外研版八年级英语上册教案 Module 11 Way of life（表格式）

Module 11 Way of life教案
I. Teaching objectives 教学目标
技能目标 听 Listen for what you must and mustn’t do; you can do; you need …
说 Ask and answer about customsSay what you must and mustn’t do; you can do; you need …
读 Read the passage to know what you must and mustn’t do; you can do; you need …
写 Write advice about customs and rules in ChinaWrite advice for foreign guests to a Chinese family
语言目标 功能句式 I don’t think I should open it now.People say you mustn’t do any cleaning on the first day…And you mustn’t break anything.You must only use old paper for Hongbao…You can’t be serious.You needn’t wait.You’d better not cut your hair during the Spring Festival month.You must say Mr. and Mrs. when you meet someone for the first time.You can just use their first names.You can buy it and eat it in special fish…You can take it away and eat it with your finger!At the bus stop you must not push your way onto the bus.You need to stand in a line behind the other people and wait your turn.
词汇 1. 重点词汇chess, set, chopsticks, video, gift, surprise, immediately, difference, accept, tradition, example, must, serious, taste, experience, sandwich, shoulder 3．短语do some cleaning, wash up, hang on, video game, for example
语法 Must/mustn’t, can/can’t, need
Ⅱ. Teaching materials analyzing 教材分析
本单元以Way of life为话题，设计了三个单元的内容。旨在通过单元教学使学生学会谈论不同国家和地区的风俗习惯；了解英国的风俗；学会表达“应该与不应该做的事情”；能就中国的风俗习惯进行写作；能给外宾提供一些建议，使他们了解中国的风俗习惯。
Unit 1 听录音，对照图片学习一些物品的名称，听录音并读对话，从送礼物引出不同国家的不同的风俗习惯，初步了解must, mustn’t, can, can’t的用法。
Unit 2 学习关于英国的一些风俗习惯的课文，结合图画更好地理解课文；学习本单元重点词汇；用must, mustn’t, can, can’t, need来描述不同国家的不同的风俗习惯。写一篇介绍中国风俗的文章。
Unit 3 在练习中复现本单元重点词汇、句型和语法；读关于Tradition presents的文章；为到中国的家庭做客的外国宾客提出一些建议。
Around the world 介绍了不同国家所送不同的礼物。
Module task写短文给来中国做客的外国人提出建议。
III．Class types and periods 课型设计与课时分配
Period 1 Listening and speaking (Unit 1)
Period 2 Reading and writing （Unit 2)
Period 3 Language in use (Unit 3)
Ⅳ.Teaching plans for each period分课时教案
Period 1 Listening and speaking
Target language 目标语言
1. Words & phrases生词和短语
chess, set, chopsticks, video, gift, surprise, immediately, difference, accept, tradition, example, must, serious, taste
2. Key sentences重点句子
I don’t think I should open it now.
People say you mustn’t do any cleaning on the first day…
And you mustn’t break anything.
You must only use old paper for Hongbao…
You can’t be serious.
You needn’t wait.
Ability goals 能力目标
Enable students to listen to and talk about things they must and mustn’t do.
Teaching important/difficult points 教学重难点
The usage of must, mustn’t, can, can’t, need
Teaching methods教学方法
Task-based learning.
Teaching aids教具准备
A projector or some pictures, a tape recorder.
Teaching procedures and ways教学过程与方式
Step I Lead-in
In this procedure, ask students to learn some new words by doing activities 1 and 2.
T: In our daily life, we can’t do anything without the help of certain things. For example, we Chinese eat with chopsticks, we look up new words in a dictionary, etc. Now listen to the tape and number the words and expressions in activity 1.
Play the tape and ask students to repeat these words and expression and then number them and match them with pictures.
Listen again and fill in the table.
Suggestions for Lingling's present Something related in the conversation
a toy too old for a toy
a chess set to play chess
some chocolate to eat
a pair of chopsticks to eat with
a video DVD to watch
a baseball cap to wear on her head
a dictionary to look up new words
Step II Listening
In this procedure, students will listen and read a dialogue. Ask them to do pair work to find what you must and mustn’t/can’t do in China.
T: Today is Lingling’s birthday. Her friends bought her a present. Let’s listen to the dialogue. From the dialogue, we know some different traditions in China, the USA and Britain. Now listen and find out.
After listening, ask students to do activity 3. Then ask them to read the dialogue and finish activity 4.
Check the answers with the class.
Play the tape and have the students read and follow.
Act it out.
