Monica Sanchez Torres profile picture

Monica
Sanchez Torres

University Teacher, Digital Language Studies, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Spanish
PhD in Language Studies and Modern Applied Languages
Gender, multilingualism, and inclusion in language education and sociolinguistics.

Areas of expertise

Sociolinguistics
Gender and language
Multilingualism
Language attitudes
Language and identity
Inclusive language
Cognitive linguistics
Eye tracking
Language education
Spanish language teaching

Biography

I am a sociolinguist with expertise in gender and multilingualism. My academic and professional journey across Spain, the UK, Austria, and Finland has shaped my interest in how language intersects with identity, inclusion, and social change. I hold a joint PhD from Tampere University and Universidad de Alcalá, where I examined the processing and perception of sexist and inclusive language in a second language using eye-tracking and survey methods.

I have taught a variety of courses in Spanish language and linguistics and co-designed an interdisciplinary course on gender in languages. My research and teaching are guided by inclusive, research-based pedagogy that values diversity and multilingualism. I have also contributed to international projects promoting linguistic accessibility, social inclusion, and intercultural understanding.

Teaching

I currently teach ESPA0019 Spanish Language Variation / Variación diatópica del español (5 ECTS) at the University of Turku. My previous experience includes teaching Spanish phonetics, oral and written expression, and co-designing the interdisciplinary course Gender in Languages: A Multilingual Perspective at Tampere University.

Research

My research explores how language reflects and shapes gender, identity, and inclusion in multilingual contexts. I investigate how speakers perceive and process sexist and inclusive language, combining sociolinguistic and cognitive approaches such as eye-tracking and survey methods.

I am also interested in language ideologies, attitudes toward linguistic change, and the role of inclusive language in education and society. Recently, my work has expanded toward multilingual education and decolonial perspectives on linguistic accessibility, particularly in collaborative projects supporting Indigenous communities in Latin America.