For this assignment, I chose to watch the show Long Island Medium on TLC. While watching this show in its muted version, I noticed that, as the lady with the big hair (the Long Island Medium I presumed), entered a room, some people had their arms folded while looking at her while others in the room smiled and nodded as I watched her speak. My assumptions of this non-verbal behavior would be that the people with their arms folded do not either believe in or trust someone who states that they are a medium. While those who nod as she speaks and are smiling are much more open to her. I also noticed in other scenes that as she speaks to what appear to be random people in a Chinese restaurant , some reach out and touch her arm as she speaks to them as others take steps back when she first approaches. I believe that again, the ones who reach out to her are more open to her talent or gift whereas others who back away from it are more intimidated by it.
When I watched the show again, I found that my presumptions were correct. When people accepted that she was a medium, they showed acceptance both verbally and physically. However, those who were not as accepting did not say so verbally, but their body language spoke for them. I found this to be interesting. Often when we think we are fooling others of our true feelings, we are not. Our body language can usually give us away! This is something important to remember in the education filed because if we meet with parents or work with students, we need to be aware that our body language will often tell what we are truly thinking.
Our nonverbal skills are one of the most important skills that we can use when talking to children. They may not know the language, or be afraid to talk because of being new to the program. it is interesting to see that we can put the tv on turn down the volume and using just these skills we can tell others what the show is about.
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