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Module 3
Beyond Words: Body Language
Gestures, greetings, touch, personal space, eye contact, smiles and volume.
Even when we say nothing at all, we’re communicating. We wave, point, nod, shake hands, stand close or far away, look someone in the eye or look politely at the floor, smile, frown, raise our voices or lower them.
We learned almost all of this as small children, by copying the people around us. That’s why it feels natural, and why it’s so easy to get wrong somewhere else. A friendly wave can mean “go away.” A respectful glance at the floor can look like guilt. A loud, happy voice can sound like a fight.
This is a lighter, more practical module, but some of its roots go surprisingly deep. You’ll explore:
- gestures that change meaning from place to place, and some that are surprisingly shared
- greetings, touch and personal space
- eye contact, smiles, volume and emotional expression