Body Language in English Teaching By A Thesis Submitted toSchool of WenTongIn Partial Fulfillment of the RequirementsFor the Degree of B.A. in EnglishAt Huaian Normal UniversityUnder the Supervision of Mr. Oct 2010 Contents1. Introduction2. The Definition of Body Language3. Teachers some mistakes in English teaching4. The necessity and importance of using body language in English teaching5. Advantages of Body Language in english Teaching6. The Application of Body Language in english Teaching1Introduction Body language plays a very important role in english teaching. It can be a complement of verbal language . On one hand, it can completely arouse the students. On the other hand, it is a tool to communicate with others. In expressing some subtle ideas, body language can be a very good helper in English teaching. Besides, the teachers can have a better understanding about the students, their thoughts and their behaviors. Moreover, it help the students to improve listening, speaking, reading and writing level, at the same time, the teachers and the students can develop a very good relationship. In modern teaching, teachers need to be students friends firstly, and body language narrows the gap between the teachers and the students. The teachers should never ignore it in english teaching. Because not only it is a good tool to communicate with others and express oneself, but it can help the teachers achieve a higher teaching goal and further mutual understanding between the teachers and the students. Therefore, in english class, the teachers should pay enough attention to body language and properly use it. 2. The Definition of Body Languagewhat is Body Language? It should be spoken of the Nonverbal social intercourse and the Nonverbal behavior. In human social intercourse process, specially the oral communication , people have some body movement while talking , such as body posture, countenance , gesture and so on. They are also delivering the information, making a set of system which is equal to the language signal one, the Nonverbal social intercourse (Yu Aihong,2002). People call the behavior for using the nonverbal method to communicate, Nonverbal Behavior. Body Language is expressing how one feels by the way one sits, stands, moves, etc rather than by words (Oxford Advanced Learners English-Chinese Dictionary , 2001). 3. Teachers some mistakes in English teachingAs everyone knows, the classroom teaching is one of the most important ways that the students learn English. As far as the English teaching in many schools is concerned, teachers have to arouse the students interest so that they may learn better. There are many ways to arouse the students interest and help them to learn better, and body language used in English teaching is one of them. However, English teachers seldom realize that they should use proper body language during their teaching process . They just consider the situation all the students are attending to the lecture when a teacher has his class to be a good one. Actually, the fact is not so simple as they think .In English teaching process, there is such a phenomenon yet : Although with the same teaching materials, the students , the teachers knowledge and experience, the teaching effect is completely different . Some teachers classes are very interesting, the classroom atmosphere is so brisk that everyone is active to answer the questions and listens to the teacher carefully ; while some teachers classes are so boring that almost all the students are“In one place physically, but another place in mind and heart.”Why there is such a phenomenon? The main reason is whether the teacher could have his lesson vivid and attract the students attention ; whether the teacher can stir up the students thirst for knowledge . The educationist of former Soviet Union Sue ( Jin yule, 2000 ) once said :" If the teacher does not try to surge up the students motion, then the knowledge can only cause a kind of apathetic attitude, and a motionless affection can only cause the fatigue." Therefore , if the teacher wants to have the lessons lasting vivid , he can not use that kind of model for just speaking inflexiblely on the platform , but should make use of the body language fittingly , accurately and proficiently.4. The necessity and importance of using body language in English teachingIn order to evaluate the true role of English in the school system, it is important for the teachers who are not native speakers to evaluate their knowledge of and ability to use English (Fraid Dubin and Elite Olshtain, 2002). English teaching is really a key part of the school education. In school education, body language plays a positive role in cultivating the students characters. Body language is also an important media through which people communicate with each other. Briefly speaking , Body Language is expressing a certain meaning of a kind of silent language by gesture , manner and countenance , which includes eyesight language, facial language, hand language, body language and so on . According to experts, our non-verbal language communicates about 50% of what we really mean (voice tonality contributes 38%) while words themselves contribute a mere 7%. Our bodies send out messages constantly and often we dont recognize that were communicating a lot more than we realize ( S., Chen, D., Watts, J., 1992 ). The behavioral scientists tell us that almost the whole body language can be used as the manners for human communication and be served for the teaching.The United States psychologist Albert Melabin, (Zuang Jinying, Li Zhencun,1995) 1968, made an experiment to prove that the total result of the information=7% writing+38% tone+55% countenance and movement. The linguist Mr Lu says:" The foreign language teacher should be able to perform and dance for joy , make a vivid gesture , movement and countenance as an actor , should not always be gentle and cultivated or just stand stiffly on the platform."( Guo Xuehua ,1999). Body Language not only replenishes and deepens the verbal language , but also takes an unsubstitutive effect on the verbal language . If the teacher can use the Body Language fittingly , accurately and proficiently to assist the teaching in the classroom , it can not only draw on the students attention, bring up their study interest, but also enable them the accurate understanding of language contents , deepen their impression. From the above we can learn , the use of body language in English teaching is necessary and practical. In the English teaching , body language is frequently used to improve the teaching effect and the students ability.Therefore, in english class, the teachers should pay enough attention to body language and properly use it. Because body language is a tool to communicate with others and express oneself, thereby the teachers should never ignore it in english teaching. In the process of teaching, body language can help the teachers achieve a higher goal. Moreover, the teachers and the students have a clearly understanding about each other. 