Aziz Yaghoobi - University of Birjand
Mohsen Mobaraki - University of Birjand

Nonverbal communication (NVC) plays a vitally important role in classroom settings. Teachers’ use of NVC skills enhances language learners’ motivation and results in a more permanent learning. This study aimed to investigate, describe, and observe teachers’ performance in English as a foreign language (EFL) classrooms to record the nonverbal behaviors (NVB) they exhibit, to record the functions of NVC skills in EFL classrooms, and to offer teachers some recommendations for the effective use of NVC skills. Through convenience selection, 50 teachers participated in this study. The main tools of data collection were observation, interview, and a researcher-made questionnaire. The findings of this study provided information on the NVC skills of teachers and suggested that teacher training course designers, curriculum planners, education policy makers, and other education leaders appreciate the importance of NVC and encourage teachers in the use of NVC skills. The study also recommended teachers to be concerned with the communication phenomenon and use NVC skills intelligently, consciously, and properly in the classroom.

body language, EFL classrooms, English language teaching, nonverbal communication