Interpersonal Communication in Regard to Students’ Perception of Paying Respect and Feeling Close to their EFL Teachers

ABSTRACT The objectives of this research were to find out: (a) the verbal and nonverbal Interpersonal Communication that the students of vocational high School 1 Malili, East Luwu, perceive to foster their positive respect and close feeling to their EFL teachers, (b) the students’ ways of showing their respect and close feeling to their EFL teachers.This research employed mixed methods research design. It applied purposive sampling technique taking 2 English teachers and 120 students of SMK Negeri 1 Malili, East Luwu consisting of four departments, namely ICT, Mining, Automotive, and Welding. The data were collected by using video camera, observational checklist, field note, and perceptional scale. The perceptional scale and interview were used to gain the information on students’ perception of paying respect and feeling close to their EFL teacher.The result of the research showed that (a) the students of vocational high school 1 Malili, East luwu paid high respect and close feeling to their teacher verbal and nonverbal interpersonal communication (b) the students uses some ways to show their respect and close feeling to their EFL teachers. It was concluded that the students paid high respect and felt close to their EFL teachers and they showed it to their EFL teachers through both verbal and nonverbal expressions