I am Language Tutor in Spanish the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures. I am an experienced linguist with a particular interest in applied language, grammar, lexicography, general linguistics and translation.
Over the years, I have taught and devised a wide range of Spanish language courses, from complete beginners to advanced level, grammar lectures, and stemming from one of my research interests, translation courses at all levels, focusing on journalistic as well as literary translation. My final year translation course, Advanced Literary Translation takes on a critical and diachronic perspective.
Before coming to Royal Holloway, I was a was a lecturer and researcher at King’s College London and worked as lexicographer and editor at Oxford University Press on the first English-Spanish Learner’s Dictionary. I have researched and lectured on bilingualism, translation, and Spanish detective fiction. I have publications on Spanish detective fiction, bilingualism, and the translation of Alice’s Adventurers in Wonderland into Spanish.
I see language learning as an active and evolving process, I am passionate about second language acquisition and the importance of motivation and engagement for effective learning. This interest informs the methodology used in my teaching to promote student engagement, creativity, and ownership of their own learning process. Creative writing, vlogging, and oral video stories created by my students have become central elements in my language courses, and have been very well received by my students. I am a keen proponent of the flipped classroom method to promote student engagement in mixed level groups with differentiated learning styles.
I am actively engaged in the development of e-learning and teaching methodology and have been invited to present and demonstrate my work in various college workshops and symposiums. I believe in a holistic approach to education encompassing not only pedagogy but also the emotional wellbeing of students. To support this I have completed first aid mental health training.
