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Agence France-Presse

Danielle Liu stared straight ahead, a book balanced precariously on her head, and carefully walked along a red line on the floor.
The 10-year-old’s mother hoped the exercise would help to make Danielle “a little lady” and allow her to shine among the children of China’s ultra-competitive rich.
Danielle was with seven other young children who spent their Saturday on the top floor of a five-star hotel in central Shanghai for a class in etiquette, manners and deportment.
The four boys, in bow ties, suits and shiny black shoes, looked dapper. The four girls were all billowing dresses and angelic smiles.
“You have a stability problem,” Guillaume de Bernadac, the self-styled French doyen of etiquette in Shanghai, told one boy who tried to walk and keep the book on his head.




If the children, who in this class were aged between nearly seven and 11, enjoyed that exercise, they were less keen on having to sit straight and keep their elbows off the table at lunch.
“I’m scared,” Zachary repeated as he struggled with his pea-and-mint soup while keeping two pieces of white paper under his armpits.
What it’s like: being a British etiquette coach to wealthy Chinese
The paper was to ensure the children ate with their elbows tucked in, but soon enough, the carpeted floor was littered with sheets of A4.
Red ribbons were tied behind the children’s shoulders to stop them slouching. Those who did were gently chastised by de Bernadac or his staff in English or Chinese.
Danielle’s mother Cheng Liyan, who uses the English name Shirley, wanted her only child to be “perfect”.
“To be ladylike, to be athletic, also academic, I hope she can develop herself in an all-round way,” said Cheng, a teacher.
Danielle already takes part in extracurricular swimming, piano and dancing, which is her favourite.

“I always talk to her and ask if she likes it,” said Cheng, but admitted there is “fierce competition” to stand out in Shanghai, China’s most cosmopolitan city and one which has a population of about 25 million.
Cheng and the other parents pay the 31-year-old de Bernadac 2,688 yuan (US$389) for four hours of practical instruction for one child.
Accompanied by classical music, the children learned social skills, dining manners and deportment – hence the books on heads to teach them to walk nicely.
Other exercises included how to introduce themselves and greet people, including “air kisses”, and even what topics were appropriate to discuss at the dinner table.




De Bernadac, who arrived in China as a student, said that demand had surged since he started his company, Academie de Bernadac, in 2014.
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Shanghai authorities recently approached him about designing programmes for the city’s schools, and he also offers classes to adults and private firms.
De Bernadac is adamant that he is not simply trying to make the children more Western.
“Our point is really to say if you go abroad, or even within China if you move to an international environment where you may be facing other cultures, we give you the keys to adapt,” he said.
De Bernadac had no formal training, but said his great grandfather and his great-great uncle were sent to Morocco in the 1920s as tutors to the nobility.
Among the subjects they taught was “how to be polite, how to behave” and the then-future king, Hassan II, was one of their students, he said.

De Bernadac, who sported a cravat and well-rehearsed smile, said that the interest in his classes in Shanghai and other cities across China showed the country wanted to be “part of the global village”.
“The elite are ready to make some effort, some steps, towards the international community,” he added.
Cheng, sitting next to Danielle when class was done, brushed off concerns that at their age, these children should be playing outdoors and having fun.
Apart from the dining part, the children mainly seemed to enjoy being fast-tracked to adulthood.
“Kids should be kids, that is true, but at least they should have some discipline,” said Cheng. “For example, in a public situation, they cannot yell, they cannot scream. It’s so inappropriate.”


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For children of Chinese elite, balancing the books is all about etiquette and manners

Miona Milakov guides Zoey Zhang on how to walk during an etiquette and manners class in central Shanghai. Photo: AFP

This picture taken on June 1, 2019 shows Guillaume de Bernadac teaching children how to use cutlery during an etiquette and manners class in central Shanghai. - Against a soundtrack of classical music, children learn social skills, dining manners and deportment in the class, which costs $390 for four hours of practical instruction per student. Other exercises include how to introduce themselves and greet people, including "air kisses", and even what topics are appropriate to discuss at the dinner table. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP) / TO GO WITH China-etiquette-children-education-lifestyle, FEATURE by Peter Stebbings with Kelly Wang

This picture taken on June 1, 2019 shows Danielle Liu (2nd R) and Sofia Gao (R) trying to balance books on their heads as they walk during an etiquette and manners class in central Shanghai. - Against a soundtrack of classical music, children learn social skills, dining manners and deportment in the class, which costs $390 for four hours of practical instruction per student. Other exercises include how to introduce themselves and greet people, including "air kisses", and even what topics are appropriate to discuss at the dinner table. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP) / TO GO WITH China-etiquette-children-education-lifestyle, FEATURE by Peter Stebbings with Kelly Wang

Meet China’s favourite etiquette coach, darling of socialites and the super rich

Guillaume Rué de Bernadac shows how to correctly hold a teacup at the Waldolf Astoria Shanghai.

Guillaume Rué de Bernadac folding a handherchief at an event

Guillaume Rué de Bernadac ties ribbons around his clients to keep their backs straight during a class on dining etiquette Credits_ Guillaume Rué de Bernadac

Guillaume Rué de Bernadac offering a lesson on afternoon tea etiquette at Waldolf Astoria Shanghai

Chu Mingjingjing demonstrating the slant, a sitting posture with Guillaume Rué de Bernadac at Waldolf Astoria Shanghai.

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A woman surnamed Li was detained for seven days for disrupting public order after she got involved in a row with another passenger aboard a high-speed train from Shanghai to Beijing earlier this month, the Yangtse Evening News reported on Thursday. Li started quarrelling with a man who claimed she had taken the seat he booked after getting onto the train in Wuxi station and taking a seat in the wrong carriage on December 3. 14DEC18. Source: Sohu

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China

People & Culture

Tutor Guillaume de Bernadac’s deportment classes help to create ‘perfect’ child
In Shanghai, US$389 an hour buys instruction in walking, conversation and dining


Tutor Guillaume de Bernadac’s deportment classes help to create ‘perfect’ child, and in Shanghai, US$389 an hour buys instruction in the correct way to converse, dine elegantly … and walk with a book on your head.


For children of Chinese elite, balancing the books is all about etiquette and manners

Tutor Guillaume de Bernadac’s deportment classes help to create ‘perfect’ child In Shanghai, US$389 an hour buys instruction in walking, conversation and dining

Tutor Guillaume de Bernadac’s deportment classes help to create ‘perfect’ child

In Shanghai, US$389 an hour buys instruction in walking, conversation and dining