《2025年优化学案高中英语选择性必修第一册人教版》

Why Body Language Is Important?
When you learn a foreign language, you must learn more than the vocabulary and the grammar. To communicate successfully, you must also learn the body language of that culture. Body language is a term used to describe facial expressions, gestures, and other movements of the body that send messages. This means of communication is so important that we may actually say more with our movements than with words.
For some messages, words are not enough. Speaking a foreign language is sometimes difficult because we may not understand the body signals of another culture. For example, nodding the head up and down is a gesture that may communicate different messages in different parts of the world. In North America, it means “I agree”. In the Middle East, nodding the head down means “I agree” and up means “I disagree”. In a conversation among Japanese it often simply means “I’m listening”.
Eye contact is also very meaningful, but it can also mean different things in different countries. In some Spanish - speaking countries, children show respect to an old person by not looking directly into the person’s eyes during a conversation. In other cultures, looking into a person’s eyes is expected. For example, if you don’t do it in the United States, people may think that you are afraid, embarrassed, or angry. In the Middle East, direct eye contact in a conversation is more continuous than in many other parts of the world. People who are not used to this may feel uncomfortable.
Body language is used by people for sending messages to one another. It is very useful because it can help you make yourself easily understood.
Different countries have different body languages. For example, men in some countries kiss each other when they meet, but men in China or Australia shake hands instead of kissing. People in Puerto Rico (波多黎各) like touching each other, but people from English - speaking countries do not touch each other. If you touch an English person, you should say “Sorry”. People in some countries like standing close to one another when they are talking, but English people must keep a distance away when they are talking. In some Asian countries, you must not touch the head of another person. In some countries, you eat by using the fingers of your right hand; the left hand is not used at all. In parts of Asia you must not sit with your feet pointing at another person.
When you use a foreign language, it is very important to know the meanings of gestures and movements in the foreign country. Following the customs will help you communicate with people and make your stay there much more pleasant and comfortable.
【思考】
1. Why is it necessary for us to learn body language?
2. Observe the students in your class. What are the body signals of the students who are interested in class?

答案：

1.
(1) It helps us avoid misunderstanding in cross - cultural communication.

(2) It improves our communication skills by observing the facial expressions and gestures of native speakers.

(3) It makes communication more comfortable and easier to understand.

(4) It helps those who lose the power of speech express their thoughts and feelings.

2.
(1) They usually sit upright, concentrate on the teacher and listen carefully.

(2) They tend to look up and make eye contact with the teacher.

(3) They take notes from time to time.

(4) When the teacher makes a joke, they smile back.

(5) They can answer the questions correctly and even ask questions.

(6) When they hear something interesting, they respond promptly.