Read the vocabulary, watch the video, and then answer the questions.
How Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are
Video: http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are/transcript?language=en
Vocabulary:
| Word | Type | Pronunciation | Definition |
| hack | noun | /hæk/ | a clever solution to a tricky problem |
| Used in a sentence: Reading children’s books in a foreign language is a great hack to learn it. | |||
| posture | noun | /ˈpɑstʃər/ | the way in which your body is positioned when you are sitting or standing |
| Used in a sentence: Human beings have an upright posture. | |||
| tweak | verb | /twik/ | to change something slightly in order to improve it |
| Used in a sentence: We just wanted to tweak his original idea a bit. | |||
| nonverbals | noun | /nɑnˈvɜrbəlz/ | ways of communicating that do not involve using words |
| Used in a sentence: Nonverbals include posture, facial expressions, and gestures. | |||
| emoticons | noun | /ɪˈmoʊtɪˌkɑnz/ | a group of keyboard characters that are used to represent a facial expression (such as a smile or frown) |
| Used in a sentence: Emoticons are used by people writing on computers to indicate the tone or attitude of what is written. People often use a smiling emoticon like 🙂 to show that their comments are meant in a friendly or joking way. | |||
| chronically | adjective | /ˈkrɑnɪkli/ | happening or existing frequently or most of the time |
| Used in a sentence: He is chronically late to work. | |||
| caricatures | noun | /ˈkerɪkəˌtʃʊr/ | someone or something that is very exaggerated in a funny or foolish way |
| Used in a sentence: He is a caricature of an ideal employee. | |||
| alphas | noun | /ˌælfəz/ | having the most power in a group of animals or people |
| Used in a sentence: He is the alpha male on the team [=the most powerful man on the team] | |||
| attributable | adjective | /əˈtrɪbjətəbəl/ | caused by a particular thing |
| Used in a sentence: His health problems are attributable to a poor diet and lack of exercise. | |||
| hormones | noun | /ˈhɔrˌmoʊnz/ | a natural substance that is produced in the body and that influences the way the body grows or develops |
| Used in a sentence: Cortisol is a hormone that indicates a person is stressed. | |||
| vial | noun | /ˈvaɪəl/ | a very small glass or plastic container used for perfumes, medicines, etc. |
| Used in a sentence: The nurse put the blood into the vial. | |||
| saliva | noun | /səˈlaɪvə/ | the liquid produced in your mouth that keeps your mouth moist and makes it easier to swallow food |
| Used in a sentence: A more casual word for saliva is spit. | |||
| gamble | verb | /ˈɡæmbəl/ | to play a game in which you can win or lose money or possessions |
| Used in a sentence: She likes to gamble on football games. | |||
| whopping | adjective | /ˈwɑpɪŋ/ | very large, impressive, etc. |
| Used in a sentence: The party was a whopping success. | |||
| heckled | verb | /ˈhekəld/ | to interrupt (someone, such as a speaker or performer) by shouting annoying or rude comments or questions |
| Used in a sentence: The players were being heckled by the fans. | |||
| configure | verb | /kənˈfɪɡjər/ | to arrange or prepare something so that it can be used |
| Used in a sentence: The system is configured to allow access only to people who know the password. | |||
Discussion:
- What is your body language like right now?
- What is a type of body language that gives you a negative feeling?
- What is a type of body language that gives you a positive feeling?
- What can you do with your body to make yourself feel more confident?
- How does standing in a “power pose” help make you more confident?
Answers:
- What can you do with your body to make yourself feel more confident? 🡪 The speaker suggests standing in a “power pose” for two minutes prior to a stressful situation.
- How does standing in a “power pose” help make you more confident? 🡪 Standing in a power pose increases testosterone and decreases cortisol. It makes you brain feel less stress. It will in-turn make you behave more confidently.
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