5. Advantages of Body Language in english Teaching. Advantages of Body Language in english Teaching A. Stirring Students Interest As an old saying goes: interest are the best teacher. The teachers appliance does not focus on teaching itself only; and the students can absorb better if they study at their own will (Cooper.1988). It is going to be painful that they work hard on academic course just because the teachers expect them to do so. The teachers have to stimulate the students, and the way teachers use to motivate them can be very important. If the teachers have passion in class, they can offer the students positive studying attitude. I had one experience a year ago, when I was giving a class for the new recruited students, a little boy caught my attention. I was quite sure that he was so shy that he did not dare to open his mouth to say anything when I was teaching them pronunciation. From my knowledge about this kind of introverted students, they can be easily hurt inside. But if the teachers choose an appropriate way, they may help them develop a better personality. They read the teachers body language to know what they can get in class, what is important or unimportant, and what is commended or what is disallowed. By reading the teachers body language, the students can know read the teachers mind. In short moment an audacious idea occurs to me I was sure that a lot of sermons were not suitable to help an introverted student get rid of his weakness. Why not to set him in an embarrassing situation? Maybe it will work. Then I came to that boy quietly and shouted to him with a finger pointing to his nose:“Are you a shy girl?”Boys do not want to be called like that, fortunately he gave me a negative answer and looked into my eyes with a weak voice:“No, Im not.” “Sorry, I cannot hear you, you dont want be a shy girl, then can you prove it? Please be loud and tell me that again!” I beat my chest continuously with my right hand and raised my left hand erecting the index finger in the air, asked the boy to repeat the words “Im not shy” loudly, for a little moment, silence filled in as all the air around was frozen into cold ice. How eagerly I wished he could response, if not, I must get stuck in an embarrassing situation. Surprisingly he turned out to be totally another one. Maybe it is because he was too embarrassed that he did not want his behavior to betray his embarrassment before, all through the class time, he performed very actively. B. Expressing Themselves Better english is a sort of language which depicts english culture. Due to this, it is definitely wrong for an english teacher to arrange the class normally as the teachers of other subjects do. A good english teacher is not judged by the number of good students in his class, but about whether he could make it sure that the students understand the deep meaning when people are talking in english (Fries, 1945). english learners have to internalize the information that they have got from their teachers. Because of the lack of language atmosphere, Chinese students cannot speak their mind freely, let alone understand the deep meaning. If we do not use the appropriate words, maybe we will make the students become puzzle or ever give them worry information. Fortunately body language helps a lot to solve this problem. So the students do not have to say a lot of words around one idea. With the help of body language, they can easily understand when they try to start a conversation with others. C. Understanding Students Clearly When the teachers are giving class, body language is not only to motivate the students, but also help to understand the students inside world. This informative workshop on body language provides every teacher with an in-depth knowledge of micro-movement. If the students are submissive, anxious, dominant, bored, lying or telling the truth, the way students stand, move, and sit reveal and convey their thought. Because these movement are produced at a subconscious or unconscious level .If the teachers are unaware of the students meanings that are shown by incongruous through the students words or behavior, they can not create an interesting studying atmosphere. To be able to avoid these, the teachers should have a better understanding of how they think and feel. This comprehensive workshop will give them a great opportunity to discover and understand the students behavior. And also some students may be reticent in expressing themselves in class. In their mind, hasty assertions or responses are seen as a sign of crudity of thought, as boastful self-assertion, or as rude. They may appear to be unresponsive to a question posed by the teacher. In fact, when they have an answer they are waiting for a occasion that they consider to be an appropriate moment to answer, so that they may be polite and appear to be thoughtful. Then the teachers should pay more attention to these students. If a teacher goes out for a while, when he or she return, the students give he or she “smiling face” and continue to work. But do they keep working after his or her back is turned? How would the teacher know? If the students intend to continue talking, they are betrays by their body language. Look at the knees and feet, the students fake with the upper body (shoulders, eyes, hands), not the lower body (knee, feet). The body language under the desk intends to impress the teacher. The ability to read this is crucial for any teacher who tries to get a child to do something. It lets the teacher know whether he or she can accomplish his or her objects or whether the student is just giving “half-a-loaf” - a gesture towards compliance with no real intention of doing the teachers requests.6. The Application of Body Language in english TeachingA. Situation of english Teaching 1. Students Attitude Towards english For one thing, let us investigate and draw a picture of the students behavior. When they have english class, classrooms are divided into many