Learn Everyday English.
Step III Explain the important and difficult points
1. Here’s your gift!
以here, there等副词开头的句子，当其主语是名词时，该句通常使用倒装结构。但当其主语是代词时， 一般不倒装。如：
There goes the bell. 铃响了。
Look! Here are my father and mother.
看!我的爸爸妈妈来了。
Here she comes!她来了！
2. accept
accept 作动词, 意为“接受；答应”, 表示自愿、主动地接受, 常用于accept sth. /sb.结构。如：
The boy accepted full responsibility for breaking the window.
那男孩承担打碎窗户的全部责任。
I had thought my teacher would accept the present, but he refused.
我原以为老师会接受礼物，但他拒绝了。
[拓展]
accept的反义词是refuse, refuse作动词, 意为“拒绝, 回绝”, 常用于refuse sth. / to do sth.结构。
I refuse to answer that question.
我不愿回答那个问题。
[辨析] receive, accept
receive意为“收到”，表示客观的，accept意为“接受”，表示主观的。当accept a gift时，表示接受了礼物；而receive a gift时，只是收到了礼物，不一定接受。
He received a gift, but he didn’t accept it.
他收到了一件礼物，但他没有接受。
3. do some cleaning
do some cleaning 意为“打扫卫生”，do some shopping意为“购物”。类似结构的短语还有:
do some washing 洗衣服
do some reading 读书
do some cooking 做饭
do some writing 写字
4. had better
had better 意为“最好……”，表示劝告或建议。如：
You had better see about rooms for us.
你最好替我们去问问有没有房间。
You had better have another think.
你最好再想一想。
If you want to lighten the weight, had better eat little bread.
如果你想减轻体重，最好少吃面包。
Step IV Pronunciation and speaking
In this procedure, ask students to listen to the tape and pay attention to the sentences and then make up conversations in pairs to practice must, mustn’t/can’t. Ask them to write them down if time permits.
T: In the dialogue, there are some sentences containing must, mustn’ t/can’t. They show that you are told to do something or not to do something. That’s an order. You can’t break.
Help students find the sentences out.
Then play the tape and ask students to listen and repeat after the recording.
After this, ask students to list the things they must and mustn’t/ can’t do in the given situations and then work in groups and say the things out.
T: In our daily life, there are many things we must or mustn’t do. Think over and make a list. Let’s see whose is the longest.
Sample lists:
At home: You must wash your hands when you enter your home. You must help your mother do housework.
At the dinner table: You must wash your hands before having a meal. You mustn’t talk with your food in your mouth.
At school: You mustn’t go to school late. You must hand in your homework in time.
…
Step V Homework
1. Ask the students to learn and remember the new words and expressions of this unit.
2. Recite the conversation.
Period 2 Reading and writing
Target language 目标语言
1. Words & phrases生词和短语
experience, sandwich, shoulder
2. Key sentences重点句子
You’d better not cut your hair during the Spring Festival month.
You must say Mr. and Mrs. when you meet someone for the first time.
You can just use their first names.
You can buy it and eat it in special fish…
You can take it away and eat it with your finger!
At the bus stop you must not push your way onto the bus.
You need to stand in a line behind the other people and wait your turn.
Ability goals 能力目标
Enable students to read and write a passage about traditional life in China.
Teaching important/difficult points 教学重难点
How to use must, mustn’t, can and can’t.
Teaching methods教学方法
Task-based learning.
Teaching aids教具准备
A projector or some pictures and some small pieces of paper, a tape recorder
Teaching procedures and ways教学过程与方式
Step I Revision and lead-in
In this procedure, ask students to talk about the pictures in activity 1.
T: As we know, the custom and traditional life is different in different countries. Now please look at the pictures in activity 1. What can you see What are the people doing
Ask the students to say the words and write them down.
S: In picture 1, there are two people standing around the table. They are having afternoon tea.
S: In picture 2, there are two man at the bus stop. They are standing in a line.
Then ask them to work in pairs and talk about some actions. What must we do What mustn’t we do Can you give some advice Let’s have a discussion before reading the passage.
Sample:
S: When you greet people, you should first say hello to them and then shake hands with them. But don’t kiss when you are in England.
S: When we have a tea party in China, we can talk freely and eat anything we like. And we can have a tea party anytime anywhere.
S: But in England, you can’t have tea after 4:30, and can’t drink coffee or juice.
S: Making noise is impolite in China when having a meal. But in Japan, you’d better make some noise to show that you like the food.
