Non-verbal communication training: an avenue for university professionalizing programs?

Abstract

In accordance with today's workplace expectations, many university programs identify the ability to communicate as a crucial asset for future professionals. Yet, if the teaching of verbal communication is clearly identifiable in most university programs, the same cannot be said of non-verbal communication (NVC). Knowing the importance of the non-verbal component for efficient communication and that following NVC training future second language teachers have reported an increase in their confidence to speak in front of a group, this study aims at documenting the potential of NVC training in different university professionalizing programs as well as at verifying the validity and reliability of these authors' results. Our study confirms the potential of teaching NVC to develop future professionals' self-confidence and perceived ability to speak in front of a group.

Keywords:

• university teaching; training
• non-verbal communication
• self-confidence

Notes

1. Competency is a complex knowledge to act that resorts to efficient mobilizing and combining of a variety of internal and external resources within the scope of a category of situations (Tardif 2006, free translation).