Continental Dining and Social Etiquette with Effective Communication

As comedian Eddie Izzard famously said, "I grew up in Europe, where the history comes from." This is also true for many of our dining and etiquette traditions. Remembering that both England, France, and many other European countries had great influence on American society and the founding of the nation, we’ll review Continental dining etiquette and social customs in order to make your interactions there are comfortable and stress-free.

You might be surprised to learn that knowing how to properly use your knife and fork is a key component of table etiquette. (The fork stays in the left hand, tines pointed down.) In fact, it was during the 1800’s that the elite of society stopped shifting their knives and forks. While this is considered a more graceful way of eating, there are many other nuances to consider.

In this course, we’ll cover those intricacies and fine details so that you will leave our course feeling confident on your next trip abroad, whether for business or pleasure.

Some of the topics covered include:

• What Is Etiquette?

• Table Setting: Formal and Informal

• Conversation Tips

• Do’s and Don’ts

• Restaurant Protocol

• Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication

• Effective Communication Skills

• Communicating with Empathy