Teaching Nonverbal Communication in Language Classes

Interpersonal communication takes place through nonverbal channels, which are particularly important as systems of cues that shed light not only on the literal meaning of utterances but also on the actual underlying meanings that speakers or interactants intend to convey. This is why knowledge of a language alone is not sufficient to communicate with foreign speakers. To do so, one must be familiar not only with the language but also with the culture. If we want our communications to be successful and effective, we must indeed take into account the information we share with our conversation partner. The main objective of this study is to identify nonverbal cues-in the broadest sense-for application in language teaching and learning. In the classroom, these elements can be introduced using video materials depicting authentic situations so that learners can observe the nonverbal cues and use them appropriately during intercultural interactions.