Rola komunikacji niewerbalnej podczas zdalnej nauki języka obcego (na podstawie badań ankietowych)
The role of nonverbal communication during remote foreign language learning (based on surveys)

Summary/Abstract: Remote teaching has forced some changes in conducting classes, including foreign language lessons. In the classroom, we typically use two codes of communication: verbal and nonverbal. Virtual space somewhat limits nonlinguistic messaging. Thus, in this article, we reflect on the meaning of nonverbal communication in the new conditions, as far as remote foreign language classes are concerned, on the changes to this form of communication and the potential impact of the changes on teacher-student and student-student interactions. We present the results of surveys that included two groups of respondents from Ukraine. The first survey was addressed to 25 academic lecturers teaching, among other subjects, foreign languages (usually Polish, but also Czech, Persian, Japanese, Serbian, Bulgarian, English). The second – to 57students of Polish philology in Lviv who attend a Polish language course as a part of their undergraduate studies. Based on the teachers’ responses, we conclude that during remote learning: 1) the relationship with students has changed; 2) due to the lack of direct eye contact it is more difficult to interact with students; 3) the nonverbal communication of the teachers themselves has changed to a greater or lesser extent. The final part of the paper compares the academic lecturers’ responses with the students’ opinions. The results of the analysis confirm that remote teaching will alter nonverbal communication during traditional classroom instruction.

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