Facial expressions: questions and Band 8 answers

Most of the time, yes. I think micro-expressions give a lot away, even if someone is trying to stay neutral. For example, my sister always frowns slightly around her eyes whenever she is annoyed, so I can immediately tell if something is bothering her before she even says a word.

Not really, to be honest. I have been told I wear my heart on my sleeve, so my face usually betrays whatever I am thinking. If I get stressed during a presentation at work, my cheeks tend to go bright red and I start clenching my jaw without realising.

I would say they are equally important, but expressions often feel more authentic. People can easily say polite things they do not mean, but a genuine smile is hard to fake. In casual chats with colleagues, I rely heavily on their expressions to gauge how they really feel.

A little bit, yes. My parents always reminded me not to pull faces at the dinner table when I disliked a meal. I remember rolling my eyes once when my mum served spinach, and she gave me quite a stern lecture about being polite and respectful.

Generally, yes, especially when people are chatting with friends or family. In my hometown, people are quite expressive and tend to use wide smiles and raised eyebrows when telling lively stories, although in formal business meetings everyone tends to keep a straight face.