I have a BA in Translation and Interpreting from the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas (UPC) and a joint PhD in Spanish (Applied Linguistics) from the University of Ottawa and the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM). After working as a postgraduate researcher at the ESRC Centre for Research on Bilingualism in Theory and Practice (Bangor University), I joined Swansea University in 2012.
I have a PGCert Teaching in Higher Education and a CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) qualification.
I teach a range of modules in the areas of Spanish language, translation, and interpreting at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
I support teaching by supervising undergraduate dissertations and projects, and postgraduate dissertations and theses. I am interested in supervising projects in applied linguistics, language learning, translation, and interpreting, particularly if they have a multidisciplinary perspective.
My interests and expertise lie in the general areas of applied linguistics, Romance linguistics, and more specifically in the areas of second language acquisition, bilingualism, and psycholinguistics.
In my research I have investigated linguistic and environmental factors and their effect on the acquisition of grammatical phenomena in English and Spanish (e.g. compound nouns, tense and aspect, grammatical gender) by analysing language data and processes. I am interested in the application of this type of research to the teaching of foreign languages and translation.
Higher Education Academy (HEA) Fellow. PR100431
This module will investigate second language learning from psycholinguistic perspectives. It will introduce students to some of the key theories in second language acquisition and focus on some of the factors that influence second language acquisition. By the end of this module, students will be able to identify causes of difficulty for second language learners, identify key features of different theories of second language acquisition, evaluate these theories in light of empirical research evidence and synthesise data/arguments in ways appropriate to different audiences
The aim of this module is to develop and refine students' translation skills by working through a dossier of textual materials illustrating distinct text types, and distinct aspects of source language culture and society from both Spain and Spanish America.
This module is the foundation of advanced level study of Spanish which will equip students who have previously taken Beginner Spanish (or equivalent) with the skills needed to use Spanish in general and professional environments. It concentrates on developing fluency and accuracy in written and spoken Spanish, establishing a firm grammatical understanding of the language, and extending students¿ vocabulary to read, write, interpret and speak about issues related to contemporary Hispanic society and culture. The module aims to enhance students¿ employability by introducing them to Professional Spanish, providing a grounding in the vocabulary and use of Business Spanish. Classes are mainly conducted in Spanish.
This module is the foundation of the intermediate level study of Spanish which will equip students who have previously taken Beginners' Spanish for Business Students I and II. It concentrates on further developing fluency and accuracy in written and spoken Spanish , establishing a firm grammatical understanding of the language, and extending students¿ vocabulary to read, write, interpret and speak about issues related to contemporary Spanish speaking society and culture appropriate to levels B1+ of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The module also aims to enhance students¿ employability by providing a grounding in the vocabulary and use of Spanish in contexts relating to the world of work. Classes are conducted mainly in Spanish . In addition to class work, students are also expected to undertake extensive private study.
This module consolidates and extends the language skills developed from Intermediate Spanish for Business Students I. It concentrates on further developing fluency and accuracy in written and spoken Spanish establishing a firm grammatical understanding of the language, and extending your vocabulary to read, write and speak about issues related to contemporary Spanish speaking society and culture. Topics are extended to business scenarios which will enrich your vocabulary and further the use of Spanish in business context. Classes will be conducted mainly in Spanish. In addition to class work, students are also expected to undertake extensive private study.
This module builds on and consolidates the skills and knowledge acquired in MLS390A by concentrating on further developing fluency and accuracy in written and spoken Spanish. This module aims to build on and consolidate the skills and knowledge acquired in MLS390A. It concentrates on further developing fluency and accuracy in written and spoken Spanish appropriate to level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It specifically aims at preparing the students for their Year Abroad and/or extend intercultural awareness, widening students¿ vocabulary to read, write, do presentations and translate about topics related to Spain and Latin America. The module also aims to enhance students¿ employability, by training them to do a successful presentation using appropriate IT applications. Classes will be conducted mainly in Spanish. There is also a Welsh-medium version of this module.
In 16 weekly 1.5 hour small-group seminars running through Semester 1 and into Semester 2, students will translate, discuss and annotate both non-technical and technical texts. Practice assignments will grow progressively longer to reflect real-world conditions and students will on occasion be expected to work together, critiquing and editing each other's work to produce a collaborative finished version. Techniques for discovering domain-specific knowledge and translating technical terminology will be explored and developed. Assessment will be by three test translations in different domains done through the year under exam conditions (2 hours with dictionaries and/or electronic resources), each counting for 25% of the marks of the module, plus one Terminology Project or Wikipedia Project counting for the final 25%.
This module, compulsory for students of the BAs in Modern Languages, Translation and Interpreting, and English- Chinese Translation and Interpreting, introduces concepts of English grammar and meaning relevant to translation and interpreting. A significant part of this module consists of learning the language to deal with the scientific study of human languages. Mastering this metalanguage is essential for any course with involves language and forms the basis for the formal study of English language and literature, modern foreign languages and linguistics. The module is taught in a weekly two-hour lecture covering linguistic fundamentals of English language (word classes, morphology, grammar and semantics), and a one-hour seminar focusing on these fundamentals of linguistic analysis in English compared to other languages studied as part of the translation and interpreting degrees.
This module will develop strategies and techniques to perform sight translation and dialogue (or bilateral consecutive) interpreting in the context of Local Government, covering a selection of topics in the areas of council services, social services, environmental health, and education. There will be lectures/workshops on voice confidence, note-taking, and ethics, and practical sessions (live sessions and language laboratory sessions using the latest technology) to enhance your learning. A range of materials will be made available on Canvas to practice the different modes of interpreting in your own time. This module will also prepare you for the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting, examined by the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIoL). This is optional and takes place in June every year (registration by February; CIoL fee applies).
