Body Language and Communication: What You Say Without Words
⏱ 5 Minutes · B1/B2
📖 From Experience
In hospitality, a guest’s body language told me more than their words. Arms crossed? Not happy yet. Leaning in? Interested and engaged. Looking around? Waiting for something. Understanding body language — and knowing how to describe it — is a real communication skill in English.
📚 Useful Body Language Vocabulary
| Action | What it often communicates |
|---|---|
| maintain eye contact | confidence, interest, honesty |
| avoid eye contact | shyness, guilt, discomfort (culture-dependent) |
| cross your arms | defensiveness, closed-off, or just cold |
| nod | agreement, encouragement (while listening) |
| lean in | interest, engagement |
| lean back | relaxation, or disengagement |
| raise your eyebrows | surprise, disbelief, or a question |
| shrug your shoulders | ‘I don’t know’ / indifference |
✅ Examples
- “She crossed her arms and looked away — clearly uncomfortable.”
- “He nodded throughout, leaning in — he was genuinely interested.”
- “When I asked him, he just shrugged. No answer.”
✏️ Your Turn
Describe the body language:
- A student sits up straight, makes eye contact with the teacher, and nods. What does this suggest?
- In a meeting, a manager leans back, checks her phone twice, and looks at the clock. What might she be communicating?
💡 Check Answers
- Engagement, attentiveness, and respect — positive body language.
- Disengagement, impatience, or boredom — possibly she wants the meeting to end.
Independent project — not affiliated with, endorsed by, or accredited by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Confers no qualification.