Sine Nomine

Teaching the Nonverbal Aspects of Language

Saturday, February 21, 1998
1:30pm to 4:15pm
135 Classroom Building
Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts

This meetings topic of nonverbal communication was co-presented by Stephen Sadow (NU) and Carolyn Fidelman (NU) and consisted of the following presentations:

Bringing the study of nonverbals into the foreign language curriculum

In face-to-face interaction, the ability to perceive nonverbal messages and also to send culturally appropriate nonverbal messages are critical to good communication. In past Since Nomine meetings, Laurence Wylie and Carolyn Fidelman have presented pedagogical material that helps the langauge teacher present these notions. After a brief refresher on the Wylie Exercise and the interactive video materials Dans la peau des Français and In deutsche Haut geschlüpft, FIPSE Project co-directors Carolyn Fidelman and Steve Sadow will discuss their progress in promoting this curricular component in universities throughout the country.

How To Read Nonverbal Cues

Using films of native speakers in spontaneous conversations, Carolyn Fidelman will point out the cues to look for in nonverbal communication. She will show how to distinguish individual, cultural and pan-human features of nonverbal communication. Carolyn will also discuss student reactions to such material.

Kinesic Exercises for the Language Classroom

Steve Sadow will demonstrate participatory classroom activities that can help students become familiar with how social distance, turn-taking, frequency of touching, gaze, and smell are used in the target culture and across a variety of cultures.

Northeastern University is located on Huntington Avenue, east of the Museum of Fine Arts and west of Symphony Hall. It can be reached by the Orange Line (Ruggles Station) and the Green Line (E/Heath St. Branch) (Northeastern Stop). Parking is free on Saturdays in any open university lot. There is limited metered parking on Huntington Avenue.

Admission is free.

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