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1. Begin by setting one stick in the groove between your thumb and index finger. Press the inside of your thumb against it to keep it in place. This sticks remains still while you’re using the chopsticks. Photo by James Kyung

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Imagine you’re taking a date to a fancy Asian restaurant and the only utensils people are using are chopsticks. You don’t want to be the person who has to ask for a fork, do you?

Though the above worst case scenario is all the incentive you’ll ever need, there are other reasons why the use of chopsticks is a valuable skill, besides avoiding potential minor humiliation.

Using chopsticks announces that you’ve developed a skill rooted in cultural tradition surrounding Asian cuisine. In addition, the real joy of using chopsticks is that they force you to slow down a little bit, allowing for more enjoyment in the food you’re eating. As opposed to using a fork to shovel food into your mouth, chopsticks require a delicate finesse and pace. The fork is a sprint; chopsticks are a marathon.

Fortunately, using chopsticks is a simple three-step process. Once your technique is right, all you need to do is practice.

1. Begin by setting one stick in the groove between your thumb and index finger. Press the inside of your thumb against it to keep it in place. This stick remains still while you’re using the chopsticks.

2. The second stick is held as almost as a pencil. It rests between the tips of the index and middle fingers. This stick is manipulated up and down against the first to pick up food.

3. To open the top stick, lift with the middle finger. To close, use the index finger. It is this motion that is used to work chopsticks. The rest is practice.