Isabel Pena

• Current Roles and Responsibilities in UWS
• Grants / Projects
• Awards and Recognition
• Publications
• Conference Papers
• Professional Membership
• Contact

Profile/ Teaching Expertise /Areas of Research /

Maria Isabel started her teaching career in Montevideo, Uruguay, her country of origin. Since her arrival in Australia she continued her education in universities in Sydney, Mexico, Chile and Spain.  Her teaching career in Sydney includes from teaching and coordinating language programs in NSW schools to teaching and researching at UWS.

In 1981 she was selected to develop and implement the first Spanish Community Language Program in the NSW Department of Education.  For a number of years she served on the NSW Board of Studies Syllabus and HSC Examination Committees developing syllabus documents and HSC examination papers. In 1989 was appointed as SSCL Spanish Language Consultant where she became involved in the training of teachers for the HSC syllabus and the production of teaching materials.

Maria Isabel has been with UWS since 1992. Since that time she has taught units on Spanish Language and Culture, Language Teaching Methodology, Multicultural Perspectives in the Curriculum and Second Language Learning and Teaching. Her extensive experience as a language educator and the interest in language teaching methodology lead her to focus current research on computer assisted language learning, CALL.

Current Roles and Responsibilities in UWS

Course Advisor: Bachelor of Arts

Lecturer and Coordinator: Spanish levels 1 and 2

Lecturer: Language and Communication Skills 2B: Arabic, Chinese, Italian, Japanese and Spanish.

Grants / Projects

2010 - Pilot Project Research Scheme: Machine Translation as a Learning Tool. School of Humanities and Communication Arts, UWS

2007 – 2009 UWS Learning and Teaching Project LTAP Learner satisfaction in blended learning and implications for CALL implementation – Spanish Language Component. UWS- College of Arts- School of Humanities and Languages

2007-2008 UWS Learning and Teaching Project LTAP Project title: Global Citizen Program (GCP) Project ID no. P7253 UWS - College of Arts- School of Humanities and Languages 

2007- 2008 Academic Service Learning Grant Scheme 2007 Learning Through Community Service Title: Reaching out to the Spanish-speaking Community College of Arts – UWS

2000 Cognitive Load and Language Learning - Co researcher with Alexander Seeshing Yeung, University of Western Sydney at Macarthur, Cynthia Fong King Lee, Baptist University, Hong Kong and Jeni Ryde, University of Western Sydney Macarthur, Faculty of Education and Languages

1996 -1997 The use of Computers in the Language Classroom and Mixed- Mode Course Delivery for University Language Courses. A pilot project for Spanish and Italian beginners - University of Western Sydney Macarthur - CELT, as a Co researcher with Dr Madeleine Cincotta, Faculty of Education and Languages

1992 - 1995  Development of Multimedia Materials for Comprehension-Driven and Intensive Second Language Learning Programs in Arabic, Italian and Spanish
(Joint project with B. Di Biase, Estela Valverde and R. Suliman)
Funding body: ILOTES Project, Department of Employment Education and Training

1994-1996  M.I.Pena continued work initiated by E. Valverde

Awards and Recognition

1995 -Alexander Mackie Research Fellowship & Medal – The University of Sydney The Teaching of Spanish at Tertiary Level in Spain

1992 - Teaching Service Fellowships - NSW Department of Education The implementation of Antiracist Policies and Multicultural Education in USA and Canadian Schools.

Scholarships

2011 – Government of Castilla y León, Spain Scholarship - 2 weeks course on The Use of Technology and Culture in a Spanish Course by Ph.D. Robert Blake, Professor of Spanish and Director of UC Consortium for Language Learning and Teaching at the University of California, Davis organised by Mester Academy and Boecillo Multimedia, Salamanca, Spain.           

1993 - Overseas Study Award to attend lectures at the National University of Mexico City, Faculty of Philosophy and Letters - Postgraduate Studies Division, awarded by the Department of Training and Development - NSW Department of School Education

1991 - Overseas Study Awards for Language Teachers NSW Department of Education - Completed studies in Linguistic and Literature at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters - Postgraduate Studies Division, National University of Mexico, Mexico and participated in a study tour of Indigenous Villages, Schools and Archaeological sites.

