Non-Verbal Communication in the Classroom

Student Non Verbal Communication and its Influence on Teachers and Teaching 

by Timothy Mottet and Virginia Richmond.

As we have learned earlier in our COMM 582 course, you cannot NOT communicate.  Non-verbal cues make up substantially more of our interpersonal communication than the words that we speak.  This is true in the classroom as well.  

Teachers have pre-existing expectations of students which influences how they teach those students. Teachers attitudes and expectations of students come partially from the exibited behavior of students.  Those students who exhibit responsive behavior are generally well received by the teacher. Students who exhibit negative non-verbal behaviors tend to be responded to in a less positive manner by the teacher.  Teachers are more motivated to teach students who are more immediate (those that sit closer to the teacher, make frequent eye contact, engage in attentive behavior) in their non-verbal behaviors whereas teachers are less motivated and less satisfied teaching student who engage in avoidance behaviors (slouching, no eye contact, sitting far away).  It is a cycle.  Teacher and student behaviors affect one another.  

However, as teachers become more experienced, they are better able to assess behavior and not be immediately swayed by negative behaviors.  Teachers should learn to check perceptions by learning more about the student.  Also, some students may not feel comfortable participating in class.  Teachers can provide other means for communicating with the teacher and classmates.

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED:

It is interesting to think about teaching in the context of non-verbal communication.  When I picture teaching, I picture a class full of students excited and eager to learn.  Sometimes that is true, but for the most part, teachers get a little of every personality type with many students who are not at all interested in the topic at hand.  We do not get to choose our audience.  However, it is our job to be flexible enough to adjust to all different personality types.  

Every time we get in front of a classroom, we have an interpersonal experience and every class will be different.  However, that can be a fun challenge, especially as a teacher of interpersonal communication.  Every day is a laboratory for studying and experimenting with different behaviors and different outcomes.  I have had some positive experiences working with students who otherwise would not engage. Building trust and creating comfort zones is key in this endeavor.  If the student knows you care, many of them will change negative behaviors and be more responsive in the classroom.