TEACHER’ VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

DURING THE ENGLISH CLASSROOM INTERACTION

By
Adityo Yudhodibroto 16020084048
Muhammad Sulton Rizal 17020084021
Lailatus Sa’adah 17020084023

STATE UNIVERSITY OF SURABAYA

FACULTY LANGUAGE AND ARTS
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE DEPARTMENTS
ENGLISH EDUCATION PROGRAM
2017
TEACHER'S VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION DURING
THE ENGLISH CLASSROOM INTERACTION

Adityo Yudhibroto, Muhammad Sulton Rizal, Lailatus Sa’adah

ABSTRACT

Teacher have to able in conducting good communication between teacher

and students. This conditions can determined from verbal and non-verbal
communication used in the classroom interactions. Teacher may combine
both of communication to attract the students into the learning process. This
study explored what kind of verbal and non-verbal communication that used
by the teacher in the classroom and how affect in the classroom interaction.
This study is a meta-analysis study which combines theories from several
studies. This study found that teacher’ verbal and nonverbal communication
could enhance positive and productive instructional interaction, effects on
the students’ attitude, and students’ willingness to learn.

Keywords: Teacher Verbal Communication, Teacher Non-Verbal

Communication, and Classroom Interaction

A. Introduction

The role of the teacher is significant in the classroom, especially during the teaching-
learning process. Generally, the teacher has to design the lesson plan, gather the materials,
then explaining to the student through the media, and give an assignment for checking
students' understanding. However, implementing all of those steps is not running smoothly as
in the planning. According to Linda & Mukhaiyar (2019), the teacher has to make
connections to the students in every situation and circumstance. It means that
Communication is a crucial factor when a teacher wants to have a pleasant classroom
environment.
 Communication is purposed to deliver a message for someone else (Hafadhotul Husna,
Hartono, and Sofwan, 2015). If we talk about Communication, it will learn about people's
behavior in social life. In a social environment, Communication is used to have interaction,
express ideas, or built good relations. Communication is an idea and information exchange
(Richard and Schmidt, 2013). So, Communication is essential for humanity as social
creatures. In classroom interaction, it was essential to create a good relationship between
teachers and students because a good relationship means having excellent Communication
for the teaching-learning process. In other words, the most crucial factor in Communication
is to understand each other because, without that purpose, the materials will not be conveyed
in the classroom.

According to Hafadhotul Husna et al. (2015), Communication is divided into two types.
First, verbal Communication as a face to face communication, using the medium as
telephone, video call, television, and others. Second, non-verbal Communication such as
body language, gesture, how we dressed up, and many more. Teachers' verbal
Communication defined as teachers communicate using speech and conversation during the
teaching-learning process (Sutiyatno, 2018). The teacher has to use a proper language in the
way they communicate with students because when they use a negative language, they may
be lost the identity of a teacher. However, non-verbal communication can be explained as
facial expressions, eye contact, hand and body gestures, until the distance between teacher
and students (Barmaki, 2014). This Communication can affect a classroom environment. As
an example, if the teacher talks without eye contact, students will not pay attention to what
the teacher says.

In classroom interaction, communications become crucial since we know that students

and teachers are connected, share, and give information even to the teacher to students or
students to the teacher. The use of verbal and non-verbal communication in the classroom
cannot be separated. Non- verbal Communication can change the conditions when verbal
Communication is not understandable, especially for students with a lower comprehensible
level in learning English. That is why the teacher has to able to combine the two types of
 Communication with being a success in teaching. Based on those problems, the study will
analyze the use of verbal and non-verbal Communication by the teacher during the classroom
interactions by following this research question.

1. What kind of verbal and non-verbal communication used by the teachers in the
classroom? 
2. How does teachers' verbal and non-verbal Communication affect classroom
interaction?

B. Discussion
1) Teacher’ verbal and non-verbal communication in the classroom

In the foreign language classroom, compliance between verbal and nonverbal signals is
one of the conditions for successful communication of teaching learning process. When
having knowledge of verbal and nonverbal communication principals, teachers can teach and
communicate better with the students. Teacher’s emotional behavior and empathy, their
ability to show understanding for their students’ feelings and actions, plays a very great role
in making the teaching learning process more comfortable and successful. The problem is
that not all teachers are able to synergize both verbal and nonverbal communication in
teaching English Foreign Language (EFL). The way teachers communicate to the students is
one of the many factors that help determine effective teaching and how the students perceive
the teachers’ communication might affect their effective and cognitive learning and their
feeling throughout the learning process. Verbal and nonverbal immediate behaviors on the
part of the teacher enhance positive and effective instructional interaction, which has direct
effects on the students’ attitude towards the teacher and the course and the students’
willingness to learn (Richmond & McCroskey, 2005; Pogue & AhYun, 2006 as cited by
Ballester, 2013, p. 10). In teaching context, verbal communication can be defined as
relationship that can be achieved through speaking and conversation. Teachers should use the
words carefully to be successful in teaching. Each word provokes a feeling in people, specific
emotions, and distinct function. While non-verbal communication as stated by Chaudhry &
Arif (2012) can be defined as “the unspoken communication that goes on in every face to
face encounter with another human being”.

