Using hand gestures
In the online environment, a big challenge is not being able to use body language. However… there are some solutions related to using gestures in order to communicate easier and to signal different intentions, both yours and your students.
Some English language teachers are trained, and thus familiar, with a method called TPR - Total Physical Response. The method was created by a professor from San Jose State University, Dr. James Asher, in the 1970s.
According to theteachertoolkit.com:
”Total Physical Response (TPR) is a method of teaching language or vocabulary concepts by using physical movement to react to verbal input. The process mimics the way that infants learn their first language, and it reduces student inhibitions and lowers stress.”
Introducing gestures in teaching has many benefits, among which:
- “The pairing of movement with language is innately associated with effective learning
- Students actively use both the left and right sides of their brains
- It sharpens students’ listening skills
- Students are not required to speak until they are ready to, therefore creating a “safe zone” that greatly lowers inhibitions and stress
- Students will appreciate the change of pace and potential for humor
Kinaesthetic learners (who respond well to physical activities) and visual learners (who learn best with visual cues) will get a lot out of TPR”(15)
Quick exercise: put your hands out, with palms up. What does this gesture suggest? It is easy to link it (during online teaching, but also in the physical classroom) with an attitude of being open to questions, or inviting students to openly answer a question that doesn’t have a YES or NO question.
Make a list: For sure you use gestures in your daily teaching, e.g. maybe you are pointing your finger to your mouth, to make sure students will be attentive to what you say, or you are cupping your ear in order to invite students to speak. So, before going further, make a list of minimum 5 gestures that you think are essential to be used by you and your students in the online environment.
Here is an example of possible gestures:
- Thumb up - Yes
- Thumb horizontal - Maybe
- Thumb down - No
- Hand up - Want to speak
- Cup your ear - Inviting students to speak
- C-shape in front - need of clarification
- Wave hands downwards - you want the speaker to slow down in order for you to write or understand better
- Wave hands upwards - you want the speaker to speak louder (you cannot hear well)
- Time for a break; Time to finish a long discussion.
Practical exercise
Create your useful gestures list in a form that can be presented to the class. Present the list to students. Slowly, introduce useful gestures.
