Volume : 12, Issue : 3, MAR 2026

THE MESSAGES EYE CONTACT AND EYE AVOIDANCE CONVEY IN A MULTICULTURAL CLASSROOM

DR. MAMADOU FALL SARR

Abstract

This article aims at underscoring the messages eye contact and eye avoidance send in a multicultural classroom while taking into consideration factors like culture, context, personal styles, and the co-occurrence of other nonverbal cues. The research has used the qualitative method to analyse data that have been collected from 483 participants hailing from Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America. The instruments that have been used are interviews, questionnaires, and participant observation. It has been found that eye contact and eye avoidance cross-culturally send messages like confrontation, disrespect, discipline, authority, interest, defiance, affection, attention, confidence, credibility, honesty, engagement, seriousness, concentration, love, friendship, domination, aggression, warmth, lack of confidence, disinterest, unfriendliness, suspicion, respect, restraint, humility, inattention, dishonesty, shyness, submission, hatred, and shame. Thus, the paper draws teachers’ attention to the fact that the two nonverbal cues must be construed in interaction with factors like culture, context, personal styles, and the co-occurrence of other nonverbal cues.

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IESRJ

International Educational Scientific Research Journal

E-ISSN: 2455-295X

International Indexed Journal | Multi-Disciplinary Refereed Research Journal

ISSN: 2455-295X

Peer-Reviewed Journal - Equivalent to UGC Approved Journal

Peer-Reviewed Journal

Article No : 16

Number of Downloads : 51

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