Isabel Moreno-López

Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies, ProfessorSpanish and Latin American Studies

Isabel Moreno-López is Professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies at Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland. She completed her doctorate, with a specialization in Language, Literacy and Culture, in 2002 at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Prior to her arrival at Goucher in 2003, she taught at Towson University and UMBC. At Goucher College, she teaches a broad range of survey and thematic courses that address Queer Studies, Critical Pedagogy, Translation and Interpreting, and critical approaches to language and literature. She also teaches courses abroad, and courses with virtual and service learning components in which her students skype weekly with students abroad and mentor Latino students in local Middle Schools. Moreno-López´ teaching informs her research and she has published on the topics of service learning, new teaching technologies, and cross-cultural encounters. Dr. Moreno-López´s articles on critical pedagogy and trans-cultural encounters go beyond structuring the classroom content to the techniques for developing critical thinking. They illustrate the idea that to teach Spanish in the U.S. is a political act necessary to achieve social justice.

Show more or less of the faculty member's bio

Research, Scholarship, Creative Work in Progress

My next article will be in translation as “Translation is a kind of transubstantiation. (…) You choose your philosophy of translation just as you choose how to live: the free adaptation that sacrifices detail to meaning, the strict crib that sacrifices meaning to exactitude. The poet moves from life to language, the translator moves from language to life; both like the immigrant, try to identify the invisible, what's between the lines, the mysterious implications” Anne Michaels, Fugitive Pieces.

Publications

Moreno-López, I., Ramos-Sellman, A., Miranda-Aldaco, C., & Gomis-Quinto, M. (2017). Transforming Ways of Enhancing Foreign Language Acquisition in the Spanish Classroom: Experiential Learning Approaches. Foreign Language Annals. DOI:10.1111/flan.12267

Moreno-López, I. (January, 2015). Critical activities in the Spanish classroom: A qualitative study. NECTFL Review 75. 31-55.

Moreno-López, I., & Miranda-Aldaco, C. (2013). Quantitative study comparing network-based language teaching (NBTL) to traditional Spanish classes. Revista de Educación, 363-383, DOI: 10.4438/1988-592X-RE-2013-EXT-242

Smith, TK., & Moreno-López, I. (2012). Outcomes of an interdisciplinary study abroad course: Learning Spanish and multicultural education concurrently. Intercultural Education, 23(4), 359-373. DOI: 10.1080/14675986.2012.724876

Moreno-López, I., Saenz-de-Tejada, C., & Smith, T. K. (Winter 2008). Language and study abroad across the curriculum: An analysis of course development. Foreign Language Annals, 41(4), 674-686.

Moreno-López, I. & Saenz-de-Tejada, C. (2006). Negotiating cultural images in the language classroom: Using digitalized films and pedagogical material from the World-Wide-Web. International Journal of Learning, 12(8), 249-260.

Moreno-López, I. (2005, Fall). Sharing power with students: The critical language classroom. Radical Pedagogy: An Interdisciplinary, Peer-Reviewed Journal Devoted to the Analysis of Teaching and Learning, 7(2).

Moreno-López, I. (2004). Critical pedagogy in the Spanish language classroom: A liberatory process. Taboo: The Journal of Culture and Education, 8(1), 77-84.

Moreno-López, I. (1997). La enseñanza de cultura en la clase de español. La Enseñanza del Español Como Lengua Extranjera: Del Pasado al Futuro. ASELE. Eds. Francisco Moreno, María Gil and Kira Alonso. Málaga, España: Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, 593-598.

Moreno-López, I. (1996). Greta y las Garbo. Spanish TV Magazine: Video Teaching Guide. Ed. UMBC. Baltimore, MD: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 601, 57-62.Exhibits or Performances

External Awards, Honors, Grants

Mellon Grant Sustainability Institute Grant (2012).

Crosby Fund Grants (2012, 2010, 2006, 2004).

Summer Research Grant (2007).

In recognition in helping Goucher College secure external support for Academic Programs (2004-2005).

Mentoring to Master Technology Integration Project (MM-TIP) (2002-2003).

Conference Papers & Panel Participation

“Why Do You Always Do Things Backwards: Intercultural Activities for the Language Classroom.” MFLA Spring Conference, Mount Saint Joseph High School, Baltimore, March 12th, 2016.

“Think Outside the Classroom: Innovative Ways of Enhancing Foreign Language Learning.” Co-presentation: Dr. Aida Ramos-Sellman, Dr. Citlali Miranda-Aldaco, Maite Gomis-Quinto. Twenty-Second International Conference on Learning in the San Pablo University (CEU), Madrid, Spain, July 10th, 2015.

“It´s Not Your Grandmother´s Spanish Classroom: Assessing Different Instructional Methods.” 2014 MFLA Fall Conference. Co-presentation: Dr. Aida Ramos-Sellman, Dr. Citlali Miranda-Aldaco. Notre Dame of Maryland University. Baltimore, MD, Oct. 11th, 2014.

