USE OF BODY LANGUAGE İN TEACHİNG TURKISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

USE OF BODY LANGUAGE İN TEACHİNG TURKISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Abstract: The use of body language is an important issue in teaching Turkish to foreigners. Signals transmitted to the other party using body language, including gestures and facial expressions, are important in order to keep the student's interest in the lesson active and lively. The country and gender of the students with whom communication will be established are situations that should be paid particular attention to in terms of body language use. Because body language use may vary from country to country. Body language is an important factor in the formation of first impressions. When learning a foreign language, the individual learning that language is first an observer in the classroom. This is also the case for learners who will learn Turkish for the first time in teaching Turkish as a foreign language. The student, who is initially an observer in the classroom, focuses on the teacher's gestures and facial expressions. The teacher's smiling, polite, gentle and tolerant demeanor at the first meeting will create positive impressions on the student. At this point, the effective use of body language in teaching Turkish as a foreign language provides advantages for both the teacher and the learner. The teacher's body language and effective communication skills will make the learner eager to learn the language. In teaching Turkish as a foreign language, it is necessary to evaluate body language in terms of the use of the teacher and the student. While the teacher uses correct and effective body language, he/she should also be able to interpret the student's body language and direct the teaching process accordingly. Teaching body language movements specific to the Turkish society will bring liveliness to the lesson and will make the foreign student interactive with that society. Having a mobile body structure draws attention and interest to the student in every sense. If the teacher sees the class as a stage and teaches the lesson while standing as much as possible using body language actively, this will positively affect the student's participation in the lesson and will ensure that the lesson is more efficient and productive. This study discusses the importance and use of body language in teaching Turkish as a foreign language.

Key Words: Teaching Turkish as a foreign language, body language, instructor, student.