Nonverbal Communication for the Enhancement of Foreign Language Professional Competency in Medical Students: A Study

Knowledge of nonverbal communication plays a significant role in the work of medical professionals enabling doctors to communicate with their patients and understand the signals which can be observed from their nonverbal behaviour. To optimize nonverbal communication of students, we use their presentations as activation forms in teaching the German language for specific purposes. Giving a talk is a good way for students to train for their future medical practice because it is one of the types of professional communication which represents synchronization of speech and nonverbal behaviour. Analysis of nonverbal communication showed that the students are not aware of the importance of the first impression. Moreover, their posture, gesture, keeping distance, facial expression and keeping eye-contact were all absent or used inappropriately. The reasons can be explained by the fact that the students do not link their verbal and nonverbal communication when used in the particular foreign language environment.