Codes of Conduct

1. Codes of Conduct The Warehouse Madrid Upper-Intermediate Class

2. Take (expressions) • Take a long time • Take a lot of risks • Take something too seriously • Take advice from somebody • Take someone for granted • Take responsibility for something • Take notice of someone/something • Take time (to do something) • Take sides (in arguments)

3. Do you know English people? • Where and how did you meet them? • What are they like? • Use four adjectives to describe English people. • Proper • Shy • Clever • Opinionated

4. Are the English friendly? • After reading the article “Watching the English”, do you think that Kate Walsh thinks that the English are friendly or unfriendly? • Why?

5. #2 • English codes aren’t obvious to everyone. • People who commute together don’t often become friends. • Weather speak is a common way of starting a conversation with strangers. • You should always agree with the person’s opinion about the weather. • English people don’t like talking about themselves to strangers. • It’s impolite to ask English people about money.

6. Verb+ ing • As part of a continuous verb form: • As an Englishman, I was laughing out loud… • She was riding her bike when the car honked at her. • Where is Greg? He’s taking a shower.

7. Verb + ing • After prepositions • Apart from asking for information… • Besides flirting with my sister, he ate all my wedding cake!

8. Verb + ing • After certain verbs: • We also avoidtalking about money. • He loves asking people for directions. • She enjoys travelling.

9. Verb + ing • As an adjective: • This highly entertaining book looks at… • She’s rather boring, isn’t she?

10. Verb + ing • In reduced relative clauses • People standing at a bus stop will often break an uncomfortable silence by… • Gliding down the amazon river in a kayak, you’ll soon fall in love with South America.

11. Verb + ing • Despite • In spit of • Despite asking her to stay and give them another chance, she left without even saying goodbye. • In spite of wanting a new wardrobe, she opted for wearing her clothes from last Fall again.

12. Verb + ing • As the subject of a verb • Talking to strangers on trains just isn’t done. • Riding a bus for 8 hours can be uncomfortable.

13. Verb + ing • After these verbs: • Hear • See • Watch • Feel • Imagine • Stop • Love • Like • Don’t mind • Dislike • Hate

14. Verb + ing • As a noun • Reading • Playing football • Cooking • Drawing • Running • Cycling

15. Verb + ing • After fixed phrases • There’s no point in • It’s a waster of time • It’s not worth • It’s no use • There’s no point in telling her, she’ll just get upset.

16. #5 • The section of Kate Fox’s book explaining the rules of queuing is fascinating and the English obey these rules without thinking about it. • Jumping a queue will certainly annoy those people queuing properly. • However despite feeling intense anger towards the queue jumper, the English will often say nothing – staring angrily is more their style. • Then there are the rules for saying please and thank you. The English thank bus drivers, taxi drivers, anyone giving them a service.

17. #5 • In fact the English spend a lot of time saying please and thank you, and they hate not being thanked if they think they deserve it. • Not saying thank you will often cause a person to sarcastically shout out, “You’re welcome!”.

18. #6 • I can’t stand people cutting in front of me in Passport Control. • Taking a nap is the best way to relax. • I think cycling is really fun. • I’m going to the beach next week. • I think football is exciting at times, but can be really boring. • I really enjoy doing yoga. • I’m thinking of learning how to paint next year. • I spend a lot of time cleaning my house.

19. Social Codes in the USA • In NYC, staring at someone on the subway could get you into trouble. • Queuing or “waiting in line” is absolutely necessary. It’s considered very rude to cut in line. • In spite of appearing like an “everything goes” country, there are dress codes in some social situations, like weddings, church and the golf course! • We don’t appreciate people not saying “please and thank you”. In fact, like the English, we expect it. • Talking to strangers is more acceptable in the U.S. than in England, I suppose. Talking to strange children is a big NO NO, however.

20. Social Codes in the USA • Talking loudly in public is not as looked down upon as in England, but you can get a dirty glare or even a confrontation. • Some subjects are very taboo in the USA. Talking about religion, politics and race with a coworker is usually frowned upon, unless you’ve known them for years and are already familiar with their views. We’re a very PC country. • Farting in public or burping in a restaurant might cause offense. Not leaving a tip at a restaurant is definitely offensive towards the server and the restaurant.