Through out most of China's long history,the relationships between people were based on carefully
prescribed forms of behavior,that is,etiquette.Learning and following etiquette is so important
that people are always judged by how closely they follow these rules of behaviors.For those who do
not follow those prescribed rules of conduct,they are regarded as uncivilized barbarians.However,as
China has been increasingly entangled in the global village,many Chinese people,especially the
young,have lost some traditions because of the influences of Western cultures.According to a famous
professor,the majority of Chinese college students have not had systematic training on traditional
Chinese etiquette.As for me,traditional etiquette should be taught in class.Firstly,if college
students can receive a systematic education in traditional etiquette in class,they can get more
prepared for the future.As is known,college students usually have learnt some traditonal etiquette
through daily interaction with friends and relatives,but the process is time consuming.They have to
be sensitive enough to observe other people's behaviors and then know what proper behaviors in
different social situations are.Sometimes the learning process is by trial and error.They can only
form right behaviors after breaking the rules of conduct and being corrected by the costly
consequence.If they have already taken a systematic etiquette course in college,they can follow
proper etiquette and have a more guaranteed future.Secondly,as these meticulous rules of conduct
have been formed throughout Chinese history,they are unique Chinese characteristics and are
inseparable to Chinese culture.With the advent of globalization,western culture is so influential
that many young people often look to Western customs and etiquette as being fashionable.For example,
nowadays most young women in China would like to wear western style white dresses and veils at
wedding while traditional Chinese weddings feature red gowns for brides and white is an absolute
taboo.In the long term,if the trend to adopt western etiquette can not be curbed,the Chinese
generations in the future will lose their cultural identity.Furthermore,the extinction of Chinese
etiquette will be to the detriment of the diversity of global culture.To some extent,the course
can serve to arouse college students' cultural pride and help to preserve and further develop
Chinese culture.In conclusion,taking traditional Chinese etiquette in college will not only make
graduates more prepared for their future,but also can constitute an important measure for college
students to form Chinese cultural identity and therefor to preserve Chinese tradition and further
develop it.