A study on how to improve the effectiveness of using non verbal communication in class presentation for the 3rd year English major students at Ha Noi pedagogical university N0.2

STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP Title: A STUDY ON HOW TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS IN USING NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION IN CLASS PRESENTATION FOR THE 3"” YEAR ENGLISH MAJOR STUDENTS AT HANOI PEDAG

STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP Title:

A STUDY ON HOW TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS IN USING NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION IN CLASS PRESENTATION FOR THE 3"” YEAR ENGLISH MAJOR STUDENTS AT HANOI

PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY N°.2 (Submitted in partial fulfillment for Degree of Bachelor of Arts in English)

I certify that all the materials in this study which are not my own work have been identified and acknowledged, and that no material is included for which a degree has been conferred upon me

Date submitted: May 2012

Uong Thi Hang Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan, M.A

Faculty of Foreign Languages 3

LIST OF ABBREVIATION NVC: Non-verbal communication

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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PART ONE INTRODUCTION

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PART TWO DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER ONE: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

1.1 Literature review in brief

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CHAPTER TWO METHODOLOGY

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II.2.2 Classroom observation sheet (Appendix C)

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CHAPTER THREE THE RESULTS

IH.1 Results of survey questionnaires

HH.1.1 Results of Pre-surVey que€sfÏOnIẠT€ 55-5555 5< ss<s<<ssess 40 TII.1.1.1 Students” awareness of non-verbal communication - 41 IIl.1.1.1.1 Lacking knowledge of non-verbal communication concept 4I TII.1.1.1.2 Misunderstanding of the functions of non-verbal communication 42

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I1.1.1.2.The rate of using some common kinds of non-verbal communication of

ho 42 II.1.3 Quality of students” utilization of non-verbal communication 43 TIT 1.2 Results of Posf-surYey quesfÏOnIẠT€ .- << 5555 5< ss=ss<=ssess 45 IH.1.2.1.The rate of students’ use of some common non-verbal communication

TII.2 Results of classroom observation and video capture

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II SA 33 II.3.6 Paralanguage

PART THREE CONCLUSION

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II Limitations and suggesfions for further StudÌy <5<<5<<5<<s<<s<<s<<s 56 TI.1 LiImitAfÏOTNS . 6 11k TH HT HT HT HT TH HT HH Hà rệt 56 IL2 Suggestions for further sfUdy ác ng HH HH nh rưy 56 References

Appendix A: Pre-survey questionnaire

Appendix B: Post-survey questionnaire

Appendix C: Observation sheet and checklists

Appendix D: Rubric for evaluating NVC

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PART ONE INTRODUCTION

I RATIONALE

Communication is a great present that the Creature gives to human We communicate with each other not only verbally but also non-verbally According to some studies, non-verbal communication outweighs verbal communication in terms of the proportion of the messages conveyed This can

be illustrated by a study of Koneya, M and Barbour, A.(1976) done in the US It proved that 93% of messages were conveyed by the speaker’s body language and only 7% of the speaker’s attitude was transmitted by words There is no doubt that non-verbal communication is a vital part of our communication

It cannot be denied that non-verbal communication is very important in many aspects of communication One of these is public speaking or presentation Nowadays, with the integration into the world, many fields of life need to give

presentations like politics, economics, education and so on Thus, improving

communication skills and presentation skills are the issue which is especially concerned Many studies show that good use of non-verbal communication can bring about the success to the presentation Therefore, the presenters should pay more attention to their non-verbal communication when delivering a presentation

The students at many universities in general and at Faculty of Foreign Languages

at Hanoi Pedagogical University N°.2 in particular also have awareness of cultivating their presentation skills However, in classes, most students seem to pay their attention to what knowledge is used, not how it was transferred to their friend and teachers They almost take no notice of non-verbal communication Therefore, they fail to make an effective presentation Meanwhile, the suitable utilization of

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non-verbal communication can have a great effect on transferring information as well as attracting the audiences to the presentation

With the purposes of helping the students to improve their non-verbal communication when giving presentations, this thesis is conducted, which focuses

on ways to improve the use of non-verbal communication in class presentation for third-year English major students of Faculty of Foreign Languages at Hanoi Pedagogical University N°.2 in the academic year 2011-2012

II RESEARCH PRESUPPOSITION

With regard to improve the third-year English major students’ utilization of non- verbal communication, some questions are raised:

1 What are the most common non-verbal communication types utilized in class presentation by third-year English major students of Faculty of Foreign Languages

at Hanoi Pedagogical University N° 2 in the academic year 2011- 2012?

