Finger Gesture, Non-Verbal Gestures:
What They Mean in Other Cultures
Using a hand or finger gesture that is uniquely American may confuse your ELL students and their parents.
Hand gestures in other countries don't always mean the same things.
Nonverbal gestures often support our interactions with students and parents.
However, this type of non-verbal communication may also carry cultural connotations that may be confusing or vulgar to people from other countries.
Cross Cultural Communication
The meaning of rude hand gestures is quite different around the world, even in western countries such as France..
Other countries, such as India and Mexico, have unique customs that are related to class and status.
It will benefit educators to be aware of a simple finger gesture or other nonverbal gestures they may be using as non-verbal communication in the classroom.
Common American Gestures
Here are some common American gestures that can lead to problems with cross cultural communication:
Crossing your legs and showing the bottom of your footTouching or hugging in greeting or to comfortTouching the head of a Buddhist studentPointing at someoneBeckoning with your index finger< (a finger gesture)A woman offering to shake hands with a man from the Middle East Smiling too muchUsing the “OK” hand gesture (it can mean money, worthless or zero, a female flirting gesture, a sexual insult, or “What are you talking about?”)Using the “Thumbs up” or the “Victory” (or “Peace” sign) (a rude sexual insult in some cultures)Note: pointing with the middle finger is very acceptable in some cultures.
It seems that almost any way that you position or move your arms, hands, make a finger gesture, wrist, eyes, eyebrows, fist, legs, feet, head, or lips, or any way that you touch your cheek, chin, ear, nose, eyelid, lips, or temple might have special meaning in another culture.
Our role as teachers, administrators, and staff is not to be international experts of all gestures. We do, however, need to be aware that we might be sending unintended signals to some of our students through our gestures.
If you see an alarmed reaction from a student or parent who may have a different cultural background, please take a moment to clarify your intentions.
Students learn social norms during interactions at school. We must help students from other cultures to understand the meaning of the American gestures that they see.
Additionally, if they use a gesture that is not appropriate in American culture, take a moment to help them understand how others may interpret them.
English language learners quickly learn phrases like “bad word” or “not appropriate.” They may just need some honest feedback from someone they trust, like you.
Resources for Understanding
Nonverbal Gestures in Other Cultures
You may find these resources helpful as you work to understand the meaning of hand gestures in other countries:
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