If you’re tired of watching your teenager run out of the house sloppily dressed, or seeing your partner gulp down their evening meal, then perhaps it’s time to look into etiquette classes.Trudy Snaith, director of The Executive School of Protocol, is opening a studio in the East End this weekend.The new location will complement classes she’s offered at her Somerset home for nearly a decade.She is to host an open house at the ‘The Homestead’ at 20 Queen Street in St George’s on Saturday from 3pm until 5pm.Information about the various courses will be on offer, as well as demonstrations.The school will provide classes on manners and table etiquette to children as young as three.Mrs Snaith will also teach adults how to better handle themselves in job interviews and within the workplace.Those who attend on Saturday can enter a raffle to win a free etiquette class for their child.Mrs Snaith said pretty much anyone could benefit from learning proper etiquette and life skills.“Our teen programmes, Miss Sophisticate, Mr Savvy and The Academy for Young Ladies, also cover things like skin care, how to make intelligent choices when shopping for clothes and self-presentation.“We even cover running a household. Lots of teens don’t know what a correctly made bed should look like or how to hem an item of clothing.“Not that this will be a life calling, but I strongly believe everyone should know how something is done so they can be self-sufficient if they must be.”Mrs Snaith said she has always had an interest in etiquette, stemming from when she read a book called ‘White Gloves and Party Manners’ at age ten.“Perhaps it was earlier but even at that age I recognised how solid social skills could pave the way to success,” she said.“People responded to you better if you conducted yourself in a certain way.“When I made a conscious decision to share what I had gained through life experiences I sought to study with institutions that would show me the best way to deliver this information to students.”She then learned about The Protocol School of Washington and decided to study there.Based in Washington DC, it focused on diplomatic relations. Later on, Mrs Snaith studied children’s etiquette and learned the true meaning of ‘southern hospitality’.“There’s little that can compete with true southern gentility and children can certainly benefit from that.“The study of those methods, in addition to the knowledge I have gained over the years through extensive travel, is what I offer my students.“I show them how easy and uncomplicated it is to use strong social skills to prepare yourself for success and anyone is capable of doing it.“It’s a matter of knowing the expectations and meeting them because I teach what I know [and] I can tailor lesson plans to meet anyone’s needs.“But lessons are always based on core principles, values and integrity.”This weekend’s open house aims to give people an opportunity to get information on the school’s programmes in a relaxed setting.She said: “The venue is the homestead of my husband’s grandparents and the setting is an elegant old Bermuda home.“Though the interior was converted years ago its exterior still maintains its distinct charm with large royal palm trees and a manicured lawn ideal for lessons that involve ‘taking tea’.”In addition to her East and West End locations, Mrs Snaith also conducts classes in private homes and offices throughout the Island upon request.For more information e-mail tsnaith@ibl.bm.Useful website: www.esop.bm/