Do you think it is important for people learning a second language to look people directly in the eye when speaking?

I usually find a balance between looking in the eye and looking away - a direct gaze may bother a student 

I tell all my student learning English to look people in the eye when speaking. It shows people they have respect for them and it helps my students build confidence in themselves. If a person is speaking and is looking down it makes it look like they are talking to their feet not the person they are speaking to.

no one should not look directly to ones eye because it is kind of disrespect for the other person