Body Language

BODY LANGUAGE

Communication is an ongoing process of sending and receiving messages enables us to share knowledge, express attitudes and demonstrate skills; the problem is that verbalcommunication permits instant feedback, but nonverbal acts do not. Therein lays the difficulty.
Educators, psychologists, anthropologists and sociologists define body language or nonverbal communication ascommunication without words; a speech that is based in all of the messages other than words that people exchange. It includes overt behaviors such as facial expressions, eye contact, touching and tone ofvoice. However, it can also be less obvious like the way to dress, posture and spatial distance.
Messages are seen as symbolic and therefore their use is intentional. But for example, if a languagelearner extends his arm above his head in a stretching motion to relieve himself of a muscle cramp, this behavior was not intended as communication; however, if this same motion is done to signal hisdesire to answer a question in class, the movement symbolizes his willingness to volunteer, and would thus be considered nonverbal communication. That is to say, not all behavior leads tocommunication.
The most effective communication occurs when verbal and nonverbal messages are in sync, creating communication synergy.

There are some important reasons why nonverbal communication is used:1) Words have limitations.
2) Nonverbal signals are powerful.
3) Nonverbal messages are likely to be more genuine.
4) Nonverbal signals can express feelings too disturbing to state.
5) A separatecommunication channel is necessary to help send complex messages.
Why is important body language in the classroom?

Communication is more than words, and teachers should be aware of this in theclassroom and understand that their students are sending and receiving body language messages all the time in the classroom but, to be a good receiver of students' messages, a teacher must be attuned to...