A workshop in the Lebanese capital Beirut is giving children a lesson in French etiquette.
‘Les Petits Diplomates’ is an idea conceived of in France for children aged 8-12, and brought to Lebanon through ‘Château Marianne’, a group that imports French concepts to Lebanon.
Joumana Piglowski, who co-founded the ‘Château Marianne’ and trains the children, says it gives the young ones valuable skills.
“Children play games or do role play all the time – they learn as they play. They learn the importance of hygiene, the importance of politeness, the right way to greet each other, how to look at each other when greeting, how to smile, how to introduce oneself and others, how to set a table the right way, how to sit at a table and act as guests or in a restaurant, and the right way to act wherever they are,” she said.
Piglowski said the classes have a lasting effect on the children.
“Parents get back to us after the seminar telling us that their children are teaching them at home how to sit, act and talk, and that whenever they (the parents) do something wrong, their children tell them ‘no dad, no mom, this is not right this way’. So this turned out to be a great way to reach homes and deliver this beautiful message of respect, living in norms and by the etiquette, but the most important thing in the content of this program is the respect of each other,” she added.
Nine-year-old participant Sasha Najem said she enjoyed the workshop.
“We are so happy, we are learning how to set up a table, be presentable and polite,” she said.
“I wanted (to participate in this) because my sister already came before. And I am so happy to learn new things,” said another participant, 8-year-old boy Adam Araissi.
Michel Nader works in hotel management, and saw the workshop as an opportunity for his eight-year-old son Nicholas to learn about his trade.
“In my specific case, Nicholas loves hotel management because he always sees me working in the hotel. He always asks me why we greet people this way and why we set up the table that way, so when I told him there is a course for children (about this), he was excited to go and learn. And I said this was a good chance for him to learn why we do things in such a way. I think it is a great opportunity,” he said.
Another parent, Rami Majzoub, said Les Petits Diplomates was an opportunity for his nine-year-old boy to supplement his education.
“These are things they don’t get to learn in school. Sometimes, we ignore important things that affect their lives, be it the family or school life. And therefore, it is great to learn this from a young age. Honestly, I was observing (the course), there are things that we, the adults, didn’t know and got to learn. I am so happy about this (workshop),” Majzoub said.
The first edition of Les Petits Diplomates was held in Lebanon on November 2013, and workshops have been held regularly since. The cost per child is USD 95 including the course and a certificate of ‘good behavior’.
(Reuters)
