CRSLA Lab: Current Projects
Abstracts
Accents in academia: Does it matter?
Ashley Golden & Amee P. Shah, Ph.D.
There are stereotypes and prejudices that surround individuals with accents (regional, ethnic, and foreign). Professors and students with accented speech can be affected by such prejudices inside the classroom, with consequences to student learning and grades, barriers trust and respect between student and faculty, faculty teaching evaluations, issues of tenure, and overall inclusion and fit. This concern should be acknowledged, understood and overcome. The effects of stereotypes against those with accents in the college and University setting are described in this detailed literature review to promote awareness and build a dialogue at ÒùÐÔÊÓƵ.
Barriers to Cross Cultural Communication and Student Learning
Jasmine Branch & Amee P. Shah, Ph.D.
The research conducted in this study explores students and professors cultural competence of accents in the classroom with the use of, interviews to show differences, recognition and understanding of speech patterns and dialects. The goal of the study is to investigate the issues of cross cultural communication, find solutions that will bring more awareness to the issue, and create a safe environment to further discuss cultural competence of accents.
Accents and Drinking: What is the Scientific Connection?
Amanda Griglack & Amee P. Shah, Ph.D.
Students will be exposed to the studies around speech production as a result of neurologic and cognitive inhibition due to the effects of inebriation, fatigue, and cognitive load. This interactive presentation will provide scientific background and serve as public awareness of drinking and drugs, with recommendations for wellness. Students and faculty will learn about the work of the Cross-Cultural Speech, Language, and Acoustics Lab in the area of accents, diversity, and cultural competence.
How to assess diversity & inclusion on a university campus: a multi-method study
Jade Gallucci, Dana Lisi, & Amee P. Shah, Ph.D.
This presentation will describe the purpose and results of a large-scale project in prorgress currently at ÒùÐÔÊÓƵ assessing the Diversity Climate as perceived by, and for students. The purpose of the study is to be able to identify exclusionary, sexual harrassment, communication issues, or bias, and hate on ÒùÐÔÊÓƵ's campus. We have conducted online surveys and face to face ethnographic inverviews in order to gather our information. Findings will help students learn about this work, provide input, and be connected to the pipeline of resources for creating an inclusive climate.
Quasi-ethnographic Interviews and Experiences of the South Jersey Hispanic Community
Jessica Perez & Amee P. Shah, Ph.D.
This poster will describe a study conducted to understand cross-cultural communication, values, needs, and challenges of the South Jersey Hispanic Community This project will increase my own knowledge and awareness about cultural and linguistic diversity and has helped me become more globalized as a future health-care student. Through this poster, I will be able to share information to build knowledge and awareness for the students at ÒùÐÔÊÓƵ in order to help them integrate foreign-exchange students, international students, and students of diverse backgrounds.
Racially-biased Policing: Can racial profiling be reduced by linguistic training?
Amanda Schuler & Amee P. Shah, Ph.D.
This project provided a unique accent listening game-based training to the Police and First Responders to help increase cultural competency and reduce racial and linguistic profiling. Results of this project, along with comparisons of other trainings will be shared to increase awareness about issues of cultural bias and profiling and promote a bridge-building dialog and trust.
Interactive Globalization Practice
Emily Descano & Amee P. Shah, Ph.D.
This project involves exploring techniques for effective clinical outreach for diversity issues. The presentation encourages participants to listen to differing language samples and attempt to match the speaker’s accent to its corresponding location on the world map. The purpose of this activity is to increase appreciation for cultural diversity through exposure to language differences. This project aids in the development of communication skills, ethical reasoning, and global awareness through community outreach.
Undergraduate Research Experience: What's in it for you?
Kimberly Bernal & Amee P. Shah, Ph.D.
This presentation will show the highlights of what undergraduate research projects involve, and show how students can make their resume distinctive by engaging in undergraduate research experiences with faculty mentoring. Without any prior research experience, as a Junior, I was honored to be selected to work as a Lab Manager in the CRSLA research team--a fact that could surprise and motivate students curious but nervous about research. Under this role, my main goal is to manage the lab effectively by working with different personnel on and off campus to manage the lab's equipment, social media, and inventory. Students can benefit from learning how these tasks have allowed me to gain communication, leadership, technology and management skills, while managing my time, classes, and extra curricular activities.
Diversity and Inclusion don't have to be abstract concepts: What does it take to bridge the gap?
Dr. Amee Shah, Ph.D.
In this fast-paced presentation, I will present an overview of a decade long systematic work I have done as a scholar and private practioner in the industry to implement proven solutions for diversity and inclusion by bridging the cross-cultural communication gap. I will demonstrate how some of that work is being applied here at ÒùÐÔÊÓƵ through a variety of programs that involve faculty and students. This talk is an integrating effort to tie disparate ideas and begin a cohesive conversation focusing on solutions for inclusion.
