Ariel Fernanda Cabrera Valdez. Thursday, August 29, 2019.

Eye Contact

1. What is eye contact?

Eye contact is what occurs when two people look directly at each other.

2. Why should teachers use it?

Teachers who build positive relationships by eye contact with their students
may enjoy the following benefits. One aspect of non-verbal communication is
the use of eyes to convey messages. The eyes are powerful for both the
teacher and the learner in language learning. For both the teacher and the
learner, the eyes are a powerful tool around the teaching and learning
environment. Eye contact produces a powerful, subconscious sense of
connection that extends even to drawn or photographed eyes, because it is
connected with humans’ earliest survival patterns.

3. When should we use it?

 Making an impression. Soft and steady eye contact is the best type for a
business meeting. Keep your eye contact casual -- it's warm, connected and
engaged, but it's not locked in. The minute you're locked into somebody, it feels
uncomfortable and unnatural.
 Establishing trust. The eyes are the window to the soul. So, when you're
getting to know somebody, use eye contact to convey your energy and
enthusiasm. When you have that sort of softness, openness, eagerness and
friendliness in your eyes, trust is easy to build.
 To be present. This has to do with setting your intention to be very present and
mindful of what you're seeing, and you can demonstrate this as a skill during
your meeting. Take a moment to scan the room and notice something
interesting on the person's desk -- maybe you can even mention it -- and also
make sure to notice his or her eyes.
 To indicate interest. When someone notices a sparkle in your eye that
indicates you genuinely find something interesting, you create a connection that

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will carry into both topics that are related to your work and topics that are not
related to your work.
 To reduce anxiety. Get in the habit of looking up or looking to the side versus
looking down. The minute you look down, you're showing insecurity. When you
look up, you're actually strengthening your energy, keeping yourself in the line
of optimism, curiosity and keeping yourself open to receiving the energy of the
other person.

4. Types of eye contact.

 Looking while talking: This establishes a rapport with the person listening.
 Looking while listening: This reciprocates the rapport established. This
aspect is often used during emotional connections such as flirting.
 Frequency of glance: This indicated involvement and how invested one is to
the conversation.
 Patterns of fixation: This provides evidence as to where the attention lies.
 Pupil dilation: This could often provide proof of interest and boredom.

5. Tips of what to do and not do.

 Use the 50/70 rule. To maintain appropriate eye contact without staring, you
should maintain eye contact for 50 percent of the time while speaking and 70%
of the time while listening. This helps to display interest and confidence.

 Maintain it for 4-5 seconds. Once you establish eye contact, maintain or hold
it for 4-5 seconds. After this time passes, you can slowly glance to the side and
then go back to establishing eye contact.

 Think about where you’re looking. Maintaining eye contact is easy because
you’re looking at the other person. However, when you look away, do it slowly
without darting your eyes. This can make you look shy or nervous. And don’t
look down; remember to look from side-to-side. Looking down can give the
appearance that you lack confidence.

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 Establish eye contact right away. Before you begin talking, establish eye
contact. Don’t look down or look at something before you begin speaking.
Establish eye contact right away and then begin talking.

 Listening with your eyes is important too: Remember the 70 percent rule
(you should maintain eye contact for 70 percent of the time while listening)?
Communication happens with your eyes while you’re listening just as much as
when you’re talking. Remember that while you’re listening and maintaining eye
contact, you should smile, open your face and look interested.

 Practice. Eye contact will come easy to some, but if it doesn’t for you, it’s okay
to practice until you become confident. You can look at an eyebrow or the
space between the eyes and mouth. You can also practice with yourself in the
mirror.