understanding body language in the classroom
Understanding body language
![Picture](/uploads/2/7/6/9/27694615/4241645.jpg?1397489464)
As we interact with our students, we continuously give and receive wordless signals. Our nonverbal behaviors—the gestures we make, the way we sit, how fast or how loud we talk, how close we stand, how much eye contact we make—send strong messages. These messages don't stop when we stop speaking either. Even when silent, we're still communicating non-verbally to our students. We are constantly under their watchful eyes.
Observe the the photo above. As we look at the students with their teacher, we know that they are actively involved in the lesson. The teacher, too, is also actively involved. How can we tell this without being in the situation and actually hearing what is taking place?
Observe the the photo above. As we look at the students with their teacher, we know that they are actively involved in the lesson. The teacher, too, is also actively involved. How can we tell this without being in the situation and actually hearing what is taking place?
Statistics Say...
- 7%. That’s how much speaking impacts your students. The other 93% is attributed to non-verbal communication. Part of that 93% is the way you use your voice—tone, volume, pace, enunciation, etc. (Linisn 2009)
- Body language is thought to account for between 50 to 70 percent of all communication (Various Researchers).
- Between 50-80% of all human communications are non-verbal ( Various Body Language Experts)
Figure 1 above provides examples of non-verbal communication. As you go through each one, think about how you use/don't use them with your students in class. After you have reflected, construct a pie chart or any other suitable representation of how often you use particular gestures.
Did you learn anything about yourself or about your teaching style through this activity?
Did you learn anything about yourself or about your teaching style through this activity?
The author of this site does not claim to be a professional in body language. Information provided in this site came from various sources and personal observations. Sources and additional reading material are included.