Why Using Non-Verbal Cues Is Effective

commentary by Shelby Till | January 31, 2012

Non-verbal communication is all around us, even if we don't realize it. Non-verbal communication includes the ways we use our body and voice to communicate a message. We communicate with hand gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, overall body language, tone of voice and so much more. Non-verbal communication plays a role in every human communication transaction. Research has shown that people use non-verbal communication over 85% of the time to get their message across, and it is even used more than traditional verbal portions of the message. So with non-verbal communication playing such a big role in our lives, why have teachers not used it as an advantage in the classroom?

We mostly hear about non-verbal communication being used in the classroom for discipline reasons, such as gaining a noisy class’s attention or telling a student to stop talking; however, there is a countless number of ways to use non-verbal communication in the classroom. In fact, some research suggests that nearly 75% of all classroom communication is non-verbal.

Using non-verbal communication in the classroom can be beneficial for both the teacher and his or her students. Practicing non-verbal cues allow teachers to become better receivers of students' messages and also provides them with the ability to send positive signals that emphasize students' learning while gaining the skill to avoiding sending out negative signals that suppress their learning at the same time. Non-verbal communication also allows teachers to spare their voices and create a calmer classroom environment that promotes children's processing with visual cues. For instance, then students are being too loud, a teacher can stop and put up one hand to signify the class to stop talking, or they can look up at the clock to make it seem like she is watching the clock and seeing how much time is being wasted.

Using non-verbal communication is also a great way for teachers who have a multicultural classroom to all get all of their students on the same page. Many times, non-verbal cues are used to express the same message on a universal level. For example, putting one finger in front of your mouth means to be quiet, or a thumbs up gesture represents approval or someone doing a good job. Another advantage to using non-verbal cues is to connect an abstract thought such as "stop" with a concrete action such as putting a hand up with the palm faced out to the person the message is intended for. This method is great for young children who are still learning the difference between abstract ideas or things and physical ideas or movements.

Teachers also use non-verbal communication in classrooms with special needs students. Many times, by having a teacher implement these cues, a student with special needs, such as a hearing disorder or autism, may be able to stay in a class with their peers and learn the same material as them, instead of having to go to a different class. This can also lead to better communication between students without special needs and those who have them.

It is important; however, that teachers use a lot of practice to perfect the art of non-verbal communication. If not carefully trained, a person can give away their true feeling by showing a non-verbal cue that lasts a fraction of a second. Of course, there are some non-verbal cues that cannot be controlled, but it is important that a teacher does pay attention to their gestures to ensure that they are not causing miscommunication with students.

In order to use non-verbal communication in the classroom successfully, teachers must set clear and understandable expectations at the very beginning of the school year. From the very beginning, teachers should show their students what each non-verbal cue is and what is expected of them when that cue is shown. Bringing in new gestures in the middle of the year can cause confusion for students and may not work as well. It is also important that teachers continue to practice with these non-verbal cues, not just introduce them, and then only use them a handful of times during the school year. The more students see these gestures, the more they will take them in and follow the expectations set.

Eye contact is also key in non-verbal communication. It is considered to be one of the most powerful tools of non-verbal communication between people. By sure establishing eye contact with students, a teacher is able to let their students know they are listening and given them his or her full attention. Eye contact also allows teachers to gain students' trust and makes positive impressions.

Non-verbal communication is not just for early childhood education, these methods can be used for students in high school and college as well. Teachers can use non-verbal gestures to give feedback to a student without disrupting their flow of learning. For example, if a student is giving a presentation, but is talking too fast, the teacher can lift his or her hand and slowly bring it down. Or, if a student is talking so quietly that she or she cannot be heard, the teacher can simply put her hand up to her ear to signify the request for the speaker to talk louder.

So although we may not realize it, non-verbal communication is apart of everything we do. By using it in the classroom, we are allowing students to learn another way of communication that can be very beneficial for them in the future. Not only does non-verbal communication have advantages for the students, but it also helps teachers save their voices, keep a calmer classroom and allow students from all cultures to be on the same page.