2 How are these most common non-verbal communication types utilized in class presentation by third-year English major students of Faculty of Foreign Languages

at Hanoi Pedagogical University N° 2 in the academic year 2011- 2012?

3 What are the effective ways to improve the effectiveness in using non-verbal communication of third-year English major in their class presentations?

Ill RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The study is carried out to work out the students’ limitations in using non-verbal communication in their class presentations and then to find out the effective ways

to improve the effectiveness of their using non-verbal communication in presentations

ITV RESEARCH SCOPE

The research focuses on investigating the most common types of non-verbal communication in class presentations, and assessing students’ use of these non- verbal communication types

The population involved in the study is fifty English major students of Course 35

of Faculty of Foreign Languages at Hanoi Pedagogical University N° 2

V RESEARCH TASKS

The study involves fulfilling the following tasks:

> To study the definition, the characteristics, the functions, the classification and the involvement of non-verbal communication in presentation

> To study the definition and the elements of an effective presentation

> To investigate the most common types of non-verbal communication used

by students in their class presentations

> To conduct surveys, video capture and observations

> To propose some ways for the students to utilize the common subtypes of non-verbal communication more effectively in their class presentations

VI RESEARCH METHODS

In order to set up a firm theoretical background for the study, relevant publications are critically reviewed To achieve the objectives of the study, the following methods have been applied:

> Questionnaire survey is the first method used in this study The analysis is mainly based on the data collected through the survey questionnaires

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> Observation is the second method The analysis of this method is chiefly depended on the information collected from observation sheets and videotapes

Besides, the consultation with the supervisor and discussion with friends are also the main supporting methods

VII SIGNIFICANCE OF PROPOSED RESEARCH

In the context of Foreign Languages Faculty at Hanoi Pedagogical University N°.2, the study was carried out to give a clear picture about non-verbal communication

It helps to work out the common subtypes of non-verbal communication used in class presentation and to provide some ways to improve the students’ utilization of these mostly used non-verbal communication subtypes Therefore, hopefully, the thesis is beneficial to both students and teachers in using and teaching non-verbal communication

To teachers, this thesis not only figures out the subtypes of non-verbal communication which are mostly utilized by the third-year English major students

of Foreign Languages Faculty but also evaluates the quality of students’ utilization

of non-verbal communication in their presentation Hence, it helps the teachers recognize which types of non-verbal communication that the students need to improve Then, they will have the strategy to educate and provide the students guidelines to progress their use of these non-verbal types

To students, this thesis provides a full look on the definition, characteristics, functions and classifications of non-verbal communication Therefore, the students will have deep understanding on this term More importantly, the findings of the study are believed to be helpful for students to find the ways to self-improve their use of non-verbal communication in their class presentation

This study is also beneficial to anyone who is interested in developing their presentation skills in general and improving their non-verbal communication in particular

VIII DESIGN OF THE RESEARCH WORK

The study consists of three main parts: Introduction, Development and Conclusion Part_one: INTRODUCTION outlines the rationale, the presupposition, the objectives, the scope, the task, the method, the significant and the design of the study

Part two: DEVELOPMENT consists of three chapters

> Chapter one: LITERATURE REVIEW briefly presents theoretical background on non-verbal communication

> Chapter two: METHODOLOGY presents the methods used in the study

> Chapter three: RESULTS shows the detailed results and analysis on the data collected from survey questionnaires, classroom observation and video

capture

Part three: CONCLUSION provides a review, limitations of the study as well as suggestions for further studies

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PART TWO DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER ONE: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

1.1 Literature review in brief

Non-verbal communication is an important part of human communication It has been the objective of many linguistics and scholars, for example, Knapp & Hall (2002), Cleary, S (2004), Remland, M.S (2000), Mehrabian, A (1981), Quang, N.(1998) and so on Each of them has their own ways to approach this area of communication However, most of them pay their attention to the definition, the classification, functions and applications of non- verbal communication

