Abstract:  Over the last twenty years, a large number of scholars and researchers have been working hard at the study on nonverbal communication. Body language is a crucial part of nonverbal communication, including facial expression, eye contact, gestures and spatial distance. This thesis focuses on the proper use of body language in English teaching in primary schools, emphasizing the various functions of body language. The analysis shows that body language appeals to the age and cognitive characteristics of the students in primary schools. In order to arouse the students’ interest and achieve better understanding while learning a foreign language, it is necessary for the teachers to use positive body language in class. However, there exist problems in the application of body language. This paper aims to help arouse the teachers’ awareness of using body language properly, so as to improve the teaching quality and efficiency.

Key words: body language; primary schools; English teaching; application

摘要: 在过去20年里,大量学者致力于非语言交际领域的研究。体态语是非语言交际的重要组成部分，它包括：表情、眼神、手势、空间距离和身姿。本文针对体态语在小学英语教学中的正确运用进行阐述，强调了体态语的广泛作用。分析表明体态语迎合了小学生的年龄和认知特点，积极的体态语有利于在学习一门外语时提高学生的兴趣和理解。然而在体态语的运用中还存在着一些问题，本文意在提高教师正确使用体态语的意识以达到最终提高教学的质量的效果。

关键词：体态语；小学生；英语教学;运用