checkers carefully, and a large number of the students crowd into the classroom. All the students are dressed the same clothes, and they are faced to remember many new words, texts, to do much homework every day. They are boring with sermon of their teachers. Therefore, in this condition they lost the interest of studying. Learning a second language needs persistent passion. However, in this condition, the students have not enough passion to be motivated. They are longing for freedom to study in a fresh way. So I surely believe that this is a good explanation why some students absent in english class sometimes and adolescents seem to be more rebellious than others. If they lost their passion on english, they do not like having english class any more. In class, the teachers ask the students to read texts or words again and again. And after class, they leave much homework to the students to do, and they do not consider about the students thought, so the students appear to be reluctant to do what their teachers request. 2. Teachers Techniques of english Teaching The teachers may have to use some spare time to rethink about this matter. Imagine if the teachers invite the students (whether they are top students or not) to dinner and hang out together, and talk about things both the teachers and the students care about. Gradually the students will be involved in the teachers ways of thinking, and consider the teachers can teach everywhere when they are with them, not only in the loathsome classroom. To create a stress-free learning atmosphere and to be a popular teacher with students, body language is very important aspect in teaching. The teachers should get rid of the old pattern they present what they prepared for the class on blackboard, have all the students take notes and hope to ram the knowledge into the students mind. Under such circumstance the students cannot be expected to study well, so they should not be blamed. The reason is not their ability or learning skill, but the pressure coming out of the way the teachers apply to teaching. By this, the teachers can introduce more body language in teaching process to create enjoyable learning atmosphere. B. Body Language Involved in english Teaching 1. Teaching of Texts Body language can improve bilateral exchange of emotion between the teachers and the students in order to make knowledge are easily aborted by the students. An educational psychology indicates that to develop the students intelligence is affected by their mood in class. The change of the teachers behavior and expression control the change of the students mood. The teachers expression, eyesight and gesture affect the students mental state and studying attitude. The teachers positive body language benefits the students intelligence and creates a relaxing, natural and happy studying atmosphere. Meanwhile, positive mood and happy mental state benefit to teach and stimulate the students studying interest. A confidential look, a appreciative smile from the teachers give great studying power to the students. The teachers humor gestures give the students confidence and respect and maintain the students studying interest. Therefore to create an active class atmosphere is vital for teaching. For example, when an english teacher teaches A City Is Dying, body language can plays an important role in it. At beginning, he or she opens his or her eyes widely showing a puzzled expression and raises a question that only life are apt to die, but why a city can die. At this moment, the students are deeply attracted by the teachers behavior and be full of interest and curiosity to study. A good beginning means a half of success, and the text will be performed successfully Body language can not only make the students completely focus their attention on class, but be beneficial for organizing teaching. In english class, if a teacher consciously use body language, he or she also need unconsciously using body language according to middle school students nature. For example, when a teacher teaches boring grammar such as tense, subjunctive mood, which can not attract the students, he or she adopts variable expression, cadence tone and kinds of gestures or use eyesight to contact with the students. Thereby, body language is better than verbal language to attract the students attention. 2. Teaching of Grammar for Beginners To be an english teacher can be an easy job but sometimes a tough one, which depends on how well the teacher handles the students. When he or she starts the first class, the students do not know any grammar. So he or she teaches them some greeting words. For example, teaching the students to say “nice to me ConclusionIn future teaching program, the teachers should have visible and audible teaching material like cards and tapes. People can communicate with one another not only through verbal communication, but also nonverbal communication, moreover, the latter plays an essential role. Body language is an important part of nonverbal communication. It is known as non-verbal behavor which transmits information through gestures, movement and facial expression. People communicate with each other by their body language in the ways of nodding, eyes contacting, shrugging and so on. According to the research, these ways can be divided into sight language, body touches, posture and gesture, manner, farcical expression, and clothes language.The function and effect of the teachers body language in English class has been paid a great attention in recent years. Researches indicate that relationship between the teachers and the students will be improved if the teachers know how to effectively use body language (Hall, 1966). Moreover, the students cognitive ability and study efficiency will be improved. A successful English teacher not only use verbal language, but also appeal to gesture, facial expression, sight language and so on in order to get the best teaching affect. Using body language in English class can not only makes the students and the teachers know each other clearly, but creates a relaxing studying atmosphere, and stimulates students studying interest.Therefore, the author has gathered and analyzed reference materials about body language and got a chance to be a visitor in English class of one middle school. At last, the paper is finished. It is mainly about advantages of body language in English teaching, body language in English text teaching, grammar teaching for beginners and upper-grade learners, listening, oral Engli