Dr Mariana Gonzalez

I have been teaching languages for more than 20 years in different countries (France, Jamaica, USA and the UK).I was born and raised in Spain. In France, I taught Spanish in different secondary schools. In Jamaica, I was teaching all levels Spanish at the University of the West Indies (1996-2004) and then at the University of Technology , Jamaica. From 2011 to 2015 I was also Head of the Foreign Languages Division at UTech. I moved to the USA in 2015 where I joined the University of Illinois, at Urbana-Champaign. I was teaching Spanish and I was also involved in developing and teaching online Spanish courses. I have been in the UK since 2018, first at the University of Birmingham and since 2021 at the University of Leicester where I hold the position of Teaching Fellow in Spanish. I completed my PhD in Linguistic and Literary Studies in their Sociocultural Contexts with the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. I have completed several courses, workshops and participated in international conferences focused on new trends in foreign languages teaching methodologies with special interest in online language learning and the development of learner autonomy.

• Multimodal Approach based on Digital Projects: Strategies to integrate critical pedagogies in the teaching of Spanish as a Foreign Language. Proceedings ICON, International Congress Education and Knowledge, Universidad de Alicante. 2023 
• “Online Language Learning in a University Context in the US and the UK”.Roig Vila, R. (Ed.)Proceedings ICON, International Congress Education and Knowledge, Universidad de Alicante. 2022
• New Technologies for the development of writing skills with Jamaican University Students. PhD Thesis published by The University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, 2020.
• Implementing Online Modality to learn Spanish as a Foreign Language in a University Context in the United States. Chapter published in Casos de éxito en aprendizaje ubicuo y social mediado con tecnologías, Red EuLES, pp.43-52 Prensas de la Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain, 2018.
• “Learning Spanish Agreement in a Multilingual University Context: The case of Jamaican students”. Boletín de Lingüística, XXVIII/45-46/ pp.27-43, Universidad Central de Venezuela, 2016.
• “Towards an intercultural perspective in Manuals of Spanish as a Foreign Language”, Journal Zona Próxima, 22, pp. 216-225, Universidad del Norte, Colombia, 2015.
• “Social Networks for Learning Foreign Languages in a University Context”. Gorka, J. Palazio (Ed.) Actas de Ikasnabar. VI Congreso Internacional sobre Educación Abierta y Tecnología. MOOCs, PLEs y plataformas de eLearning. Leioa: Universidad del País Vasco, 2013.
• “Use of Blogs and Social Networks for Foreign Language Learning in a University Context”, Journal Núcleo 29, pp. 39-57, Universidad Central de Venezuela, 2012.
• Exploring autonomous learning as a way of improving Foreign Language Proficiency in Jamaican Tertiary Education. The UWI Quality Education Forum. Special Peer-Reviewed Issue on the Teaching/ Learning Process at the University Level. University of the West Indies, Jamaica, 2012.
• “Towards Language Learner Autonomy in Higher Education through the Use of Blogs and Wikis”, Journal Zona Proxima, 16, pp. 14-29, Universidad del Norte, Colombia, 2012.
• “Comparative Study of Online Translators: Systran, Reverso and Google”. Journal Nucleo, 27, pp.187-216. Universidad Central de Venezuela, 2010.

SP1010, Year 1,  Spanish Language Advanced (module convenor)

SP2010, Year 2, Spanish Language Post-Advanced (module convenor)

SP3010, Year 4, Spanish Language Proficiency (convenor for the written part)

I am also involved in the following modules:

ML1006 Language and Society (Spanish around the World)

TS1001 Introduction to Interpreting

TS2005 Consecutive Interpreting 

TS3004 Audiovisual Translation 

TS3001 Conference Interpreting 

• Associate extranet for the GCSE exam board AQA, Modern Languages
• Member of the British Association for Spanish Language Teachers in Higher and Further Education, (ELE UK) 
• Scientific Reviewer at the International Congress Education and Knowledge, ICON edu 2022 and 2023, University of Alicante (Spain)
• Member of the Scientific Committee in the II International Conference on Digital Transformation in Learning Environments (CITEA), University of Oviedo (Spain), 2022.
• Scientific reviewer for the Editorial Online Journal-EDUTEC, Online Journal of Educational Technology, Universitat de les Illes Balears,(Spain) 2021.

- June 2019 Invited to present a Workshop about Flipping the classroom at the XVII Jornadas de Redes de Investigación en Docencia Universitaria- REDES 2019 III Workshop Internacional de Innovación en Enseñanza Superior y TIC- INNOVAESTIC 2019 University of Alicante (Spain)

 

June 2023, Multimodal Approach based on Digital Projects: Strategies to integrate critical pedagogies in the teaching of Spanish as a Foreign Language, presented at the II International Congress: Education and knowledge ICON-Edu, 20923, University of Alicante, Spain

September 9, 2022 Lenguaje inclusivo: Estrategias para su integracion en la ensenanza de espanol lengua extranjera, presented at the International Symposium "Lenguaje inclusivo: una rebelion imparable o la desnaturalizacion de la lengua", University College cork, Ireland

May, 11-13, 2022 Online Language Learning in a University context in the USA and the UK, presented at the I International Congress: Education and Knowledge ICON- Edu, 2022, University of Alicante, Spain

October, 2021 Uso y valoracion de plataformas digitales (Blackboard Collaborate, Microsoft Teams y Zoom) en contextos de ensenanza superior de aprendizaje de lenguas, presented at the 8th International Congress Buenas Practicas con TIC organized by the University of Malaga, Spain
September, 2019 Adquisicion de L3 en contexto multilingue: retos y oportunidades presented at the 30th International Congress ASELE, Internacionalizacion y ensenanza del espanol como LE/L2: plurilinguismo y comunicacion intercultural, Porto, Portugal
June, 2018 Desarrollo de destrezas orales en un modelo de aprendizaje autonomo y online de ELE presented at the 100th AATSP (American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese)  Conference at the University of Salamanca, Spain
April, 2017 From Blended to Fully Online Language Courses: Implementing Online Beginners Courses in Higher Education presented at the IV Congress Spanish as a Foreign Language, Universite de Montreal, Canada
June, 2016 La adquisicion de una tercera lengua en contexto multilingue: retos y oportunidades presented at the III International Congress in Multilinguism organized by the Nebrija University in Madrid

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy 

PhD Linguistic and Literary Studies in their Sociocultural Contexts, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.

Diploma of Advanced Studies (DEA) in Development of Multimedia and New Methodologies in the Foreign Language Teaching
MA in Foreign Language Teaching. National University of Distance Education, Spain 
BA Spanish Philology, University of Murcia, Spain