Using the Body as a Teaching Tool
Bing Xiao
Abstract
Most teacher education programs emphasize on writing lesson plans, journals of field experiences, and reflections on lessons taught.However, embodied and unplanned practices require as much attention as language use. Videotaping plays a crucial role in the often-overlooked embodied dimensions of teaching (e.g., gesture, posture, gaze, tone of voice, facial expressions, and position) and provides a mechanism for preservice teachers to reflect on their teaching practice.Theories of embodiment guide this study, including Mauss’ theory of “techniques of the body,” and Bourdieu’s theory of “body habitus,” which give theoretical support to analyze preservice teachers' bodily techniques. Preservice teachers can consciously reflect on how to use their bodies as powerful pedagogical tools through reviewing the videos of themselves teaching; at the same time, cultivate the ability to deal with the unplanned teaching moment.