All right. So, in 2020, I studied a year abroad in Bilbao, Spain. Have you done international exchange? Yeah, some of you have. I did. And we were basically just students from all over the world, united for our passion for beers before, after, and sometimes during class. apparently al it was also a passion to cheat cheat on your significant other back home. Um yeah, a funny experience. We were all there from different parts of the world, but we all met the same obstacle. Um an identity crisis some might cal ...

Identity & Belonging - Accents carry assumptions about credibility, class, intelligence, and kindness, but can also be questioned and judged [2] - Belonging is complex and not as simple as one word, place, or passport [4] - Individuals with multicultural backgrounds often experience a sense of not fully belonging in any one place [6][13] - Identity is not a fixed thing but a tension and space in between different places and versions of oneself [14] - Home can be seen as the space between all the places one can't go back to [15] Language & Communication - People often make assumptions about others based on their accents and where they perceive them to be from [1] - Fluency in a language doesn't guarantee acceptance or a sense of belonging [9] - Code-switching, both linguistic and emotional, involves adapting one's voice and language to fit in, potentially leading to a loss of authenticity [12][13] - The world needs more honest voices, including those that are fractured, foreign, or fluent [25] - Belonging is a decision to show up with one's true voice, accent, and tone, even when the world demands silence [24]

[Applause] For as long as I can remember, babbling a Chinese accent has been a humongous part of learning English in my family. Take my sister for example. She's 12 years older than me and she grew up attending a local Chinese school until just before her early teens and then she transferred to an international school.Of course, I was too young to really witness this firsthand, but one of the stories about that transition will always stick with me. When she began attending a new school, it was terribly hard ...

[Music] [Applause] Imagine being at a water park, a place where joy and laughter should flow freely, a place of laughter and splashes. is you are speaking your mother tongue, a language that carries centuries of stories and songs. When suddenly someone interrupts you and says, "What the are you speaking? Is it Jamaica?" I watched as the middle-aged Caucasesian man's face contorted with disgust and a doineering audacity as it interrupted my conversation in Euroba at a water park in Philadelphia, Mississippi. ...

Accents and Perception - Accents significantly influence how individuals are perceived and judged, impacting assumptions about their education, competence, and background [9] - Communication effectiveness is more crucial than sounding native; accent is merely a tool for conveying messages [8][12] - There is no truly neutral or standard accent; these are constructs that can be used to create hierarchies [9] - Accent reflects an individual's life story, originating from their native language and dialect [9] Bias and Discrimination - Job applicants with foreign accents are 16% less likely to receive callbacks, highlighting potential bias in hiring processes [12] - Individuals may face judgment and discrimination based on their accents, affecting their interactions and opportunities [9][11] Embracing Linguistic Diversity - Individuals should be proud of their accents and not be afraid to showcase them, as the message conveyed is more important than the accent itself [15][18] - Learning new accents can be beneficial for various reasons, such as career advancement or entertainment, without diminishing the value of one's original accent [16][18] - The goal should be clarity and connection in communication, rather than conforming to a native-like accent [12]