Non-Verbal Communication: Observing Gestures and Understanding Their Meanings

Subgroup Size

Entire group

Duration

20 minutes

External Cost

No

Source

Paige, R. M., Cohen, A. D., Kappler, B., Chi, J. C., & Lassegard, J. P. (2014). Observing gestures and understanding their meanings. In R.M. Paige, A.D. Cohen, B. Kappler Mikk, J.C. Chi, & J.P. Lassegard (Eds.), Maximizing study abroad: A students' guide to strategies for language and culture learning and use (2nd ed., pp. 135-136). University of Minnesota Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition. http://carla.umn.edu/maxsa/guides.html

Tags:

  1. communication
  2. nonverbal communication
  3. other awareness
  4. self-awareness

As a result of this activity, participants will be able to: 1. Recognize that nonverbal behaviors have a cultural basis. 2. Understand how (supposedly) "common" gestures may in fact mean something completely different.