Every voice tells a story. Every listener shapes the conversation.

What happens when speaking with an accent changes the way others respond to you?

Professor Gail August explores this question through years of research with multilingual students and immigrant families in New York City's South Bronx. Their stories reveal how language influences confidence, education, employment, and belonging while demonstrating that communication is a shared responsibility between speaker and listener.

Blending linguistics, education, and real-life experiences, this presentation offers a powerful perspective on language, identity, and the importance of listening with understanding rather than assumption.