Maria Eugenia De Luna Villalón

María Eugenia de Luna holds a PhD. in Hispanic Studies from Western University (2011), an MA in Applied Linguistics (2007), and a BA in Communication Sciences (1990) from Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP). In 2006 she was awarded the North American Grant Mobility Program between UDLAP and University of Manitoba. In that same year she was a Graduate Fellow/Visiting Scholar for the Transnational Literacy Researchers Work Group in the Center for the Americas in Vanderbilt University.

Dr. de Luna has worked in universities in Hong Kong, Canada and the United States. Interested in the pedagogy of teaching and learning Spanish as a Foreign Language (SFL), her courses have involved Spanish Language, Spanish for Professions, linguistics, literature, and culture. As an active community member, Dr. de Luna has been involved in community service learning and outreach as the Coordinator of an access to university program for non-traditional learners, a partnership between The Working Centre (TWC), a not-for-profit organization, and Wilfrid Laurier University.

Dr. de Luna is interested in Sociolinguistics, researching themes related to Language and Migration. Her MA thesis is a case study about Mexican families’ home literacy practices, while her doctoral thesis (funded by SSHRC and OGS) involved a compilation and analysis of the sociolinguistic facts relating to the situation of transnational Mexican temporary agricultural migrants in Canada. This later progressed to research about Linguistic Landscapes, aiming to understand the use of Spanish within Canada. Currently she is interested in understanding linguistic imperialism in teaching of Spanish as a Foreign Language.

Teaching Interests

• The pedagogy of teaching and learning Spanish as a foreign language
• Hispanic cultures
• Sociolinguistics
• Language and migration
• Latin American studies
• Applied linguistics
• Pathways programs

Research Interests

• The pedagogy of teaching and learning Spanish as a foreign language
• Sociolinguistics
• Language and migration
• Linguistic landscapes
• Linguistic imperialism
• Pathways programs

Companies

• Assistant Professor University of the Fraser Valley (2020)
• Assistant Lecturer The University of Hong Kong (2017 — 2020)
• Access to University (A2U) Coordinator The Working Centre (2016 — 2017)
• Assistant Professor Wilfrid Laurier University (2012 — 2016)
• Assistant Professor Alvernia University (2011 — 2012)
• Instructor Western University (2007 — 2011)

Education

• PhD, Hispanic Studies Western University (2007 - 2011)
• M.A., Applied Linguistics Universidad de las Américas Puebla (2004 - 2006)
• Diploma in Business Administration Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (2002 — 2002)
• Licenciatura Universidad de las Américas Puebla (1984 — 1990)
• Colegio Americano de Puebla