Body Language
- englishiseasierwithamal.com
- May 28
- 5 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Body Language
Read the following passage then answer the questions:
The Power of Non-Verbal Cues in a Canadian Workplace
Imagine walking into a job interview. You have a flawless resume and have memorized answers to every difficult question. However, before you even open your mouth, the interviewer has already formed an impression of you. In North American culture, non-verbal communication—often called body language—carries immense weight. Experts suggest that up to 55% of our emotional communication is delivered through posture, gestures, and facial expressions rather than spoken words.
First impressions begin in the waiting room. Slouching in your chair can inadvertently signal low energy, a lack of confidence, or even disrespect. Conversely, sitting up straight with your shoulders back demonstrates alertness and professionalism.
Once called into the interview room, the handshake is your first physical point of contact. A firm handshake combined with a brief, genuine smile establishes rapport and warmth. In contrast, a weak or "limp" handshake can leave a negative impression, while an overly aggressive grip might be viewed as intimidating.
During the conversation, eye contact is arguably the most critical element. In Canada, maintaining consistent, direct eye contact shows honesty, confidence, and active listening. Avoiding eye contact is often misinterpreted as dishonesty, shyness, or a lack of interest. However, there is a fine line; staring intensely without blinking can make the interviewer uncomfortable. A good rule of thumb is the 50/70 rule: maintain eye contact for roughly 50% of the time while speaking and 70% while listening.
Finally, your arms and hands tell their own story. Crossing your arms tightly across your chest often creates a defensive barrier, signaling that you are closed off or defensive. Using open-handed gestures while explaining a point, however, projects honesty and engagement. Subtle nodding while the interviewer speaks acts as positive reinforcement, silently saying, "I understand and I am listening." By mastering these subtle cues, newcomers can align their spoken skills with their physical presentation, ensuring their true capabilities shine through.
I. Answer the following questions:
1. According to the text, what percentage of emotional communication comes from body language?
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2. What might slouching in a waiting room signal to a potential employer?
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3. What two non-verbal actions should accompany a firm handshake?
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4. What is a potential negative consequence of a weak handshake?
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5. Why is direct eye contact considered important in a Canadian interview?
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6. How might an interviewer misinterpret a complete avoidance of eye contact?
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7. Explain the "50/70 rule" mentioned in the passage.
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8. Why should you avoid crossing your arms during a professional conversation?
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9. What does subtle nodding communicate to the person speaking?
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10. Vocabulary Match: Find words in the text that mean:
Inadvertently (Paragraph 2)
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Rapport (Paragraph 3)
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II. Read the definitions below. Find the correct matching word from your vocabulary list and write it in the blank space.
Word Bank: cues, flawless, impression, immense, posture, gesture, slouch, inadvertently, demonstrate, alertness, genuine, rapport, limp, aggressive, intimidating, arguably, misinterpreted, intensely, subtle, align
____________________ (adj.) Perfect; without any mistakes, flaws, or blemishes.
____________________ (v.) To sit, stand, or walk with a drooping, lazy, or slouching posture.
____________________ (n.) Signals, hints, or prompts (verbal or non-verbal) that guide behavior or understanding.
____________________ (n.) The position in which someone holds their body when standing or sitting.
____________________ (n.) An idea, feeling, or opinion about something or someone, especially one formed without much conscious thought.
____________________ (adj.) Extremely large or great, especially in scale, amount, or degree.
____________________ (adv.) Accidentally; unintentionally; without meaning to.
____________________ (n.) A movement of part of the body, especially a hand or the head, to express an idea or meaning.
____________________ (v.) To show, make clear, or prove something by giving proof or evidence.
____________________ (n.) A state of being awake, aware, attentive, and ready to act.
____________________ (adj.) Real, honest, and sincere; not fake.
____________________ (n.) A close and harmonious relationship where people understand each other's feelings and communicate well.