Knapp & Hall (2002) in the book Non-verbal communication in human interaction explores the role of non-verbal behavior in the system of human communication by examining the different effects of body movements and postures, facial expressions and physical appearance in various social contexts

Cleary, S (2004) focuses on the important role of non-verbal communication in the creation of meaning and the use of non-verbal codes varies across cultures

Leathers, D G & Eaves, M.H (2008) demonstrate how knowledge of non-verbal messages can affect how one communicates successfully in the real world This extensive revision describes non-verbal cues and their functions as well as original tests for measuring and developing non-verbal communication skills

Mehrabian, A (1981) deals with all facets of non-verbal communication, including body positions and movements, facial expressions, voice quality and intonation

during speech, volume and speed of speech, subtle variations in wording of sentences that reveal hidden messages in what is said, combinations of messages from different sources (e.g face, tone of voice, words), and general descriptions of individual communication styles or mannerisms The book also helps to enhance one’s awareness of many subtle aspects of interpersonal communication, and to improve one’s communication skills

Sharing some similarities to Mehrabian, A (1981), Remland, M S (2000) presents the balancing theory and practical applications of non-verbal communication in daily life This book offers a comprehensive introduction to the field of non-verbal communication, focusing on the roles of physical appearance, gesture, touch, facial expressions, voice, eye contact, and special relations in face-to-face interactions The author places an emphasis on non-verbal communication as a key to understanding diversity, communicating in personal and social relationships, interacting in the workplace, and speaking to inform or persuade This book also presents a different aspect of communication, concluding with examples of non- verbal codes present in everyday life

In the book Intercultural communication, Quang, N (1998) deals with the cultural differences in non-verbal communication and suggests the ways to understand some common body language signs

Overall, most scholars focus on studying non-verbal communication in general communication Some scholars while studying presentation skills stress on the vital roles of non-verbal communication in presentation, Verderber, R.F, Verderber, K,S, & Sellnow, D.D (2011) in the book Challenges of effective speaking, for example However, they generally pay their attention to the significance of using non-verbal communication in achieving the success when delivering public or business speeches They have not delved into examining non-

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verbal communication enhancing class presentation Therefore, it is essential to have a study on the importance effects of non-verbal communication in class presentation

1.2 Communication

1.2.1 Definition of communication

We, human beings, communicate all our life for our own purpose Hybels, S and

Weaver II, R.L (1992) claim that “Communication, then, is our vital to our lives

To live is to communicate.”’ Therefore, communication has become the object of many studies However, to give a full definition to communication is not easy at all Each scholar looks communication in their own view That is the reason why there are many definitions for communication It is estimated that there exist about

276 definitions for the term Communication

Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines communication as “activities or process of expressing ideas and feelings or of giving people information”

Communication, according to Allen, L.A (1958) is “the sum of all the things a person does when he wants to create understanding in the mind of another It is a bridge of meaning It involves a systematic and continuous process of telling, listening and understanding.”

Davis, K (1981) has another look at communication He considers communication

as the process of delivering information and understanding from one person to another

Chappell, R.T and Read, W.L (1979) define “communication is any means by which thought is transferred from one person to another

Hybels, S and Weaver II, R.L (1992) give a different definition of communication, which says “communication is any process in which people share information, ideas, and feelings that involve not only words but also body language, personal mannerism and style, the surrounding and things that add meaning to a message.”

Levine and Adelman (1993) describe communication as “the process of sharing

,

meaning through verbal and non-verbal behavior `

For the purpose of the study, the definitions of Hybels, S and Weaver II, R.L (1992) and Levine and Adelman (1993) are the most useful ones The definition of Hybels, S and Weaver II, R.L (1992) gives us an overview on not only the nature but also the content of communication Both Hybels, S and Weaver II, R.L (1992) and Levine and Adelman (1993) add the forms of communication into their definitions Levine and Adelman (1993) claim that human shares messages through verbal and non-verbal communication

1.2.2 Types of communication

Based on the forms of communication, Hybels, S and Weaver II, R.L (1992) provide four main types of communication They are intrapersonal, interpersonal, interview, and public communication

> Intrapersonal communication, also called “self-talk”, is communication that occurs within us It involves thoughts, feelings and the way we look at ourselves

> Interpersonal communication is communication occurs when we communicate face to face This kind of communication mostly occurs between two people, though it includes more than two

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> Interview is a series of questions and answers, usually involving two people whose primary purpose is to obtain information on particular subjects Job interview is the common type of this communication

> Public communication is communication in which the speaker sends a message to an audience

In view of the manner of communication, Levine and Adelman (1993) and Quang, N (1998) find that there are two main types of communication:

verbal and non-verbal communication To get better view, communication

can be illustrated by the following diagram

Communication

in this study, non-verbal communication will be researched basing on the foundation of communication

1.3 Non-verbal Communication

1.3.1 Definition

Scholars have had many studies on non-verbal communication and each of them has their own ways to define non-verbal communication Therefore, the scholars’

views on the definition of this term still remain divergent However, most scholars agree that non-verbal communication is understood as a way of communicating without the use of written or spoken language

In the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, non-verbal communication is communication “not involving words or speech.”

According to Knapp & Hall (2002), non-verbal communication refers to communication that is produced by some means (eye contact, body language or vocal cues ) other than words Having the same view, Quang, N (1998) in the book “ Intercultural communication” states that non-verbal communication is “

“silent” communication, including gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and conversational distance.”

Wayne W., Margaret A.L., Dana S.D, and Elizabeth Y.H (2008) write that “non- verbal communication is the transmission of meaning from one person to another through means or symbols rather than words.”

From the cultural view, Lary A.S, Richard E.P and Edwin R.M.( 2009) propose another definition: “non-verbal communication involves all nonverbal stimuli in a communication setting that are generated by both the source and his or her use of the environment and that have potential message value for the source or receiver.”

It can be seen that though covering most common non-verbal behaviors, the above mentioned definitions fail to give a comprehensive account of the term we are discussing As looking the issue from different views, scholars couldn’t agree on how communication should be considered non-verbal Their definitions are either confusingly general or insufficiently specific The suggested criteria are also not clear, so many non-verbal behaviors unfortunately omitted It is desirable to seek a better way of defining

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From the view of researcher, the most impressive definition is the one by Verderber, R.F (1984), which says “non-verbal communication refers to how people communicate by non-verbal means, that is through the use of body motions, paralanguage, self-presentation, and environment.” This definition incorporates most elements of definitions cited previously and mentions more critical aspects of non-verbal communication It also points out four classes of non-verbal communication: body motions or body language, paralanguage, self-presentation

or physical appearance and environment or environmental language With the depth in the definition, Verderber R.F(1984) extends the road to understand the true essence of non-verbal communication This definition provides an overview of non-verbal communication

1.3.2 Functions

In 1970, Arglyle produced a hypothesis that whereas verbal cues are normal used for communicating information about events external to the speakers, non-verbal behaviors are used to establish and maintain interpersonal relationships It is considered nicer or more polite to express attitude non-verbally rather than verbally, and non-verbal means is also used in order to avoid embarrassing cases According to Arglyle (1988), there are five fundamental functions of non-verbal communication including expressing emotions, expressing interpersonal attitudes, accompanying speech in managing the cues of interaction between speakers and listeners, and presenting one’s personality and greeting It is clear that non-verbal communication plays an important role in communication Without using non- verbal communication, our communication may be less effective Although we can send, receive and exchange information by verbal means, we still continuously express our emotions through our facial expressions, our gestures, ect Besides, we can judge one’s personality through the way he or she stands, sits, moves, looks at

the listeners and expresses his or her emotions because it is said that action speaks louder than words

Hybels, S and Weaver II, R.L (1992) give another look on the function of non- verbal communication According to them, there are four functions of non-verbal communication They are enforcing verbal cues, emphasizing the words, regulating the flow of words, and taking place of verbal behavior

