Body Language

Even without speaking, we can tell a lot about a person’s character and
feelings from the way he behaves.

Let’s take the example of a nervous person.

“Oh Darling! Just close your eyes and everything will be fine,” the nurse’s voice
was sweet as honey. Joe squeezed his eyes shut, fingers clenching so tight that
they turned white.

How about a confident person?

“In first place… Jordan Lee!” the teacher announced. Jordan stood up and
punched his fist in the air in triumph. Chest out and chin held high, he
sauntered onto the stage.

Observe how and where people place their arms and legs. What do you think
the following gestures or postures show?

 Hands clasped in front of him

 Leaning on the wall
 Resting her face on her hand
 Stroked his chin
 Scratched his hair
 Biting her fingers
 Waggled a finger
 Tapping the table
 Hands on hips
 Hand covering mouth

It’s time for some practice!

1) Write a short paragraph showing an annoying person.

2) Do the same for a shy person.
3) Finally, try it on a cunning person.