So! Oculesics...
They're worth mentioning in reference to ESOL because, like any other part of NVC, they're very culturally linked. Eye-contact, as we all know, is a powerful thing, but it's something that's used in different ways by different cultures. For example, how many times have you heard (or indeed said) "Look at me when I'm talking to you!" or "Look me in the eyes and say that!". In England, eye-contact is how we show we are listening to someone, but in many other countries and in many other cultures, it is averting your eyes that signals respect- even more confusingly for the average teacher in the UK, many cultures make eye contact when they are being reprimanded, again not as an act of defiance, but as an act of respect. A teacher could easily think that a student was being rude or inattentive if they avert their eyes (and indeed my students with children report this happening fairly frequently to their sons and daughters of school-age), when really they are showing deference. Forcing eye contact on students is also another thing that could easily heighten their sense of danger, clouding what you're saying.

Vocalics and sound symbols are a huge topic in ESOL, and I don't want to reinvent the wheel by going too much into detail. Suffice it to say that we help ESOL students communicate by teaching them the importance of tone of voice and intonation- something they have to learn.

In conclusion, NVC is a vital part of a teacher's professional knowledge base. They have to ensure that what they say and what they do matches up for the students. Teaching English is not just about vocabulary and grammar- students in speaking exams are also marked on how well they communicate. NVC helps them make their message clear. NVC is invaluable in helping ESOL learners take their first steps in English- undestanding a gesture that is universal helps them attach words to something familiar. Finally, for ESOL learners, learning about NVC helps them communicate more effectively with others- surely the main aim of any ESOL teacher.