S: Chinese never have weddings in churches. They have it at home.
Ask some students to have a report in front of the class.
Step II Listening and reading
In this procedure, ask students to listen and read the passage. Make sure which sentences describe what you can see in the pictures.
T: We have just discussed some customs. Let’s come to activity 2 to see if your report is fit for the true fact. Please listen to the tape with your books closed. After listening, answer a question: Which ones can you see in the pictures
Play the tape and check the answers.
Then ask students to read the passage and activities 3 and 4. Check the answers with the class.
Speaking
Ask students to read the passage carefully again and talk about the differences of traditional life in England and China.
T: After reading, we learned that there are some differences of traditional life in England and China. What are the differences Now work in pairs and have a talk.
Sample dialogue:
S1: What are the differences when people are having afternoon tea in China and England
S2: When people are having afternoon tea, you can’t have tea after 4:30, and can’t drink coffee or juice in England. …
Ask some pairs to work in front of the class.
Step III Explain the important and difficult points
1. … enjoyed my stay …
stay 既可作名词, 又可作动词, 常见的用法:
(1) stay作名词时, 意为“逗留；停留”。
(2) stay作动词时, 意为“停留在(某处)；留宿；保持”。如：
a short stay in hospital 短期住院
Could you stay for a while
你能待一会儿吗
Will you stay at Paris
你会呆在巴黎吗
We still stay in touch.
我们仍然保持联系。
[拓展]
stay 也可作系动词, 后接形容词, 意为“维持(……的状态)；保持；继续”。如：
It was stormy last night. They stayed awake all the night.
[辨析 ] stay和keep
(1)表示“继续呆在某处”时，应该用不及物动词stay。如：
Shall I go or stay
Stay indoors for a few days until you recover from your cold.
(2)表示“暂住、短期停留”时，只能用不及物动词stay。如：
He is staying at Hilton Hotel.
My mother-in-law stayed with us this week when she visited us.
(3)表示“继续保持或处于某种状态”时，应视具体情况在上述动词中进行选择：
①表示“继续保持或处于原来的状态”时，可用stay。如：
The door stayed closed. But the police themselves prefer to stay unarmed.
②表示“需要设法才能保持或处于某种状态”时，应用keep。如：
She knew she must keep calm.
I wish those children would keep quiet.
Although they have many difficulties, they keep happy.
Paul managed to keep awake by drinking lots of strong black coffee.
③表示“使某人或某物保持某种状态”时，只能用及物动词keep。如：
She had kept him waiting twenty minutes on this occasion.
Why do you always keep your windows closed
Practice
1. Once you make a promise, you should _____ it.
2. You can _____ at home and watch TV.
3. She ______ a diary for over twenty years.
4. I _______ late at the party last night.
5. We're all _______ well.
(keep, stay, kept, stayed, keeping)
2. … not … but …
not … but…意思是“不是……而是……”。如：
The book is not Xiao Ming’s but mine.
这本书不是小明的而是我的。
I was wrong. It wasn’t the red one but the blue one.
我弄错了，不是红色的而是蓝色的。
3. on time
on time 准时;按时
You must get to the station on time.
你必须准时赶到车站。
The rain kept us from getting there on time.
那场雨使我们不能准时到达那里。
[辨析]
in time; on time
这两个词组都可表示“按时”。
in time表示“及时”，指没有迟到、时间还充裕。
on time表示“准时，按时”，指按规定的时刻，不早不晚。
有关time的短语
at times 有时, 不时
in time 及时
on time 按时
at the time 当时
all the time 始终；一直
from time to time 有时；偶尔；时常
have no time for 没时间做（某事）
in no time (at all) 立刻；赶快；马上
keep time（钟表）走得准
many a time 常常；多次
4. … the woman throws her flowers …
throw作动词, 意为“投；掷；抛”, 其用法如下:
(1) throw sb. sth. 向…… 投……
(2) throw on / off ... 匆忙穿上(脱下) ……
(3) throw away sth. 抛弃……
Throw me that dictionary.
把那本词典扔给我。
He got up late so he threw on his clothes and went out.
他起得太迟，于是他匆忙穿上衣服就出去了。
He threw away the old sofa.
他把旧沙发扔掉了。
Step IV Writing
In this procedure, ask students to write a passage about what you must, mustn’t/can’t do in China.
First ask them to answer the questions in activity 5.
Then ask students to write the passage down.
