by Vijay Kumar Sunwani, PhD
Introduction
Many teachers have a tendency to sit and teach making least use of their bodies. Teachers are the best teaching aids in the classroom. They are knowledgeable, living, loving, responsive to the needs of the students whose questions they try as best to answer. The teaching of English would benefit if we teachers made better use of body language in the classroom. This is what we wish to stress on in this paper, touching only some of the areas.
What is body language?
What we say is vital for communication to happen. What we do while we are saying it can have a dramatic effect on the message that the other person receives. Words and sentence construction form the content. How we say them and what we do while we say them is the context. This is body language. Only about ten per cent of our communication is carried by the words we choose to say. The body says the rest.
Body language is only part of the context. A language without spoken words, body language can be called non verbal communication. We use body language all the time, unconsciously. For instance, looking someone in the eyes means something different from not looking someone in the eyes. The most powerful of these is eye contact. Try and get a waiter’s attention without making eye contact and you'll see how strong the impact of not making eye contact can be. In contact with others, it is just not possible not to be communicating something. There is no credible way of learning new body language gestures. You can begin to choose to turn parts of your body language style up or down for the effect it will have. Yet the body language we use decides the quality of our communication. We can learn to use our body language. We can also learn to understand and interpret body language of others. How we interpret body language depends on the situation, the culture, the relationship we have with the person as well as the gender of the other. It should be noted that body language has different meanings in different cultures. This means that there is not one signal that has the same meaning all over the world. If you do not take this into account you may get yourself in some serious trouble! Therefore it would be good to become conscious of our own and others' body language
Non-verbal communication
Listed below are seven functions of non-verbal communication:
1. Repeating what has already been expressed verbally.(saying yes and nodding at the same time, giving directions and pointing)
2. Replacing the verbal communication
(nodding yes, shaking no, questioning facial expression, gestures)
3. Opposing the verbal communication
(confirming something but shaking your head hesitantly or shrugging your shoulders)
4. Affectionate (instinctive) support of the spoken word
(concerned frown or encouraging pat on the back)
5. Information about the mutual relation
(smiling, eye contact, touching, distance, posture)
6. Emphasizing the verbal communication
(a wagging finger when you express an accusation, or reproaching someone with a loud voice and hitting the table angrily)
7. Structuring and regulating the verbal communication
(the dots and commas of the spoken sentences: hemming, looking at someone and looking away, pauses, and supporting hand gestures)
Words, body, communication
When we connect with a person, we have to make it clear to each other how the content of a spoken message needs to be interpreted. How we do this says something about the relationship we have with the other person. Often words are inadequate for our purpose. For instance we do not tell each other so easily how we feel about each other, or how the words of a message need to be interpreted. To clarify the meaning of our words we have to use body language
Body Language as Style
Body language is but a kind of style to be cultivated, nurtured, perfected of which make the most to assist in verbal communication. Choose your body parts to make the body talk for you, to show the style of the language you have in mind and the effect it should make. Body language may be part of your natural setting, but you can change it, or shape it the way you want it to function for you. Body language is not fixed, though it may appear to be, yet it is versatile enough to change, according to your moods. It will help to play on or exaggerate your accent, or to make the gestures larger or smaller.
Body language – Code for feelings
Body language is interlinked with a whole pattern of behaviour of a person. Various body language signs can complement each other to make meanings crystal clear or strengthen the meaning of what we communicate.
Some groups such as prisoners, drivers, maid servants, construction workers, petty shop keepers have developed a whole specific body language which can be very explicit in its meaning for their group but difficult for others who do not belong. Such a code of body language is used to communicate where the use of words may otherwise be difficult or dangerous.
Body language is used especially to express feelings. For instance, if we do not like someone, it is often difficult to say that directly to the person. However we can make it clear, either intentionally or unintentionally, through body language. The opposite is also true. We may say that we are angry through words yet our body language may be saying loud and clear that we are not. This can be very confusing for the receiver - giving out double messages - one in words and an opposite one through body language.
It is also difficult to lie or cover up our feelings through body language. People may give their true feelings away by not being aware of their body language. Research has shown that people pay more attention to, and believe more readily, their impression of how a person acts through body language than what is said through words. As a result we tend to doubt the spoken words if they do not correspond with the language of the body. Posture and movements, our place in space, use of time and information when we speak are all part of body language.
