The importance of
Body Language:
Listening
Comprehension and
Writing Exercise
Prof. Myrna Monllor
English 112
How the Body Speaks
The body, like spoken
language, has a way of
communicating different
meanings. Only 35 % of
social meaning is
expressed 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 uncomfortable
during a conversation because
the other person was standing
too close and invading your
space? We all have a need for
physical space.. You
can use physical space to
communicate many different
nonverbal messages, including
signals of intimacy, aggression,
dominance, or affection.
Eye Contact
Maintaining good eye contact shows respect and interest in what
the other person has to say.
Posture
Get your posture right and you'll automatically start
feeling better.
Posture
When 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 Position
When you want to feel
confident and self- assured,
keep your head level both
horizontally and vertically.
You can also use this straight
head position when you
want to be authoritative and
what you're saying to be
taken seriously. Tilting your
head to the side can signal
flirting and should be avoided
in formal situations.
Arms
The 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 Gestures
The 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 of
body language can help us communicate more
effectively. We can learn to be more sensitive to
our own bodies – to see how they express our
feelings 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=Con
tent&sd=Articles&ArticleID=100
• 10 Body Language Blunders by SalesHQ
http://saleshq.monster.com/training/articles
2983-10-body-language-blunders?print=true