Job Discussion Forums

[dharma86]

I don't know if I have been missing something for a very long time here, so i'm up for hearing some opinions.

Recently, some university students gave me some "suggestions" on my teaching after class, but it wasn't your usual "oh we should play games" or "talk something about your culture" they said I should make more eye contact when listening to students. (I do give it, of course), but they said it gives them more encouragment and confidence to speak, but I have always thought the opposite.

In Chinese culture I know that eye contact during interaction is neither necessary nor common. (But I also know they are taught the importance of eye contact in the west)

So is this suggestion only true for these confident students who are disregarding their more nervous counterparts, or is it actually true?

[Happy Everyday]

Strange request on their part. Maybe they were just trying to answer your question and suggest something.

Do you have a wandering eye? Maybe that's the problem.

But seriously, on the topic of eyecontact, let me tell you something. You know you should avoid getting involved in any conflict. Never escalate tensions. If for any reason someone becomes confrontational, never tap your foot. It means you're ready to fight. Never drop your head and avoid eye contact. In Western culture, we do this to be passive. Theoritically, it comes from primate behavior. In China, however, it means you are afraid, admitting guilt, expressing that you are remorseful, or portraying weakness. It empowers the aggressor to become more verbally and sometimes physically aggressive.

Case in point: When a random Chinese stranger followed me out of a club, he tried to forcefully remove me from a taxi and pull me into his car. He reminded me of a Gorilla. The logical thing to do was avoid eye contact and keep my head down to difuse tension. Boy, was I wrong! He immediately became enraged and felt entitled to scream louder, forcefully pull my head back by grabbing my hair, and search through my pockets for money.

For your students: look into their eyes and smile. Be yourself.

For hostiles: Look into their eyes and smile. Do not take eyes off of them nor express anything negative.

[bythebookie]

It seems quite odd and unprofessional that you would intentionally and with premeditation avoid "eye contact" in the classroom. It is a required method of communication in the classroom and has no relationship to culture.

[Silent Shadow]

[daCabbie]

[nickpellatt]

Id agree that in most normal circumstances, it isnt anything to worry about. But, as you have already expressed the belief that eye contact should be avoided in Chinese culture, I think you need to listen.

I dont change my classroom eye contact regardless of who Im teaching. You should be the same IMO

[dharma86]

Thanks for the input so far.

Of course I know of the importance of eye contact. I guess i'm being too culturally sensitive...

I guess I think more practical than theory, although eye contact is important, I just can't help but feel the overly nervous student who is staring down at the desk can't handle the eye contact at this stage in their life.

But yes, agreed! I am the foreign teacher, it should be our way!

[slareth]

For me, it depends on the student and their level also. For some who I feel need only encouragement, I will make eye contact and smile and try and coax the words out of their mouths. If I know they know the words and are just struggling to say them.

If a student is truly lost, I will give them a moment or three without eye contact to collect their thoughts.

Maybe I am doing it wrong, I don't know. This is what is comfortable for me and also, seemingly, my students.

If I am teaching a higher level class where my students can actually express themselves...if they are saying something that requires me to think, I will break eye contact and contemplate what they are saying.

/shrug

[Happy Everyday]

OP, some students do get nervous. I've asked college students to read from a book, and one of them cried.

It sounds like eye contact is part of a bigger picture. They want to know your listening?

It helps to look interested. Nod your head a little bit too, let them see you're paying attention, maybe add some acknowledgement noises like "mmm" or "ah."

You ever watch some of the talk shows on CCTV? When guests are talking, the host will show us that she or he is listnening by body language (nodding, looking at the speaker) and making acknowledgement noises (do those noises have a name?). The host is showing interest and being respectful... without doing anything to detract from the speaker. A teacher, like a good host, also listens closely enough to engage and guide the classroom in real time while sticking to a lesson plan (a topic) as framework.

FWIW, acting is similar. Some ads and skits break the rule (certain SNL actors often do). You're supposed to look at the person you're talking to, and you're supposed to look at them when listening. It's not that you're not listening or being rude. You're good. To the audience, in this case your students, it appears that you're not in the moment, not interacting with the speaker. Watch a movie dialogue, and they speak at each other. If one looks away while the other speaks, it appears they're not interested. In the case of a host or teacher, it looks bad.

[MisterButtkins]

Personally I had heard the whole thing about how Chinese don't make eye-contact before I came here but I really don't see it. Yeah some students who are less confident don't like to make eye contact, but there are Americans like that too.

Sometimes, I convey my interest to what the students are saying in other ways, too, like by leaning forward to hear them better when they speak unclearly. Another thing you can do is to listen to what the student says and then rephrase it and repeat it, or repeat their main points (don't know what level you are teaching). I do this a lot on long days when I'm having trouble paying attention.

[Happy Everyday]

[/quote]

maybe that the guy who was confronting you outside the club would have attacked you regardless.[/quote]

maybe.

[Steve_McQueen]

[quote="daCabbie"]