Dr Shiri Lev-Ari: Why don’t we believe non-native speakers and how can exposure to foreign accents reduce this bias?
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.
