Madrid Teacher: Body language

Four Madrid Teachers discuss body language while talking about American TV series Lie to Me, starred by Timothy Roth.

I think that the speed of delivery is a bit faster than usual. However, once again, we have a great opportunity to hear a number of features of spoken English that native speakers regularly use but that are sometimes neglected in the classroom.

Watch the video through and try and follow the thread of the conversation.

Watch the video again and notice the following features of spoken English that the speakers use:

• constant use of filler erm to get thinking time while talking.
• use of like as a conjunction with the meaning of 'as if'.
• use of I mean to rephrase your ideas.
• use of you know, to check that listeners are following you.
• use of thing(s) to express vague language because you can't think of the word you need.
• listeners keep reacting to what the person talking is saying with expressions like yeah or all right.
• use of actually to introduce unexpected information.
• use of 'cos instead of because. 
• use of really to express surprise.
• use of so as a linking word to connect ideas.

How do you feel about body language and the ideas in the video?
Do you know any other famous TV series, films or characters that are well-known for their lies?
Discuss the questions with your friends and try and use some of the features of spoken English we mentioned here.

Yeah, I don’t watch much TV but somebody was telling me about this program with, erm, the actor Tim Roth and, erm, it’s called Lies To Me. The concept of the program seems quite interesting. He plays the part of an expert who can, like he’s like a human lie detector, like he can watch people and he can tell if they’re lying or not, like, just by watching them, like they don’t have to be connected to any sort of machine, and supposedly, although I mean he’s the actor and he’s not really an expert in that but there is or there are different people who are able to do that, you know, they just watch body language and are able to, you know… Do you know any, like there’s supposedly like when people touch their nose , for example, means they’re lying and you know, I don’t know if you any other, like sort of body language things?
Yeah, I’ve heard of, erm, if someone asks you a question and then you look to the left you’re lying…
Oh, all right.
… before you answer, so you never do that in an interview.
Oh, all right.
Except, that, you know, there are probably like things you do like spontaneously and don’t even realise, yeah.
Yeah. Sorry. I think that’s what a Lie to Me is based on. It’s all the subconscious movements that people make. Have you seen the programme? It’s quite good actually. Like, as a series it gets a bit boring but it is interesting. They had one scene where they were actually head-hunting a new employee and she worked at an airport and all they did was, the guy Tim Roth I think, just accidentally, and flashed her a look of worry and, and anger or something like that and she immediately went and called him out and, erm, …
Yeah, so you can just tell by her initial expression. For example, I was reading if people are, erm, for example, if it’s a fake smile, you know somebody like they will smile to you, you can tell it’s a fake smile because if it’s only the lips that move up…
And not the eyes.
And there’s no…
…the upper part of , you know, of your face doesn’t change, that’s how you can tell it’s a fake smile cos if somebody is really smiling your eyes smile, and your cheeks are and everything, you know. So that’s like an example, you know.
The big classic is the crossed arms and so many people do that especially in social situations and I think that it’s because they’re uncomfortable, you know, they’re a bit shy.
Well, it’s a protective thing I guess.
Defence code, yeah.
I don’t like talking to someone who has their arms crossed. I always feel a bit, erm, put at a distance, you know… So, yeah, it has quite a lot of power sometimes these kinds of, this kinds of body language.
And also eye contact like, erm, for example, Japanese people never look at you in the eye but, because they consider…
Really?
…it’s intrusive, like, it’s, it’s very intrusive to look at somebody in the eyes whereas we consider that if somebody is not looking in the eyes like…
They’re not interested.
… they’re not interested, or you know, so the interpretation can be different. So, Japanese people look at you, your neck so if you’re wearing a neck tie for example, or if it’s a woman, like, they will look at your neck, you know, if they look a little lower then it’s another story.

Talking point: Gestures

This week's talking point has to do with gestures. Before getting together with the members of your conversation group, go over the questions below (some of which are taken from iteslj) so that ideas flow more easily when you get together with your friends and you can work out vocabulary difficulties beforehand.

What everyday gestures do you use?
What's the meaning of the following gestures and postures?
           a handshake - biting your bottom lip - sitting back in your chair - standing with arms crossed
What common gestures in your country aren't visitors used to?
What gestures have you found surprising in foreigners or when being abroad?
Can you think of some gestures that have different meanings in different countries?
What are some gestures you know that relate to the sporting world?
Have you ever made a social mistake using wrong gestures?
What gesture in your culture do you think is unique from other cultures?
What gestures, in your opinion, are understood by people anywhere in the world?
How much do people in your country move their hands when they talk?
Do you know any gestures you can make with your feet? What do they mean?
Why do you think people express with gestures?
Do you "talk" with your hands?  

