- Homelands
About me
María José Gonzálvez is a researcher and educator specialising in African literature written in Spanish and inclusive, critically engaged language education. She teaches Spanish language and literature at the University of Westminster and the Cervantes Institute in London.
With over 25 years of experience in education, her work bridges literary studies, intercultural communication, and decolonial pedagogy. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and an accredited examiner for DELE (A1–C2), A-level, and GCSE Spanish. Her teaching integrates creative, digital technologies and literary texts to foster inclusive and reflexive learning environments.
Her doctoral research in Comparative Literature at the University of Alcalá (Spain) focuses on African literature in Spanish, exploring diaspora, migration, and identity through intersectional and decolonial lenses. She presented this work at 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". Her writing draws on this research to explore the intersections of language, literature, and diasporic imaginaries.
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
PhD research in Comparative Literature (2022–present), University of Alcalá, Spain
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 approach 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 explores the intersections of literature, language, digital humanities, and intercultural studies from a decolonial and intersectional perspective. Her current doctoral work examines African literature written in Spanish, with a focus on themes of diaspora, space, and migrant identity. Through this research, she aims to amplify underrepresented voices in Hispanic literature and contribute to more inclusive and globally aware approaches to language education and society.
Publications
For details of all my research outputs, visit my WestminsterResearch profile.