A collaborative journey in pronunciation

Abstract While research on accent bias has demonstrated the potential real-world impact of speaking with a second language accent, the results of this work rarely make their way into the hands of practitioners. Inspired by participatory action research models, this contribution responds to calls to more actively engage community members in research. Co-researchers in the current project include 18 individuals in two cities, Montreal and Burnaby (Canada): six academic facilitators, seven undergraduate HR management majors, and five community members unaffiliated with a university. The collaborative work included an introductory workshop focused on the establishment of a shared understanding of accent bias along with a series of co-design and implementation meetings. The work culminated in the creation of 10 mini-projects focused on raising awareness about accent bias. We share details of the process, insights from community members, and recommendations for those wishing to undertake a similar journey.