The Role of Body Language in Teacher-student Relationships

What makes one an exceptional teacher in the classroom? is it the tone of voice, is it the actual content, or does it have to do with body language or gestures? In reality, human has tremendously developed linguistics, linked between countries and tribes that differ completely from one to another. They also achieved to make language universally understandable more than before. These contributions helped to build better relationships at home, work, and academic environment.

Demonstrating the use of body language derives from a person to another. However, when it comes to exceptional circumstances, that person has to use it effectively to communicate the message. Body language plays a powerful role, but as we communicate it can also distract us. Not only the teacher's body language is amenable to be studied but also the learner's part.

The Role of Teachers' Nonverbal Communication With Students

Generally, communication begins before even opening mouth to speak. In the classroom, body language can transmit the message in many ways, such as the way how and where teachers do stand, how learners dress up, theirs posture, learners' attention, etc.

After finishing college graduation, a learner as an inexperienced teacher sees the classroom as a nightmare. Students not listening, not paying attention, not focusing, so on and so forth will only make the teacher disappointed by the time wasted and the well-planned lessons. Due to the verbal communication usefulness, improving non-verbal communication can reverse the position allowing the teacher to be more effective in the classroom. To illustrate, teachers can form up codes that are familiar to the whole, like the way how they sit and arms position followed by silence. All convey a message and a lot of feelings that lead to a cheap ending. Most of the learners have experienced the same situation with their parents at some points. Once a teacher sacrifices with one of hisher learners, they will have learned that this action means they are in trouble next time.

Position do Matters. The learner's first impression will be in their teacher's posture and position, that's why it's so important to know about how to stand as well as where to stand. and perhaps it's fairly obvious but it is more appropriate to stand facing the students. As well as it's important to know where you're standing in the room. A position of strength in the classroom is as long as moving around away from any distractions, like a window, because when standing over there, probably, about half of the learners could see in a peripheral vision outside the window, and if a bird or plane or butterfly were to pass by learner's instinct their reaction would be to look out the window, and that would break the concentration and conversation, and that's not recommended.

Next, when starting a lecture. Students usually tend to not paying attention to the teacher's attendance. Well, it depends on the situation whether the Amphy is big or learners running their mouth with each other. Discipline plays a big role in showing credit and respect to the teacher. Besides, a lot of students these days are overlooking the situation of being disciplined and disregarding the fact that body language is beyond just using hands and head as gestures to communicate. Unfortunately, many students send confusing and unfavorable nonverbal signals without even knowing it. As an illustration, fashion has been developed abnormally. Due to this, students are mimicking actors and actresses, singers, and other active people forgetting their simplicity, traditions, and dignity. They couldn't separate their pride from reality, and they became incapable to engage and survive in the community under their standard way of living. In that case, teachers are violated by their student's disrespect and carelessness. Still, teachers aim to be parents to their students, hence, this later isn't allowing them to be so.

Messages in Gestures and Poses

In case, most of the students are setting up the distance between teachers and themselves under conditions if taking an example; students are nervous when they do not matter in society when they do belong to the orphanage when they re bullied, and so forth. This implies the risk of making uncontrollable introverts and adolescent offenders. These kinds of generations are capable of damaging the system of union. The problem is a lot harder for teachers to face their learner's negative responses and disarrangement. Teachers can't predict if their students are facing obstacles unless if these students collaborate and ask for help. If not, the relationships are already ruined and verbal communication will help neither in the classroom nor out of it.

When the class is in work mode, i.e. doing set work, you can take up the position in the front corner of the room to get the best view of the class. Alternatively, circulating the class will add a further dimension to a disciplined environment as well as a greater application to work by students. You can also answer questions and see more easily those struggling to complete the task and you are there ready to help.

Standing behind the class adds another arrow to your bow because the class is never quite sure where you are. Standing behind or beside a lazy student lets them know you are aware of their lack of effort. Ask them if they are having problems and assist if necessary. Now that it is clear where to stand, it's important to know how to stand.

Demonstrating a few bad positions that must not do. The first, hands in pockets. This comes off as unconcerned with their attitudes. It's very difficult to convey a strong message through this position. The second, hands-on-hips. When hands are on the hips teacher tend to look overbearing and powerful.

Gestures to strengthen teachers' message. It may not feel the most comfortable but teacher's posture and position are the learner's first impression. At some points, a teacher standing by himself is not enough to convey a message however using gestures reinforce the learner's understanding and memory.

Distance also plays a major role to keep the relationship between the teacher and the learner healthy and respectful. An inexperienced teacher has to avoid getting too much friendly because touching as a non-verbal tool can transmit a big confusion to the learner's mind and teacher too. At times, one of the two attempts to sympathize with the other person through touch. The problem here derives from one to another regarding the setting. For instance, a teacher touches hisher learner when they're alone express a lot of new sensations and maybe a teacher's interest too, even if it is not true but will make an unrepairable mistake, as the teacher will face consequences recovering back respect. To avoid such a mistake, making sure to escape touching a student secretly or in private. The same about social touching, making it obvious, respectful, especially avoiding the personal touching and singling out each student will prevent troubles to happen. Another, a teacher needs to avoid touching those who are diagnosed with autism it could hurt and insult both of them, therefore they must be careful.

Following that, a teacher has to possess confidence. As it is naturally known, inexperienced teacher naturally feels nervous at the beginning, moving body around, putting eyes on the paper instead of facing learners. These signs of nervousness won't help to engage with students comfortably. The inexperienced teacher is prone to make mistakes at the beginning, but that's just fine. Ideas to help the inexperienced teacher maintain class discipline in a variety of teaching situations.

Conclusion

Nowadays, lectures are achieved online and influenced more by the confinement and the emergence of social media worldwide. Teachers of both schools use body language to reinforce their messages, but the majority of them use it randomly because of the lack of awareness of this charismatic tool that positively provides access to teaching and learning. All nonverbal messages seem to have an important function and influencing the teaching and learning strategies. What's more essential is how it helps to make learners discipline. As Albert Einstein once said: 'What's important is how to say and not what you say'.

References

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3. Guerrero, L. K., & Floyd, K. (2006). Nonverbal Communication in Close Relationships. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

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7. Kelly, J., & Stronge, J. H. (2007). Teachers' expectations of their students: The first step in effective instruction. Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas, 80(4), 167-170.