“The Critical Language Classroom: Euphoria, Despair and Relief.” 1st Annual Binghamton University Conference on Foreign Language Teaching: Bridging Theory and Practice: Building Effective Classroom Methodology. Binghamton University. Binghamton, NY, Sept. 28th, 2013.

“The 21st Century Spanish Courses: Innovative Technologies and Global Education.” Connecticut Council of Language Teachers (CT COLT). Co-presentation: Dr. Aida Ramos-Sellman and Maite Gomis-Quinto. Conference Center in Waterbury, CT, Dec 3rd, 2012.      

“Innovative Issues of Technology in the Spanish Classroom: Comparing Traditional Language to NBLT classrooms.” 4th Biennial Modern Language Conference. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. Shippensburg, PA, April 28th, 2012.

“Here We Go Again: Does Network-Base Spanish Teaching Enhance Language Acquisition?” International Association for Technology, Education and Development (IATED). Valencia, Spain, March 7-9, 2011.

“A Study on Language Acquisition between Language Courses with an On-line Communicative Component and Traditional Language Courses”. The Annual International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies (EDULEARN10). Barcelona, Spain, July 4-7, 2010.

“Students Advances in Spanish and Intercultural Proficiency Through a Title VI Interdisciplinary Abroad Course”. Languages across the Curriculum Programs and Title VI: Current Initiatives and Future Possibilities. Co-presentation: Dr. Tami K. Smith. Washington, DC, March 20th, 2009.

“Transcending the Spanish Classroom through Culturally Charged Dialogues Within and Across Borders”. Post-Sabbatical Presentation. Goucher College. Baltimore, MD, Nov. 21st, 2008.

“Assessment of Student Outcomes in an Interdisciplinary Study Abroad Course: Learning Spanish through Multicultural Education Content”. Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum (CLAC) Conference. Co-presentation: Dr. Tami K. Smith. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill, NC, Oct. 17th, 2008.

“You Need no Passport to Cross this Border”. 13th National Congress for Teachers of Foreign Languages. National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Co-presentation: Dr. Citlali Miranda-Aldaco. Mexico City, June 26th, 2008.

“Synchronous and Asynchronous On-line Communication in the Foreign Language Classroom”. Northeast Modern Language Association (NEMLA) Panel Chair. Baltimore, MD, March 3rd, 2007.

“Building Interdisciplinary Study Abroad Courses”. Second Annual Conference Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum (CLAC): Building New Connections. Co-presentation: Dr. Cristina Saenz-de-Tejada and Dr. Tami K. Smith. Portland, OR, Oct. 12th, 2006.

“Integrating a Spanish Documentary into the Curriculum of Content-Based Courses”. American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language (ACTFL) 2005 Annual Meeting. Co-presentation: Dr. Cristina Saenz-de-Tejada. Baltimore, MD, Nov. 19th, 2005.

“Negotiating Cultural Images in the Language Classroom: Using Digitalized Films and Pedagogical Material from the World Wide Web”.  The Twelfth International Conference on Learning. Co-presentation: Dr. Cristina Saenz-de-Tejada. School of Education at the University of Granada, Spain, July 14th, 2005.

“Engaging Students with Games to Teach Grammar”. Active Learning Conference. Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT). Modern Languages and Literatures Department. Goucher College, May 19th, 2004.

“Critical Pedagogy in the Spanish Classroom: Understanding Cultural Identities Through a Critical Ethnographic Study”. American Educational Research Association (AERA). 2004 Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA, April 16th, 2004.

“Sharing Power with Students: A Critical Approach to Teaching and Learning”. Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) Modern Languages and Literatures Department. Goucher College, Nov. 11th, 2003.

“Presentation of the Use of Blackboard in Language and Literature Spanish Courses”. Grand Opening of the CTLT. Goucher College, Nov. 7th, 2003.

“Using Critical Pedagogy in the Spanish Classroom: A Critical Ethnographic Study.” 24th Annual Ethnography in Education Research Forum, University of Pennsylvania, PA, March 1st, 2003.

Invited Talks

“Using Intercultural Activities in the Language Classroom: Helping Students Gain Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC).” World Languages Annual Retreat. The Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC). June 8th, 2015.

“The Hybrid Language Classroom: Teaching Outside The Box.” Sponsored by the Mellon Foundation. Pitzer College. Claremont, CA, March 6th, 2015.

“Un acercamiento intercultural y tecnológico a la enseñanza en Estados Unidos” (“An Intercultual and Teconology-Base Approach to Education in the U.S.”). University of Granada. Spain, June 13th, 2011.

“Programación de Unidades Didácticas y Elaboración de Materiales para la Enseñanza del Español como Lengua Extranjera” (“Lesson Programming and Material Design To Teach Spanish as a Second Language”). Universidad de Lleida. Cataluña. Spain, July 16-18, 2003.