Kinesics is the study of non-verbal communication achieved by movement of the body.

Man in conversation at a desk

It can be considered important in language teaching in terms of cultural awareness.

Example
This includes gestures such as waving or tapping your fingers, eye movements such as winking and rolling, and body movements such as shrugging your shoulders.

In the classroom
Learners in a multi-lingual group can be encouraged to think about this by asking them to compare the different meanings of gestures and facial expressions in their cultures. This could also be done in an extended form as a project. Learners in a monolingual group could compare British and American behaviour with their own.

Further links:

https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/listening-body-language

https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/blogs/barry-tomalin/barry-tomalin-blog-9-teaching-body-language

 

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