How we come across to someone is decided only for a small part by the words we speak. Haven't we all said at times: 'I have a feeling he/she likes me', or something like: 'I doubt if what he/she is saying is really the truth'. This type of feeling is called intuition. Body language plays a major role in intuition since it gives messages about the other person that we can interpret at an intuitive level. It is necessary to get to know our own body language first. We should learn about it so that we can recognize it in others as well as in ourselves. From different aspects of body language we can always learn something as communication.
The Pragmatics of Human Communication (Watzlavick) advises that it is impossible not to communicate. Even when you say nothing at all, you still speak something through your body language. It makes a big difference if you look at the other person or not, or if you are close or far away. Even your absent-mindedness, your silence, or your forthcoming answer conveys a message to the other person. Other parts of body language that make up the context are:
Where you sit, stand, and who else is in the room. What is the time of day, week, and year? Did you have any previous communication/s with the person?
In body language you can do nothing about your gender, race, age, height, or about your dress, hair, weight. Maybe you can do something with your gestures, eye contact, and voice.
Communication happens because of both verbal and interpersonal skills. Everything communicates. If you are not clear about your intentions, people do read or misread you deliberately. Your movements are as much a part of your oral communication.
Padding is essential in body language and in ESL, especially for those who use English just occasionally. We do a different kind of padding, loading it with words of the vernaculars we know. Smoothen it up with gestures, body language.
Face
A blank face keeps people at a distance. One sees such faces in crowded places, when asked questions in the class, or in the streets and in shopping centres. (Givens) Brown and Levinson use the concept of the face to explain politeness, a universal, resulting from people’s needs.
A positive face shows the desire to be liked, appreciated, and approved. A negative face is one which is not to be imposed upon, intruded upon, or otherwise put upon.
Positive politeness addresses positive face concerns, often by showing pro-social concern for the other’s face. Negative politeness addresses negative face concerns, often by acknowledging the other’s face as threatened. When a person threatens another person’s face, the first person commits a face-threatening act.
Expressions
Facial expressions play a vital part of non verbal, body language communication. These serve as important and necessary cues to those who we communicate with. These communications act as public relations agents for their attitudes and reactions. In different types of messages and in different situations, we send out different cues through our facial expressions. They indicate our respect for others; reflect our interest in someone or something. They show our curiosity in multifarious subjects and indicate our enthusiasm for life. Often they transmit our positive attitude about people and things or convey our ambition as professionals. At times they express our compassion for co workers, family, and friends or reveal the kind of personality we possess. Much of the time they communicate our ability to respond emotionally.
Eyes
Eye contact is the most powerful in all kinds for body language communication Body language can help you by deciding to give or not give eye contact to certain people. Eye contacts display a lot of variety. Fast (1970) suggests polite inattention. We look at unknown people just long enough to make it obvious that we have seen him/her, and then we turn our eyes away. Our passing glance is just to let the other know that we are aware of his/her presence but do not recognize him/her, and do not want to intrude upon his /her privacy. Goffmann (1969) notes that the passing glance and the lowering of the eyes is the body language for “I trust you. I am not afraid of you.”
Contact through eyes - varieties
What Fast categorizes as bedroom eyes is charmingly labeled by Ortega as the look which is the most effective, the most suggestive, the most delicious and enchanting. He also considers it the most complicated look because it is furtively infusive in that a person makes no real attempt to conceal the fact that he/she is looking. The eyelids are almost three quarters closed and it appears as if they are hiding themselves, though in fact the lids are only compressing the look, so as to shoot it out like an arrow. It is a sleepy, calculating, appraising look. 'It is the look of eyes that are, as it were, asleep, but which beyond the cloud of sweet drowsiness are utterly awake.'
Flashbulb eyes are an involuntary and dramatic widening of the eyes, performed in situations of intense emotion, such as anger, surprise and fear. The eyelids are opened to the maximum, displaying the roundness and the curvature of the eyeballs. Flashbulb eyes are a signal of imminent verbal aggression or physical attack by an angry individual. (Givens)
Understanding Body Language
Van Fleet gives some tips to listen to a person by observing his / her body language. These can be adapted in the English class to suit all varieties of situations and interactions.
