Alejandra Donoso

Since 2014, my research has focused on the field of Heritage languages with a particular interest in academic writing among university students of Spanish. Within this field, I have examined,  the written production of students of various linguistic backgrounds: L2 learners of Spanish (L1 Swedish), Heritage language speakers of Spanish (bilinguals in Swedish and Spanish since early childhood) and native speakers of Spanish. Variables such as language contact, motivation to maintain and to learn Spanish and attendance to mother tongue instruction have been under the scope of this research. Besides, I'm also engaged with studies that delve into the relation between home and school through pedagogical translanguaging (PT).

I hold a Ph.D. in Spanish linguistics from Stockholm University, where I completed my dissertation in 2016 entitled "Motion expressions in Spanish as a second language and as a heritage language: Conceptualization and encoding of Path, Manner and Ground". I am currently a lecturer in Spanish linguistics at Linnaeus University where I teach a range of subjects including academic writing, oral communication, and language didactics.

I also participate in the Journal Moderna språk as section editor in Spanish linguistics.

Undervisning

Alejandra Donoso imparts courses in Spanish didactics, second language acquisition, oral and written proficiency and academic writing.

Forskning

Currently, my research interests are related to the field of second language acquisition, multilingualism, motivation and multiliingual writing repertoires, pedagogical translanguaging and Spanish as a heritage language.

I serve as a steering commettee member of the Educational Linguistics Research Group at Linnaeus University.