Body Language for Teachers: 7 Tips For Class
Science of People Team 4 min read
In This Article
Teachers have one of the hardest jobs in the world. Not only do they have to be informative, they have to be inspiring leaders. > Teachers have to be public...
Teachers have one of the hardest jobs in the world. Not only do they have to be informative, they have to be inspiring leaders.
Teachers have to be public speakers, leaders and entertainers all at once.
I have partnered up with my friend Breanne Dyck of My Name Is Breanne to give teachers and trainers some body language tools they can add to their tool belt. Check out the video we made for some tips for those who teach online and offline:
Whether you teach online or stand in front of a classroom here are 5 tips you can use while you teach:
Nonverbal Tricks for Teachers
Showing Your Hands
Our hands are our trust indicators. This means that when other people can’t see our hands, they have trouble trusting us. Whenever you are teaching—in front of a classroom or on camera you always want to have your hands visible. Keep them out of your pockets, don’t put them behind your back or under a desk and on camera, be sure to get your whole body in the shot.
Winner Body Language
Researchers at the University of British Columbia found that when athletes win a race, the more expansive their body language and when athletes lose a race, the more defeated their body language. Want to look like a winner? Roll your shoulders back, firmly plant your feet, open your chest and keep your head up. The more confident your body looks, the more confident you will be perceived as. This is called high body power–taking up space with your body. When teaching, keep your arms loose, roll your shoulders back and keep your head up. This will help you claim the room and own your material.
Another interesting study at Harvard Business School had candidates do mock-interviews. The researchers had participants assume high body power before they walked into the room. Those who power posed were rated as more confident, intelligent and skilled. Most importantly, those candidates FELT MORE POWERFUL! So before you film a course or walk into a classroom do a little power posing. Here is a video on How to Look (and Feel) Confident:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK_eZR8r3Gg
Nonverbal Hooks
Typically there is very low retention rates on verbal material. You need to hook the brain into remembering your content with nonverbal and verbal explanations. Try to think of ways you can explain your concepts using your hands, your voice or your body. Check out the video above for some examples!
Expressiveness
Professor Stephen Ceci tested how much body language helped his student evaluations in a clever study. He scripted one of his classes so the verbal content was exactly the same. In one class he used his typical body language, in the other he used a few nonverbal tricks including nonverbal expressiveness. This means he varied his voice tone, used a wide variety of facial gestures to emphasize his points and moved his hands while teaching. In the expressive nonverbal class, he got higher ratings from students in every single area—including textbook quality! This shows us that being expressive nonverbally captivates our students and helps them remember us and the material more favorably.
Use Eye Contact to Command the Room
Sweep your gaze across the classroom, pausing briefly on each student. It’s like a silent roll call that says, “I see you, I’m here.” Avoid staring down one spot (too intense) or darting around (too nervous). A steady, warm scan keeps everyone engaged and shows you’re in charge without a word.
Own Your Space with a Bold Stance
In our How to Be More Memorable webinar, Vanessa Van Edwards shares a body language gem for teachers: plant your feet wide and face forward. It’s a power move—think superhero vibe. No pacing or shrinking back; stand tall, chest open, and claim your stage. Test it free here and watch students perk up:
The learning doesn’t stop here…
Check out some of Breanne’s awesome resources for teachers: