Journal Article Summary

In the article “Teaching Learners to Communicate Effectively in the L2.Integrating body language in the students’ syllabus” (http://siba-ese.unisalento.it/index.php/linguelinguaggi/article/download/15006/13467) written by Maria Grazia Busà the problem of body language is raised. The author says that in communication a great deal of meaning is exchanged through body language, including gaze, posture, hand gestures and body movements. She claims that the study of body language should be integrated in the syllabus of ESL/EFL teaching and learning. Then she gives several ways for doing it. First of all, it can be done by reviewing literature that shows the close connection between language, speech and gestures and the problems that might arise in cross-cultural communication when speakers use and interpret body language according to different conventions. Then, the author gives the example of two pilot studies which demonstrate that Language 2 learners tend to transfer Language 1 gestures to the Language 2 and that these are not understood by native Language 2 speakers. Further, she adds that the experience of teaching body language should be reported in an ESL/EFL classroom. Finally, Maria Grazia Busà concludes that language, speech and gestures are interconnected and to prepare learners to communicate language teaching should integrate body language to the program.

QUESTIONS:

In what languages the role of body language is most important?

Which of the methods of learning body language are most effective?

How many time should be allocated for body language studying in the syllabus?