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Dating

Submitted Lesson Plans

Unit 1: Photograph

Questions About the Photograph

1. What is happening in the picture?
2. How is dating today different from dating 50 years ago?
3. Have you ever been on a date? What was it like?

A Quote

And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.        

- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Unit 2: Reading

Things to Avoid When Dating

By Toby Ung

Dating is an occassion for two people, who are interested in each other, to become more deeply acquainted. During the date, the two interested couple will often explore the personalities, and the likes and dislikes of the other person to see if a relationship can be developed. Here are a few "don'ts" that you should consider when going out on a date.

Don't talk about politics, race and religion - one of the most common way to put off your date is to bring up the subject of politics, race and religion. You may have strong convictions on these topics, but it is generally bad etiquette to bring them up during your first date. You or your date may be open-minded, but talking about politics, race or religion can be very unpleasant, particularly if your date is opposed to your beliefs. You may even make assumptions and statements that, to another person, seem harsh and blunt. Alternatively, your date may precieve your comments and remarks as an attempt to push your opinions and beliefs on him or her. Inevitably you may end up hurting their feelings without knowing it. In some cases, it may even stop the relationship from developing any further.

Avoid "going dutch" on your first date - going dutch is a very delicate social etiquette, and for many men, its something to avoid like the plague, espcially on a first date. It maybe acceptable as a business lunch arrangement, on a speed date, with non-intimate friends, or between people who have a tight budget or who are less affluent. But generally, if you are trying to make a romantic connection with your date, going dutch is highly frowned upon, and in most cases considered stingy by your date.

Go slow with online dates - the growing trend among singles is to find dates through online services. Online dating has grown from a mere two percent in 1999, to over than ten percent today. It is is particularly common among people who belong to online communities such as Friendster, Facebook, Myspace and Nexopia sites. Although these sites are not directly geared towards dating, people use them to find potential dates anyway. The reason you should go slow with online dates is to consider some of the problems related to online dating. For example, many members in online communities misrepresent their profiles, telling "white lies" about themselves, misrepresenting their age, weight or height, or using misleading photos. Even if you think that you trust the other person enough to go on a date with, always make sure that you meet for your first date in a public place. Also its a good idea to tell your friends what you are doing, and if possible to go on a double date with them.

Dating is fun, but using common sense, being considerate and observing proper etiquette should nevertheless be practiced. This will allow you to build a strong foundation, that may, hopefully, lead to a permanent relationship.

Vocabulary Practice

Going dutch: An arrangement where two people decide to split the cost or pay separately for an expense.
etiquette: A set of rules that govern acceptable social behaviour.
Speed Dating: a type of date where a matchmaker organizes for several to meet together. Participants spend about 7 - 8 minutes getting to know each other before moving on to another participant. In the end, participants decide on the person they are interested in getting to know more of.
White Lies: A lie told by a person that is usually considered unimportant to them. They are usually told by a person in order to save face, to be polite or to be tactful.