Studying on this field, Cleary, S (2004) provides another function system of non- verbal communication As mentioned in the book “A communication handbook: A student guide to effective communication”, Cleary supposed that the functions of non-verbal communication refers to the part of communication in the communication process as a whole Therefore, non-verbal codes play three functions: expressing meaning, modifying verbal messages, and regulating verbal interactions On the researcher’s view, Cleary’s non-verbal communication function system is clearer and covers the two function systems mentioned above 1.3.2.1 Expressing meaning

Before having an insight look on this function, it is essential to clarify the phrase

“expressing meaning” According to Cleary, S (2004), “Expressing meaning” in this context means expressing feelings or emotions, expressing personality as well as status of the senders to the receivers It cannot be denied that non-verbal messages convey the feelings or emotions of the sender and the receiver to each other by showing liking or disliking, by showing status and respect, and by showing responsiveness to and awareness of the other Indeed, emotions are particularly expressed through non-verbal communication, where the voice and body can tell more about how a person feels than his or her words Also, the ways

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one dressing and communicating can tell others about their status as well as personality

1.3.2.2 Modifying verbal messages

According to Cleary, S (2004), when non-verbal messages are seen in conjunction with the verbal messages, the meaning of verbal messages could be modified or changed The ways in which non-verbal messages modify verbal messages are outlined below:

> Complementing: in this case the non-verbal message adds to, or elaborates

on the verbal message

> Accenting: this refers to non-verbal messages that reinforce the verbal

1.3.2.3 Regulating verbal interactions

Cleary, S (2004) states that non-verbal communication functions as effective way

of regulating verbal interaction When people converse, they use non-verbal messages to indicate that they want to start speaking, or that they have finished talking For example, if the speaker does not want to be interrupted, his or her eye contact with the listeners reduces; in order to be supportive, people tend to lean forward and focus on eyes of the speaker It is how non-verbal behaviors control our communicating practice

a letter In other words, each hand gesture is a symbol Other examples are V gesture and OK gesture Most of people considered V gesture as Victory and OK gesture as fine or good

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Non-verbal communication is also spontaneous as it discloses the sender’s inner emotional state and receiver’s immediate awareness of, and responds to, that state

In some instances spontaneous communication is not intentionally but involuntary For example, when someone experiences great and sudden pain, the involuntary is

to wince However, we are not claiming that all non-verbal communication is spontaneous At times we certainly make conscious choice to use or withhold non- verbal communication to share meaning For instance, in a job interview we make conscious decision about the postures, hand gestures and eye contact

Verderber, R.F (1984) looks non-verbal communication into four categories which are body motions, paralanguage, self-presentation and environment language

Burgoon, J., Buller, D & Woodall, G (1996) categorize non-verbal

communication into eight types, including kinesics, paralanguage, haptics, proxemics, chronemics, physical appearance, artifacts and olfactacts

In the book Non-verbal communication across cultures, Quang, N (2001) constructs another way to classify non-verbal communication According to him,

non-verbal communication is divided into paralanguage and extra-language Then, each type has its own sub-classes as in the easy-to-follow diagram below

Non-verbal communication

Body language/ Object language/ Environmental

In summary, each scholar gives his or her own types of non-verbal communication However, each type unavoidably overlaps one or more of the others From researcher’s viewpoint, the categories of Quang, N (2001) is clearer and more useful for the aims of this research The sub-classes of non-verbal communication will be discussed in the next part

> Voice Set: The voice set is defined as the context in which the speaker is speaking The factors that influence this context are taken into account,

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which include elements like the situation, gender, mood, age or even a person's cultural background

> The Voice Qualities: The voice quality is defined by factors like volume, pitch, tempo, rhythm, articulation, resonance, nasality, and accent These factors actually give each individual a unique ‘voice print’

» Vocalization: This factor takes into account consists of three elements: characterizers, qualifiers and segregates Characterizes are emotions that are expressed while speaking like smiling, frowning or yawning A voice qualifier refers to the style of delivering a message Vocal segregates are like fillers or short sounds that notify the speaker that the listener is listening

According to Verderber, R.F Verderber, K.S and Sellnow, D.D.(2011) in the book Essential Speech, in presentation, the way the speakers use their voices has a great impact to gain the audiences’ attention The audiences would get tired easily

if they cannot hear clearly what the presenter is articulating This is because they have to strain their ears to decipher the message of the presenter When they get tired, their concentration and interest would decrease As a result, they would stop listening Therefore, the presenter needs to speak in a clear voice The words of the presenter also need to be pronounced clearly The presenter needs to raise his or her voice and also speak slowly

