Communicating Is More Than Our Words
How Will This Session Help Me??
We communicate all the time without saying a single word. Our body language, how we stand or sit, facial expressions, tone of voice, and eye contact send huge signals to teachers, friends, and future employers. Understanding non-verbal communication gives you the power to appear confident, approachable, and respectful in every situation!
Questions to get started
"Have you ever guessed how a friend or teacher was feeling before they even spoke, and what clues gave it away?"
"How does your body or facial expression change when you feel really nervous versus when you feel happy and relaxed?"
"If someone is speaking to you with crossed arms, how does that make you feel about the conversation?"
Focused Virtues
The Focused Virtue for this session is Self-Control.
Self-Control gives us the awareness to manage our body language, tone, and expressions so we present ourselves thoughtfully and respectfully.
Ask Yourself: "Can I grow in self-control to make sure my body language matches my positive intentions?"
Stand tall, communicate with care
Skills Development:
In school presentations, group tasks, and future career interviews, how you say something is just as important as what you say. Developing strong non-verbal communication takes self-awareness and practice.
First, focus on posture and physical presence. Standing or sitting tall with an open posture (unfolded arms, shoulders relaxed) instantly makes you look and feel more confident. Leaning forward slightly during a conversation shows teachers or peers that you are engaged and interested.
Next, control your tone of voice and pace. When nervous, our voices can speed up or get quiet. Practice taking a deep breath and speaking at a steady, warm pace with clear volume. Smiling naturally while speaking instantly makes your voice sound friendly and approachable.
Finally, think about eye contact and gestures (hand movements). Using open hand gestures helps explain your ideas clearly, while holding steady eye contact builds trust. By mastering non-verbal communication, you ensure your body language reflects your true capability and confidence.
Case Studies and Questions
You are part of a group presentation in class. One of your group is reading her notes in a tiny whisper, looking down at her shoes, and fidgeting with her hair. The rest of the class is starting to lose focus. Next time how could you encourage her to use control over her posture and voice to feel more confident?
• What signals does my body language send when I am working in a group or listening in class?
• How can I adjust my tone and posture when I feel nervous so I still project confidence?
Guidance and Resources for Facilitators
Core Concepts & Background Information
Deconstructing Non-Verbal Cues: Non-verbal communication accounts for a massive portion of how messages are received. Help girls analyse how non-verbal signals—body posture, facial expressions, eye contact, and vocal tone/pitch—can either reinforce or undermine spoken words.
Managing Physical Anxiety Signals: Nervousness triggers physiological responses, such as shallow breathing, fidgeting, crossed arms, or a quiet, rushing voice. Teach girls that these are natural energy responses. Conscious acts—such as uncrossing arms, placing feet flat on the floor, relaxing shoulders, and taking deep breaths—signal calm to both the brain and the audience.
Vocal Presence: Tone, volume, and pace dictate authority and warmth. Practice adjusting vocal pitch and slowing down talking speed to sound grounded, clear, and confident.
Guiding Reflection & Overcoming Barriers
Overcoming Self-Consciousness & Defensive Postures: Girls in adolescence often default to closed body language (slouching, crossing arms, avoiding eye contact) to feel hidden or safe. Reframe open posture as a "power move" that boosts your mood and projects confidence.
Prompting Reflection:
"When you see someone sitting with an open, relaxed posture versus folded arms looking at the floor, what assumptions do you naturally make about how open they are to talk?"
"How can adjusting your posture before a presentation actually change how brave you feel inside?"
Activity Idea (The Posture Shift): Have girls deliver the exact same neutral sentence (e.g., "We have a lot of work to complete on this project today") in pairs using three distinct postures: 1) Slouched with quiet tone, 2) Arms crossed with fast tone, and 3) Standing tall with open hand gestures and warm volume. Have partners reflect on how the impact shifted.