Lesson 2 Visiting a Thai Temple

Lesson 2: Social Etiquette for Visiting Thai Buddhist Temples

Learning objectives:

1) To get to know the social etiquette for visiting a Thai Buddhist temple;

2) To be able to give suggestions to both men and women tourists about the social etiquette for visiting a Buddhist Thai temple.

Warm-up activities (30 mins)
1) Teacher asks the students’ question “Have you ever been to any Buddhist Thai temples?  (5 mins) If yes, what should we dress when visiting a Buddhist Thai temple”? Please discuss with your partners and write your short answers in the blog.

2) Match the following phrases with the clothes in the following pictures (10 mins)

Miniskirt	tank tops	sleeveless tops	sandals
shirts with sleeves	knee-torn jeans	trousers	flip flops
jeans short with fringes	bare shoulders	tops with straps	Sarongs

a)   b)  c)   d)

e)  f)  g)   h)  

i)  j)  k)  l)

Keys:

a) trousers	b) tops with straps	c) bare shoulders	d) shirts with sleeves
e) sandals	f) sarongs	g) tank tops	h) knee-torn jeans
i) jeans short with fringes	j) sleeveless tops	k) flip flops	l) miniskirt

3) Summarize which clothes in the above pictures are appropriate for visiting a Buddhist Thai temple in the table below. (5 mins)

Do	Don’t

4) Watch the 1.37 minutes video clip about visiting a Thai temple from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZUPIEsrlrU and answer the following questions: (30 mins)

• What does the speaker suggest men to do when visiting a temple?
• What does the speaker suggest women to do when visiting a temple?
• What shouldn’t tourists do when visiting a temple?

5) Judgment: (25 mins)

Listen to the tour guide talking about the do's and don'ts in visiting a Buddhist Thai temple and check (P) the appropriate attire and cross (X) the inappropriate one.

1.  2.    3.   4.

Keys:

1. P

2. X

3. X

4. X

Tapescript:

Generally, polite attire is required for any palace and temple in Thailand to show your respect on those sacred places and to avoid offending Thai people. It’s even more important to dress up properly before entering the area of the Grand Palace and the Royal Temple of the Emerald Buddha including the Vimanmek Mansion or known as the Teakwood Mansion, as these places are still in use by the King and Royal Family.

The dress code provided below will be strictly enforced for both ladies and gentlemen. Dressing appropriately makes the tour flow smoothly. Kindly keep in mind the following suggestions before embarking on your tour.

Dress Code

• Shorts, mini-skirts, short skirts, as well as tights cannot be worn as outer garments. Long skirts lower than your knees are allowed.
• Long Trousers, pants are required, not just only the knee-leveled ones. Quarter length trousers cannot be worn.
• Tight fitting trousers like leggins cannot be worn.
• No hole in any part of jeans, skirts, pants and trousers should be seen.
• See-through shirts and blouses cannot be worn.
• Sleeveless shirts or vests cannot be worn; it's necessary to wear only shirts or tops to cover your shoulders (Scarves or shawl cannot be worn to cover your shoulders). T-shirts are allowed.
• All shirtsleeves, whether long or short, cannot be rolled up.
• Sportwear cannot be worn.
• Sweat shirts and sweat pants, windcheaters, pajamas and fisherman trousers cannot be worn.
• Sandals or flip-flops are allowed (polite design please). We suggest wearing shoes, which are comfortable for walking, and are easy to be worn and taken off. 
• Keep in mind that if you are visiting during a festival; there will be a lot of people. The royal staffs try their best to keep an eye on your shoes; however, there have been instances where shoes were stolen. We therefore recommend you not wear expensive shoes.

Please keep in mind that like in any place of worship or royal complex, don’t be excessively loud and make sure your children aren’t misbehaving. Rules are strict about photograph; so, you should follow the rules strictly otherwise you may get trouble. Some of the temple structures or the royal complex don’t allow photograph inside. It is suggested that if you are not sure, please ask permission from the temple staff or the royal staff. So you should read the signs posted outside each building before entering.

(Adopted from http://tourwithtong.com/tourtips.htm and http://www.examiner.com/article/what-to-wear-and-how-to-behave-at-the-grand-palace-and-wat-phra-kaew-bangkok)

During Task

1) Model Role Play: (25 mins)

You are going to watch a video clip, in which a tour guide and a tourist talk about the do's and don'ts for visiting a Buddhist Thai temple. Watch the video clip and fill in the blanks with the appropriate words. After that, video tape your role play of the video in pairs.

bare your shoulders	dress properly	touch the monk	use flash
historical objects	rules	shirts with sleeves	remove our shoes

Guide:            Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I am Annop and today I will be your tour guide.

Tourist: Good morning, Annop. Are we going to visit a temple this morning?

Guide:            Yes, that's right.

Tourist: Are there any           1          we should know about?

Guide: Well, you should           2          .

Tourist: What do you mean by "dress properly"?

Guide: You should wear           3          and trousers or skirts that cover your knees. And you shouldn’t           4          .

Tourist: How about shoes? Can I wear sandals or flip flops?