Verderber, R.F Verderber, K.S and Sellnow, D.D.(2011) state that when giving presentations, presenters should avoid speaking in monotone Lively, friendly, expressive and enthusiastic intonation would make the presenter sound more convincing The speed of the voice production should be appropriate The presenters should not speak so rapidly as to leave the audiences restless, neither should they speak so slowly as to cause boredom The rate of utterances should be

right For instance, if the presenter is at the point in which the issue is something that the audiences is very familiar with, the presenter should hasten; however, if the presenter arrives at a point which needs emphasis and stress then he or she can

go slow The presenters should allow some pauses, and if possible repeat the same points to give the opportunity for the audiences to remember the content in their heads While at the same time this also gives the presenter room for retrieving the rest of the points that are left to be projected verbally

1.3.4.2 Extra-language

1.3.4.2.1 Body language

Body language is an important part of non-verbal communication It is perceived

as body postures and body motions Other scholars tend to call it “kinesics” According to Quang, N (2001) body language includes things like eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, postures and hapstics

1.3.4.2.1.1 Eye contact

Eyes are perhaps the most expressive features of human beings We can say so much from one look that we exchange, it is a positive one or a condescending look, the eyes say it all Normally, eye contact occurs when we look directly at each other’s eyes while talking Since the visual sense is dominant for most people, eye contact is an especially important type of non-verbal communication

In the book The power of Eye Webbink, P (1986) states that eye contact regulates conversation and signals the exchange of speaker and listener roles It occurs during 10- 30% of conversation Eye contact is used to acknowledge or avoid the presence of others Eye contact can reveal information about attitudes, emotion, dominance and power in social relationships

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According to Sprague, J and Stuart, D.(2008), in presentation, establishing eye contact can improve rapport with members of the audiences Eye contact would also improve the speaker’s voice projection because it forces the speaker to raise his or her head Besides, maintaining frequent eye contact also would give some clues of whether the audience is still with us or has gone adrift The presenter should move his or her eyes all around the audiences and not just glue the eyes to a particular person or just a particular group in the audiences If the presenter concentrates on one individual or a group, this would give an impression that the presenter only likes that person or that group, and the rest of the audience members would feel neglected It is advisable not to look too much at the floor, windows, walls or even the watches This would mean putting up a negative impression of the presenters to the audiences That is the reason why speakers should maintain the frequent eye contact with the audiences because eye contact helps to regulate the flow of communication Looking at others’ eyes when talking can conveys an important message That is the speakers are open, friendly, self-confident, natural, sincere and reliable

According to Verderber, R.F., Verderber, K.F and Sellnow, D.D (2011) in the book Challenges of effective speaking, eye contact is also the most effective presentation skill to reduce the presenters’ nervousness It takes a conscious effort

to maintain eye contact with members of an audience but eye contact is important because it gives people the feeling that the speaker is talking to them rather than at them, provides the speaker with an opportunity to determine which members of the audience are listening The goal of making eye contact is to connect with individuals in the room Whether there are 10 people, 100 people, or 300 people, the speakers should have direct eye contact with individuals in the room Making eye contact with individuals in the room solves a lot of problems It's going to slow the speaker’s speaking pace down, reduce non- words, and help the speaker maintain his or her train of thought The best

way for the presenter to implement eye contact is to connect with one person for a sustained thought That would be from the beginning of a sentence, until there is punctuation like a comma or a period When the speaker finishes the sentence, he or she will want to move his or her eyes to

another person and repeat the process

1.3.4.2.1.2 Facial expressions

Facial expressions are the arrangement of facial muscles to express our feelings and emotions The face is the primary source of emotions During oral communication, facial expressions change continually, are constantly monitored and interpreted by the receiver Examples are a smile, frown, and raised eyebrow, yawn or sneer Therefore, facial expression, according to Quang, N (1998), is the most important channel for expressing attitudes and emotions to other people Ekman, P (1982) categorizes facial expressions into six categories as follow: happiness, surprise, fear, sadness, anger and disgust or contempt

