Li Jun
Teaching Aims:
1. Learn to communicate with body language;
2. Train the students’ reading ability;
3. Read the passage "Body Talk", and let the students know people from different parts of the world use different body language;
4.Discussion method to make the students take an active part in the teaching and learning activities;
5.Pay more attention to one’s body language in daily life.
Teaching Aids:
1. a recorder
2. a computer (PPT)
Teaching Procedures:
Step 1: leading-in
T: We live in the society. There are many many people around us. So we should communicate with others. Right? At home, we should communicate with parents, brothers and sisters. At school, with classmates and teachers. And now we are communicating with each other. Yes? Now I have a question: if you have sth to tell others, for example, your best friend, how will you tell it? What way will you use to tell it?
Ss: speak with him directly.
T: if your friend is not at this school, but another one, you cannot tell him directly. What will you do?
Ss: give him a ring; send an email to him; write a letter to him.
T: very good. We can speak with him directly and give him a ring. Then we use what kind of language?
Ss: spoken language.
T: yes. And we give him a letter or an email. What kind of language we use?
Ss: written language.
T: besides spoken language and written language, is there any other language we can use to tell things?
Ss: body language.
T: yes. We also can use our body language. So today we will go to learn sth about body language.
Step 2: warming up
Show some pictures on the screen to Ss.
T: now please look at the screen. Here are some facial expressions and some emotions. Please match each facial expression with emotion.
( Do it together.)
T: after looking at some facial expressions, let’s do sth. Here are some feelings we want to express. Just choose one and try to act it out using your body language. Ok, please go through the feelings quickly and prepare to act.
(1 minute later)
T: ok, any volunteer? And others please guess his feeling together.
( ask some students to act it out.)
T: all the students act very well. Just now, we guess their feelings according to their body language. But do you think we can guess one’s feeling correctly all the time just according to their body language? For example, if I just shake my head, do you know what’s my meaning: disagree or don’t do that or I don’t know? Another example, I think you are all familiar with this gesture (V). what’ s the meaning?
Ss: number 2; victory.
T: yes, in china, it means number 2; in western countries, it means victory and success; and in Japan, it means peace. So there are some differences about body language. Why there will be such differences?
Ss: because of cultural differences.
T: yes, sometimes because different people have different body language and use it in different way. And sometimes because different countries have different body language. So because of individual and cultural differences, there are differences between body language. The passage today we will learn gives us more information about body language.
Step 3 listening & intensive reading
T: at first, let’s listen to the tape. Because the passage is easy and you have previewed it, when you are listening, please divide it into several parts and get the main idea of each part. Now listen to the tape and if you can, please listen without looking at your book.
That’s the passage. Now can you divide the passage? How many parts do you divide it into? And how do you divide it?
S1: three parts. Part 1 is para.1; part 2 is para.2-3; part 3 is para.4-5.
T: right? Yes, very good. And the main idea?
S2: part 1-both words and body language can express our thoughts and opinions.
S3: part 2- body language varies from culture to culture.
S4: part 3- some body language are universal.
T: very good. The first part gives us an introduction of body language. And part 2, body language varies from culture to culture. It gives us some examples. Let’s go to the details. (use forms)
Gestures Countries Meanings
eye contact Some countries A way to show interest
Other countries Rude or disrespectful
a circle with one’s thumband index finger Most countries Ok
Japan Money
France Zero
Brazil/Germany Rude
thumbs up The US Great/ good job
Nigeria Rude
Germany/Japan Number 1
moving the index finger in a circle in front of the ear Some countries Crazy
Brazil You have a phone call.
Meaning Gestures Countries
No Shake one’s head Many countries
yes Bulgaria, parts of Greece, and Iran
Greet friends A kiss on the cheek France
Russia
A firm handshake Other countries
A loving hug
A bow/ a nod of the head
T: while there are many different interpretations of our body language, some gestures are universal.
Universal body language
meanings gestures
I’m tired. Press palms together, rest head on the back of hand and close the eyes
I’m full. Move the hand in circles over the stomach after a meal
I’m hungry. Pat one’s stomach before a meal
Almost any emotion smile
Step 4 interview & discussion
T: the best example of universally understood body language is smile. So it is said that smile is a bridge to the world. Do you like smile?
Ss: yes.
T: no matter where you are and no matter when it is, you will smile. So now we will have an interview- when will you smile?
(interview Ss one by one, and later let Ss interview each other.)
T: you have done a very good job. We will smile when we want to start a conversation, when we …and besides communication, when will you smile and what can smile do? Now please have a discussion.
( later, let Ss give reports.)
T: you see, smile have so many good effects. So please smile whenever and wherever possible and necessary. If you smile to the life, life will smile back to you.
Step5 summary and homework
T: today’s homework is: write a passage about smile. Your passage can be based on your discussion.
T: after today’s study, I think you have known sth about body language. Right? Just like spoken language, body language is part of culture. It plays an important part in our life. So it is very important to understand and use body language correctly, avoiding misunderstanding, right? And to us, as foreign language learners, it is as necessary to learn the body language as to learn the spoken language. Do you think so?
And at last, I’d like to show you a motto of Emerson:
A beautiful form is better than a beautiful face; a beautiful behavior than a beautiful form. ------ Emerson
From this sentence, we can see that among face, form and behavior, which is the best?
S: behavior.
T: very good. Behavior is the best and can make you beautiful. Behavior is just your body language. So please pay attention to your body language in your daily life.