The Role of Using Body Language in Learning English as a Foreign Language

Abstract

Body language is considered as one of the most important techniques that supports and stimulates students’ learning. This study attempts to highlight the effectiveness of body language on learning process of first year master degree. As a first step, a main hypothesis is set; if students learn English through focalizing on body language, students’ ability of English will certainly and greatly be improved. In order to test out this hypothesis, two questionnaires were administered for teachers and learners which adopts as main means of research. The teachers’ questionnaire was directed to ten teachers at the department of English, Jijel University, and learners’ questionnaire was administered for fifty students of first year master degree. We proposed to investigate teachers and learners’ attitudes and awareness toward the use of body language, the results of this study show that all teachers use body language spontaneously, and they agree that body language is a good technique to support and foster students’ learning. In addition, the results reveal that students are aware of teachers’ body language, and they consider it as a good technique that supports their learning process