____________________ (adj.) Lacking stiffness, strength, or firmness; weak or soft.
____________________ (adj.) Ready or likely to attack or confront; characterized by harsh or forceful behavior.
____________________ (adj.) Having a frightening or terrifying effect; making someone feel nervous or less confident.
____________________ (adv.) Used to say that a statement can be supported by facts or good reasons (it is open to debate, but highly likely).
____________________ (v./adj.) Understood, explained, or parsed incorrectly; misunderstood.
____________________ (adv.) With extreme focus, great energy, or strong concentration.
____________________ (adj.) So delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyze or describe; not obvious.
____________________ (v.) To place or arrange things in a straight line, or to bring components into agreement and cooperation.
III. Listen carefully and fill in the missing words or short phrases.
Imagine walking into a job interview where you have ____________________ answers to every question.
Experts suggest that up to 55% of our ____________________ communication is delivered through posture.
In North American culture, ____________________ communication carries massive weight.
Slouching in your chair can inadvertently signal ____________________.
Slouching in your chair can ____________________ signal low energy.
Conversely, sitting up straight demonstrates ____________________ and professionalism.
Once called in, the handshake is your first physical ____________________ of contact.
A firm handshake and a genuine smile help establish ____________________ and warmth.
An overly aggressive grip might be viewed as ____________________.
During the conversation, eye contact is ____________________ the most critical element.
Maintaining consistent eye contact shows honesty, confidence, and ____________________.
Completely avoiding eye contact is often ____________________ as shyness or dishonesty.
There is a fine line; staring intensely without blinking can make someone ____________________.
A good ____________________ of thumb is the 50/70 rule.
Maintain eye contact for roughly 50% of the time while ____________________.
Finally, your arms and hands tell their own ____________________.
Crossing your arms tightly across your chest often creates a ____________________ barrier.
Using open-handed gestures projects honesty and ____________________.
Subtle nodding while the interviewer speaks acts as positive ____________________.
By mastering these cues, newcomers can align their ____________________ skills with their physical presentation.
IV. Read the following scenarios with your group and discuss the question:
1. Scenario 1: "During the team meeting, Carlos sat with his arms tightly crossed, looking down at the floor while his manager explained the new project timeline." (Question: How does Carlos feel about the new timeline?)
2. Scenario 2: "When the client suggested a delay, Sarah raised her eyebrows slightly and pressed her lips into a thin line before answering." (Question: What did Sarah's facial expression reveal before she spoke?)
3. Scenario 3: "Amir kept checking his watch and tapping his foot against the desk leg while his colleague was talking." (Question: What is Amir's body language communicating to his colleague?)
4. Scenario 4: "As the interviewer described the company's growth, Lin leaned forward slightly and nodded her head every few seconds." (Question: Is Lin interested or bored? How do you know?)
5. Scenario 5: "While giving his presentation, Kevin stood behind the podium, gripped the sides tightly, and cleared his throat repeatedly." (Question: What emotional state is Kevin demonstrating?)
6. Scenario 6: "When introduced to the new director, Elena smiled, made direct eye contact, and gave a brief nod." (Question: What kind of workplace impression is Elena making?)
7. Scenario 7: "During a performance review, Tom tilted his head to the side and kept his hands resting open on his lap." (Question: Does Tom's posture show defensiveness or an openness to feedback?)
8. Scenario 8: "A customer came to the counter, sighed loudly, dropped their shoulders, and rolled their eyes before speaking to the clerk." (Question: Describe the customer's mood based on these three cues.)
9. Scenario 9: "When asked if she could complete the assignment by Friday, Maria looked away, hesitated, and nervously played with her pen while saying 'Yes'." (Question: Why might the manager doubt Maria's verbal answer?)
10. Scenario 10: "Jason walked through the office hallway with a brisk pace, his chin up, smiling and greeting people as he passed." (Question: What does Jason’s walk project to his coworkers?)
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