Ser capaz
Ser consciente de.
Contacto visual.
Harto/a de, cansado/a de.
Mentir.
Necesidades.
Postura.
Autoconfianza.
Verdadero.
Let's keep working on improving your conversational talents.
When we have a conversation, do we communicate only with words? No. Our body is also giving out a message. If you are able to interpret the body message, you will get to know the real message behind people´s words.
Let's start by doing a warm-up activity: Look at your body. It's talking.
Definition:
When you have the skill to do something.
Cuando tienes la habilidad de hacer algo.
Example:The students are able to pass the ball quickly.
Los alumnos son capaces de pasar la pelota rápidamente.
You´re probably sitting in a chair while you read this. Look at your position in the chair. How are you sitting? Which photo is more similar to the posture you are having now?
These postures are giving a clear and truthful message about your emotions, needs and desires at this moment.
If you have chosen A, it means you´re not very comfortable and a bit angry. You'd prefer to be sitting somewhere else and probably doing something different.
If you have chosen B, it means you´re concentrated and interested in this exercise.
If you have chosen C, it means you´re fed up with school. You can´t cope with it anymore.
Definition:
Very tired of or annoyed at something.
Muy cansada o molesta por algo.
Example:The teacher was fed up with the noises they were making so she had to send a message to their families.
La profesora estaba harta de los ruidos que hacían, por lo que tuvo que enviar un mensaje a sus familias.
Definition:
Body position.
Posición del cuerpo.
Example:Look at them. Their postures give us valuable information about their emotions.
Míralos. Sus posturas nos brindan información valiosa sobre sus emociones.
Not false, congruent.
No falso, congruente.
Example:Be truthful to yourself and you will succeed.
Sé sincero contigo mismo y tendrás éxito.
Definition:
In order to live well and fully, there are things we must do: eat, sleep, be loved, be respected. They are our needs.
Para vivir bien y en plenitud hay cosas que debemos hacer: comer, dormir, ser amados, respetados. Son nuestras necesidades.
Example:The government has to cover all their basic needs, including food, shelter, health and education.
El gobierno debe cubrir todas sus necesidades básicas, incluida la alimentación, la vivienda, la salud y la educación.
Look at your position on the chair.
Look at the three pictures.
Choose the picture that is more similar to your position on the chair.
In picture A you are angry.
In picture B you are interested in the activity.
In picture C you hate school.Look at the image below:
Can you notice that the body is telling a different message from the words? The body is saying that this person is insecure but the words are saying that this person can do it. Which one of the two messages is true? The body message!
The message our body gives when we are in a conversation is called body language. Our facial expressions, our hand gestures, our body movements and the posture we take reveal our real emotions, desires and thoughts. And sometimes they do not match with what we´re saying.
Learning to be aware of your body language will make you a better communicator. You´ll be sure that you are telling the same message, with your body and your words. Otherwise your interlocutor, if they know how to interpret body language, will not trust your words. We can lie with our words but we cannot lie with our bodies.
When you realise or know that something exists.
Cuando te das cuenta o sabes que una situación existe.
Example:When you are aware of your abilities, it's easier to be successful.
Cuando eres consciente de tus habilidades, es más fácil tener éxito.
Definition:
Say something false.
Decir algo falso.
Example:She usually lies but nobody notices it.
Suele mentir pero nadie se da cuenta.
Look at this image.
The dummy 's body expresses insecurity.
The dummy 's words express security.
The message of the dummy’s body is true.Body language uses:
- Facial expressions.
- Gestures.
- Body movements.
- Postures.
- Eye contact.
People express emotions and feelings through body language.
A good communicator uses body language properly.1. Posture:Posture is the position of the body.
A correct position expresses self-confidence.A good communicator uses a correct posture.2. Body movements:
Body control expresses quietness.
Repetitive movements express nervousness.Chest forward position expresses aggressiveness.
Chest backward position expresses fear.
Walking to and fro expresses restlessness.3. Eye contact:A good communicator looks into the eyes.Looking into the eyes expresses interest and sincerity. 
Look into someone's eyes for a short time.If you look carefully at your interlocutor´s body language, you can realize if they are interested or not in the conversation you are having. There are certain signals that will help you with this.
The following pairs of pictures show some of these signals. In the first picture, the man is interested in the conversation. In the second picture, he is not interested or feels uncomfortable with the conversation and would like to leave the room as soon as possible.
When we feel at ease in a situation we usually have open arms, meaning that we're ready to accept what comes from our interlocutor. On the contrary, if we feel nervous, insecure or vulnerable in a situation we have the tendency to cross our arms.
The position of your legs can also give a message about your interest in the conversation. If you're sitting comfortably, your interlocutor can see that you enjoy their company and conversation. If your legs are pointing outwards and you are not sitting in a very comfortable position, your interlocutor might understand that you'd prefer to stop talking and go away.
When your head is tilted to one side, it means you are interested in the conversation. If you sit as if you were relaxing on your sofa, your interlocutor might think you are not really interested in the conversation.
To look directly into the eyes of someone.
Mirar directamente a los ojos de alguien.
Example:He is very shy and never makes eye contact.
Es muy tímido y nunca mantiene contacto visual.
You say a lot with your words, but you can also say a lot with your body. Sometimes your words and your body language go in the same direction, but sometimes they don´t. These exercises will help you be aware of the situations when your body and your words tell a different message.
Watch your classmates, pay attention to their body movements. Make a guess: Are they feeling comfortable or not? Complete the table below in your notebook, you can use words or pictures to do it.
| Body movement | My classmate is feeling comfortable | My classmate is not feeling comfortable |
|---|---|---|
Can you give two more examples?
Look for an image and a sentence following the models above.
Share your work and check if your classmates discover the reason why the image and the sentence don’t match.
Let’s experiment and have some fun with body language.
In this activity, one student needs to go out of the classroom and the rest will stay inside. Any volunteer to leave the classroom?
Click on the tab that fits your role: you leave the classroom or you stay inside.
While doing this group activity, how were they feeling?
Some of your colleagues may have felt insecure or tense about doing the activity. Someone may have calmed the team down and helped them to do it.
Someone may have been angry, perhaps because they didn't know how to do it.
When we work in a team, we can have different feelings when doing an activity.
Knowing and understanding them will help us to do the task successfully. To do this, follow these tips for the next team activities:
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