Maria Blanco-Hermida

I am a Senior Lecturer in Spanish in the School of Humanities. I teach and lead Spanish Language modules in Polylang, the University's Open Language Programme. I also work as a language learning strategies coach and language teacher trainer at Maria Blanco Coaching  .

Over the years, at Westminster and other institutions, I have held other academic roles, including Open Language Spanish Coordinator, DELE Exams Officer, Spanish Language and Culture consultant, HE external examiner, GCSE examiner, and Spanish Development Editor. 

I have worked extensively in the design, delivery, and assessment of Spanish as a Foreign Language courses for more than 30 years. And as a specialist in effective language learning strategies, I have extensive experience in delivering coaching and workshops for Adult and Higher Education students and teachers in the UK and other European countries. 

Books

My book How to Learn Spanish: A guide to powerful principles and strategies for successful learning and self-empowerment (Hikari Press, 2021)  is a comprehensive guide to effective and enjoyable language learning for students of Spanish. My second book , How to Teach Language Learning Strategies: 4 simple steps for successful independent language learning (Lightwork Press, 2021),  is written for language teachers who are interested in enabling their students to become skillful and confident independent language learners, self-regulate, and enjoy the language learning process.

Qualifications

I gained my BA (Hons) in Education at the Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca (Spain), and completed an MA in Modern Languages in Education at the University College of London Institute of Education.

I am a certified Neurolanguage Coach® with Efficient Language Coaching and an accredited coach with the International Coaching Federation. I am also a certified  Canfield Success Principles Trainer, EUROLTA Teacher Trainer, International House Spanish Language Teacher and Online Tutor, DELE Examiner, and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

I am interested in exploring frameworks for effective language learning strategy training and coaching. I design and research activities that help learners develop strategies for more effective, enjoyable, and autonomous language learning. I very much enjoy sharing the knowledge I gain through workshops for both teachers and language learners.

Selected workshops, papers and projects

• Powerful strategies for accelerating your language learning and succeeding in the exams.Online workshop for students (University of Westminster, 4 March 2026)
• Video for students of languages: “How to Develop Excellent Speaking Skills”. Project funded by the Talent Bank scheme at the University of Westminster ( 2023-2024)
• Diseño de una sesión de entrenamiento estratégico. Online teacher training workshop for ALCE (Consejería de Educación in the United Kingdom, 15 March 2024)
• Cuatro pasos simples para enseñar con éxito estrategias de aprendizaje. Online teacher training workshop for ALCE (Consejería de Educación in the United Kingdom, 28 February 2024)
• Las estrategias de aprendizaje : Herramientas simples y efectivas paraempoderar al alumnado y agilizar su proceso de aprendizaje. Online teacher training workshop for ALCE (Consejería de Educación in the United Kingdom, 23 February 2024)
• Video for students of languages: "How to Learn Vocabulary Effectively". Project funded by the Student Digital Ambassador scheme at the University of Westminster (March-July 2023)
• Three Key strategies for successful language learning and exam preparation; Strategies for learning vocabulary effectively; Five strategies for developing excellent pronunciation and fluency. Online workshops for students (University of Westminster, 2,10, 16 February 2023)
• 6 Top Strategies for Developing Excellent Speaking Skills. Online workshop for teachers (The Language Show, 12 November 2023)
•  A Four-Step Simple, Effective Approach to Strategy Training. Online workshop for conference participants (Fourth International Conference on Situating Strategy Use, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, 23-24 November 2022) 
• Empower your students: Teach language learning strategies. Online workshop for teachers (The Language Show, 13 November 2022).
• Developing Student Agency and Ownership of Learning Through Strategy training. Online workshop for language teachers (AULC Conference, 27 April 2022).
• Four Powerful Strategies for Learning Languages. Online workshop for students (World in Westminster Festival, London,16 March 2022).
• Powerful Strategies for Learning Spanish. Online workshop for students (The Language Show, 14 November 2021).
• Powerful Principles for Successful Language Learning. Online workshop for students (University of Westminster, London, 21- 23 September 2021).
• How to Memorise Vocabulary Really Well. Online workshop for students (University of Westminster, London, 2 February 2021).
• Powerful Principles for Learning Spanish Effectively. Online workshop for students (University of Westminster, London, 26 January 2021)
• Helping Students to Be  Better Independent Language Learners. Staff Development for Evening Language Programme (University of Westminster, London, 19 November 2019).
• The Golden Keys for Excellent Speaking Skills. Staff Development for Languages Programme (Morley College,London, 10  August 2019).
• Helping Students to Be  Better Independent Language Learners. Staff Development for Languages Programme (Morley College, London, 4 July 2019).
• Las estrategias de aprendizaje y las inteligencias múltiples.Taller para profesores de ELE en formación (Instituto Cervantes Londres, London,  31 May 2019).
• Las estrategias de aprendizaje y las inteligencias múltiples. Taller para profesores de ELE en formación ( Instituto Cervantes Londres, London 9 February 2019).
• Flashcards for successful language learning. Workshop for students (London  Channing School, London, 18 January 2019).
• Boost Your Coursework and Exam Results with Effective Vocabulary Learning Strategies. Workshop for Open Language Centre students. (University of Westminster, London, 12 and 15  November 2018). 
• Las estrategias de aprendizaje y las inteligencias múltiples. Taller para profesores de ELE en formación  (Instituto Cervantes Londres, London, 27 October 2018).
• Estrategias simples y efectivas para desarrollar la expresión oral y autoeficacia en Secundaria. Taller para profesores organizado por la Consejería de Educación (London, 16 June 2018).
• Effective Language Learner Strategies for Developing Students´ Competence and Confidence in Speaking Spanish. Presentation at ELEUK 2018 (King´s College London, 15 June 2018). 
• Las estrategias de aprendizaje y las inteligencias múltiples. Taller para profesores de ELE en formación, (Instituto Cervantes Londres, 4 and 5 May 2018).
• Estrategias de aprendizaje simples y efectivas para la expresión oral – Parte 2. Taller para profesores de ELE (Instituto Cervantes Londres, London,  April 2018).
• Effective Flashcards for Better Speaking Performance and Confidence. Workshops for Polylang -Open Language Centre students (University of Westminster, London, 27 and 28 March 2018).

