Dr Shiri Lev-Ari: Why don’t we believe non-native speakers and how can exposure to foreign accents reduce this bias?
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This webinar took place 4th May 2022.
To start the CTELL events series ‘Variation and Change in Language Learning and Literacy Development – Celebrating diversity in the language classroom’, Dr Shiri Lev-Ari from Royal Holloway University of London presented some fascinating research into the perception of foreign accents.
She explained that people judge a message more negatively and even believe it less when it is harder to process, for example when it is said with a foreign accent. She argued that this implicit negative bias can be reduced with exposure to foreign accent. Lastly, she explained how interacting with a more diverse group of people has wider benefits and can improve individuals’ communication skills in general.