Non-Verbal Cues
(Body Language & Gestures)
(Body Language & Gestures)
A quick lip-pucker or lip gesture can sometimes be used to point toward something without using a finger. What does it mean?
“Over there,” “look at that,” or indicating a direction.
What does the Spanish phrase “Ponte las pilas” mean?
Get focused, wake up, get energized, or pull yourself together.
What emotional purpose can Mariachi, Ranchera, Blues, and Gospel music serve?
Catharsis—expressing and releasing emotions such as pain, joy, love, grief, and hope.
A new student is quiet during group work. What is an emotionally intelligent way to include them?
Invite them into the group, check in privately, or give them a comfortable way to participate without putting them on the spot.
You make a comment that hurts someone and they tell you about it. What should you do first?
Listen and take responsibility for your actions instead of immediately making excuses.
Sucking your teeth can communicate what emotions?
Frustration, annoyance, impatience, or disapproval.
If someone says, “I’m carrying a lot on my shoulders,” what might they be communicating?
They may be experiencing stress, grief, pressure, burnout, or feeling overwhelmed.
A loud or animated voice does not always mean someone is angry. Name two other emotions or purposes it could communicate.
Excitement, passion, humor, engagement, emphasis, or joy.
One friend uses humor when stressed while another wants to talk seriously about their feelings. What SEL skill can help them understand each other?
Empathy and recognizing different communication and coping styles.
What is the difference between intent and impact?
Intent is what you meant to do or say. Impact is how your words or actions actually affected someone.
Why can eye contact mean different things in different families or cultures?
Different communities may teach different expectations about eye contact, respect, authority, and communication.
What does “No hay mal que por bien no venga” communicate about difficult situations?
Resilience or optimism—the idea that something positive can come from a difficult experience.
What is code-switching?
Changing your language, tone, vocabulary, or behavior depending on the environment or audience.
What is the difference between empathy and sympathy?
Sympathy is feeling sorry or concerned for someone. Empathy involves understanding and connecting with what someone is experiencing.
Someone says, “I was just joking!” after hurting someone’s feelings. Why might that response not solve the problem?
The person’s intention does not erase the impact of what happened.
A student avoids direct eye contact while listening to an adult. Why should you avoid immediately assuming the student is being disrespectful?
Their behavior may reflect cultural or family expectations, discomfort, nervousness, processing, or their normal communication style.
Why might someone use slang, humor, or an expression instead of directly saying, “I’m struggling”?
Figurative language can feel safer, more familiar, less vulnerable, or more culturally natural.
Why can constantly changing how you speak or act between home, school, work, and different social groups become emotionally tiring?
It requires constant awareness and adjustment and can create mental fatigue, stress, or a feeling of disconnect.
Your friend is grieving. Instead of giving advice, you sit with them, listen, and let them talk when they are ready. What SEL skill are you demonstrating?
Empathy
How can someone adapt their communication to a new environment without giving up their cultural identity?
Learn the expectations of the environment while still maintaining their values, identity, language, and cultural connections.
Two students interpret the same body language completely differently. What SEL skill can help them avoid making assumptions about each other?
Cultural awareness, empathy, curiosity, and checking for understanding before judging.
Two people use different words to describe the same emotion. What should you do before deciding what they mean?
Give an example for extra (+100)
Ask questions, listen to the context, and avoid assuming that your interpretation is automatically correct.
A student speaks one way with friends, another way at home, and another way with teachers. Does this automatically mean the student is being fake? Explain.
No. People often adapt communication to different environments. Code-switching can be a way of navigating different social expectations while still maintaining their identity.
A student says, “Nobody understands me,” after a conflict with their family. What would be a better response than immediately giving advice?
Listen, validate their feelings, ask what happened, and give them space to explain their perspective before offering solutions.
Someone apologizes by saying, “I’m sorry you felt that way.” What is missing from this apology?
Ownership and accountability. A stronger apology acknowledges the person's own action and its impact rather than placing the focus on the other person’s feelings.