This talk explores the intimacy and vulnerability involved in not only learning a new language but also speaking to native speakers. Using poetic devices, this discussion delves into what Botat has learned about conversing in her secondary language and the important lessons which can be yielded from migrants’ experiences. Building on statistics and real-life experiences, the audience will be invited to step into the lives of migrants, individuals often placed at the margins of society. This presentation debuts Ruchama Botat’s poem ‘Language poem/What I Learned From Losing my Language’ and uses this artistic expression as a means to provoke deep conversation on language, acceptance and vulnerability. This poem and the literary devices employed throughout the talk will demand that audience members be confronted with the reality of many migrants who are learning French for the first time in Montreal. All in all, this talk intends to leave spectators more introspective, more aware of the vulnerability involved in conversations and more confident in their voice. Ruchama Botat is a Cameroon-born, United States-raised raised and Canadian-educated immigrant. As a writer, poet and law school graduate, she is committed to using her education, words and artistry to speak for the voiceless and marginalized. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx