ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that non-linguistic messages conveyed through nonverbal behaviours (NVBs) have a powerful impact on classroom environments. In the first section, I review functions of gestures and other forms of nonverbal communication and describe how meaning is co-constructed through intention and interpretation of senders and receivers. The second half of the chapter focuses on how NVBs signal power and immediacy in teacher-student relationships. An overview of research on classroom nonverbal communication in various cultures highlights issues of interpretation and meaning that merit further investigation by second language (L2) professionals. Finally, I suggest ways to incorporate nonverbal communication into an agenda for inquiry and practice in L2 teaching.
