Hospitality applications in social grace

36 SMJK Jit Sin students discovered more about the skills of politeness in social situations and the bright career prospects in the hospitality industry during a visit to the DISTED College School of Hospitality Campus. 

SMJK Jit Sin students at DISTED Hospitality Campus to learn more about hospitality careers and training.

“Table manners, whether in a restaurant or a dining party, are an important part of making a favourable impression on others. 

“They’re visible signals of the state of our social politeness and impact our public image,” said Victor Soosay, the college’s culinary lecturer with vast industry experience. 

“Dining etiquette is to make you comfortable and your presence pleasant to your host and other guests,” he advised the Form 3 to Form 5 students. 

“It’s advisable to arrive at the function least 10 minutes early.  

“Always say ‘please’ when asking for something and be sure to say ‘thank you’ to your servers after they’ve removed any used items," he said when touching on restaurant and dinner party manners. 

Students from SMJK Jit Sin listening to DISTED culinary lecturer Victor Soosay (right) explaining the hospitality education pathways and career prospects.

DISTED culinary lecturer Victor Soosay (standing) demonstrating the use of napkin to SMJK Jit Sin students during his talk on dining etiquette.

Apart from the etiquette rules for dining, the speaker also gave the students a hands-on lesson in napkin folding. 

As for career opportunities, Victor said: “Employment prospects for hospitality graduates are bright with plentiful job opportunities locally and abroad.” 

“The hospitality, business travel and tourism industries are ever booming worldwide. They’re a big global business involving hundreds of millions of jobs.

”There’re bountiful opportunities for hospitality careers in hotels, resorts, theme parks, casinos, event management, entrepreneurship, airports, airlines, travel agencies, franchised restaurants, cruise liners and other tourism and hospitality establishments.

“For instance, one of our hospitality alumni, Aleen Cheong, is a leading stewardess with Gulfstream. She has had the privilege of flying with super VIPs including former US president Bill Clinton,” Victor pointed  out.

SMJK Jit Sin students having hands-on experience in folding dining napkin.

Accompanying the students were their school counsellors Nur Adila Ab Sukur and Norhafiza Yong. 

"The visit is part of our career guidance activities to expose our students to private higher education opportunities.  

"Knowing the precise course entry requirements can help them to set an achievement target for SPM and work hard to achieve it," Nur Adila said. 

Her colleague Norhfiza added: "Insights gained from this excursion can help our students in matching their aptitude and interest to hospitality career requirements." 

"They also have a chance to get a closer feel of college learning environment."

SMJK Jit Sin students in a group shot during their visit to the DISTED Hospitality Campus. With them are their school counsellors Nur Adila Abdul Sukur (right) and Norhafiza Yong (left).