On the basis of the medium, communication had been divided into verbal
communication and non-verbal communication. Verbal communication involves the use of
the language whereas the nonverbal communication is essentially based on the use of
expressions, gestures, action etc. In the selection of words, the intended concept must be
exactly in the words of the educator. It is appropriate to use clear, concise, polite, correct and
rich expression in oral communication with the audience to transmit the speaker’s intention
to the audience properly (Najafi, 2013). Expression of words vividly and eloquently by the
teacher causes the students to listen with dignity and willingness, sum up the facts, and think
to solve the problem and supply the teacher’s comment without any tensions or boredom. But
using biased phrases often raises a sense of stubbornness and humiliation in the trainee, puts
them out the cycle of learning and deep understanding of scientific content completely, and
leaves irreparable psychological effects on the students (Mortazavi, 2013). Chaudhry & Arif
(2012) state that verbal communication itself does not create that impact upon students’ mind
and hearts as does non-verbal communication that complements the verbal message. Same
verbal message may create opposite meaning and interpretation by students, the way the
message is communicated through the medium of nonverbal communication (p. 57). A
successful educator in the field of teaching should be aware of the power of words and its
impact on the audience and avoid using words habitually without thinking. Also, ordering is
one of the conflicts which leads to failure in human interaction. The teacher should express
his opinion with proper words and within the defined framework for his comments to be
effective penetrating. Therefore, the teacher as the sender of message, should first determine
the framework of his message and then express his expectation of the students frankly with
appropriate tone and words (Gholipour, 2007). Haneef, et all (2014) states that more often
non-verbal communication occurs unconsciously. People are not aware of the fact that
besides their verbal communication the nonverbal gestures also transmit a potent message.
The body language, eye contact, physical appearance, and tone of voice provide meaningful
information to the audience. Nonverbal communication is deemed much reliable and
effective in comparison to verbal communication as it gives additional support to the verbal
communication (p. 513). Language teachers can use body language such as gestures to signal
 and instigate changes in the class atmosphere and thus further their instructional goals,
throughout a class period encompassing such as various activities as conversation and choral
repetition (Qi Pan, 2014, p.2627). Negi (2009) states that By function of non-verbal
communication what is meant is the message that NVC cues convey. Non-verbal behaviors
occur simultaneously with the verbal message and they substitute, complement, regulate and
contradict the verbal message. Substitution of non-verbal message occurs when a non-verbal
cue is used instead of verbal one. For example, a head nod to indicate ‘yes’, pat on shoulder
to show ‘intimacy’ and so on. Non-verbal behaviors also compliment, expand or modify the
verbal message. For example, a teacher looking confident while delivering the lecture in the
class enhances the quality of teaching.

2) The effect of teachers' verbal and non-verbal communication to the classroom interaction

In the teaching learning process, it is not as simple as the teachers explain the lesson, give
some assignments and finish. In fact, teachers should become aware with their students and
also the situation and condition in the class in order to make a good environment. The
interaction and also communication between teacher and students should work smoothly.
Thus, both of students and teachers can have the lesson successfully.

Teacher and students communication is one of the many aspects that could determine
effective teaching during classroom interaction. The role of teacher is very important to
create a comfortable classroom. And it also could affect to the student to the students’ feeling
and cognitive learning. Richmond and McCroskey in Ballester(2013) stated that Teachers’
verbal and non-verbal communicate behaviors become apart of positive affect that influence
effective instructional interaction and it directlyeffects to the students’ motivation to learn.
This is also in line with what was stated by O’Neill (2009) that most influencing factors in
making an effective teaching are creating and bounding a good relationship between teachers
and students. Good relationship can be obtained by having a good communication.

In classroom interaction, communication is the fundamental things that students and

teacher get connected each other, in giving and receiving material in the class, give and share
information in two ways, from students to teacher or from teacher to students. Therefore,
communication should be the combination of verbal and non-verbal behavior transmission of
knowledge. In other words, communication is described through speech and sounds. It means
 that, verbal and non-verbal communication cannot be detached. It indicates that non-verbal
performance is a support thing, thus it can makes the verbal behavior can be delivered well in
the class. For example, in the teaching learning process, the teacher explains the material to
the students using verbal communication, but the material is too hard or difficult to
understand, so in here the teacher need to use non-verbal communication to make it more
understandable.

The most essential thing is the teacher should combine the both of verbal and non-verbal
communication since it can affect the students in their teaching learning process. However,
non-verbal communication includes; smiling, moving close to another, facing another,
making eye contact, learning towards someone, gesture, and touching on the hand, arm or
shoulder. If the teacher can combine the two of it—verbal and non-verbal communication—it
can gives a good impact to the class especially to the students. In teaching, teachers’ verbal
and non-verbal communications are the kinds of teacher’s language and behavior during
teaching learning process. If the teacher success in applying this, so the students can feel
comfort and happy in the class environment, thus the students can study in the good way and
to be more active and creative during the lesson. In conclusion, teachers’ behavior can
influence and give a big impact to the students. As Witt & Wheeless (2001) says that the
teacher should have verbal and non-verbal communication skills with their students, to
encourage, to resolve the issue, and motivate them.

C. Conclusion

Conclusion based on the discussion was shown that teacher’ verbal and nonverbal
communication could enhance positive and productive instructional interaction, effects on the
students’ attitude, and students’ willingness to learn. The combination of verbal and non-verbal
communication can have a good impact on the class, especially to the students. The use of simple
gestures such as smiling, moving close to another, facing another, making eye contact, leaning
towards someone, gesture, and touching on the hand, arm, or shoulder can make the student felt
enjoy the class as a friendly environment. Also, the essential things in communicate with
students is that the language should appear in the words of the educator. In other words, the
language should appropriate, clear, concise, polite, correct, and rich expression. Then, the
teacher has to avoid using language that has a negative meaning.
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