U n i t 4 B o d y
L a n g u a g e
U s i n g L a n g u a g e ( 1 )
Learning objectives
In this class, you will
1. identify different types of body language;
2. describe how people use body language to express
meaning;
3. practise listening to make inferences.
Review
1. We can learn a lot about what people are thinking by
watching their body language.
2. The crucial thing is using body language in a way that is
appropriate to the culture we are in.
• Eye contact
• OK sign
• Kissing on the cheek
• …
Activity 1: Look at these photos and discuss what
you think each person is communicating.
frown (皱眉), tightly shut eyes, tight-lipped
• He could be in great pain.
• He could be upset.
Activity 1: Look at these photos and discuss what
you think each person is communicating.
fingers crossed, eyes closed
• He could be hoping for good luck.
Activity 1: Look at these photos and discuss what
you think each person is communicating.
hug, American Sign Language (hand gesture for love)
• The woman in the photo is either deaf or is
communicating with her husband who is deaf.
• She is using American Sign Language, and
the sign she is using means “I love you”.
Activity 1: Look at these photos and discuss what
you think each person is communicating.
smile, hold hands tightly
• The two children seem quite happy.
• Perhaps they have just won a table
tennis match.
Activity 1: Look at these photos and discuss what
you think each person is communicating.
• When and where do people need to use body language to communicate
effectively?
Body language often needs to be used in situations where people cannot
talk to each other directly. This can include:
Ødeaf people using sign language;
Øarmy soldiers on a mission;
Ø…
1. How did the man get the idea of using gestures to
communicate?
2. What did the police leader tell his team by using
gestures?
3. What did the woman say about the acting classes that
she’s been taking?
4. What did the man mean by saying “It’s good you tried”
at the end of the conversation?
Activity 2: Listen to a conversation about
body language. Then answer the following
questions.
Activity 2: Listen to a conversation about
body language. Then answer the following
questions.
1. How did the man get the idea of using gestures to
communicate?Woman: What were you doing just now? What did those gestures
mean?
Man: Oh, I was just telling my friend over there to meet me for
lunch down the street in twenty minutes.
Woman: Oh, I get it, so you were sending him secret hand signals.
Man: Yeah, we got the idea from an action movie last night and
decided to try it out for fun.
Activity 2: Listen to a conversation about
body language. Then answer the following
questions.
1. How did the man get the idea of u s i n g g e s t u re s t o
communicate?A: The man got the idea from an action movie.
2. What did the police leader tell his team by using
gestures?
Activity 2: Listen to a conversation about
body language. Then answer the following
questions.
Man: In the movie, the police were trying to enter a house, but they
had to be really quiet so they could take the criminals by
surprise. So the police leader used hand gestures to tell his
team what to do. For example, he used his gesture to tell them
how many bad guys were in the house. Then he gave
instructions on who should go where, and what they should do.
I thought it was pretty cool how they used hand gestures to
communicate.
2. What did the police leader tell his team by using
gestures?
Activity 2: Listen to a conversation about
body language. Then answer the following
questions.
A: He used gestures to tell them how many bad guys were in
the house. Then he gave instructions on who should go
where, and what they should do.
Activity 2: Listen to a conversation about
body language. Then answer the following
questions.
3. What did the woman say about the acting classes that she’s
been taking?Woman : Well, you know, you can say a lot without speaking. I’ve
been taking acting classes, and right now we’re learning
how to use body language to express ourselves.
Man: Wow, that’s cool. So you mean you’re not allowed to
talk, right?
Woman: Yes, and it’s really difficult if they want you to express
something complicated without saying a word. But I’m
slowly getting better at it, I guess.
Activity 2: Listen to a conversation about
body language. Then answer the following
questions.
3. What did the woman say about the acting classes that she’s
been taking?A: She said that right now they’re learning how to use body
language to express themselves.
Activity 2: Listen to a conversation about
body language. Then answer the following
questions.
Man: That reminds me of those Charlie Chaplin movies. I guess
it’s not easy to tell a whole story only using body language.
Woman: Yeah, he was a real master. Everyone in my class loves his
movies. We actually had to watch some of his movies and
act out some scenes. I was such an amateur!
