1. Does your company hold an annual Christmas party? Do you attend?
2. Where does it take place?
3. How many people go?
4. What do people mostly do?
5. Here are the 'What to dos' and 'What not to dos' from an article about Christmas party etiquette. Before reading the article, what one-sentence piece of advice would you give for each heading?
A) What to do:
Attend
Dress appropriately
Stay the distance
Interact
Say thank you
B) What not to do:
Drink too much
Be a slave to social media
Become a work-talk bore
Make a beeline for the mistletoe
Cry
Read the article here: Christmas Party Reading
6. What is your reaction? Did your advice match the article? Is there any advice missing?
7. Match these mini-dialogues to the 'What to do/What not to do headings:
a) A: Hi. I'm from Accounts. I'd just thought I'd say hello.
B: Ah, without you we wouldn't get paid.
b) A: Andrew, you're looking your usual smart self.
B: Thanks, I do try.
c) A: Do you think anyone would notice if I slipped away?
B: Give it an hour - everyone will have had a few drinks by then.
d) A: John, you made it!
B: You know me - I never miss a party!
e) A: Make mine a double, Andrew.
B: Well, OK. But try and make it last - it's a marathon, not a sprint.
f) A: Did you see November's figures? Absolute disaster.
B: Isn't this the Bee Gees? (of a song)
g) A: On behalf of everybody, let's give a big cheer to the boss for organising this party.
8. Is Christmas party etiquette in your country any different?
9. Should you have a plan before attending a Christmas party? Should you prepare what you're going to say, and who you're going to say it to? What about pre-party nutrition, your significant other, company/current news, or body language?
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Situation
It's your work's Christmas party. You see a colleague from a different department arrive (your teacher). Engage in a conversation with him, and try to incorporate some of the expressions from the mini-dialogues.
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Discuss quotes
"He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree."
- Roy L. Smith
"Santa Claus has the right idea - visit people only once a year."
- Victor Borge
"My mother-in-law has come round to our house at Christmas seven years running. This year we're having a change. We're going to let her in."
- Les Dawson
Student Handout PDF: Christmas Party
Photo: Rodnae Productions