Teachers' Nonverbal Communication Expressiveness: Facts and Perceptions

More than ever now, because of the paradigm shift from industrial to information era, nonverbal communication is felt to have a significant role in our day-to-day interactions especially in classrooms, hospitals, courtrooms, police stations and others. An internet check shows more than 20, 000 articles, journals and eBooks with the subject heading "nonverbal communication." However, despite the thorough research on the subject worldwide, an insignificant attention has been given to the scientific work of teachers' expressiveness of nonverbal communication. Nonverbal communication behavior of teachers brings a lot to students. Success of both students and teachers depend upon their effective communication in class. Teachers who have a conscious control of their nonverbal communication are more productive and successful than those who do not. Students are not only conscious of their teachers' nonverbal communication but are also critical of it. Teachers' nonverbal communication and students' perceived cognitive learning are positively correlated. Therefore, conscious uses of nonverbal communication behaviors of teachers are becoming vital to improve teachers' effectiveness.