Monica
Sanchez Torres
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Areas of expertise
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 am currently a teacher of ESPA0019 Spanish Language Variation / Variación diatópica del español (5 ECTS), ESPA0075Spanish History and Society (20th–21st Centuries), and ESPA0053 Advanced Spanish Grammar at the University of Turku.
In addition, I am responsible for the evaluation of the following courses: Spanish Sociolinguistics and Sociology of Language (ESPA0025), Semantics and Pragmatics, Spanish (ESPA0026-3009), and Language Policy and Planning (ESPA0031-3014).
My previous experience includes teaching Spanish phonetics and oral and written expression, as well as 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.