Noverbal Communication inEnglish Classroom Teaching

摘要：非语言交际是人类社会交际的重要手段之一，对语言交际具有辅助作用。非语言交际作为人类交际的重要组成部分，在外语教学中起着不可忽视的作用。在英语课堂教学中，恰当地使用非语言交际能够建立良好的师生关系，提高学生的学习兴趣，提高教师英语教学效果。本文探讨了在英语课堂教学中使用非语言交际的功能和原则，以便教师能在非语言交际的帮助下提高教学效果。

关键词：非语言交际；英语课堂教学；功能；原则

Abstract:Nonverbal communication is one of the important ways of human social communication,it plays an assistant role to verbal communication.As an important element of communication,nonverbal communication plays an important role in foreign language teaching.Appropriately applying the nonverbal communication in English classroom teaching can make a good friendship between the teacher and students,can improve students’ learning interest,and can improve the English teaching efficiency.This article discusses the functions and principles of using nonverbal communication in English classroon teaching so that teachers can improve their teaching efficiency with the aid of nonverbal communication.

Key Words:nonverbal communication;English classroom teaching;functions;principles

1.Introduction

There are two forms of human communication:verbal communication and nonverbal communication.However,people always think of verbal communication and ignore the nonverbal communication when talking about communication.In fact,nonverbal communication plays an important role in our daily communication.There is a formula to show the relative weights that verbal and nonverbal messages play in expressing a speark’s attitude:speaker’s attitude=words(7%)+tone of voice(38%)+facial expression(55%).That is to say,over 90% of one’s attitude is communicated nonverbally.Thus it can be said that nonverbal communication plays an very important role in interpersonal communication.

2.Functions of Nonverbal Communication in English Classroom teaching

Nonverbal message is an essential component of communication in the teaching process,and can,to some extent,benefit for teaching if delivered properly.There are some functions of nonverbal behaviors in classroom as fellows.

2.1 Creating a Positive Context

Affective experience is one of the important aspects that influence learning.Since emotions and feelings are more accurately and eaily communicated nonverbally than with words,teacher can use nonverbal behaviors to make positive affective communication between students and themselves so as to facilitate learning.

2.2 Stimulating Students’ Interest

Teacher’s nonverbal behaviors can arouse the students’ interest much more easily.For instance,if a teacher never gestures while speaking,he may be regarded as boring,dull and unanimated,and students may not like his course.On the contrary,a lovely and animated teaching style can make the materials more interesting so as to attract students’ attention and facilitate learning.

2.3 Reducing the Use of Native Language

In language teaching,teachers are always encouraged to reduce the use of native language so as to create a more authentic context for language learning.But in fact,most of the teachers often use too much native language,which may have negrative effect on language teaching and learning.One of the functions that nonverbal communication can serve is to replace a verbal message.So the appropriate use of nonverbal behaviors can benefit teaching.

3.Principles of Using Nonverbal Communication in Classroom Teaching

3.1 Consistency

What we mean by consistency here is that teachers and students should have the same interpretation towards the same nonverbal message.One of the elements of communication is the systematic symbol,or code.That is,the sender and receiver must have the same codes in order to make communication work.Therefore,teachers should use the nonverbal behaviors that can be properly accepted and practiced by both students and themselves so that students can understand the meaning of the nonverbal behaviors given by teachers and then correctly do the response to teachers.

3.2 Appropriateness

Teachers should choose different types of nonverbal communication and use them appropriately in different situations.On the contrary,if teachers use nonverbal behaviors too excessively,there will be somme negative effects.If the teacher nods head rapidly,it will communicate to a students that the teacher is impatient and the teacher wants him to hurry up and finish speaking.So it is necessary for teachers to give the nonverbal messages in a natural and a right way.

3.3 Self-control

Teachers should be able to control their feelings.Since teachers have to communicate with others,such as collegues or family memmbers,in daily life,they will be certainly affected by their relationships with these people,and will unconsciously express their feelings and emotional state,both positive and negative,through their nonverbal behaviors.However,when facing students,teachers should try to be in the enthusiastic and optimistic mood,and to show their positive feelings while hiding the negative ones.

4.Conclusion

In the second language teaching,the nonverbal behavior is more important than verbal behavior,it can promote teaching effect more directly.Enhancing the nonverbal communication between teachers and students can improve the effect of classroom teaching.Otherwirse,when using nonverbal communication,the teacher should pay attention to some principles as fellows:consistency,appropriateness and self-control,in order to give full play to the role of nonverbal communication.

Reference

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