Ana Fernández Rodríguez

Teaching Fellow (Spanish)

Biography

Background

Ana Fernández holds a degree in Journalism (Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain) and a Master’s degree in Spanish as a Foreign Language (University of La Rioja, Spain). She has held teaching roles in Spain, South Korea and the UK and has been a DELE examiner at Instituto Cervantes Seoul and a SIELE coordinator in Edinburgh.

She is the Spanish Short Courses Coordinator at Languages for All and the Organiser of the Spanish for IFP course at the Centre for Open Learning (UoE).

She was awarded the University of Edinburgh Staff Scholarship and is currently doing her PhD in Hispanic Studies at the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures.

Qualifications

  • Master’s degree in Spanish as a Foreign Language, Universidad de La Rioja, Spain
  • Certificate in Spanish as a Foreign Language,  International House Madrid, Spain
  • Accreditation as Instituto Cervantes DELE examiner (all levels), Tokyo, Japan
  • BA in Journalism, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain

Responsibilities & affiliations

Responsibilities at The University of Edinburgh

  • LfA Spanish Short Courses Coordinator
  • Spanish Language for IFP Course Organiser
  • Member of the COL Board of Studies

Affiliations

Member of ELEUK, AHGBI, and CERU/SRUK

Undergraduate teaching

Academic Year 2026-2027

Previous courses

  • Spanish Lifelong Learning courses
  • Spanish Language 2 - Written language tutorial (undergraduate courses)
  • Spanish 1B - Written and oral tutorials (undergraduate courses)

Research summary

Thesis Title: Teaching Spanish to Spanish Heritage Language Speakers in the United Kingdom

Studies show that Heritage Language speakers are a heterogeneous group in Europe and in the USA because of their diverse sociolinguistic background.

Therefore, the characteristics of this group in the UK cannot be assumed without research. Elements such as their connection with the heritage language and their self-identity, together with the value of the language in the country, might differ.  

Current research interests

VLE tools to encourage interaction, research and creativity among students/learners.

Past research interests

Previous research examined inclusive language practices in the ELE (Español como Lengua Extranjera) classroom, analysing writing style guides and providing reflection activities.

Conference details

Recent conferences

Organiser

  • 70th AHGBI Annual Conference, Edinburgh, 7th - 10th April 2025
  • 34.º ASELE International Conference, Edinburgh, 16th - 20th July 2024

Participant

  • ELEUK 2026 Conference at the University of Bath - Presentation: El cuestionario sociolingüístico: una herramienta para conocer mejor al hablante de español como Lengua de Herencia
  • 70th AHGBI Annual Conference 2025 at The University of Edinburgh - Roundtable: Teaching Hispanic Studies to Heritage speakers of Spanish in the UK
  • ELEUK 2025 Conference at The Open University - Research presentation: How do we teach Spanish as a Heritage Language?

  • Conversations circles open to the public at the Resource Centre - come along and join us!
  • International language exchanges (English - Spanish) in collaboration with other languages centres
  • EUSA Cultural Fair
  • International Book Festival in Edinburgh
  • Immersion Language Workshops for high school students

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