Unit 7 On screen Lesson 4 Respect rules and social boundaries
Speak and listen
- Work in pairs. Describe the picture.
- Where are the people?
- What are they doing?
- Read the questions in the questionnaire and choose the option that reflects what
you would do. Compare your answers with your partner and check your results.
Questionnaire
- You go to the movies with a friend. When you arrive, there are a lot of people lining up to buy tickets. Your friend cuts into the front of the line.
What do you do?
- Go with your friend to the front.
- Stay at the back and wait your turn.
- Tell your friend to come to the back of the line.
- During the movie, your friend starts talking to you very loudly.
What do you do?
- Answer your friend.
- Say nothing.
- Politely ask your friend to be quiet.
- On the subway home, your friend put his or feet up on the seat across from you even though there are people standing.
What do you do?
- Put your feet up too.
- Do nothing
- Suggest that your friend takes his or her feet off the seat.
Are you out of line?
Mostly A’s: You’re out of line.
Mostly B’s: You’re not out of line.
Mostly C’s: You’re helping someone from being out of line.
- A The next day you talk to your friend.
Look at what your friend says when you meet.
What can you say to persuade your friend to change his or her behavior?
- I don’t like standing in lines. People can do what they want.
- It’s not against the law to talk during the movies.
- I paid for my subway ticket. I can do what I want.
B Work in pairs. And role-play the conversation.
Can the friend be convinced to stay in line?
- Reflect Discuss these questions with your class.
- How much are influenced by other people’s behavior?
- Does your behavior influence other people? Explain why or why not?
- Why should we respect social boundaries?
Reflection point
There are situations in which we have to respect social boundaries that aren’t always covered by official rules or regulations. Respect social boundaries and help us to live and work together. The way we behave in these situations has a direct influence on other people, especially our friends.
- Extend
The way we behave and perceive social boundaries changes from country to
country. What three pieces of advice would you give someone visiting your country about what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior in social or public situations?
