Why Should We Learn Body Language?

In English classes, we spend a large amount of time studying grammar and learning new words. We work hard to improve our reading and listening skills. Few of us, however, pay enough attention to body language. So body language is not important, is it?

The answer is, “Yes!” As the old saying goes, “Actions speak louder than words.” Sometimes, we can communicate things even without a single word. For example, shrug our shoulders（耸肩）, and, without a word, we’ve just said, “I don’t know.”

Body language can help us stress what we are saying. It can help us express our true, inner feelings. Moreover, body language can help us find out if someone is lying. Often, people who are lying do not make eye contact. They may turn away or raise their shoulders because they are uncomfortable with the conversation.

In job interviews, the interviewers can sometimes judge the interviewee before he or she speaks. Body language is important in our personal lives, too. It can show if you really care about your friends. Leaning forward（身体前倾）into the conversation, for example, means you are interested in what is being said. Listening without making eye contact means you are not paying attention but are waiting for your turn to speak.

Scientists have been studying body language for a long time. They say more than 70 percent of our messages are delivered（递送）through body language. Sometimes, body language is more accurate（精准的）than the words we use.

So, it is very important for us to learn body language. By understanding body language, we are less likely to be misunderstood. We will find it easier to get a job. We will also have lasting friendships.

Being a place where you can’t speak the local language can be difficult for you to live. Is it possible for us to take a dictionary all the time? Of course, no! It’s only natural to communicate through body language. Hands can show something easily, but their meanings are different in different places.

Trying to call someone to come to you can not be understood easily. Because it depends on where you are. The same gesture may mean very different things in different places. Westerners do it with a hooked (弯曲的) forefinger and a raised palm (手掌). Asians do it in an opposite way and they don’t like the westerner’s way to ask for coming. In their opinion, they often do this to call the dog. Instead, when calling someone to come, Asians turn the palm down and wave all fingers together, and this is how Western people tell someone to go away.

Even the simplest hand movement can cause cross-cultural problems. In the West, a thumb up has a good meaning and a thumb down a bad one. However, you might be surprised to know that in the Middle East, a thumb up has a negative meaning and a thumb down has no meaning at all.

Body language may be a natural and good choice when you can’t communicate in local language. Some simple movements, gestures or even a blink of your eye may work just fine. Even if you don’t understand the words at all, it is still funny and useful to try body language.

There is one language that is used in every country in the world. The people who use it are young and, short and tall, thin and fat. It is everybody’s second language. It is easy to understand, although you can’t hear it. It is sign language.

When you wave to a friend who is across the street, you are using sign language. When you smile at someone, you are saying, “I want to be friendly”, but you are not using speech. You are using sign language. When you raise your hand in class, you are saying, “Please ask me. I think I know the correct answer.”

Babies who can’t talk can point at things. They are using sign language. A policeman who wants to stop traffic holds up his hands. He is using sign language. By sign language you can talk to people who are behind windows that are closed. And when you go swimming with your friends, you can have conversations under water.

Today, there are special TV news programs for deaf people. The newsreader tells the news in sign language. At the same time, the words appear on the TV screen. The actors in the Theatre of Deaf don’t spell every word. Sometimes they use hand signs. When they put two hands together , it means sandwich. They can make a roof with their hands when they want to show a house. One finger in front of an actor’s mouth can mean quiet.