Task 2. Dictation.

Body positions.

People often show their feelings by the body position they adopt.

These can contradict what you are saying, especially when you are trying to disguise the way you feel.

For example, a very common defensive position, assumed when people feel threatened in someway, is to put your arm or arms across your body.

This is a way of shielding yourself from a threatening situation.

This shielding action can be disguised as adjusting one's cuff or watchstrap.

Leaning back in your chair especially with your arms folded is not only defensive, it's also a way of showing your disapproval, of a need to distance yourself from the rest of the company.

A position which betrays an aggressive attitude is to avoid looking directly at the person you are speaking to.

On the other hand, approval and desire to cooperate are shown by copying the position of the person you are speaking to.

This shows that you agree or are willing to agree with someone.

The position of one's feet also often shows the direction of people's thoughts.

For example, feet or a foot pointing towards the door can indicate that a person wishes to leave the room.

The direction in which your foot points can also show which of the people in the room you feel most sympathetic towards, even when you are not speaking directly to that person.