Communicating with Gestures and Actions

Did you know that your body talks too? Our body movements sometimes talk louder than our words. We need to be conscious of our body language so as not to give the wrong impression.

• If we frown or speak loudly, or wave our hands, people may think we are angry, excited, or unhappy.
• Studies show that if we wear suggestive or revealing clothing, or move our bodies in a flirtatious manner, people may think we want to have sex. If another person misunderstands this, what kind of problems might occur?

It is important to always be conscious of our body language when we are communicating with others. If we were to observe a person who is deaf and speaks only with body language or sign language, we may not understand all of what he is saying to us, but we would be able to determine his intentions. For example: expressions of kindness, anger, disappointment, sadness, happiness, etc. Body language is more powerful than words.

When a husband and wife have sexual relations, what does this communicate? Sex is one of the ways a husband and wife communicate commitment and love. If this type of communication is used before marriage, before people are ready to commit or before they know for sure that they are both in love, that relationship can end in disaster. Good communication skills keep people from making mistakes they will regret in the future.

When people bypass the important steps in getting to know one another, then they are truly poor communicators and have hindered each other’s progress in life. Self-esteem is lost and goals and dreams are rudely interrupted and perhaps lost forever. When there is no marriage, then there is no real commitment. Broken hearts and broken dreams take years to recover.

Once people are involved physically, it is hard to go back to the gradual joy and sharing of thoughts and interests that form solid relationships.

Read Handout #4: “Stuck in a Rut”.

Ask students the following questions:

1. Do you think there is a breakdown in communication in this relationship?
2. Had they communicated their dreams and goals with each other, do you think they would have become involved in a physical relationship?
3. What do you think might happen to Jeff and Julie now? What will become of the dreams and goals they have set for themselves? How does this relate to Langston Hughes’ poem “Harlem"?