1990 - Scholarship to Australian Teachers of Spanish- awarded by the Spanish Government and The NSW Department of School Education to attend a course in Hispanic Philology at the  University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain

Publications

Refereed Journal Articles

Pena, M.I, (2011). The Potential of Digital Tools in the Language Classroom, The International Journal of the Humanities, vol 8, no. 11, pp 57-68,

M. Pena, A. Yeung (2010). Online Spanish Learning: Does University Students’ Computer Competence Matter? The International Journal of Technology, Knowledge and Society, vol 6, no. 5, pp 97-108

Pena M, Yeung A, 2009, University Students' Satisfaction with Online and Face-to-Face Spanish Learning, The International Journal of Learning, vol 16, no. 9, pp 637-648

Cincotta, M., Pena,I., De Rachewiltz,C. (1997) Mixed-Mode Course Delivery in the University LOTE Classroom, In The Teaching Review journal, Vol.5.No.2, pp 28-29

Non-Refereed Journals and Conference Proceedings

Garcia, I., Pena, M.I. (2010). Can machine translation help the language learner? International Conference ‘ICT for Language Learning’ 3rd Edition. (Conference proceedings)  

Yeung, A, S.,Lee, Cynthia F.K.,Pena, I. M. ,and Ryde, J. (2000).Toward a Subjective Mental Workload Measure ERIC

Yeung, A, S.,Lee, C.F.K., Pena, I. M., Ryde, J. (2000).Towards a Measure of Cognitive Load in Second Language Learners. (Conference proceedings) 

Cincotta, M., Pena, I., De Rachewiltz, C. (1997) An Experience of Being on CALL. BABEL

Pena,I. (1996) The Teaching of Spanish as a Foreign Language in Spanish Universities Report. Sydney. Faculty of Education The University of Sydney

Conference Papers

Pena, M.I. (2011). Towards Equity in Education - A Laptop for Every Child and Teacher. Sixth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, The University of New Orleans, New Orleans, USA  (11-13 july 2011)

Garcia, I., Pena, M.I. (2010). Can machine translation help the language learner? International Conference ‘ICT for Language Learning’ 3rd Edition, Florence, Italy (11 – 12 November 2010) (presented by I. Garcia)

Pena, M.I. (2010). Machine Translation: a learning and teaching tool. The third annual research symposium- The Interpreting and Translation Research Group, UWS Sydney, Australia (16 July – 17 July 2010) (Presented by RA Maya Ospina)

Pena, M.I. (2010). The Potential of Digital Tools in the Language Classroom. 8th International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities. UCLA, California, USA (29 June – 02 July 2010)

Pena, M.I. (2010). Blended Learning for Language Beginners: Considering Students’ Perceptions. 17^th International Conference on Learning, Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong (6-9 July 2010)

Pena, M.I., Yeung, A. (2010). Satisfaction With Online Spanish Learning: Does University Students’ Computer Competence Matter? 6th International Conference on Technology, Knowledge and Society, Free University Berlin, Germany (15-17 January 2010)

Pena, M.I., Yeung, A. (2009). University Students’ Satisfaction with Spanish Learning Online and Face-to-Face. The Sixteenth International Conference on Learning, University of Barcelona, Spain (1-4 July 2009)

Suliman, R. & Pena, M.I. (2008). Innovations in Language Teaching: Blended Learning in Arabic and Spanish. APERA Conference. Singapore.

Yeung, A., Lee, C., Pena, I., Ryde, J. (2000). Toward a Subjective Mental Workload Measure. The International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement – Hong Kong 2000

Pena, M.I. (1998). The use of Computers in the Language Classroom. Universidad de la Republica, Montevideo, Uruguay

Pena, M.I. (1998). Computer Assisted Language Learning- an experience. University of Rio, Brazil.

