"Honors College , Dean’s Evening Talk / November 11, 2022".
"This Dean’s Evening Talk invited Associate Professor Zhou Wanqing from Ming Chuan University to share with us the 'Basic Knowledge of International Etiquette.'Although I knew that international etiquette is important, as a university student, I wasn't sure how it relates to me or when I would need to use it. However, soon after, the speaker, Zhou Wanqing, cleared up my confusion."
"Before discussing today's main topic, 'International Etiquette,' Associate Professor Zhou Wanqing first mentioned image management. Everyone has a mental image of the persona they desire, but the image they actually present may not always align with what theyoriginally envisioned. This is what makes it interesting and why image management is often discussed. 'Image management' refers to 'purposefully controlling others' perceptions of oneself in order to build and maintain an ideal reputation.' Simply put, it is about controlling how one presents themselves in front of others, ensuring it aligns with their ideal state. For us, as young people, the way we are perceived by others is often one of our greatest concerns. Therefore, the following content deeply captured my attention, as it is closely related to us."
"With the rise of social media today, almost every young person is using it. But here comes the problem: what kind of profile picture best represents oneself? What type of self-introduction can express the ideal image of oneself? These are questions that often cross everyone's mind. The speaker, Zhou Wanqing, immediately gave an example. Former U.S. President Barack Obama’s social media bio reads 'Dad, husband, President, citizen,' and his background photo features a snapshot of him holding hands with his children. This way, the impression people get is not of an unapproachable national leader, but rather a loving father, a devoted husband, and only last, the President of the United States. The choice of background image and simple self-introduction create an approachable, family-first image, greatly enhancing the public’s perception. It seems that managing your social media image is quite an art!"
"While walking down the street, you see someone approaching. It’s a lady, wearing a very expensive-looking suit, impeccably dressed. She strides with confident, quick steps, and you think to yourself, 'She must have a very important job, probably a strong, independent woman, maybe a manager at a big company, and lives in a mansion?' But in fact, that person hasn’t said a word, yet you’ve already formed an impression of her! This shows just how powerful the first impression made by appearance can be. When it comes to appearance, clothing and grooming are often the most important, which is why we pay special attention to our dress code when attending formal occasions!"
In this lecture, I learned the proper way to wear formal attire and the etiquette of Western dining. For example, when wearing a suit with buttons, the last button should not be fastened. Men typically unbutton their jacket when sitting down and rebutton it when standing up. During the meal, guests should take their seats in a clockwise direction and engage in conversation with the person seated to their right. When passing the salt and pepper, they should be passed together rather than separately. If temporarily leaving the table, one should place the knife and fork separately on the left and right sides of the plate and rest the napkin on the chair. When the meal is finished, the knife and fork should be placed parallel on the plate, and the napkin should be placed on the table—two very different gestures indicating different intentions. In official or business occasions, seating and walking order are determined by rank, following the principles of “higher in front, lower behind; senior on the right, junior on the left.” A real-life example is when high-ranking foreign officials visit Taiwan. During U.S. Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent visit, one could observe the protocol from the positioning of the President and the guest, as well as the symbolic placement of national flags.
"Through this lecture, I learned a lot about international etiquette. The use of current events as examples made it much easier to understand and absorb the content—truly a testament to the lecturer’s skill! The upcoming formal High Table Dinner on November 28 will give us a valuable opportunity to put what we’ve learned into practice. I hope to keep these etiquette principles firmly in mind, as they will certainly come in handy in the workplace and during formal occasions in the future. Our manners and behavior reflect our personal cultivation and politeness, and they form an important part of the first impression we give. Only through continuous practice can we develop good habits. Remember—the core value of etiquette is respect. As long as we respect others and are willing to bravely give it a try, that is more than enough!"
