I grew up in Tafalla, a small town in Navarra, Spain, where from a very young age I developed a keen interest in languages. This passion guided my decision to pursue a degree in Translation and Interpretation at the University of the Basque Country from 2018 to 2022. During my studies, I worked with several languages: Basque, Spanish, English, French, and some Arabic. My enthusiasm for languages led me to undertake an Erasmus exchange at the University of Coimbra in Portugal, where I added Portuguese to my linguistic repertoire.
Although I find the field of translation fascinating, I have always had a particular inclination toward language teaching. This passion prompted me to pursue a Master's in Secondary Education, specializing in English teaching, at the University of Granada in 2022-2023. My practicum experience at a secondary school solidified my love for teaching. Upon completing my master's, I began working as a Basque and social sciences teacher at a secondary school. Concurrently, I have been pursuing a Master's in English Studies at the University of Jaén, focusing on language teaching.
My approach to language teaching involves active methodologies that emphasize communication and cultural engagement. I believe language and culture are inseparable, making cultural education an essential part of language instruction. I strive to create safe classroom environments where students feel comfortable asking questions and are driven by curiosity and a desire to learn. Despite my appreciation for all languages, Basque holds a special place in my heart, and I am eager to share this passion with my students. Even though we are more than 4,000 miles away from the Basque Country, I hope to bring it closer to them.
My research interests include foreign language teaching, bilingualism and multilingualism, code-switching (I wrote my undergraduate thesis on code-switching in subordinate clauses among Spanish and Basque bilingual speakers), and the teaching of culture in foreign language classes (I completed my master's thesis on teaching English through cultural clashes and am currently working on my second master's thesis on the intercultural value of English as a motivator in teaching English as a foreign language).