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?