OUTLINE

Eyecontact
1. Definition:
Eye contact occurs when two animals look at each other's eyes at the same time.
- In human beings, eye contact is a form of nonverbal communication and is thought to
have a large influence on social behavior.
- Coined in the early to mid-1960s, the term came from the West to often define the act as
a meaningful and important sign of confidence, respect, and social communication.
- The customs and significance of eye contact vary between societies, with religious and
social differences often altering its meaning greatly.

II. The important of using eyes contact.

1. Why is eye contact important in nonverbal communication?

Eye contact. Since the visual sense is dominant for most people, eye contact is an
especially important type of nonverbal communication. The way you look at someone
can communicate many things, including interest, affection, hostility, or attraction. Eye
contact is also important in maintaining the flow of conversation and for gauging the
other person’s interest and response.

2. What is the role of eye contact in communication

Eye contact is a form of body language which is important during communication. ...

When you keep eye contact with the person you are talking to it indicates that you are
focused and paying attention. It means that you are actually listening to what the person
has to say

3.Benefits of great eye contact.

 Establishes a connection with your audience.

-A deliberate look in the eyes of an audience member can communicate how much you
care about their thoughts. It creates a bond between speaker and listener, a connection
that is beneficial to both parties.

( Explaination) When you look someone in the eye, they are more likely to look at you,
more likely to listen to you, and more likely to buy into your mess.)

 . Improves your concentration

Deliberately focussing your eyes on different audience members will help calm your
nerves and clear your mind.

-Keep your eye contact steady so you can concentrate on your message.

 Projects authority and confidence.

With sustained, focused eye contact comes authority. If you can’t look people in the eye,
you can’t expect them to believe your message or agree with your point of view. Good
eye contact can communicate confidence and conviction.

IV.Cultural differences in eye contact.

(Introduction : Keep in mind that the length of eye contact varies by culture. Some
cultures use eye contact more than others. If you're using one in a culture other than
your own, make sure you investigate the cultural norms and behaviour of the people in
your audience.)
Certainly, there are many non-verbal cues that have completely different meanings in
different cultures. One of the most important means of nonverbal communication in any
culture is eye contact—or lack thereof. Eye contact—which simply denotes one person
looking directly at another person’s eyes—seems to have strong implications in almost
every culture, although what these implications are vary extensively across the globe! 
1.Eye Contact in the United States
- Here, if you have good eye contact with a person, it generally signifies that you are
interested in the person you are looking at and in what that person is saying.
- If you look down or away from a person rather than meeting his or her gaze, you are
considered to be distracted or uninterested in him or her. Also, if you neglect to make eye
contact with a person, you may be thought to lack self-confidence.
-On the other hand, a person who makes eye contact with another person is thought to be
confident and bold (and boldness is considered a good trait!) So, in summary, making eye
contact is generally considered a good thing in the United States.
2.Eye Contact in Western Europe
- On the one hand, the European customs of eye contact—especially in such countries as
Spain, France and Germany—tends to be similar to that in the United States. It is
considered proper and polite to maintain almost constant eye contact with another person
during a business exchange or a conversation.
- Yet eye contact also has more flirtatious aspects than it does in the U.S. In the U.S.,
people often avoid eye contact in crowded impersonal public situations—such as while
walking through a busy downtown or riding public transportation.
Example In a country like France, however, a stranger may feel quite free to look at
someone he is interested in and try to acknowledge his interest by making eye contact.
Therefore, it is important for a visitor to understand the full implications of what he or
she may be implying by returning the eye contact initiated by someone else.
3.Eye Contact in the Middle East
- Eye contact is much less common and considered less appropriate in many of these
cultures than it is considered in the United States. Middle Eastern cultures, largely
Muslim, have strict rules regarding eye contact between the sexes; these rules are
connected to religious laws about appropriateness. Only a brief moment of eye contact
would be permitted between a man and a woman, if at all.
-However, western women traveling in Muslim areas should not expect that no man will
attempt to make eye contact with them. As a matter of fact, their “differentness” may
draw attention to them, and men may try to make eye contact with them. They should be
aware, however, that returning eye contact will be considered the same as saying, “Yes,
I’m interested!” So when in the Middle East, care should be taken in making eye contact
with anyone of the opposite gender.
-On the other hand, in many Middle Eastern cultures, intense eye contact between those
of the same gender—especially between men—can mean “I am telling you the truth! I am
genuine in what I say!” Try to observe the eye contact between those of the same gender
to see if it is important to meet someone’s gaze when you want to tell them, “Trust me!
I’m sincere!”

4.Eye Contact in Asia, Latin America and Africa

In many Asian, African and Latin American cultures, extended eye contact can be taken
as an affront or a challenge of authority. It is often considered more polite to have only
sporadic or brief eye contact, especially between people of different social registers (like
a student and a teacher, or a child and his elder relatives).
-For example, if a Japanese woman avoids looking someone in the eyes, she is not
showing a lack of interest nor is she demonstrating a lack of self-confidence; instead, she
is being polite, respectful and appropriate according to her culture. So in many of these
cultures, you should take care what kind of eye contact you initiate with those who are
your social superiors or who are in authority over you, so that you are not considered
disrespectful or overly bold. As you can see, it is vital to know what eye contact
communicates before you visit a new culture.
5. Eye contact in Vietnam.
-Together with spoken communication, non-verbal communication also plays an
indispensable part in Vietnamese society. It sometimes accompanies and reinforces
linguistic symbols, sometimes can express more meaning than verbal language.
-To convey respect and other traditional values, Vietnamese usually choose non-verbal
gestures, such as gentle bows, friendly smiles, nods and by avoiding direct eye contact.
From early age, Vietnamese have been taught be avoid direct eye-contact, especially with
older people and those of higher status because looking straight into the eyes of listeners
indicate a challenge or express deep passion. Thus, avoiding eye-contact in talking to
people who are not an equal or the same sex is deemed to be appropriate, polite behavior
in Vietnam
-Eye Contact: It is respectful to defer eye contact away from those who are of the
opposite gender, a higher status or older than you. However, direct eye contact is held
and expected with one’s peers.
IV. Game:
Chọn 5 videos , phân tích behaviors qua eye contact.