School Etiquette Program
Life’s complicated for teenagers these days.
Let’s agree: adolescence has never been easy. Hormones run riot, there’s constant pressure from peers and parents, and friendship groups change in mysterious ways every day. In 2018, things are trickier than ever – in large part due to the rise of technology and the way it’s affected our lives.
Today, teenagers encounter issues like cyber bullying and sexting; things that didn’t exist a decade or two ago. Having grown up immersed in the internet (and surrounded by devices), teens may have often had less opportunity to practice face-to-face communication, which has a big impact on their social skills and relationships.
Often easily distracted and lacking in confidence, today’s teen is rarely equipped for what the adult world has in store – but given how they’ve grown up, how are they meant to know any better?
Etiquette: an unexpected answer.
While some think of etiquette as stuffy and old-fashioned, this couldn’t be further from the truth – in fact, etiquette couldn’t be more relevant to today’s teenagers. Far from being a rigid set of rules, etiquette provides teens with the skills, insight and confidence to navigate the many situations they’ll encounter in life.
There’s much more to etiquette training than learning which fork to use. Through our courses, teens also learn a range of valuable skills related to conversation, presentation, and responding appropriately in different situations. We don’t just teach our students what the right thing is to do; we teach them why it’s so important.
By becoming less self-focused and more considerate, students can not only improve their relationships and social skills – they can set themselves up for a more successful future. In turn, their contribution will make our society a nicer, more thoughtful place to live.
Reports indicate that nearly 85% of our career success depends on social skills, manners and presentation.
How our training works.
At Australian School of Etiquette, we’ve been sharing our expertise with adults and young people for many years, and seeing firsthand the impact it has. When working with schools, we aim to support your existing curriculum and teaching approach – and will tailor a program to include the topics you feel are most relevant for your students.
We offer etiquette training for school students in a range of formats. Options include:
- Weekly lessons for a set period (often 6-8 weeks is ideal). These are ideal for smaller groups and involve lots of role-play and hands-on practice.
- Interactive workshops (usually 1-3 hours) where we address subjects of your choice with an entire class.
- School presentations (usually 1 hour) usually focused on a specific topic such as social media etiquette or making a positive first impression.
Our trainers are currently working with schools across New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.
What we cover.
First impressions: how to behave and conduct yourself when meeting someone for the first time, including handshaking and effective introductions.
Communication skills: conversation techniques, listening skills, speech and voice projection, speaking volume, articulation and giving/receiving compliments.
Positive posture and body language: how to walk, stand, sit and enter every room with confidence and poise.
Social media etiquette: managing all forms of social media, handy do’s and don’ts, dealing with bullies and peer pressure, keeping yourself safe.
Presentation & grooming: the details of how you should look from head to toe, including personal hygiene, dressing appropriately, and hair, skin, nails & teeth care.
Dining etiquette: setting the table, eating and using cutlery correctly, dining do’s and don’ts, appropriate table conversations, manners in public places.
Public speaking: how to present and receive an award or make a thankyou or acceptance speech.
Our background.
The Australian School of Etiquette (ASOE) was founded by Zarife Hardy, one of Australia’s leading etiquette experts.
Zarife is a nationally acclaimed Etiquette Coach, Spokesperson and Stylist. She has been featured on the Daily Edition on Channel 7, SBS, The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph, 2GB, 2UE, 2NUR, Gold FM and many other publications. Zarife is also a regular contributor to the Morning Show on Channel 7 with her own segment called “A Minute of Manners.”
With clients across the country, Zarife travels around Australia consulting with individuals and companies on their professional image. Thanks to the growing demand for her services, Zarife has now built a dynamic team of like-minded experts who help deliver her programs nationwide. Corporations, schools and other audiences love ASOE’s interactive and fast-paced seminars and workshops, and have consistently gone on to reap the rewards in their personal and professional lives.
Zarife’s career began at June Dally Watkins, where she taught Etiquette and Deportment in all their academies across Australia. She has studied with The Trinity College in London in Speech, is a Qualified Stylist with the Professional Styling Academy of Australia, has studied with Etiquette Outreach in Manhattan New York, and has studied Leadership at The University of Sydney.
“Etiquette is a powerful tool that can help take us further in this modern world,” says Zarife. “A polished, professional and confident image will open doors that you didn’t even know existed.”