Guide:            Sure, because anyway we need to           5          before entering a temple.

Tourist: Can I take a photo inside the temple?

Guide: Yes, you can, but you shouldn’t           6          because it may cause damage to the site or object.

Tourist: Hmm…may I take a photo with the monk?

Guide: Yes, but if you are a woman, you shouldn’t           7           or stay very close to him.

Tourist: Oh, I see.

Guide:            Besides, you shouldn't touch the           8           or take anything from the site you visit.

Tourist: O.K., I won’t. Thanks for your suggestions.

Guide:            It’s my pleasure.

Keys:

1: rules                         2: dress properly          3: shirts with sleeves   4: bare your shoulders

5: remove our shoes    6: use flash                  7: touch the monk       8: historical objects

2) Language Focus:

• Good morning ladies and gentlemen, today I will be your tour guide.

• Are we going to visit a temple this morning?
• Yes, that’s right.
• Are there any rules we should know about?
• You should dress properly.
• Please take off your shoes.
• Please remove your shoes.
• Take off your hat and fold your umbrella before entering the building.
• What do you mean by ‘dress properly’?
• You should wear shirts with sleeves and trousers or skirts that cover your knees.
• You shouldn’t bare your shoulders.
• How about shoes? Can I wear sandals or flip flops?
• Sure, because anyway we need to remove our shoes before entering a temple.
• Yes, you can because anyway we need to remove our shoes before entering a temple.
• Can I take a photo inside the temple?
• Yes, you can, but you shouldn’t use flash.
• May I take a photo with the monk?
• Yes, but if you are a woman, you shouldn’t touch the monk or stay very close to him.
• Can I take a photo here?
• No, because there are signs saying ‘No photo and video’.
• If you take a photo you will be in trouble.
• Can I touch the Buddha image to have some good luck?
• No, the sign says ‘Do not touch’.
• Anything else?
• Do not shout or talk loud.
• Please be quiet.
• Do not show too much affection in the temple like kissing or hugging.
• May we move in?
• Let’s go.

• Are there any rules…………?
• There are several rules, firstly,............., secondly,………., and finally,………….
• You should……………
• You shouldn’t………….
• Women are not allowed to enter…
• Can I take a photo with…………?
• What do you mean by………..?
• Could you please………..?
• What about……..?

 3) Take turns with your partners construct questions and answers in order to practice the language focus rely on the given pictures. Then write your short answer in the blog. (10 mins).

For example:  

Tourist: Can I take photos with the monks?

Guide: Yes, you can but if you are a woman you shouldn’t touch the monk or stay very close to him.

a)     

Tourist:

Guide:

 b)   ( the mural painting = ภาพวาดฝาผนัง)

Tourist:

Guide:

c)

                               Tourist:

                               Guide:

                        d)

                               Tourist:

                               Guide:

                        e)

                               Tourist:

                               Guide:

            f)

                               Tourist:

                   Guide:

g)

                               Tourist:

                   Guide:

h)

                   Tourist:

                  Guide:

                                                   

Post Tasks (50 mins)

1) Role Play: (25 mins)

Play the roles of a tour guide and a tourist in pairs. In the situation, the tour guide introduces the do's and don'ts for visiting a temple.

2) Peer Review (25 mins)

Play back two randomly chosen role plays on the blog produced by the students. Give feedbacks on the Role Play according to the rubrics.

Supplementary Reading

1) Read the article below about visiting Buddhist temples-Do’s and Don’ts then answer the questions.

Visiting Buddhist Temples - Do's and Don'ts

Simple Tips for Buddhist Temple Etiquette

By Gregory Rodgers

Buddhist temples are found all over Southeast Asia and most visitors find themselves in at least one - if not several - during their travels. In all parts of Asia, life in small villages typically centers around the temple or local shrine.

Full of history, intrigue, impressive architecture and carved reliefs, many temples are wonders to explore. Usually peaceful and hushed, wandering the grounds of a temple while lost in your own thoughts is a memorable experience no matter your religious preference.

Foreigners are always welcome in Buddhist temples, usually with a smile even; there is no reason to be intimidated. Following a few simple rules of etiquette ensures that you don't accidentally offend someone, although you would surely be forgiven anyway!

Buddhist Temple Etiquette

·Remove Your Hat and Shoes: Shoes should always be removed and left outside of the main worship area. The pile of shoes is an obvious indication of where to leave them.

· Show Respect: Turn off mobile phones, remove headphones, lower your voice, avoid inappropriate conversation, remove hats, and no smoking or chewing gum.

· Cover Yourself: This is the rule most ignored by tourists who dress for the heat in countries around Southeast Asia. Shoulders should be covered and long-pants worn rather than shorts. Some temples in tourist places may be more lenient, but your modesty will be appreciated.

·Respect the Buddha Statues: Never touch, sit near, or climb on a Buddha statue or the raised platform. Get permission before taking photographs and never do so during worship. When exiting, back away from the Buddha before turning your back.

·Don't Point: Pointing at things or people around the temple is considered extremely rude. To indicate something, use your right hand with the palm facing upwards. When sitting, never point your feet at a person or image of Buddha.

