Body Language at Work: What English Doesn’t Say

⏱ 5 MIN · CEFR B2

Body Language at Work: What English Doesn’t Say

👁️ From my notebook:

In twelve years of hospitality, I learned to read a table before I reached it. A couple sitting back with arms crossed — give them space. A family leaning forward, pointing at menus — they need help now. The best servers communicate without speaking. That’s true in classrooms too: a student slumped in a chair at 9 a.m. on a Monday is not lazy — they’re tired. Read the room.

🎯 By the end you will:

• Use vocabulary for non-verbal communication
• Describe what body language signals in English
• Understand cultural differences in eye contact and space

📖 Key vocabulary (B2):

eye contact — looking directly at someone’s eyes
open posture — arms uncrossed, body facing forward = welcoming
closed posture — arms crossed, body turned away = defensive
mirroring — copying someone’s posture (builds trust)
personal space — comfortable distance between people (varies by culture)

✅ Quick check: What does ‘mirroring’ mean in communication?

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✍️ Try it (2 min):

Watch a partner for 30 seconds while they speak about any topic. Write: one thing their body said that their words didn’t. Share and discuss.

💡 Teacher’s tip:

Play a short clip with the sound off. Ask students: what is happening? Who has power? Are they friends? Reading images builds communication awareness and vocabulary simultaneously.