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A15 – People and Society

Vlastnosti
predmetAnglický jazyk
typmaturitná téma
okruhanglický jazyk
číslo15
stavvypracované
Zadanie

Talk about the position of the individual in society, social groups and social problems, tolerance and prejudice, and the role of the state and of volunteering.

1. Osnova témy​

  • What society is and why every society needs rules and norms.
  • The difference between ethics and etiquette.
  • Social rules in everyday situations — greetings, conversation, dining, dress.
  • Where good manners come from, and why they are being lost.
  • Differences in etiquette between cultures.
  • People in need and the social groups at risk.
  • The role of the state — the welfare system and benefits.
  • Volunteering, charities and what an individual can do.

2. Kľúčová slovná zásoba​

  • society: individual, community, social group, system, rules, norms, values, social behaviour, welfare system (sociálny systém), social security, benefits (dávky)
  • ethics and etiquette: ethics (etika — the study of what is right and wrong), etiquette / protocol (etiketa), moral code, convention, tradition, appropriate (vhodný), inappropriate
  • universal social rules: politeness, respect, tolerance, empathy, to express thanks, to apologise (ospravedlniť sa), to forgive, to address people properly (oslovovať), to offer help, to praise others (pochváliť), to respond to an invitation
  • conversational etiquette: choice of topics, to listen to each other, to interrupt (skákať do reči), to dominate a conversation, small talk, proximity, eye contact
  • dining etiquette: to arrive on time, to bring a gift, to make a toast (povedať prípitok), to eat neatly and quietly, table manners, to pour (naliať), cutlery
  • dress etiquette: formal, semi-formal, casual, dress code, appropriate for the occasion
  • loss of manners: lack of models, carelessness, the influence of the media, the generation gap, ill-mannered (nevychovaný), to break the rules, „practise what you preach"
  • people in need: the homeless, the unemployed, the retired (dôchodcovia), the sick, the elderly, people with disabilities, the underprivileged (znevýhodnení), refugees (utečenci), single parents
  • institutions: old people's home, orphanage (detský domov), hospice, asylum house, shelter (útulok), charity (charita), foundation (nadácia), NGO
  • social problems: poverty (chudoba), unemployment, homelessness, discrimination, racism, prejudice (predsudok), intolerance, bullying, addiction, crime, corruption, social exclusion
  • helping: to volunteer (dobrovoľníčiť), volunteer, to donate (darovať), donation, fundraising, collection (zbierka), to support, to raise awareness (zvyšovať povedomie)

3. Užitočné frázy a väzby​

  • Man is a social being — as Aristotle put it, whoever can live outside society is either a beast or a god.
  • Every society needs rules, otherwise it simply would not function.
  • Ethics tells us what is right and wrong; etiquette tells us how to behave.
  • If we want to be accepted by the society we live in, we should follow its rules.
  • Good manners are something children pick up from their parents.
  • As the saying goes, parents should practise what they preach.
  • What is perfectly polite in one culture may be offensive in another.
  • Unfortunately, there are people in our society who need help.
  • The state provides a welfare system, but it cannot solve everything.
  • Even a small thing, such as giving up your seat on a bus, makes a difference.
  • In my opinion, a society is judged by how it treats its weakest members.

4. Modelová odpoveď​

Human beings are social creatures. As Aristotle said, a person who is unable to live in society, or who has no need of it, must be either a beast or a god. Living together, however, requires rules, because without them no community could function.

We should distinguish two related terms. Ethics is the study of moral rules and norms; it analyses what is right and what is wrong. Etiquette, also called protocol, describes the formal rules and traditions of behaviour in a particular society. Etiquette prescribes how we communicate with each other and how we show respect. Modern etiquette tells us to greet people with warmth, to offer hospitality to guests, to wear clothes appropriate for the occasion, to contribute to a conversation without dominating it, to listen to others, to help those who need assistance, to eat neatly and quietly, not to disturb people with loud music, to arrive on time and to answer invitations promptly.

These rules differ according to the situation. At home we behave informally, at school and at work more formally, and at social events such as a dinner or a wedding there are quite strict conventions. Business has its own rules again. The rules concern both appearance — how to dress — and behaviour, such as greetings, how we address people and which topics are acceptable.

