The importance of Body Language: Listening Comprehension and Writing Exercise

The importance of Body Language:Listening Comprehension and Writing

Exercise

Prof. Myrna MonllorEnglish 112

How the Body Speaks

The body, like spokenlanguage, has a way ofcommunicating differentmeanings. Only 35 % ofsocial meaning isexpressed through words.

65%

We continuously give and receive wordless signals. All of 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 you stop speaking either. Even when you’re silent, you’re still communicating nonverbally.

The body language we use decides the quality of our communication. Therefore, we should become conscious of our own and others' body language. Body language signs can strengthen the meaning of what we communicate.

Distance and Personal Space

Have you ever felt uncomfortableduring a conversation becausethe other person was standingtoo close and invading yourspace? We all have a need forphysical space.. Youcan use physical space tocommunicate many differentnonverbal messages, includingsignals of intimacy, aggression,dominance, or affection.

Eye Contact

Maintaining good eye contact shows respect and interest in what the other person has to say.

PostureGet your posture right and you'll automatically start feeling better.

PostureWhen you slouch, the shoulders droop down and inward. This collapses the chest and impedes good breathing, which in turn can help make you feel nervous or uncomfortable.

What feeling do these body positions signal?

What feeling do these body positions signal?

What feeling do these body positions signal?

What feeling do these body positions signal?

Head PositionWhen you want to feelconfident and self- assured,keep your head level bothhorizontally and vertically.You can also use this straighthead position when youwant to be authoritative andwhat you're saying to betaken seriously. Tilting yourhead to the side can signalflirting and should be avoidedin formal situations.

ArmsThe position of your arms gives away the clues as to how open and receptive you are. So keep your arms out to the side of your body because this shows you are not scared to take on whatever comes your way. When you want to come across in the best possible light, crossing the arms is a no, no in front of others.

LEGS

Legs are the furthest point away from the brain, because of this they're the hardest bits of our bodies to consciously control. They tend to move around a lot more than normal when we are nervous, stressed or being deceptive. So the best way is to keep them as still as possible in most situations

LEGS

Facial GesturesThe face expresses many emotions and attitudes. A smile shows warmth and interest.

Fidgeting

Don’t: • Tap your foot• Twirl your pen• Pick at your nails or

cuticles• Twirl your hair• Rub your hands• Tap your fingers on a

table

What feeling do these body movements signal?

In conclusion, becoming sensitive to the clues ofbody language can help us communicate moreeffectively. We can learn to be more sensitive toour own bodies – to see how they express ourfeelings and to see ourselves as others see us.

Use the following questions as a guide to writing a summary of today’s presentation

• Why is it important for people to understand body language?

• Give examples of how we can use our bodies to project ourselves well.

• What are some of the things you should not do with your body in professional situations?

Sources

• Maitra, Adjani. Body Language http://www.bolokids.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=100

• 10 Body Language Blunders by SalesHQhttp://saleshq.monster.com/training/articles2983-10-body-language-blunders?print=true