Sample version:
Advice for visitors: traditional life in China
The Chinese will nod or bow slightly as an initial greeting. Handshakes are also popular; wait, however, for your Chinese counterpart to initiate the gesture.
If you visit a school, theater, or other workplace, it is likely that you will be greeted with applause as a sign of welcome. In turn, you should respond by applauding back.
The Chinese do not use their hands when speaking, and will only become annoyed with a speaker who does.
To summon attention, turn your palm down, waving your fingers toward yourself.
Use your whole hand rather than your index finger to point.
The Chinese, especially those who are older and in positions of authority, dislike being touched by strangers.
Acknowledge the most senior person in a group first.
Smiling is not as noticeable in China, since there is a heavy emphasis on repressing emotion.
Members of the same sex may hold hands in public.
Public displays of affection, such as kissing, between the sexes are frowned upon.
Do not put your hands in your mouth, as it is considered vulgar. When in public, avoid biting your nails, removing food from your teeth, and similar practices.
Blowing your nose with a handkerchief is also acceptable.
Step V Homework
Ask students to
Read the passage repeatedly.
Period 3 Language in use
Target language 目标语言
Key sentences重点句子
You must say Mr or Mrs when you must someone for the first time.
You can take it away.
You mustn’t break anything.
You needn’t wait.
What must they wear
What mustn’t they talk about
What can’t they do
What presents can they bring
When must they arrive
Ability goals 能力目标
Enable students to use must, mustn’t, can and can’t, need.
Teaching important/difficult points 教学重难点
How to use must, mustn’t, can and can’t, need.
Teaching methods教学方法
Task-based learning.
Teaching aids教具准备
Some pictures and a tape recorder.
Teaching procedures and ways教学过程与方式
Step I Revision and lead-in
Check the homework. Then ask students to listen to a teenager talking about his life.
T: As a teenager, there are some things you must or mustn’t/can’t do. Now we’ll listen to a passage. A teenager is talking about his life. Listen carefully and check the things he must and mustn’t do.
Ask students to listen to the tape and choose right answers.
Then ask students to listen again and answer the questions in activity 5.
Go through the answers with the students and play the tape again to check their answers.
Step II Grammar practice
Reviewing the use of must, mustn’t, can, can’t as follows. Show the following.
Must
You use must to talk about something you're strongly advised to do. You often use it when you talk about safety instructions.
You must fasten your seat belt.
Must not, (mustn't)
You use must not, (mustn't) to talk about something you aren't allowed to do or you're strongly advised not to do.
You mustn't lean out of the window.
Then ask students to do activities 1, 2 and 3. Check the answers with the class.
Step III New words and expressions
Learn the new words by asking students to do activity 8.
T: Let’s play a game. Guess what it is! Work in groups, one group chooses a word or an expressions from the box and describe it to the class. The other group should guess the words or expressions in turn. The one who got it will win the game.
Then ask students to finish activities 8.
Check the answers with class.
Step IV Module task
In this procedure, students will work in pairs and discuss the advice for foreign guests to a Chinese family and then write the advice down.
Sample notes:
The Chinese will nod or bow slightly as an initial greeting. Handshakes are also popular; wait, however, for your Chinese counterpart to initiate the gesture.
If you visit a school, theater, or other workplace, it is likely that you will be greeted with applause as a sign of welcome. In turn, you should respond by applauding back.
Avoid making expansive gestures and using unusual facial expressions.
The Chinese do not use their hands when speaking, and will only become annoyed with a speaker who does.
Some hand gestures, however, are necessary. They are outlined in the next two points.
To summon attention, turn your palm down, waving your fingers toward yourself.
Use your whole hand rather than your index finger to point.
The Chinese, especially those who are older and in positions of authority, dislike being touched by strangers.
Acknowledge the most senior person in a group first.
Smiling is not as noticeable in China, since there is a heavy emphasis on repressing emotion.
Members of the same sex may hold hands in public.
Public displays of affection, such as kissing, between the sexes are frowned upon.
Do not put your hands in your mouth, as it is considered vulgar. Consequently, when in public, avoid biting your nails, removing food from your teeth, and similar practices.
Pushing is common in lineups.
Spitting in public is acceptable.
Blowing your nose with a handkerchief is also acceptable.
Dress Code:
Casual clothes are acceptable everywhere, although smarter clothes can gain more respect. Revealing clothes should be avoided.
…
Give the students a few minutes to the advice. Ask some students to read their passages before the class.
Sample advice:
You must bow or nod when you greet people.
You mustn’t touch the older.
