EYE CONTACT

GROUP 1
01 What is eye-contact?

02 Why is it important?

03 How can you use eye-contact?

04 When should you avoid

eye contact?
1. What is eye contact?
✘ A form of non-verbal communication.

✘ The act of looking directly into another’s

eyes.
✘ It occurs when “two or more people look
at each other’s eyes at the same time”.

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2. Why is it important?

✘In daily communication, eye-contact

signalizes messages such as:
“I want to speak to you”
“I’m addressing this remark to you”.

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2. Why is it important?

✘ In terms of a teaching tool:

+ Good use of eye-contact is crucial in
helping to establish rapport.
+ Eye-contact helps teacher notice
students’ reactions and the mood of the
class.
+ The more eye-contact the teacher
remains, the more teacher-controlled
the lesson.

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2. Why is it important?

✘ In terms of a studying aid:

+ Through eye contact, students gain
confidence and reduce shyness.
+ A student who has difficulty in
understanding is more likely to
understand.

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3. How can you use eye-contact?

To ensure that the students have

understood what they are supposed to do
and know what is going on.

To indicate who is to speak (usually

accompanied by a nod) when calling on
one after the other to repeat a word or
sentence, or to make a response.

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3. How can you use eye-contact?

To encourage contributions when you

are trying to elicit ideas or specific
language from the students.

To show a student who is talking that you

are talking notice.

To hold attention of students not being

addressed and to encourage them to listen
to those doing the talking.

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3. How can you use eye-contact?

To keep in touch with other students in

the class or group when you are dealing
with an individual, perhaps when
correcting.

To signal to a pair or group to start, to

stop or to hurry up.

To indicate, with an accompanying

gesture, that groups are on the right or
wrong lines.

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3. How can you use eye-contact?

Together with a gesture to indicate that

something is incorrect, or to show that
the students should try again.

To check that everyone is participating.

To check silently with the students

whether they have finished an activity.

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4. When should you avoid eye contact?
✘ During any activity that doesn’t remain teacher-centred control,
avoid eye contact unless you are specifically asked for help or
choose to join in.

✘ For example: Of pairwork, groupwork, speaking activities such

as roleplay, simulations and student-led discussions, and even
individual work when the student wishes to complete the task
independently.

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Thank you!
Any questions?

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