• Estrategias de aprendizaje simples y efectivas para la expresión oral – Parte 1 . Taller para profesores de ELE (Instituto Cervantes London, London, 16 March 2018).

• Estrategias de aprendizaje para ELE: De la teoría a la práctica. Taller para profesores de ELE (Instituto Cervantes Londres, London, 9 February 2018).

• Estrategias para un aprendizaje independiente y efectivo. Taller para profesores de ELE (Instituto Cervantes de Berlín, Berlín, 15 de diciembre de 2017).
• 3+1 Golden Keys for Successful Language Learning. Workshops for Polylang -Open Language Centre students (University of Westminster, London, 6 and 8 November 2017).
• Making Language Learning More Effective In and Outside The Classroom With Learning Strategies. Staff Development Session for languages department (University of Nottingham, UK, 25 November 2016).

• (Towards) research informed principles for teaching and learning vocabulary. ELE-UK Encuentro 2016  (University of Reading, UK, 24 June 2016). 
• Supporting flexible and lifelong learning with language learning strategies. Staff Development Session for the Westminster Professional Language Centre (University of Westminster, London, 20 June 2016).
• Estrategias para aprender ELE dentro y fuera del aula. Talleres de español de la Consejería de Educación del Reino Unido (Instituto español "Vicente Cañada Blanch", London, 18 June 2016).
• Vocabulary Learning Strategies of GLL. WPLC Research Seminar (University of Westminster, London, 28 October 2015)

• Equipemos a los alumnos de ELE para la autonomía con estrategias de aprendizaje. Workshop delivered at an ELE-UK teacher training event  (Instituto Cervantes Londres, London, 5 December 2014).
• Exploring the listening process to inform the development of strategy awareness-raising materials. Action research project focused on identifying (a) strategies used by the students in listening coursework tasks, (b) easy and difficult aspects of the tasks, and (c) affective responses to the tasks (University of Westminster, London, 2009-10).
• Implementing a strategy awareness raising programme: strategy changes and feedback. Action research project aimed at analysing the impact of a strategy awareness raising programme on the students' learning process in three main areas: strategy awareness, strategy use in learning Spanish, and transfer of strategies from Spanish to other subjects (University of Westminster, London, 2007-8).
• Seeking to facilitate language learning – Explicit learner strategy awareness training in the FL classroom. Paper presented at the ‘Interface with Linguistics Conference’, (University of Westminster, London, 27 October 2007).
• Piloting a framework for learner strategy training to support independent learning. Paper presented at the ‘Linking teaching and research in Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies Conference’, Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies Conference (University of Southampton, UK, 10 July 2007).
• Supporting independent learning through 'uncomplicated' and effective learner strategy training. Paper presented at the Teaching and Learning Symposium (University of Westminster, London, 5 July 2006).
• Enseñar estrategias de aprendizaje en la clase de ELE: por qué, cuáles, cómo y cuándo. Workshop delivered at the summer school for teachers of Spanish as a Foreign Language (Universidad de Salamanca, Spain, 3 August 2005).
• Towards Strategy Instruction – A preliminary Exploration. (MA Dissertation, UCL Institute of Education, London, 2002).

For details of all my research outputs, visit my WestminsterResearch profile.