You will be creating a PowerPoint presentation. Prior to beginning work on this presentation,
• Read the article Come Join Us and Lose your Accent: Accent Modification Courses asLinks to an external site. Hierarchization of International StudentsLinks to an external site..
• Watch the video Kasia Suarez: Losing Sight of your Cultural IdentityLinks to an external site..
Millions of international students immigrate to the United States in pursuit of a quality education. They struggle to speak the language, learn the U.S. customs and traditions, and adapt and assimilate. While others may seek to acculturate, others may hide their accent and cultural identity.
In your presentation,
• Discuss the factors associated with need for accent reduction (AR) and accent modification (AM) courses that are available at various universities, colleges, and businesses.
• Identify the stereotypes associated with people with foreign accents.
• Describe the ways that AR and AM courses may encourage racial inequities and threaten cultural identity.
• Examine the reasons why immigrants would choose to acculturate to the dominant culture, or hide their accents and places of national origin, and its effect on their social and psychological well-being.
• Formulate three solutions that can help immigrants embrace their accent and cultural identity.