Eyes reveal what a person is really thinking, no matter what he/she says in words. We can know that the person is pleased and feels good about a remark you have made if his/her pupils dilate. On the other hand if his/her pupils contract it means that s/he dislikes what you have said, so s/he feels s/he has reason not to trust you or what you say.
Eyebrows and the lifting of one eyebrow indicate that s/he does not believe what you have said, or thinks it is impossible. If s/he lifts both eyebrows it means that s/he is surprised.
If the person rubs his/ her nose or tugs at his ear while saying s/he understands, it means that s/he is puzzled by what you are saying and probably does not know at all what you want him/her to do.
Wrinkling the forehead downwards in a frown indicates that s/he is puzzled or is not pleased with your remark. If s/he wrinkles her / his forehead upwards it reveals that s/he is surprised at what s/he has heard.
Shrugging the shoulders usually mean that s/he is completely indifferent or does not care about what you are saying or demanding.
When the person drums or taps his/ her fingers on the arm of the chair or the top of the desk, it means s/he is either nervous or impatient.
When s/he folds or crosses his/her arms across his/her chest, it usually means that s/he is isolating him/her self or creating a barrier from others or is actually afraid of you and is trying to defend himself / herself.
Therefore the power of your personality and that of your students can be projected powerfully through appropriate use of your body language, keeping the above in mind.
Do not smile unless you are genuinely happy. Your smile must emanate and come spontaneously from the heart. The best way to control negative feelings and emotions is to have a neutral facial expression.
Do not allow people to interrupt you. If you are interrupted while speaking even if by your superior, simply say, “I’m sorry, but I have not finished yet’ and then resume speaking at once from where you were cut off. Thus you will be able to have your full say on the given issue.
Implications
The use of his / her body by the English teacher can make the class active and interesting. As an example many of the activities suggested by Penny Ur can be made use of in the class using body language. The activities can be linked to what has been taught earlier, or what might come later; body language can come in both as reinforcement and as preparation. Activities such as Compare yourselves (9), English words in my language (20), Fact & fiction, Family tree (24), Find Someone who (27), How do you feel? (34), Martian (48), Miming (51), Rub out and replace (67), Selling freezers to Eskimos (73), Sentence Starters (74), Simon says (76), Spelling bee (79), Walking Warmers(88), and Wrangling (99) will involve as much use of body language by the teacher as much by the students. In the process both will profit from understanding and interpreting each other's body language, rejuvenating the English class with movement, breath, mime, and other actions. In most of the cases the blackboard, another useful teaching aid will also be used, teacher and student involved, body and soul, pen and paper, chalk and duster.
Conclusion
Be completely relaxed. This does not imply you to be sloppy in the way you dress or careless about your appearance. Self confidence is the key to real relaxation. Look people straight in the eye. To avoid a staring down battle it is best to look, at a spot on the person’s forehead, till s/he averts his/her gaze. The best is to pick a spot in the middle of the other person’s forehead just above the level of his/her eyebrows. If you keep your eyes fixed on that spot you cannot be stared down. Eventually the other person will be forced to lower his/her gaze, in an act of submission, thus giving you a feeling of confidence and control.
This language of the body will help you remain relaxed and enjoy your work. Do not restrain your body gestures. If you need to use your hands or arms to make a point, do so, but avoiding pointing an accusing finger at anyone.
References:
Fast, J. (1970): Body Language, M. Evans & Co. Philadelphia
Hedwig L. (2000): Body Language, Response Books, New Delhi
Givens, D.B. (1999): The non verbal dictionary of gestures, signs and body language cues. Center for non verbal studies, Spokane, WA. La Jolla, CA, USA
Ur, P. & A. Wright (1995): Five Minute Activities, Cambridge University Press
Internet resources
Bodycom Lichaamscommunicatie. The Netherlands.
About the Author:
Dr Vijay Kumar Sunwani is the Principal of the Regional Institute of Education (NCERT), Bhubaneswar, India. He teaches English Literature.
