orange is delicious. The bananas are over The tea is ready.
(specific / here.
known)
a or an I bought a peach.
(new / unknown)
I bought an apple.
no article Carrots are great. Fruit is great.
(talking in
general)

(Taken from https://grammar.efclass.ef.studio/determiners/articles)

EXERCISE: Observe this picture. Complete each conversation with a, an, or the.
1 A: What do you feel like eating
tonight?
B: Well,_______________ seafood
special sound delicious
1 A: There are two kinds of soup:
chicken noodle and mixed vegetable
B: I think I'd like ................. chicken
noodle. I'm not a vegetable fan.
(Taken from Top Notch 1A by Saslow and Ascher)
2 A: I’m in the mood for __________
really spicy dish.
B: Well, what about _________ Thai
chicken? Thai food is usually spicy
2 A: What would you like for your main
course? We have . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. nice grilled chicken special
on ................ . menu tonight
B: That sounds good. I'll
have ................. chicken special.
B. LISTENING PRACTICE

1. You will hear two people order food in a Thai restaurant. Focus on the
menu and the order sheet. Listen the first part and complete the order sheet
as if you are the waiter.(Audio 1)
 2. You will hear the second part of the conversation. This time you must listen
and make a note of how each person enjoyed each course. You should put a
tick (√) if they enjoyed the course, write OK if they felt the course was
satisfactory, and cross (X) if they did not like the course. (Audio 2)

Starter Main course Dessert

Brian
Tracy

3. Listen part 2 of the conversation again. This time you should think about
the relationship between Brian and Tracy, and choose T (true) or F (false)
for the statements below. (Audio 2)

a. Brian and Brian and Tracy

Tracy are married work together
T/F T/F

(Taken from Listening Extra, Cambridge University Press)

C. READING PRACTICE

1. PREPARATION. Write the names of the food and drink in the boxes below
the picture.

Pizza Steak Hamburger Fish

Cappuccino Fruit smoothie English breakfast pasta
 2. Check out these reviews of the trendiest places to eat.

(Taken from https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/reading/intermediate-b1-

reading/food-restaurants
3. Match the people with the best restaurant for them. Write the restaurant
names below
Your Local Caff The Lemon Tree Fast Best
The Chocolate Box Last Days of the Raj A Taste of Tuscany

(Taken from www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglishteens)

4. Write the names of restaurants from the article in the box.

Which restaurant (s) Which restaurant(s) In which restaurant(s)

serve hot and spicy only have desserts and can you listen to some
food? sweets? great music?

Which restaurant(s) serve

Which restaurant(s) are
Which restaurant(s) emply an all-day breakfast
good for people who don't
staff trained in Europe? including sausages, bacon
eat meat?
and eggs?
 D. SPEAKING PRACTICE

1. Study and listen the phrases below. (Audio 3)

10 Questions You Might Hear 10 Questions You Might Ask
(Audio 3A)
1. A table for how many?
2. Do you have a reservation?
3. Are you ready to order?
4. Would you like an appetizer?
5. Would you like anything to drink?
6. Would you like dessert?
7. Would you like another coffee?
8. Would you like fries with that?
9. How is everything?
10. Would you like anything else?
(Audio 3C)
1. Are you open?
2. Could we have a non-smoking table,
please?
3. Could we have a menu, please?
4. Do you have a kids’ menu?
5. Can we change our table?
6. Could I have (a coffee refill), please?
7. Where is the restroom?
8. Could I have a doggy bag [take-home
box], please?
9. Can we have the bill, please?
10. Do you accept credit cards?

10 Statements You Might Hear 10 Statements You Might Say

(Audio 3B)
1. Welcome!
2. I’m sorry, there are no tables available.
3. Sorry, no smoking is allowed.
4. Sorry, no pets are allowed.
5. Today’s special is (spaghetti).
6. I’m sorry, we’re out of (spaghetti).
7. Let me repeat your order.
8. I’m sorry, we don’t accept credit cards.
9. The restaurant is closing in ten minutes.
10. Please come again.
(Audio 3D)
1. A table for (three), please.
2. We have a reservation.
3. We need a few more minutes before we
order.
4. We’re ready to order.
5. I would like (a salad).
6. The food is too cold.
7. The food is (great).
8. We need another fork.
9. There’s (a fly) in my soup!
10. We’d like to see the dessert menu,
please.

(Taken from https://www.allthingstopics.com/restaurants.html)

2. Study and practice the following conversation with your partners. Pay attention
on the use of article.

Waiter: Hello
Jamie: Hi. A table for two, please.
Waiter: Of course. Over here, please. Here’s the menu.
Sally: Thank you. (pause)
Waiter: Are you ready to order?
Sally: Yes, we are.
Waiter: What would you like for your starter?
Jamie: I’d like French onion soup, please.
Sally: And I’ll have a tomato salad, please.
Waiter: And for your main course?
Jamie: Mmm, I’m not sure. I don’t know whether to have the steak or Thai
chicken.
Sally: Oh, I’d like the Thai chicken and rice, please.
Jamie: OK, me too.
Waiter: So that’s two Thai chicken and rice. What would you like to drink?
Jamie: I’ll have a fresh orange juice and ...
Sally: I’d like some mineral water, please.
Waiter: OK, thank you
(taken from https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/listening/elementary-
a2-listening/eating-out)

3. Make a group of three or four students. Choose one student to click the
following link https://wordwall.net/resource/25613192 . Then, click the start
button. Spin the wheel to see which country you are going to choose. Find a
restaurant menu online from the chosen country then make a conversation
based on it.
 E. WRITING PRACTICE

Read the example below. Choose one country, and then find an eating
etiquette. Rewrite the ideas using your own word.

REFLECTION
After learning the materials in this chapter, what have you learned? Fill the boxes
with your most objective thoughts.
I have learned... Challenges I faced during Aspects I need to improve:
learning:
1. ... 1. .... 1. ...
2. ... 2. .... 2. ...
3. Etc 3. etc 3. Etc
Scoring Rubric for Reading
Total Question Total Score Scoring
Items

20 100 Total of Correct Answers X 100

20

Range Category Description

86 - 100 Exemplary ● Student has a complete comprehension of

the material.
● Student participated and completed all
assignments in a timely manner and showed
perfect performance.

71 - 85 Good Quality ● Student has a proficient comprehension of

the material.
● Student actively participated in all activities.
● Student completed assignments in a timely
manner.

60 - 70 Satisfactory ● Student has an average comprehension of

the material.
● Student mostly participated in all activities.
● Student completed assignments with help.

0 - 59 Not There Yet ● Student does not comprehend the material.

● Student did not participate in activities.
● Student did not complete assignments.
Scoring Rubric for Writing
No. Aspect 20 – 18 17 – 15 14 – 12 11 – 6 5–1
Excellent - Good - Adequate - Unacceptable Fail
Good Adequate Fair

1 Organization

2 Content

3 Grammar

4 Punctuation,
spelling and
mechanics

5 Style and
quality of
expression