Emotional expressivity has been defined by Kring, Smith, and Neale, (1994) as “the degree to which an
individual actively expresses emotional experience through verbal or nonverbal behaviors” (p. 934). On the
other hand, Gross and John (1997) have proposed a heuristic model of the emotion process in which
environmental cues trigger emotional response tendencies; these tendencies prepare the individual to mount a
behavioral response, subject to a number of emotion regulation processes. In this model of emotion, emotional
expressions are the behaviors that arise from emotional impulses (Gross & John, 1997).
Now, let's talk about what are the emotional expressivities in different cultures.
Sometimes you have heard about how "expressive" is a culture. For example, when people are happy in South America, they celebrate it with parties, a lot of music and many laughs, but this is not the same reaction in other parts of the world, for example in Asia.
The need to interact with others has produced cultural diversity. We can find this diversity, especially in the education field, where teachers have two o more students from a different country.
Emotional expressivities can affect a lot in our students learning. Because they probably will see our reaction different from what they had seen all their lives. If we don't give a solution to this problem these students may be affected by the learning filter. Also, they could lose their confidence with themselves and others.
My advice for teachers and parents is to create an activity about "Feelings and emotions" where students learn these concepts in English, at the same time of doing mimics of these feelings. The teacher needs to carefully pay attention to their emotional expressivity and also the parents must observe how are expressed this emotional expressivity and trying to explain them at home.
We the teachers, should have a close relationship with the new students' and get to know their families. In my opinion, is the best way of obtaining information and create the correct environment for developing our students' abilities with learning.
Obtaining this information we'll know how we can manage these differences in emotional expressivity and we'll avoid misunderstandings.
Remember that we all are different and unique in our way.
Hi Kelly, it sound good your idea of having an activity about "Feelings and Emotions".
ResponderEliminarIt is something that we as teachers of ESL will need to keep in mind when teaching. With the cultural diversity that nowadays we encounter in schools everywhere in the world, teaching focus in the differences of expressivity will help to avoid misunderstandings.
I love your post.