· Stand Up: If you happen to be sitting in the worship area when monks or nuns enter, stand to show respect; wait until they have finished their prostrations before sitting again.

Interacting With Buddhist Monks

Monks are some of the friendliest people you will meet during your travels. The monks that you see sweeping the temple stairs may be less concerned about dirt and more interested in removing the insects so that no one accidentally steps on one!

· Eating: Monks do not eat after noon; be mindful about eating or snacking around them.

· Body Language: If a monk is sitting, show respect by sitting before starting a conversation. Avoid sitting higher than a monk if you can help it. Never point your feet at any Buddhist while sitting.

·  Right Hand Only: Only use your right hand when giving or receiving something from a monk.

Advice for Women

A woman should never touch or hand a monk something. Even accidentally brushing against their robes requires that they fast and perform a cleansing ritual. Food or donations must be passed to a man first and then on to the monk - even the monk's own mother must follow this rule!

Donations

Nearly every temple has a small metal box for receiving donations from the public. These donations keep the temple running, usually on a very thin budget. If you enjoyed your visit, giving a small amount would mean a lot.

• A typical donation is US $1 or less.

(Sermsongswad, et.al., 2006)

Questions:

1. Where should tourists leave their shoes?

2. How can tourists interact with monks?

3. What advice should a woman tourist follow?

4. Is donation a compulsory requirement for visiting a temple?

Keys:

1. They may leave their shoes where they can find a pile of shoes.

2. Tourists should be mindful about eating or snacking around monks after noon. If a monk is sitting, tourists can show respect by sitting before a conversation. Avoid sitting higher than a monk if you can help it. Tourists should never point their feet at any Buddhist while sitting.  They should only use their right hand when giving or receiving something from a monk.

3. She should never touch or hand a monk something. Food or donations must be passed to a man first and then on to the monk.

4. No, although a donation is highly appreciated for keeping the temple running.

2) Listen to the audio clip again then fill in the blanks with appropriate words. Practice speaking with your partner, pay special attention to pronunciation and intonation. (30 mins)

Photo	take off	impolite	affection
Touch	slippery	seriously	Anything

Guide: Now, we are going to enter the temple. Please               1            your shoes.

Tourist: Ok, can we wear socks?

Guide: Yes, but if you wear socks, be careful because it can be               2           . Besides, take off your hat and fold your umbrella before entering the building.

Tourist: Can we take a              3            here?

Guide: No, because there are signs saying “No photo and Video”.  If you try to take it you will be in trouble. The royal staff takes this case              4           .

Tourist: Oh, I see. Can we              5            the Buddha image to have some good luck?

Guide: No, near the Buddha image you can find signs saying "Do not touch".

Tourist:              6            else?

Guide: Yes, do not shout or talk loud. It is considered               7           .

Tourist: Ok, we will be quiet.

Guide: Oh, one more thing, do not show too much              8            in the temple like kissing or hugging.

Tourist: Ok, I see. May we move in?

Guide: Sure, let's go.

Keys:

take off	slippery	photo	seriously
Touch	Anything	impolite	affection

Recommended websites:

http://goasia.about.com/od/Customs-and-Traditions/a/Thailand-Temple.htm

Glossary

Vocabulary	Meaning
etiquette	มารยาท
forgiven	ให้อภัย อโหสิกรรม
worship	สวดมนต์
inappropriate	ไม่เหมาะสม
modesty	ความถ่อมตัว
appreciate	ชื่นชม พอใจ
Buddha statue	พระพุทธรูป
lenient	ผ่อนผัน ปรานี
snacking	อาหารว่าง
brushing	เผชิญหน้ากับ
ritual	พิธีกรรม
decorations		ประดับ ตกแต่ง
Buddhist statues		พระพุทธรูปแกะสลัก
artifacts		สิ่งประดิษฐ์
Additional Vocabulary
avoid causing damage to historical sites or objects			ระมัดระวังการทำให้โบราณสถานหรือวัตถุโบราณเสียหาย
ask permission from an official charge before taking photos			ขออนุญาตเจ้าหน้าที่ก่อนถ่ายรูป
dispose of garbage in designated areas only			ทิ้งขยะในที่ที่จัดไว้ให้
restricted areas			พื้นที่หวงห้าม
step on historical structures			เหยียบสิ่งก่อสร้างของโบราณสถาน
historical objects			วัตถุโบราณ
take anything from the site you visit			นำสิ่งของกลับบ้าน
Relic			พระธาตุ
gilded lacquer design (black-and-gold lacquer design)			ลายรดน้ำ
mother-of-pearl inlay			ลายประดับมุข
stucco modeling			ลายปูนปั้น
stained glass			กระจกสี
to gild over a lacquer surface			ลงรักปิดทอง
to decorate with glazed tiles			ประดับด้วยกระเบื้องเคลือบ
to build with bricks and mortar			ก่ออิฐถือปูน
to cast in bronze			หล่อด้วยทองสัมฤทธิ์
laterite			ศิลาแลง
palm-leaf scripture			คัมภีร์ใบลาน
a sacred cord			สายสิญจน์