Man: Well, it’s good you tried. Now, by your body language, I
can tell that you want to buy me lunch tomorrow. Am I right?
4. What did the man mean by saying “It’s good you tried” at the end of the
conversation?
Activity 2: Listen to a conversation about
body language. Then answer the following
questions.
A : He meant that even though she wasn’t very good at it, her
experience was still worthwhile.
4. What did the man mean by saying “It’s good you tried” at the end of the
conversation?
Activity 3: Listen to the conversation again. Are the
following statements correct inferences from the
conversation? Infer meaning
Sometimes things are not said directly, and so you must guess
the meaning, relationship of the people, or context. You can
do this by:
• drawing conclusions from the background information you
already have.
• looking at clues that tell you the context.
• using logic to work out the meaning.
1. The two speakers are married.
2. M a k i n g t o o m a n y g e s t u r e s i n
communication is not polite.
3. T h e p o l i c e t e a m w e r e p r o b a b l y
successful in catching the criminals.
4. Both speakers think body language is
useful.
5. The woman is not very confident about
her silent acting ability.
Activity 3: Listen to the conversation again. Are the
following statements correct inferences from the
conversation?
1. The two speakers are married.
Activity 3: Listen to the conversation again. Are the
following statements correct inferences from the
conversation?
No.
The woman didn’t know about the film the man watched, and the man
didn’t know about the woman’s acting class.
2. Making too many gestures in communication is not polite.
Activity 3: Listen to the conversation again. Are the
following statements correct inferences from the
conversation?
No.
This is not mentioned in their conversation.
3. The police team were probably successful in catching the
criminals.
Activity 3: Listen to the conversation again. Are the
following statements correct inferences from the
conversation?
Yes.
The man says their actions were pretty cool, and he and his friends also
adopted their body language to communicate.
4. Both speakers think body language is useful.
Activity 3: Listen to the conversation again. Are the
following statements correct inferences from the
conversation?
Yes.
The man sent his friends hand signals, and the woman took acting
classes, learning how to use body language to express themselves.
5. The woman is not very confident about her silent acting
ability.
Activity 3: Listen to the conversation again. Are the
following statements correct inferences from the
conversation?
Yes.
The woman says that she was such an amateur.
Activity 4: Learn to ask for and give clarification.
A s k i n g f o r a n d g i v i n g
clarification
What did you mean by … ? In other words …
So you mean … ? What I meant was …
So did that mean … ? What I was trying to say was …
What I don’t quite understand is … Does that make sense?
Could you explain …? Is that clear?
Could you give me an example? I can tell that …
Activity 4: Learn to ask for and give clarification.
Woman: What were you doing just now? What did those gestures
mean?
Man: Oh, I was just telling my friend over there to meet me for
lunch down the street in twenty minutes.
Woman: Oh, I get it, so you were sending him secret hand signals.
Man: Yeah, we got the idea from an action movie last night and
decided to try it out for fun.
Activity 4: Learn to ask for and give clarification.
Woman : Well, you know, you can say a lot without speaking. I’ve
been taking acting classes, and right now we’re learning
how to use body language to express ourselves.
Man: Wow, that’s cool. So you mean you’re not allowed to talk,
right?
Woman: Yes, and it’s really difficult if they want you to express
something complicated without saying a word. But I’m
slowly getting better at it, I guess.
Activity 4: Learn to ask for and give clarification.
Man: That reminds me of those Charlie Chaplin movies. I guess
it’s not easy to tell a whole story only using body language.
Woman: Yeah, he was a real master. Everyone in my class loves his
movies. We actually had to watch some of his movies and
act out some scenes. I was such an amateur!
Man: Well, it’s good you tried. Now, by your body language, I
can tell that you want to buy me lunch tomorrow. Am I
right?
Summary
• Identify and interpret different types of body language;
• Practise listening to make inferences by:
① drawing conclusions from background information.
② looking at clues that tell you the context.
③ using logic to work out the meaning.
• Ask for and give clarification.
Homework
• Describe what the people might be doing in the photos.
• Make inferences about people’s body language in the
photos.
• Exchange your ideas with your classmates.