You must use your whole hand rather than your index finger to point.
You can’t hold hands of the opposite sex in public.
You must blow your nose with a handkerchief.
Step V Homework
Ask students to
1. Revise this Module.
2. Finish the rest activities in the book.
Teaching resources教学资源库
I. 重点知识详解
一、must的用法
1) 表示主观的义务和必要, 主要用于肯定句和疑问句, 意思为 “必须……，得……，要……”；由must引起的疑问句，肯定回答要用must或have to, 否定回答要用needn’t或don’t have to, 意思是“不必”；must的否定形式mustn’t表示禁止，意思是“不能，不许”。
We must find a good method to learn computer well. 我们必须找一个学好电脑的方法。
—Must I finish the task right now 我现在必须完成这个工作吗？
—Yes, you must. / Yes, you have to. 是的。
(—No, you needn’t. / No, you don’t have to. 不，不必。)
You mustn’t come here without permission. 未经允许，你不能来这儿。
2) 表示肯定的猜测，常用于肯定句中，意思为 “一定是, 必然……”。
Your sister must be a doctor in this hospital.（现在的猜测） 你姐姐一定是这家医院的医生。
He must be reading newspapers in the reading room now.（正在进行的猜测）他此刻一定正在阅览室读报。
It must have rained last night, for the ground is wet.（过去的猜测）昨晚一定下雨了，因为地面上是湿的。
二、情态动词can的用法
can的否定形式为cannot，缩写形式为can't。
1) 表示能力，意思是：能，会。
I can't swim. 我不会游泳。
Can you drive？ 你会开车吗？
注意：can表示能力可和be able to互换使用，且后者有更多的时态，be able to常被用来表示can所不能表示的将来或完成的概念。
They will be able to run this machine on their own in three months. 他们过三个月就能自己开这台机器了。
2) 表示可能性，意思是：可以，可能。
That big cinema can seats 2,000 people. 那家大电影院能坐2000人。
He can be very friendly at times.有时他会很友好。
3) 表示允诺，意思是：可以，能够。
You can have the book when I have finished it.书我看完了可以给你。
Can I use your pen？我可以用你的钢笔吗？
4) 表示惊异、不相信等（用于疑问句、否定句或感叹句中），意思是：会，可能。
This can't be true. 这不可能是真的。
Can it be true？ 这可能是真的吗？
II. Customs and rules in England
The British are said to be reserved in manners, dress and speech. They are famous for politeness, self-discipline and especially for sense of humor. Basic politeness (please, thank-you, excuse me) is expected.
How to greet people
British people are quite reserved when greeting one another. Greeting can be a bright “Hello”, “Hi” or “Good morning”, when you arrive at work or at school.
Terms of endearment --- Names we may call you
You may be called by many different “affectionate” names, according to which part of the Britain you are in. Do not be offended, this is quite normal. For example, you may be called dear, flower, love, chick, mate, son, madam, miss, sir, according to your sex, age and location.
Visiting people in their houses
When being entertained at someone’s home it is nice to take a gift for the host and hostess. A bottle of wine, bunch of flowers or chocolates are all acceptable.
Eating
We eat continental style, with fork in the left hand and the knife in the right.
Do’s and Don’ts in England
Do stand in line:
In England we like to form orderly queues (standing in line) and wait patiently for our turn e.g. boarding a bus. It is usual to queue when required, and expected that you will take correct turn and not push in front. “queue jumping” is frowned upon.
Do say “Excuse me”:
If someone is in you way and you would like them to move, say excuse me and they will move out of your way.
Do pay as you go:
Pay for drinks as you order them in pubs and other types of bars.
Do say “Please” and “Thank you”:
It is very good manners to say “please” and “thank you”. It is considered rude if you don’t. whenever you will notice in England that they say “thank you” a lot.
Do cover your mouth:
When yawning or coughing always cover your mouth with your hand.
Do shake hands:
When you are first introduced to someone, shake their right hand with your own right hand.
Do say sorry:
If you accidentally bump into someone, say “sorry”. They probably will too, even if it was your fault! This is a habit and can be seen as very amusing by an “outsider”.
Do smile:
A smiling face is a welcoming face.
Do drive on the left side of the road.
Don’t greet people with a kiss:
They only kiss people who are close friends and relatives.
Avoid talking loudly in public
It is impolite to stare at anyone in public.
Do not pick your nose in public:
They are disgusted by this. If your nostrils need de-bugging, use a handkerchief.
