The Use of Body Language in Class

Body language is non verbal communication where our actions, gestures, expressions help in communicating how we feel or help us identify how other people feel. Teachers can learn alot about how students feel just by studying their body language. The body language of students help teachers get sort of a non verbal feedback so they can improve or adjust their teaching in a more effective manner. A good teacher needs not only to be qualified in teaching but also needs to be intuitive and needs to be dignified in his or her body language. Every smile of the teacher, a look, an action, everything has a strong psychological impact on students (Yang, 2017). 

                                     

The teacher's body language is important to enhance the educational experience and influence on students. The appearance of the teacher, clothing, hairstyle many times sets the first impression on the students and on parents. In the classroom, the teachers can understand if students understood the subject matter being taught by their facial expressions or eye contact. Body language can be used to enhance the interest and  curiosity of students when teaching. One of the methods is surveying where the teacher can scan the classroom to ensure that the students are looking upwards at the board or teacher and reading what the teacher has written or has to say. Smiling also gives positive feedback to the teacher or to the student showing positivity, friendliness, happiness, excitement and trust. Sometimes, the use of gestures such as the movement of the hands helps in conveying our mental activity or our state of mind (Yang, 2017). 

Body language is a double edged sword. If teachers are not really aware of their body language it can have a negative impact on the students and can damage the professional image of the teacher and can mislead the students. It is important for the teacher to act appropriately, be natural, be attentive, teach the concept of personal space, have a proper tone of voice and be clear with the students in their expressions and social cues (Yang, 2017). 

References

Types of social cues. Mylemarks. Retrieved September 20, 2021, from https://www.mylemarks.com/store/p193/Types_of_Social_Cues.html. 

Yang, X. (2017). The use of body language in english teaching. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 7(12), 1333–1336. https://doi.org/http://www.academypublication.com/issues2/tpls/vol07/12/23.pdf 

Brought to you by Priyanka @ Niagara University