- Homelands
About me
María José Gonzálvez is a researcher and educator specialising in literature and inclusive, critically engaged language education. With over 30 years of teaching experience, she teaches Spanish language and literature at the University of Westminster and the Cervantes Institute in London. Her research examines diaspora, migration, and identity in African literature written in Spanish through decolonial and intersectional perspectives.
Her pedagogical practice integrates literary texts, creative practice, and digital technologies to foster inclusive and reflexive learning environments. Drawing on her interdisciplinary background in literature, education, and computer science, she brings a critical and creative approach to technology-enhanced language learning, curriculum design, assessment, and teacher development. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and an accredited examiner for DELE (A1–C2), A-level, and GCSE Spanish.
She has presented her research at international conferences, including the Doctoral Researcher Symposium on Migration and Diaspora (University of Westminster), with a talk on texts by Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel, Ángela Nzambi, and Mohamed El Morabet; followed by screening and discussion of the documentary "The Writer From a Country Without Bookstores".
María José co-authors teaching materials with the Special Interest Group on Decolonising Spanish Language Education (SIG-Des-ELEUK) and contributes to curriculum development and teacher training. Her recent publication, “Technology and Creativity in the Teaching and Learning of Spanish as a Foreign Language (ELE)”, appears in ELEUK in Action: Pedagogical and Research Reflections (Virtual Cervantes Centre, 2024). The chapter presents a series of adaptable didactic proposals that foster interaction, participation, and both synchronous and asynchronous collaboration through the creative use of digital technologies and literary texts. It also reflects on methods for evaluating these tasks and on the teacher’s evolving role as a facilitator in real and multimodal learning environments.
She also curates public literary events, including Intercultural Dialogues through African Literatures with the author Ángela Nzambi at the London Spanish Book & Zine Fair. María José is a member of ELEUK, Casa África, Fringe/Urban Fringes, and HomeLands, reflecting her commitment to bridging research, pedagogy, and intercultural dialogue.
Qualifications
MA in Hispanic Literature, University of La Rioja, Spain
Postgraduate Certificate in Education, University of Murcia, Spain
MA in Computer Science, University of Alicante, Spain
BSc in Computer Science, University of Alicante, Spain
Accredited DELE Examiner (A1–C2), Cervantes Institute, UK
A-level & GCSE Spanish Examiner, UK
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK
Teaching
María José’s teaching integrates social learning, creativity, and artistic expression to foster inclusive and engaging learning environments. She encourages students to connect language and literature with their own lived experiences, while developing transferable skills such as critical self-awareness, creativity, digital literacy, and confidence. Her methodology is grounded in reflective practice and a strong commitment to equity, empowering learners as active participants in the construction of knowledge.
Research
María José’s research focuses on African literature in Spanish through the lens of diaspora and identity studies, while also exploring inclusive language education and the role of digital and creative pedagogies in fostering intercultural dialogue and reflexive learning.
Publications
For details of all my research outputs, visit my WestminsterResearch profile.