【正文】 Body language has the characteristic of vivid, visual, intuitional, wellunderstood and, easy to imitate and utilize. So, if we utilize it fully, it will have much significance in middle school English teaching. The Features of Body Language Body language has the same essential attribute with verbal language, that is they are both important means of munication. However, as a potential language, it has its own unique properties. The study of its uniqueness is the basis for the proper application. Subsidiarity Unlike verbal language, the body language has a distinctive feature of 4 contingency, situationality and intuitionism. That is to say, in language munication, it does not substitute verbal language but acpanies. It delivers information to affect counterpart directly. And it cannot act its munication role without a certain situation. And the body acts often means a series of acts including facial expression, gesture and posture, etc. We often define sb?s way of speaking as “ be both excellent in voice and affection”（聲情并茂 ), which is a good example. Multilayer and multiaspect munication The scientific tests showed that 80% of a person?s memory was determined by his visual sense. Like verbal language, the body language is also multifarious： Some are specific while some are general； Some are meant for munication while some are for conveying； Some are providing emotional information while some are revealing the inner world. For example, we often say “dive sb?s thought what he says and the expression on his face”. Substitution In some occasions, people use body language to substitute body language, and this is often a case in classes. For example, if we expect someone to succeed, we can make a V sign, because it means victory. When we expect to turn up the volume, we can raise our hand. And turn down is alike. In these cases, the application of body language is more convenient and efficient. 5 Chapter 3 The Function of Body Language Auxiliary function As the language helps people to municate, body language plays the role of delivering information and exchanging emotions. It can be called auxiliary function. Body language can be and should be applied as paralanguage to assist teaching. For example, when the English teachers read the passages and dialogues in English with the changing intonations and tones as they are needed, the recitation is cadenced and rich in feelings. This can not only help to intensify reading effect, to make the boring reading moving and interesting, but also strengthen infectivity to promote their deeper understanding of the passages. And as the class goes on, a praiseful eye contact or excited tone can stimulate the students to have more enthusiasm for the following study, while a discontented eye contact or laziness tone may distress them and be afraid of the study and lose confidence in it. Inflective function Some kinds of body language give a play to inflect students and help them to have better states during the class. For instance, the straightness of the teacher?s back, the state when he walks among the class. When the teacher is writing on the blackboard, he can inevitably leave a back to the students. And a straight back gives an impression of spiritedness and full of energy. When he walks in the class, his confident walk invisibly shows his attitude to the students? performance on the contents. And the acts may inflect those lazy students to straight their backs unconsciously. They can be easily influenced by others, especially teachers. Vicarious function More often in class, the body language can substitute the verbal language to solve some mon and occasional problems. And it can save time and keep the 6 fluency of the class to avoid the interruption of the class. The interruption may stop the whole class from thinking and make it unnaturally to go on with it. When a student is absenting from his mind, the teacher can quietly walk to the student to give a pat on his shoulder or stand beside him for seconds to help him realize his behaviors instead of hanging up the class to remind him. This act helps to avoid the embarrassment to the student by the verbal criticize and save time for the whole class without disturbing others for diverting their attention from the content. Increase individual glamour A wellbehaved body language can help a teacher to foster a good image and increase his individual glamour among students. There are always some students who can?t be attentive in the class. And the different acts of the teacher may result in totally different acts of the students. If the teacher refers to verbal language to criticize them, though the words may be humorous, with the whole class concentrate on him, he feels embarrassed. On the contrary, if the teacher refers to the body language. He gives an eye sight or stares at the student while illustrating the material. When the student realizes that the teacher is staring at him, he would know that the teacher have noticed him and so return back his mind to the class. It is a good way to avoid embarrassment and win the students? hearts. Each student wants to be loved and to have a good impression on teachers. So what the teacher needs to do is to win most of the students? admiration and appreciation. Except the broad and profound knowledge that can win their hearts, the elegant manners, mild smiles, gentle attitudes can also narrow the distance between the teachers and the students. Many students love a specific subject because of the admiration for the teacher who teaches this subject. 7 Chapter 4. The Application of Body Language in Junior English Class The Necessity of Body language in Teaching