Powerful Pronunciation
General Speaking Habits
by Angie Gerst and Cristina Peralejo
English Language Institute, 2011
It's very important to pay attention to and develop effective eye contact, gestures and facial
expressions to communicate well in English.
Body Language is your First Language
-Toastmasters
GESTURES &
POSTURE EYE CONTACT
FACIAL
EXPRESSIONS
Body Language is even more important than words in communication. It can strengthen
or weaken your message.
93% of all communication is non-verbal!
Let's start with EYE CONTACT.
In most Western cultures, it's very important to make eye contact when you speak.
Eye contact communicates confidence, connection, honesty and trust.
Lack of eye contact communicates nervousness and lack of sincerity.
Eye Contact:
Makes your listeners feel included
Communicates directly & personally with your audience
Helps give you support & confidence
Gives you feedback: are your listeners following you, do they understand, do they need more or
fewer details, explanations or examples?
Lack of Eye Contact:
Makes your listeners feel ignored
Separates you from your listeners & makes them lose confidence in you
Gives you no feedback so you can't respond to your audience
Here are some DO'S and DONT'S for eye contact.
DO DON'T
For speaking:
Make extended eye contact with individual
listeners to create a bond
When talking to one person, make direct eye
contact for about 60% of the time- 100% is too
much
Distribute gaze evenly amongst all listeners
If you are very uncomfortable with eye
contact, look at the person's nose or middle of
their face
For presentations:
Move gaze smoothly from person to person,
for extended time (about 5 seconds per
person or until you have finished your
thought)
Try to make eye contact with each audience
member
Refer to note cards instead of reading
If someone asks a question, focus on them
when answering. If your answer is long, move
your gaze from person to person.
For listening:
Look directly at the speaker, meet their gaze
sometimes
For speaking:
Avoid eye contact
Stare at one person for too long
Look down
Read from your paper
For presentations:
Pass your gaze over the audience
mechanically, too quickly or jerkily
Read your speech aloud word for word
Look at your notes too much
Look over people's heads, at the ceiling, floor
or out the window, look at the PPT screen or
the board
Only look at your teacher
Only look at one side of the room
For listening:
Look down, away, at other people, out the
window or at your watch
Stare at the speaker too much
Roll your eyes or look bored
Read text messages
Now let's move on to GESTURES & POSTURE.
Here are some DO'S and DONT'S for gestures and posture.
DO DON'T
For speaking:
Have a confident, erect but relaxed posture
Communicate emotion & passion
Use simple gestures that fit the situation
Make gestures positive, purposeful &
spontaneous
Use rhythmic, beat-like hand gestures to
emphasize key information
Vary your gestures
Use your whole body & move your hands &
arms from your shoulder. Point with your
whole hand, not a finger.
Use movement to demonstrate actions,
For speaking:
Slouch over
Cover your mouth with your hand or your
paper
Cross your arms in front of you
Point your finger
Use distracting gestures: play with objects in
your hands, fiddle nervously, chew gum,
continuously move your hands jerkily or
quickly, tap your foot, scratch, play with your
hair, bite your lips
For presentations:
Stand stiffly without moving your body
Gestures are movements of your hands or head that show what you mean or feel.
Posture is how you hold your body.
Our bodies speak louder than words.
-Toastmasters
DO DON'T
outline shapes, show characteristics, picture
something, list things
Be careful with hand gestures- some may be
rude in some cultures
For presentations:
Have a clean, neat appearance
Have a comfortable, erect posture to show
authority & confidence
Stand rather than sit
Stay in one place, moving only occasionally
For listening:
Have an open, inviting & relaxed posture
Face & lean into the speaker
"Listen" to the speaker's body language
Be & look interested & attentive, nod & smile
for encouragement
Mirror (copy) some of the speaker's body
language
Face your back to the audience or face only
one side of the audience
Stand too close or too far from your audience
Read or memorize your presentation
Sway, pace or move around too much
Use distracting gestures: put your hands in
your pockets, repeat the same gesture over &
over, keep your hands glued to your side,
clasp your hands tightly together or hang onto
something tightly, jingle keys or coins
For listening:
Cross your arms
Look critical, judgmental or closed
Slouch in your seat
Put your head on the desk, yawn or sleep
Now try this cool body language quiz! (click on "Body Talk")
http://www.youramazingbrain.org.uk/testyourself/default.htm
How well did you understand people's gestures and postures?
The face is a mirror of the emotions.
Your facial expression should help make your listeners feel interested & comfortable.
55% of communication comes from facial expressions!
There are about 250,000 facial expressions!
Finally, let's look at FACIAL EXPRESSION
Here are some DO'S and DONT'S for facial expression when speaking & listening.
DO DON'T
Smile to show sincere warmth, connection,
enjoyment & enthusiasm
Have a positive, relaxed, welcoming & friendly
expression
Show interest & enthusiasm in the topic (ex)
wide, bright eyes
Have a serious, flat, emotionless or
unchanging expression
Have a nervous expression
Show negative emotion (boredom, anger,
impatience etc.)
Now, try the exercises.
Take this great quiz on facial expressions! (click on "Reading Faces") http://www.youramazingbrain.org.uk/testyourself/default.htm
How well could you read people's emotions?