Public Manners and Courtesy
FoundationSpeak softly, queue and keep places clean; say please, thank you and sorry — be a courteous, public-minded child.
- Public-mindedness means thinking of others in public places.
- Queue first come first served; never cut in.
- Offer seats to elderly people and those in need.
文體小知識：說明文列出公共場所的守則和禮貌用語，讀完馬上就能用。
§Text Passage
1Public-mindedness means thinking of others in public places: no loud talking on the bus, no running around the cinema, no trampling the grass in the park. When you think of others, your behaviour stays considerate.
2Follow the rules of public places: queue for the bus and let people off first; give your seat to elderly people, pregnant women and those who have trouble moving; silence your phone at films and concerts. Little things make life together more pleasant.
3Keep polite words ready: say please when asking for help; say thank you when helped; say sorry when wrong; say it is okay when others apologise. These four phrases are four little keys that open doors between people.
4Be brave enough to apologise. If you bump into a classmate, say sorry at once and help pick up the scattered things. Courteous, public-minded children are welcome everywhere. Start today and be a little good citizen!
1Summary 重點摘要
Speak softly, queue and keep places clean; say please, thank you and sorry — be a courteous, public-minded child.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Following rules and thinking of others in public places.
Being kind and polite, saying please and thank you.
Waiting one behind another, first come first served.
Offering your seat to someone who needs it more.
To say sorry after doing wrong and try to make up for it.
To say thank you when someone helps you.
Places shared by everyone, such as buses, parks and libraries.
Valuing other people's feelings and rights.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: Manners on the busPublic manners mean always thinking of others in shared places. On buses and MTR trains, we do not eat, do not play videos loudly, and keep our voices soft when we talk. The carriage belongs to everyone; when all of us mind our manners, every journey is pleasant and the driver can drive with full attention. A common mistake is running about and shouting in the carriage; this is dangerous and disturbs other passengers, while a quiet little passenger wins everyone's praise.
- Step 2: Offer your seatOffering your seat is giving care to the people who need it most. When a grandmother with a cane gets on, stand up at once and say, Grandmother, please take this seat; then help her sit down slowly. Expectant mothers, the elderly and grown-ups carrying babies all need seats — a child who offers a seat is the kindest little passenger. Why offer it? Standing is tiring and unsafe for them. A common mistake is pretending to sleep or looking down; when you see someone in need, offer your seat generously.
- Step 3: Queue in orderWaiting in line is the fairest and most polite way. Queue for the swing — one child finishes before the next one starts, and nobody jumps the queue; when many children want the slide, wait patiently. Queue for buses and trains too: let the passengers get off first, then board in turn. Following the first-come-first-play rule lets everyone have a good time. A common mistake is squeezing through any gap to board first; pushing and rushing is impolite and easily knocks others over.
- Step 4: Four polite phrasesPlease, thank you, sorry and it is okay are polite phrases with magic. To borrow a classmate's eraser, first ask, May I borrow it, please? After using it, remember to say thank you when you return it; when you make a mistake by accident, say sorry; and say it is okay when others apologise. Children who keep these polite phrases ready will always find friends glad to be with them. A common mistake is saying nothing after receiving help; without a thank you, the helper feels the kindness went unseen.
- Step 5: Apologise bravelyEveryone makes mistakes by accident, and saying sorry bravely and correcting them makes you a good child. If you kick a classmate's schoolbag and the books scatter on the ground, say sorry at once and bend down to help pick them up. A sincere apology mends friendship, and a child who corrects mistakes is the most worthy of trust. Why does an apology matter so much? It shows we understand we were wrong and value the other person's feelings. A common mistake is making excuses to dodge blame; bravely admitting a mistake is what true courage looks like.
- Step 6: Keep places cleanKeeping places clean is everyone's duty in the community. After eating a sweet, hold the wrapper in your hand and put it in the bin only when you find one — never drop it; if you see litter on the ground, pick it up and put it in the bin as well. When everyone loves cleanliness, the streets and parks stay spotless and our city grows more beautiful. A common mistake is dropping litter when no bin is nearby; walk a few more steps and hold the wrapper a little longer, and the environment stays that much cleaner.
4Diagrams Diagrams
5Worked example Example
Example: May is eating a biscuit on the bus when the wrapper blows onto the floor. What should she do?
- The wrapper is her own rubbish, so she is responsible for it and cannot pretend not to see it.
- Bend down, pick up the wrapper and hold it in her hand.
- Put it in the bin when getting off the bus.
- Next time, keep the wrapper in hand while eating and throw it away together afterwards.
- Answer: May should pick up the wrapper and bin it when getting off, because everyone takes care of their own rubbish. In the carriage, it is also better not to eat, so crumbs do not scatter everywhere. Such a small act is exactly what public-mindedness looks like.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What do we say when helped?
Q2What do we say when we did wrong?
Q3What should we do for a pregnant woman on the bus?
Q4How should we queue for the bus?
Q5What should we do with our rubbish after eating?
8Recap Recap
- Public-mindedness means thinking of others in public places.
- Queue first come first served; never cut in.
- Offer seats to elderly people and those in need.
- Four polite phrases: please, thank you, sorry, it is okay.
- Handle your own rubbish and be a good citizen.