Download OT--Oct.6 - 2011-nccu

English Oral Training – October 6
Week
Date
Topic-Based Discussion
4
10/6
Actions speak louder than words
LD:
Leading Discussion
渟峙、思嬋、睿安、Susan
Topic-Based Focus & Discussion—Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Group-Discussion
Class Seminar
Before Practice
1. body language = nonverbal communication (N.V.C) = nonverbal signals
= nonverbal behaviors = kinesics
2. convey / deliver / express
The Listening Passage
Introduction
1. Definition / Targets: nonverbal communication ( N.V.C)
 facial expression, eye contact, tone of voice, body movement, and so on.
2. What gives particular meaning to nonverbal behavior?
1. situations / contexts
2. interlocutors’ relationships
Contents
※ N. V.C. includes:
 1. physical (kinesics), 2. aesthetic, 3. signs, and 4. symbolic
※ Porter’s 2 types of body language
1. Static features
a. Distance  A reflection of social status
b. Orientation  The way we position ourselves in relation to others
c. Posture  The level of formality or relaxation
d. Physical contact  The intimacy we feel through touching, hugging, …
2. Dynamic features
a. Facial expressions  Communicate emotion and attitude of the speaker
b. Gestures  Not universal across cultures
c. Eye contact  Status
d. Body movements  attitude (esp. in cooperation)
Conclusion
5 things differentiate verbal and nonverbal communication
1. Communication in much the same nonverbal way throughout the world
2. “Grammar” of N.V.C
3. No dictionary for N.V.C
4. Impossible to ask for repetition
5. Body language can’t lie.
Interpretation Practice
I am going to list five things that differentiate verbal and nonverbal
communication. I’d like you to note them down. First, while spoken languages
differ from country and country, emotions are communicated in much the same
nonverbal way throughout the world. Second, although we know a lot about the
grammar of spoken language, we still don’t know very much about the
“grammar” of N.V.C. Third, we don’t have any dictionaries for N.V.C. If you
go to a foreign country and somebody makes a hand gesture you don’t
understand, there’s no dictionary to help you. And fourth, we can ask for
repetition or clarification of what somebody has said, but it’s practically
impossible to ask, “Could you repeat that smile?” or “What does that facial
expression mean?” We have to understand nonverbal communication the first
time around. And finally, we can hide our true feelings with spoken language,
but it’s more difficult with N.V.C. We can’t just stop ourselves from turning red,
or slow down our heartbeat, right? So whether we like it or not, body language
can’t lie. So in conclusion, nonverbal communication is an integral part of
communication.
For Review
1. The bulk is nonverbal communication.
2. That’s food for thoughts.
3. N.V.C is a rather recent field of study and owes a lot to an American
anthropologist named Raymond Birdwhistle.
4. Those meanings are largely determined by the situations we’re in and the
relationships that we have with the people we’re communicating with.
5. The point is, the situation or the relationship between the people involved
gives particular meaning to the smile.
6. The higher your status, the more space you’ll have and the easier it’ll be to
invade other people’s space.
7. Orientation differs from distance and has to do with the way we position
ourselves in relation to others.
8. A person’s expression seems to be a better indicator of his meaning than
words, which play a minimal part.
Leading Discussion
(渟峙) Do you think it is good for universities to dispense students to particular
departments when they are freshmen?
(思嬋) What’s going on with vampires? Horrible or fantasy?
(睿安) What would you want most in a friend - someone who is reliable,
someone who is intelligent, or someone who has a sense of humor? Or?
(Susan) Which is better for a three-year old boy, a normal, a bilingual, or
an English-speaking kindergarten?