You can watch a New York Times video about how Italians talk with their hands below and read the accompanying article here.



Why do Italians talk with their hands? For many, it’s something in their blood. Some scholars argue that gestures have been in Italy for centuries. They came with the ancient Greeks that once colonized southern Italy. These gestures survived. They’ve been passed down through generations for centuries, even more than language.
Be careful.
Professor Poggi has identified around 250 hand gestures that Italians use in everyday conversation. It’s a language of its own with its own complex vocabulary.

The power of body language

Watch this video, where writer Tonya Reiman explains some of the concepts she talks about in her best-selling book The Power of Body Language, and say whether the statements below are true or false.

The video is suitable for strong intermediate students.

1 Tonya is going to show us both right and wrong ways to do things.
2 We usually look at a person's feet first during our talk.
3 A figure four takes less space in the average sitting space.
4 If a man has his hands in his pockets he's telling a woman how sexual he is.
5 Men are better at picking up body language than women.
6 Men find it more difficult to understand the space zones in communication.
7 The person whose hand is on top is less powerful in a relationship.
8 Every single thing we do or wear is a statement about us.

Hi there, I’m Tonya Reinan. I’m the author of The Power of Body Language. We’re here on the streets of Manhattan because what I’m going to do is I’m going to pick out some people and show you the right way to do things, and perhaps some of the wrong ways to do things.  One of the most interesting facets of body language is just what you can read from one single body part. So what am I meaning by that?
When you are talking to someone one of the first things you want to do is look at their feet. So if I’m talking to you straight on yeah, my feet are pointing this way… you need to recognise that I’m on my way out. I’m not interested in what you have to say. I’m looking to move. So, one of the things you always want to remember is the feet point where the body wants to go.
So this is a power position. What that woman is demonstrating is she that feels good about herself. She is in what is known as a figure four, which is a position that takes more space in the average sitting space. Her arms are pulled back saying … ‘I don’t feel vulnerable. I’m powerful.’
One of the things that is interesting about men is that they are always telling you, unconsciously, how sexual they are. So, if you are walking towards a man and he has his hands in his pocket, you know what he is doing, he is trying to point out his best assets.
So, as you see this people walking through the streets, look at what their hands are doing. Are their hands pointing to their most significant areas? Because if they are, they are sending you a very strong message.
You know, it’s funny I get asked all the time, why is it that I have to work so much harder to get a man’s attention than they do to get my attention? Well, the truth is that women are much better in picking up body language clues than men are. For example, if I’m trying to flirt with a man I need to make eye contact with him three times to let him know that I’m really interested in him. So, one of the things that you can do as a woman is you can make eye contact, look down, look, look back up, look down again and finally that third time of making eye contact with that man he is going to get the hints. If you don’t do that way, ladies, they are never going to get the hints.
How often are people surprised when I tell them, usually they are shocked, usually people have no idea how they come across. And the interesting thing is once you point out to them a single clue to them, they certainly go ‘oh my goodness’ as if they had their ‘aha’ moment. And their ‘aha’ moment can change them forever.
So what you are watching is the intimate space zone ends. What do I mean by that? You’ve just witnessed a woman and a man having a conversation.  The woman isn’t really that comfortable with the gentleman but he doesn’t recognize it. He takes a step forward. And what does she do? She takes a step back. He’s so ignorant, he doesn’t get it. He takes another step forward. Finally she takes another step back. And you could see that these two will never be in rapport because he doesn’t understand the space difference. 
So what you’re seeing here is a couple holding hands. What is interesting about this is who is the more the more powerful of the two? Whose hand was on top? It was the man’s hand. And if you watch people who hold hands, you’ll notice  typically the man just holds his hand on the top. And that’s his way of demonstrating that he is the powerful one in the relationship.
You know, what you need to realize is that every single thing says something about you, the way you hold your posture, the way you wear your make-up, the way you wear your hair. Do you have tattoos everywhere? Where are your piercings? Are your shoes nice and polished? Is your briefcase in good shape? Is your suit ironed? Do you look good? Every single thing about you makes a statement. What you want make sure is it’s making the statement that you are happy with.

Key:
1T 2T 3F 4T 5F 6T 7F 8T

Your body language shapes who you are

Amy Cuddy's talk at TED  in June last year, Your body language shapes who you are, focuses on how non-verbal language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves.

Amy Cuddy, a social psychologist, shows how if we stand in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident, can affect the brain, and might even have an impact on our chances for success.

Her research on body language reveals that we can change other people’s perceptions — and even our own  — simply by changing body positions.

Remember you can activate the subtitles to watch Amy Cuddy's talk and you can also download the video clip and full transcript from the TED site.