1、As an educator, people often ask me how I know what is going on in the minds of my students. Many students are quite shy and dont speak all that much. At the same time, in a classroom of more than forty students, it is hard to have many one-on-one conversations with each person. So, how can I really
2、 know what makes each student tick? My answer? I look at their body language. It is easy to recognise when students are interested in a lesson. Most tend to look up and make eye contact. When I make a joke, they smile. When I talk about something difficult, they look confused. I know when students a
3、re really interested, however, because they lean forward and look at me. People have a tendency to lean towards whatever they are interested in. So if a student has his head lowered to look at his watch, it implies he is bored and just counting the minutes for the class to end. If two friends are le
4、aning their heads together, they are probably writing notes to each other. Of course, not everyone who looks up is paying attention in class. Some students look up, but there is an absence of eye contact. Their eyes barely move, and they always have the same distant expression on their faces. It is
5、as though they are asleep with their eyes open. Some students are amused by something else. They spend all their time looking anywhere but at me. Then again, some students favourite activity is daydreaming. With their chins on their hands, they occupy themselves by staring out of the window or up at
6、 the ceiling. They are certainly interested in something, but who knows what. The main thing is reminding distracted students that they need to pay attention in class. While it is easy to perceive when students are interested, bored, or distracted, it is sometimes much harder to distinguish when stu
7、dents are troubled. Students who are angry, afraid, or experiencing anxiety may have their arms crossed in front of their chests and their legs closed or crossed, like they are guarding their bodies. Students who are sad or worried will nearly always wear a frown. They may also hide their faces in t
8、heir hands like they are embarrassed or ashamed. Some students act this way merely because they are afraid of being called on by the teacher. However, if a student does not bother to brush her hair and her eyes are red from weeping, then I can infer that there are deeper issues at work. It could be
9、that she is having serious conflicts with other students or at home. Whatever it is, I know I need to inquire and assess what is going on. Ultimately, my duty is helping every student to learn. Their body language lets me know when to adjust class activities, when to intervene, and when to talk to s
10、tudents individually, so they can all get the most out of school. Reacting to body language is an important component of being a teacher. Some gestures seem to have the same meaning everywhere. Placing your hands together and resting them on the side of your head while closing your eyes means sleep.
11、 A good way of saying I am full is moving your hand in circles over your stomach after a meal. We use both words and body language to express our thoughts and opinions in our interactions with other people. We can learn a lot about what people are thinking by watching their body language. Words are
12、important, but the way people stand, hold their arms, and move their hands can also give us information about their feelings. Just like spoken language, body language varies from culture to culture. The crucial thing is using body language in a way that is appropriate to the culture you are in. For
13、example, making eye contact looking into someones eyesin some countries is a way to display interest. In other countries, by contrast, eye contact is not always approved of. For example, in many Middle Eastern countries, men and women are not socially permitted to make eye contact. In Japan, it may
14、demonstrate respect to look down when talking to an older person. The gesture for OK has different meanings in different cultures. In Japan, someone who witnesses another person employing the gesture might think it means money. In France, a person encountering an identical gesture may interpret it a
15、s meaning zero. However, you should avoid making this gesture in Brazil and Germany, as it is not considered polite. Even the gestures we use for yes and no differ around the world. In many countries, shaking ones head means no, and nodding means yes. By comparison, in Bulgaria and southern Albania,
16、 the gestures have the opposite meaning. There are also differences in how we touch each other, how close we stand to someone we are talking to, and how we act when we meet or part. In countries like France and Russia, people may kiss their friends on the cheek when they meet. Elsewhere, people favo
17、ur shaking hands, bowing from the waist, or nodding the head when they meet someone else. Some gestures seem to have the same meaning everywhere. Placing your hands together and resting them on the side of your head while closing your eyes means sleep. A good way of saying I am full is moving your h
18、and in circles over your stomach after a meal. Some body language has many different uses. Perhaps the best example is smiling. A smile can help us get through difficult situations and find friends in a world of strangers. A smile can break down barriers. We can use a smile to apologise, to greet someone, to ask for help, or to start a conversation. Experts suggest smiling at yourself in the mirror to make yourself feel happier and stronger. And if we are feeling down or lonely, there is nothing better than seeing the smiling face of a good friend.