In presentations, according to Sprague, J and Stuart, D.(2008), the facial expression including movements of the presenters’ eyes, mouth, and facial muscles can build a connection with their audience Alternatively, they can undermine the speakers’ every word Indeed, facial expression can convey the feelings of the presenter, anything from passion for the subject, to depth of concern for the audience Unfortunately, under the pressure of delivering a group presentation, many speakers lose their facial expressions For instance, when giving a presentation, if the presenter feels anxious, his or her facial expressions may be faint and it can make the presenter disinterested His or her face will solidify into a grim or stone statue At that time, the best solution is smiling to unfreeze the face right from the start The presenter should smile when greeting the audiences A smile can not only express our pleasure but also has many other functions It may

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show affection, politeness or hide our true feelings The speaker may not want to smile throughout the entire presentation, but at least at the appropriate moments It

is only on rare occasions that he or she may need to be somber and serious throughout On our face, the eyebrows are the most emotive parts Eyebrows also have an important facilitative function in communication, strengthening expressions, such as surprise or anger A number of speech acts are related to eyebrow movements For example, people move eyebrows to signal opening, closing, taking turn, ect

1.3.4.2.1.3 Gestures

Gestures are a type of non-verbal communication in which visible bodily actions are used to communicate important messages, either in place of speech or together and in parallel with spoken words Gestures, according to Sproulem M (1997), are often combination of moving hands, arms, trucks of the body, shoulders or head Gestures also play an important role in communication We use gestures to express

or emphasize ideas or emotions

According to Sprague, J and Stuart, D.(2008), in presentation, the presenters need

to be aware that gestures can support or distract from their messages Gestures can also help them to emphasize important points during their presentations Among

them, the most useful tools to express their ideas are arms and hands, so they

should be used animatedly and intensively Animated gestures will make the speech more attractive, and the speakers will gain more attention from the audiences with moving arms than folded arms in front or relaxed along side of the body ones If gestures are used effectively, they can help speakers say more in less time and show what they mean without having to resort to visuals

Sprague, J and Stuart, D.(2008) also sate that hand gestures are most effective tool which helps the presenters get their audiences’ attention and be successful in your presentation Indeed, hand gestures are important to emphasize words and emotions, release tension, illustrate verbal messages, or even replace verbal messages altogether Therefore, the presenters should know how to use our hands effectively In presentations, it is recommended to use open-hand gestures (thumb

is up and hands are open) or one-handed or both hands gestures to attract the audiences and make them feel you are friendly It is strongly recommended not to use crossing gestures or put their hand in your pockets because these may push their audiences away

1.3.4.2.1.4 Postures

Posture refers to how we carry our body, whether we are standing in an erect or in slouched manner In other words, posture belongs to body positions and the ways people sit or stand, the different kinds of relaxed, formal, defensive, aggressive stance, ect The way we carry our body reveals much information to other people Also, our postures may show our level of confidence as well as leave positive or negative impression on the others

Posture is another major physical aspect of presentation or public speaking How the presenters carry themselves affects the audience's opinion on them It is true that people tend to be more impressed by seeing than hearing Our brains would be likely to remember the images most, especially the image of person who is giving information to a group of people Therefore, according to Sprague, J and Stuart, D.(2008), the speakers should not forget that the way they stand can leave much impression on the audiences The speakers should choose suitable posture to show their respect to the audiences When speaking, the speakers should stand up straight and standing tall, but not rigid As they stand upright, they also want to be relaxed

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and natural Stand with their feet apart and their shoulders square, facing the audience A relaxed, straight posture will convey assurance and authority to the audiences It is true that the body language during the presentation is a large part of how the speakers communicate the material They also should try to avoid improper postures including crossing their legs, slouching or leaning Some presenters become overly nervous, and attempt to anchor themselves by shifting or leaning sideways This is incorrect posture for an oral presentation This appears overly casual The stance should also be natural and not stiff If the speakers appear too rigid, it will convey discomfort to the audience When an audience senses discomfort, it takes their attention away from the message In summary, postures not only convey the speakers’ attitude and a sense of certainty regarding the information they are presenting, but it also works to clarify and emphasize key points in their presentations Oral presentations are not only auditory, but also visual The presenters’ postures will work to attract, distract, shift or keep their audience’s attention

