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Everyday English 1
Everyday English 1

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1.4 Body language

Your body language is very important for both listening and speaking. It gives a lot of information to others about how you are feeling, if you are concentrating and if you are interested, among other things. Non-verbal communication can make up a high proportion of what you communicate. Clearly body language is something you should be very aware of when you are speaking to other people. You will look at this in more detail later.

Activity _unit2.1.11 Activity 11 Read the body language

Timing: Allow about 5 minutes

What does the body language, expressions or gestures in each of these pictures tell you?

Person leaning back with feet on table
Figure _unit2.1.3 Figure 3 Body language (a)
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Person sitting in a chair, leaning back with their feet on the table and hands behind their head

Figure 3 Body language (a)
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Woman working at computer
Figure _unit2.1.4 Figure 4 Body language (b)
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Woman working at a computer, looking very intently at the screen.

Figure 4 Body language (b)
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Man leaning forward
Figure _unit2.1.5 Figure 5 Body language (c)
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Man in an armchair, leaning forward

Figure 5 Body language (c)
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Woman frowning
Figure _unit2.1.6 Figure 6 Body language (d)
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Woman standing with arms outstretched, frowning and speaking loudly

Figure 6 Body language (d)
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Man with hands on head and mouth open
Figure _unit2.1.7 Figure 7 Body language (e)
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Football fan clasping his hands on his head, mouth wide open

Figure 7 Body language (e)
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Woman with arms folded
Figure _unit2.1.8 Figure 8 Body language (f)
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Woman with arms folded and mouth downturned

Figure 8 Body language (f)
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Man looking at phone, hand in mouth
Figure _unit2.1.9 Figure 9 Body language (g)
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Man looking at his phone, the fingertips of one hand in his mouth and eyebrows raised

Figure 9 Body language (g)
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Woman sitting down
Figure _unit2.1.10 Figure 10 Body language (h)
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Woman sitting down with a cup of tea on the table and her head resting on one hand and her elbow on the table. She has a down-turned mouth.

Figure 10 Body language (h)
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Roller-skating child
Figure _unit2.1.11 Figure 11 Body language (i)
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Child enjoying roller-skating at speed, helmet on, mouth open.

Figure 11 Body language (i)
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Discussion

See if you agree with the ideas below on the messages that each person’s body language sends.

Person leaning back with feet on table
Figure _unit2.1.12 Figure 12 Body language (a)
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Person sitting in a chair, leaning back with their feet on the table and hands behind their head

Figure 12 Body language (a)

This person looks very relaxed and at ease, with their feet on the table and their hands behind their head.

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Woman working at computer
Figure _unit2.1.13 Figure 13 Body language (b)
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Woman working at a computer, looking very intently at the screen.

Figure 13 Body language (b)

She seems to be concentrating hard and is focused on what she is doing.

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Man leaning forward
Figure _unit2.1.14 Figure 14 Body language (c)
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Man in an armchair, leaning forward

Figure 14 Body language (c)

He is leaning forward and looks interested and engaged.

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Woman frowning
Figure _unit2.1.15 Figure 15 Body language (d)
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Woman standing with arms outstretched, frowning and speaking loudly

Figure 15 Body language (d)

She looks angry and frustrated.

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Man with hands on head and mouth open
Figure _unit2.1.16 Figure 16 Body language (e)
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Football fan clasping his hands on his head, mouth wide open

Figure 16 Body language (e)

He looks shocked and dismayed by something that’s just happened - possibly because the other side have just scored!

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Woman with arms folded
Figure _unit2.1.17 Figure 17 Body language (f)
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Woman with arms folded and mouth downturned

Figure 17 Body language (f)

She looks rather fed up and annoyed.

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Man looking at phone, hand in mouth
Figure _unit2.1.18 Figure 18 Body language (g)
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Man looking at his phone, the fingertips of one hand in his mouth and eyebrows raised

Figure 18 Body language (g)

He looks nervous and anxious.

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Woman sitting down
Figure _unit2.1.19 Figure 19 Body language (h)
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Woman sitting down with a cup of tea on the table and her head resting on one hand and her elbow on the table. She has a down-turned mouth.

Figure 19 Body language (h)

She looks tired and rather worried.

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Roller-skating child
Figure _unit2.1.20 Figure 20 Body language (i)
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Child enjoying roller-skating at speed, helmet on, mouth open.

Figure 20 Body language (i)

He looks full of energy and happy.