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Use Caution with Gestures in Class
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Judie Haynes
Judie Haynes, an ESL teacher from New Jersey, USA, has more than 28 years of teaching experience. In addition to her classroom work, she has authored and co-authored five books on ESL, co-written a chapter for TESOL’s Integrating Standards into Classroom Practice and am contributing a column for Essential Teacher magazine. She is also the author of EverythingESL and presents workshops to classroom teachers all over the U.S.
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Judie Haynes | TheApple.com
Very few gestures are universally understood and interpreted. What is perfectly acceptable in the United States may be rude, or even obscene, in other cultures.
It is important for mainstream teachers to understand how the gestures they use unconsciously may be misunderstood. This activity allows participants to look a little closer at how body language might be interpreted by English Language Learners and their parents.
Demonstrate the gestures below and ask participants to write down what they think each gesture means. Participants should also indicate if they think the gesture is considered rude in the United States. Have group discuss how body language could influence communication between cultures.
Beckon with index finger.
Point at something in the room using index finger.
Make a “V” sign.
Smile.
Sit with sole of feet or shoe showing.
Form a circle with fingers to indicate “O.K.”
Pat a student on the head.
Pass an item to someone with one hand.
Wave hand with palm facing outward to greet someone.
Nod head up and down to say “Yes.”
Answer Key for Body Language Activities
Each of the following responses give a general guide to cultural differences in the meaning of gestures.
1. Beckon with index finger. This means “Come here” in the U.S. To motion with the index finger to call someone is insulting, or even obscene, in many cultures. Expect a reaction when you beckon to a student from the Middle or Far East; Portugal, Spain, Latin America, Japan, Indonesia and Hong Kong. It is more acceptable to beckon with the palm down, with fingers or whole hand waving.
2. Point at something in the room using index finger. It is impolite to point with the index finger in the Middle and Far East. Use an open hand or your thumb (in Indonesia)
3. Make a “V” sign. This means “Victory” in most of Europe when you make this sign with your palm facing away from you. If you face your palm in, the same gesture means “Shove it.”
4. Smile. This gesture is universally understood. However, it various cultures there are different reasons for smiling. The Japanese may smile when they are confused or angry. In other parts of Asia, people may smile when they are embarrassed. People in other cultures may not smile at everyone to indicate a friendly greeting as we do in the United States. A smile may be reserved for friends. It is important not to judge students or their parents because they do not smile, or smile at what we would consider “inappropriate” times.
5. Sit with soles shoes showing. In many cultures this sends a rude message. In Thailand, Japan and France as well as countries of the Middle and Near East showing the soles of the feet demonstrates disrespect. You are exposing the lowest and dirtiest part of your body so this is insulting.
6. Form a circle with fingers to indicate “O.K.” Although this means “O.K.” in the U.S. and in many countries around the world, there are some notable exceptions:
In Brazil and Germany, this gesture is obscene.
In Japan, this means “money.”
In France, it has the additional meaning of “zero” or “worthless.”
7. Pat a student on the head. This is very upsetting to students from Asia. The head is the repository of the soul in the Buddhist religion. Children from cultures which are influenced by Buddhism will feel uncomfortable if their head is touched.
8. Pass an item to someone with one hand. – In Japan this is very rude. Even a very small item such as a pencil must be passed with two hands. In many Middle and Far Eastern countries it is rude to pass something with your left hand which is considered “unclean.”
9. Wave hand with the palm facing outward to greet someone. In Europe, waving the hand back and forth can mean “No.” To wave “good-bye,” raise the palm outward and wag the fingers in unison, This is also a serious insult in Nigeria if the hand is too close to another person’s face.
10. Nod head up and down to say “Yes.” In Bulgaria and Greece, this gesture means “No.”
Read more instruction tips.
tarihardy
12 days ago
80 comments
It is very helpful when teaching students from other cultures to actually understand something about how they interact. Expecting eye contact is another thing to watch for, as many cultures consider that to be rude.
RLQFogarty
3 months ago
2 comments
Good advice in any case.
floppy1965
3 months ago
8 comments
OH, about the finger ..you can point at the things but not at the person...it means anything but accusing him or her of something ...
floppy1965
3 months ago
8 comments
This is very interesting! As regards Argentine people you can say ok, you can point at something in the room, you can smile, you can pass an item.., you can nod your head, you can wave hand, you can pat a student on the head, and so on. But , yes never beckon with index finger. It is very rude and not polite.
Thank you. Very useful!
conniek
4 months ago
14 comments
As much as I understand the importance of gestures, I think some of these are a little too overboard. It's good to understand the differences in cultures so as not to be confused/confusing, but all in all, I think students on American soil will be quick to adapt. These are probably better if you will be teaching overseas, but in the meanwhile, I'd like to add some corrections.
1. Pointing at an object with the index finger will not cause students insult, but pointing at a student with an index finger will. Doesn't mean we can't point at all in our classrooms.
2. Smiling is a universal gesture that displays happiness as well, especially now with the help of media and the spread of pictures. Japanese people smile when they're happy too.
3. Passing an item to someone with one hand is only considered an insult only if that person is of a higher status than you. Passing a pencil to a student with two hands would be considered servile and odd if a teacher did that.
Patomin, I don't think we're out to resist change in our actions. More than anything, a lot of these gestures are very much ingrained in the American culture, and by acting out every culture out there, we'd be confusing the students even more (especially the younger ones). It's nice to know where they're coming from and keep these notes in mind, but as for the actual role play in the classroom, it will vary by person and their comfort level to that kind of change. The changes you're recommending would be more appropriate for a one-on-one level interaction with a student not yet assimilated into the American culture, but acting upon these in a classroom during lecture time is probably inappropriate.
Miyumi
4 months ago
40 comments
A couple things to take into consideration:
Kids who come here from another country will observe how we treat all the students within the class. A kid who sees that everyone in class is passing things with one hand will quickly catch on that it's not an insult. But some of the gestures may take more time than others.
Patting people on the head... there are some completely American people, who have European descent, who do not like to be touched at all. All of these people are particularly sensitive about being touched on their head. It is easy to see why- our head is where our brain is stored, and it's where our eyes, ears, nose, and mouth are. Not only are these organs some of the most sensitive external organs, but they are responsible for most of how we view the world. Touching a person's head is a very intimate thing. That is why many people believing kissing to be the most intimate way to connect, no exceptions. Every culture also recognizes the hand as a deadly weapon. No wonder they don't want another person's hand (deadly weapon) that close to their head (the main source of their being)!
highlandhorn
4 months ago
2 comments
I think being aware of cultural differences is important - but it would be very difficult to make everyone comfortable at all times...for instance, exactly how am I supposed to pass back papers? Set the pile down and hand a Japanese student their paper with both hands? If the Japanese student is going to function in US Society, he/she probably needs to "get used to" being handed things with one hand...
Still, overall, I think it's really important to understand cultural differences.
joyceboyce
about 1 year ago
4 comments
I recently tried this out. In an adult class of speakers of other languages--I teach a Bulgarian lady who acknowledged that her native head-nodding (yes/no) is exactly the opposite of what we use in the United States. Interesting to learn such things.
kschase86
about 1 year ago
82 comments
Patomin...you nailed it! John, Deven, and Sandra - couldn't agree with you more! With my husband being in the Air Force and having been stationed in Misawa, Japan for over four years, the first thing we did upon our arrival was to enroll in a cultural and language enrichment class. The class gave us the basics regarding proper and improper gesturing, learning the basics of the Japanese language, and how to act in general when we were either dealing with a national on-base or doing some sightseeing off-base. This was out of respect for our host nation.
Today, we are living in Avondale, Arizona. One great thing about the base where we are stationed - there are foreign pilots and their families who come to the base for a couple of years of training. (In fact, one of them is my neighbor and a good friend.) As well, there are many recent immigrants from all over the world. The teachers in my children's school district are sensitive to the fact that these children might not be aware of customs in the US - so, at the beginning of the school year, they do a unit study on customs and languages around the world and ask all of the children to share the country's customs, languages, foods, etc.... The children and teachers have a great time and it sets a great tone in the classroom for the rest of the year to know that they are all accepted and respected.
Bottom line - We (as teachers) simply need to be aware of the differences in cultures and be sensitive to the children. The parents are the ones who have moved them to the US - they are simply trying to adapt and fit in.
SBonilla07
about 1 year ago
578 comments
Pat the child on the head?? That would be something that is used for dogs or cats, It's almost like petting something. At least in my culture, we never do Pats on the head. Pats are for Animals. But other than that, this article is Print Material!
LMcGarv
about 1 year ago
54 comments
Well said, patomin! This article is so important. We need to see where kids come from to teach them effectively. Appreciate the differences- they're what make life interesting!!!
patomin
about 1 year ago
70 comments
Wow!
There sure is a lot of nationalistism on the board this week.
What is all the fuss about? We aren't giving up America and becoming them, we are just trying to make someone feel more comfortable...that someone being a CHILD/STUDENT. It's called being a human being to someone who is out of sorts and helping them learn how WE do it.
I get the feeling that many here resent people who are different. Honestly folks, how are you supposed to teach these children if you look at them as second class students?
If you had an ESL child you would help that child learn English. If you had a child with a reading disability you would accomodate that child and help with his or her disability. Why not learn a couple of things about where a child from a foreign culture come from to make them feel welcome and a member of our great melting pot society vice an outsider? It lets them know you care.
People tend to forget that 90% of American ancestry came from foreign nations and with that immigration came the integration of cultural traditions and customs. I am not saying to change America to suit everyone, but who gave our ancestors the right to evolve the United States culture when they came over, but new immigrants should keep their hands off of the pot and just jump in?
I just find resistance to inclusiveness in American diversity offensive and hypocritical.
What are we afraid of? These are children not operatives from another nation bent of the destruction of our way of life!
patomin
about 1 year ago
70 comments
Nametabs,
It may not be our job to learn all their cultural nuances, but IT IS our job to teach them. Use all the tools you have to reach them. You will find that a person who feels you identify with them or are there to help will respond better than someone who feels you are being confrontational.
I just had that conversation with someone earlier this morning....hmmmm.....
patomin
about 1 year ago
70 comments
PaulDF,
How can being sensitive to those who don't understand American culture yet "be deadly". Come on! If you plan on teaching in the south you have to know how the southern culture thinks or you're doomed. If you move to the north things are different there. I moved out west....had to learn a new way of thinking here. All Americans, all different.
Why is a newly arrived immigrant any different? They just haven't been assimilated and don't quite get it yet. So we should accomodate their needs as well as any other child's. Why not be sensitive to what they are used to until they understand the social norms of the USA?
patomin
about 1 year ago
70 comments
Oh yeah. This is a big deal in Japan. If you point at someone you are calling them a thief or dishonest. The was the first thing they taught me when I arrived there was customs and courtesies.
In the Middle East you have to be careful not to show the bottoms of your feet to another person also! It's an insult.
Cultural differences are amazing!