Where do good manners come from? Above all from the family. Children observe moral rules unconsciously and behave according to what they see; they pick their behaviour up from their parents, teachers and friends. If parents speak rudely, children will imitate them. If a family never sits down at the table together, the children will not know how to behave at a dinner. Small things — talking to people with respect, listening, showing empathy, praising others for what they achieve — should be normal in every family. Where they are missing, ill-mannered children grow up. That is why parents really should practise what they preach.

Many people complain that manners are being lost today. The reasons are the influence of the media, a lack of good role models, a general carelessness and the fact that young people understand freedom of personal expression as freedom from all rules. Personally I think politeness is not old-fashioned at all — it simply makes life together easier.

It is also worth remembering that etiquette differs from culture to culture. In some countries people shake hands, in others they bow; somewhere it is polite to finish everything on your plate, somewhere else leaving a little shows that you have had enough. When we travel, cultural awareness and tolerance matter more than knowing every rule.

Finally, every society has people who need help: the homeless, the unemployed, the elderly, the sick, people with disabilities, orphans and refugees. The state helps them through the welfare system, social security and various benefits, and it runs old people's homes, orphanages and hospices. But the state cannot do everything. This is where charities, foundations and volunteers come in — people who give their time and energy for free, organise collections or simply visit lonely old people. In my opinion a society should be judged by the way it treats its weakest members, and each of us can contribute at least a little.

5. Otázky na diskusiu​

  1. Why do rules and norms exist in every society?
  2. How does an individual benefit from being a member of society?
  3. Could you imagine living in isolation? How would your life differ?
  4. What is the difference between ethics and etiquette?
  5. Which social rules are people expected to follow?
  6. Who actually creates the rules of behaviour?
  7. Are there differences in social rules between cultures? Give examples.
  8. What do you know about table manners in Slovakia?
  9. Do you think good manners are disappearing? Why?
  10. What can an ordinary person do to help people in need?

6. Zhrnutie na ústnu odpoveď​

  • Človek a spoločnosť: man is a social being (Aristotle); society needs rules to function.
  • Etika × etiketa: ethics = what is right and wrong · etiquette = how to behave.
  • Pravidlá podľa situácie: home (informal) · school and work (formal) · social events (conventions) · business.
  • Odkiaľ máme spôsoby: the family; children imitate what they see; „practise what you preach".
  • Strata spôsobov: media, no role models, carelessness, freedom misunderstood.
  • Kultúrne rozdiely: handshake vs. bow, table manners; tolerance and cultural awareness.
  • Ľudia v núdzi: the homeless, unemployed, elderly, sick, disabled, orphans, refugees.
  • Kto pomáha: the state (welfare, benefits, homes) + charities, foundations, volunteers.
Čo povedať na skúške

Konštrukcia the + prídavné meno označuje celú skupinu ľudí a je v tejto téme veľmi užitočná: the homeless, the unemployed, the elderly, the sick. Pozor, sloveso je pri nej v množnom čísle — „the homeless are often ignored", nie „is". Znie to sofistikovane a je to bezpečné.

Súvisiace poznámky​

Kontrolné otázky​

Why do rules and norms exist in every society?

So that people can live together peacefully, feel safe and know what is acceptable.

How does an individual benefit from being a member of society?

Society gives us education, health care, safety, work and relationships.

Could you imagine living in isolation? How would your life differ?

Only for a short time. I would be lonely and I would have to do everything myself.

What is the difference between ethics and etiquette?

Ethics is about what is morally right or wrong. Etiquette is about polite behaviour in social situations.

Which social rules are people expected to follow?

Greeting people, being polite, being on time, respecting older people, queuing and not being loud in public.

Who actually creates the rules of behaviour?

Society and tradition, parents and schools, religion, and the state through laws.

Are there differences in social rules between cultures? Give examples.

Yes – in Japan people bow and take off shoes; in Britain queuing is very important; in some countries you must not show the soles of your feet.

What do you know about table manners in Slovakia?

We wish each other "dobrú chuť", we do not start before others, we do not talk with food in our mouth and we hold the fork in the left hand.

Do you think good manners are disappearing? Why?

Partly – people are in a hurry and use phones even during conversations. But many young people are still polite.

What can an ordinary person do to help people in need?

Volunteer, donate money or clothes, help elderly neighbours or give blood.

🔗 Spätné odkazy (8)