zena4 wrote:
Hello Kiseki,
And besides all that have been said already, would you think that that Japanese teacher would feel at ease if you looked at her eyes for long periods while talking with her? I mean, there's really that cultural matter that influences the looks, how to look at people.
And since you don't have that problem in English, maybe talking in a foreign language brings up back little things as when you were a little child, the way you acted then?
I don't think my teacher would feel ill at ease. After all she teaches many foreigners.
When I was a kid I DO remember one very nasty teacher who came into my classroom one day and wanted all of us to greet her. I just sat there and refused to look her in the eye or say hello to her. She got downright bitchy towards me and put me in my place. Maybe I learned from that experience that I'd better make eye contact. I don't know. I'm an adult now so I can't remember how I was as a child too well.