Presentation

Language and Nonlanguage Factors Affecting Nonnative Undergraduate Students’ Reaction to Itas

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Abstract

This study investigates whether language and nonlanguage factors affect international undergraduates’ perceptions of international teaching assistants (ITAs). Fifty-five students enrolled in first-year composition classes watched a short video-taped lecture under one of three guises related to nationality of the speaker and rated the lecture and the speaker based on eight response variables. Results indicate that the information provided to participants about the nationality of the speaker did not influence their perception of both lecture and speaker. However, when participants' variables were analyzed, statistically significant results were found for two response variables: accent and speaker likeability. The results for accent indicate that the actual degree of accentedness that participants perceived in the speaker’s speech, not nationality, influenced their ratings. As for likeability of the speaker, raters favored the supposed Brazilian TA. This finding may be related to stereotypes of Brazilian people and culture worldwide or to previous socio-cultural experiences that participants may have had with Brazilian individuals.

How to Cite:

Lima, E. F., (2010) “Language and Nonlanguage Factors Affecting Nonnative Undergraduate Students’ Reaction to Itas”, Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching Proceedings 2(1).