Eye Contact

Another form of nonverbal communication is eye contact . The eyes are always talking and eye contact is a direct and powerful means of communication. A poet and writer of 19th-century France wrote, ‘Eyes are so transparent, that through them, one sees the soul.' Since the eyes are windows on the soul, it is therefore necessary to learn something more about it.

It is very important for teachers to be good at noticing and understanding what is happening or what their students are thinking and feeling. Eye contact may be the best indicator of a person's involvement in a situation. For example, a teacher can always tell when students do not know an answer in class discussion. They look down at their notes, stare out the window, or fix their shoelaces – but they never look the teacher in the eye.

This important channel of interpersonal communication helps regulate the flow of communication. It is important because insufficient or excessive eye contact may create communication barriers. It is also important in relationships because it serves to show intimacy, attention, and interest in others . In a conversation too little eye contact may be seen negatively because it conveys lack of interest, inattention, or even mistrust. The relationship between mistrust and lack of eye contact is stated directly in the expression, “Never trust a person who can't look you in the eyes.” Nothing builds trust and rapport as effectively as eye contact.