Avoid doing gestures such as backslapping and hugging
This is only done among close friends.
Do not spit:
Spitting in the street is considered to be very bad mannered.
Do not burp in public: you may feel better by burping loudly after eating or drinking, but other people will not! If you can not stop a burp from bursting out, then cover your mouth with your hand and say “excuse me” afterwards.
Do not pass wind in public
Now how can we say this politely Let’s say that you want to pass wind. What do you do Go somewhere private and let it out.
It is impolite speak with your mouth full of food.
Do not ask personal or intimate questions:
They do not ask questions such as: How much money do you earn How much do you weigh Or why aren’t you married
Never eat off a knife when having a meal.
III. Chinese etiquettes
The Chinese will nod or bow slightly as an initial greeting. Handshakes are also popular; wait, however, for your Chinese counterpart to initiate the gesture.
If you visit a school, theater, or other workplace, it is likely that you will be greeted with applause as a sign of welcome. In turn, you should respond by applauding back.
Avoid making expansive gestures and using unusual facial expressions.
The Chinese do not use their hands when speaking, and will only become annoyed with a speaker who does.
Some hand gestures, however, are necessary. They are outlined in the next two points.
To summon attention, turn your palm down, waving your fingers toward yourself.
Use your whole hand rather than your index finger to point.
The Chinese, especially those who are older and in positions of authority, dislike being touched by strangers.
Acknowledge the most senior person in a group first.
Smiling is not as noticeable in China, since there is a heavy emphasis on repressing emotion.
Members of the same sex may hold hands in public.
Public displays of affection, such as kissing, between the sexes are frowned upon.
Do not put your hands in your mouth, as it is considered vulgar. Consequently, when in public, avoid biting your nails, removing food from your teeth, and similar practices.
Pushing is common in lineups.
Spitting in public is acceptable.
Blowing your nose with a handkerchief is also acceptable.
Dress Code:
Casual clothes are acceptable everywhere, although smarter clothes can gain more respect. Revealing clothes should be avoided.
Problems that arise in China through cultural differences can often be put down to simple misunderstandings. In general, Chinese people are not forthcoming with information unless they are specifically asked for it, so be prepared to ask direct questions to get the information you need. Locals may not even speak honestly but will try to say what they think you want to hear. This is not done maliciously and an element of patience and understanding will ease the situation. Chinese people are courteous but reserved and politeness is appreciated at all times. Don't always be fooled by a smile as this can mean that the person is upset or embarrassed and try to avoid confrontational situations that may cause a loss of "face". Confrontation is not appreciated and will only worsen rather than resolve any situation.
Family Meals
Although customs and the kinds of food eaten vary according to region, it is most common for Chinese families to gather for three meals a day.
In some areas and at some times of the year, laborers may have only two full meals a day, but when possible, they supplement these with up to three smaller ones, often taken at tea houses. There is not, in general, the strong association we have in the West between the type of food and the time of day it should be served (say, eggs for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, pot roast for dinner). The sorts of dishes served at the two or three main meals are pretty much the same. The goal in planning, however, is to provide a number of dishes at each meal, so that, rather than experiencing difference by comparison between one meal and the next, each meal includes, in itself, a satisfying array of elements.
The Stuff of the Meal
The center of the Chinese meal is fan, or grain. So much so that the meal itself is called hsia fan, "a period of grain." In the South and among urban families in other areas, the fan may be rice or rice products, but rice is expensive, as is the wheat eaten in the North in the form of cooked whole grains, noodles, or bread. Depending on the region, then, less prosperous families might make their meals of millet, sorghum, or corn. The meats and vegetables we think of as the focus of the meal are known as ts'ai, which means something like "side dishes" -- one could almost go so far as to call them condiments for the fan.
Who Eats When and How
Eating begins in order of seniority, with each diner taking the cue to start from his or her immediate superior. Children are taught to eat equally from each ts'ai dish in turn, never betraying a preference for a particular item by eating more of it, never seeming to pause to choose a specific bite from the plate. In order to cool the soup a bit and to better diffuse the flavor in the mouth, soup is eaten by sipping from the spoon while breathing in. This method, of course, produces the slurping noise that is taboo in the West. To eat fan, a diner raises the bowl to her lips and pushes the grains into her mouth with chopsticks. This is the easiest way to eat it and shows proper enjoyment -- eating fan from a bowl left sitting on the table suggests dissatisfaction with the food. The diner must finish all the fan. To leave even a grain is considered bad manners, a lack of respect for the labor required to produce it.
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