Pena, M.I. (1997). The use of CALL in the Teaching of Spanish and Italian. UWSM, Sydney

Pena, M.I. (1997). Mixed-Mode Course Delivery in the University LOTE Classroom. UNAM, Mexico.

Pena, M.I. (1996) The Use of Videos Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language. Valladolid, Spain.

Pena, M.I. (1995) Difficulties Encountered by English Speakers Learning Spanish. Valladolid, Spain

Creative Publications

Pena, M.I. (1994) ¿Cuántos años tienes?. Sydney: UWSM, for Department of Employment, Educationand Training, 10pp. (Children short story for the ILOTES project).

Pena, M.I. (1994) Ay! Nos caemos. Sydney: UWSM, for Department of Employment, Education and Training, 10pp. (Children short story for the ILOTES project).

Pena, M.I. (1994) Me gusta. Sydney: UWSM, for Department of Employment, Education and Training, 10pp. (Children short story for the ILOTES project).

Pena, M.I. (1994) Los colores. Sydney: UWSM, for Department of Employment, Education and Training, 5pp. (Children short story for the ILOTES project).

Pena, M.I. (1994) Blanquito y Negrito. Sydney: UWSM, for Department of Employment, Education and Training, 10pp. (Children short story for the ILOTES project).

Pena, M.I. (1994) ¿Qué hay en la cartera?. Sydney: UWSM, for Department of Employment, Education and Training, 10pp. (Children short story for the ILOTES project).

Pena, M.I. (1994) ¿Adónde vas?. Sydney: UWSM, for Department of Employment, Education and Training, 10pp. (Children short story for the ILOTES project).

Pena, M.I. (1994) Pelusín, el koala. Sydney: UWSM, for Department of Employment, Education and Training, 10pp. (Children short story for the ILOTES project).

Pena, M.I. (1994) Los animals. Sydney: UWSM, for Department of Employment, Education and Training, 8pp. (Children short story for the ILOTES project).

Pena, M.I. (1994) La mariposa. Sydney: UWSM, for Department of Employment, Education and Training, 8pp. (Children short story for the ILOTES project).

Pena, M.I. (1994) El payaso. Sydney: UWSM, for Department of Employment, Education and Training, 10pp. (Children short story for the ILOTES project).

Pena, M.I. (1994) ¿Adónde fuíste?. Sydney: UWSM, for Department of Employment, Education and Training, 10pp. (Children short story for the ILOTES project).

Pena, M.I. (1994) ¿Qué hay en el zoológico?. Sydney: UWSM, for Department of Employment, Education and Training, 10pp. (Children short story for the ILOTES project).

Pena, M.I. (1994) Mi familia. Sydney: UWSM, for Department of Employment, Education and Training, 10pp. (Children short story for the ILOTES project).

Pena, M.I. (1994) ¿Qué hay en la clase?. Sydney: UWSM, for Department of Employment, Education and Training, 10pp. (Children short story for the ILOTES project).

Pena, M.I. (1994) Vamos a contar. Sydney: UWSM, for Department of Employment, Education and Training, 10pp. (Children short story for the ILOTES project).

Gummer, P., Nicolis, S., Steep, I., Pena, I., (translation) (1986) Talking Pictures: Communicative Activities in Community Languages, Sydney: NSW Department of Education- Multicultural Education Centre

Gummer, P., Nicolis, S., Pena, I., (translation) (1985) Summer Holidays. Sydney: NSW Department of Education- Multicultural Education Centre.

Seminar Presentations

Pena, M.I., (2008) Global citizens: Think global, act local
An overview of students' experiences on becoming global citizens through local and international hands-on projects, internships and study abroad as part of global studies. (An LTAP project) UWS Learning and Teaching Week 2008  Bankstown 12-1pm, BA-20.G.34

Professional Membership

Editorial Advisory Board for: The International Journal of Technology, Knowledge and Society, The International Journal of Learning, The International Journal of the Humanities.

Member of the Spanish Teachers’ Association of NSW – STANSW http://www.stansw.com