Maria Gomez-Bedoya is Associate Professor in Spanish and Applied Linguistics at the University of East Anglia since 2015. She holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics, a degree in English Language and Communication, and two Masters in Spanish Teaching and Hispanic Linguistics. Her research focuses on empathic communication and soft skills applied to legal and educational contexts.
She has an international background and has worked in a number of countries as a teacher, teacher trainer, and team manager, bringing with her intercultural experience and soft skills knowledge. Before joining UEA she worked for the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan and Brazil, as a Fulbright Scholar in USA, and as a presenter in NHK Japan National Public Broadcasting Organization, among others.
She is currently a a trainer in Forensic Linguistics for one of the national Spanish police forces, as well as a lecturer in Forensic Linguistics in the summer programme at the University of Oxford.

She is module organiser for:

Understanding Second Language Teaching

Spanish Year 2 Honours

She also lectures on Forensic Linguistics, Pragmatics and Second Language Teaching and Learning

Year Abroad Coordinator (Latin America and Spain)

Academic Advisor

Her PhD research focuses on Rapport in Forensic Communication and identifying the key difficulties  when it comes to facilitating empathic communication in interpreting-mediated scenarios.

Her research interests centre on Empathy and Soft Skills in Legal and Educational contexts as well as Second Language Teaching and Pragmatics

Empathy and Rapport 

Police interviews with victims 

Applied Linguistics

Second Language Teaching