Mariela Knowles

Photograph of Mariela Knowles

Department of Modern Languages
Senior Language Tutor in Spanish
Co-ordinator for Spanish, Languages for All
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Contact details

Address
Ashley Building
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

I have been teaching Spanish language modules at the University of Birmingham since 2004 . I have over 20 years teaching experience as a foreign language teacher in all sectors,  from school children to adults. I am a native speaker of Spanish and I was born in Argentina.

Qualifications

  • BA(Eng)
  • Postítulo de Formación Universitaria en inglés (PGCert)

Biography

After completing my degree in English, which included pedagogical training as a teacher of English as a Foreign Language, I gained experience working in primary and secondary education.

When I moved to England, I worked for many years in the Adult Education sector teaching Spanish as a foreign language before joining Languages for All (previously known as Centre for Modern Languages) as a visiting tutor.

I became a permanent member of the team in 2007.

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Teaching

My main role is teaching language modules for the Institution Wide Language Programme to undergraduate and postgraduate students.

I teach Spanish at all levels from complete beginners to advanced. Over the years I have also supervised Year 2 and 3 Tandem modules.

I am the language lead for Spanish, and I am responsible for all aspects of the Spanish provision within LfA.

I also contribute to the Department of Modern Languages by teaching undergraduate language modules in the BAML programme.

Research

My areas of interest include:

  • The use of digital technologies in language teaching and learning
  • Distance learning
  • Second language acquisition

Other activities

I am a CBLC examiner in Spanish for OCR.