1.3.4.2.1.5 Haptics

According to Quang, N.(2001), haptics is study of touching as non-verbal communication Touches can be defined as communication includes handshake, holding hands, kissing (cheek, lips, and hand), back slap, shoulder pat, brushing arm, and so on Touching varies according to the degree of familiarity, status, and the communicative context in which touching is performed Communicating through touch is important non-verbal behavior Each of these imparts non-verbal message as to the touching person’s feelings They also cause feelings in the receiver, whether positive or negative

1.3.4.2.2 Object language

1.3.4.2.2.1 Physical appearance

It is said that one’s outlook tells a lot about oneself Indeed, the appearance can partly express one’s personality, status, age and so on According to Richmon,V.P and McCroskey, J.C (2004) the appearance messages are generally the first non-verbal message received and can be used to develop judgments about people based on how they look, what they wear, and their level of attractiveness Physical attractiveness affects how people perceive others and is used to evaluate credibility and general attractiveness

Physical appearance gives an initial impression that could be positive or negative

If it is going to be a formal speech, formal attire is expected Dressing appropriately that fit to the occasion should be the practice We should not overdress or be too colorful if the function does not entail to do so because this would distract or cause the audiences bad impression on us, and they may not pay their attention to our presentation

1.3.4.2.2.2 Visual aids

A visual aid is any object and picture that relates to the topic or subject which is being presented Visual aids include posters, flip charts, tapes, slides, ect According to Verderber, R.F., Verderber, K.F and Sellnow, D.D (2011) in the book Challenges of effective speaking, visual aids have many advantages such as strengthening the clarity of the speaker’s message, increasing the interest of the speaker’s information, making a speaker’s message easier for listeners to retain, and enhancing the speaker’s credibility Therefore, they are considered as learning tools that educators and presenters use to convey an idea more effectively It is important that visual aids are modified a particular audience, depending on their

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needs Also, teachers and presenters should use visual aids only as helping tools and not depend on them to teach a subject

Visual aids help the presentation make things happen Visual aids help the presenters reach their objectives by providing emphasis to whatever is being said Clear pictures multiply the audience's level of understanding of the material presented, and they should be used to reinforce the presenter’s message, clarify points, and create excitement

Visual aids involve the audience and require a change from one activity to another: from hearing to seeing When the presenters use visual aids, their use tends to encourage gestures and movements on their parts These extra movements reinforce the control that the speakers need over the presentation The uses of visual aids are mutually beneficial to the audience and the presenter Visual aids add the impact and interest to a presentation They enable the presenters to appeal

to more than one sense at the same time, thereby increasing the audience's understanding and retention level With pictures, the concepts or ideas the speakers present are no longer simply words but words plus images The chart below cites the effectiveness of visual aids on audience retention

The pie chart shows the percentage of audiences’ information retention through three forms of conveying information: oral, visual only, and visual and oral

As can be seen from the pie chart, the proportion of retention of information through oral form was 10%, and through visual only was more than double of oral form, which accounted for 25% The most significant feature of the pie chart was the amount of information maintenance through the combination of visual and oral form, which made up 65%

It cannot be denied that people tend to eye-minded, and the impacts that visual aids bring to a presentation are, indeed, significant The use of visual aids, then, is essential to all presentations By preparing a presentation with visual aids that reinforce the speakers’ main ideas, they will reach their audiences far more effectively, and, perhaps, continue to "touch" them long after the presentation ends

1.3.4.2.3 Environmental language

1.3.4.2.3.1 Conversational distance/ Proxemics

Proxemics was a concept first developed by Edward T Hall (1959) Proxemics takes into account body spacing and postures as involuntary reactions to sensory fluctuations It refers to the space an individual maintain around him or her In other words proxemics demonstrates our relational standing with those around

us Hall, E.T (1959) in the book The silent language developed four categories

of space we use to form and maintain relationships

> Intimate space consists of space that arranges from touch to eighteen inches

We use intimate space with people who have close relationship to us, such

as family members, close friends and intimate partners It has two phases:

e Close phase - less than 6 inches (15 cm)

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