María Jesús Barros García

Curriculum Innovation Award Recipient, 2025

The following is an excerpt from Northwestern Now.  

"Cultural immersion within the classroom

Claudia Quevedo-Webb, César Enrique Hoyas Álvarez, and María Jesús Barros García, all faculty members in the Spanish and Portuguese department at Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, have begun using VR technology to create cultural immersion learning experiences for students within the Northwestern classroom. 

Although study abroad experiences are recognized for developing critical intercultural communicative competence (ICC) in language learners, not all students can study abroad, and if they do, they may not have the opportunity to take part in cultural practices.

The team's curricular innovation utilizes VR to immerse students in various scenarios and real-life situations. Paired with classroom discussions, cultural comparisons, and self-reflection, this approach helps students develop cultural competence and a deeper appreciation for different cultures.

Quevedo-Webb’s research focuses on using new technologies in the language classroom and diversity and inclusion practices.  She joined Northwestern in 2022.

Hoyos Álvarez joined Northwestern in 2022. His research centers around the application of critical pedagogies and addresses the need for more inclusive learning environments that cater to the linguistic and socio-affective needs of emergent bilinguals.

Barros García joined Northwestern in 2018. Her research focuses on intercultural pragmatics, politeness theory and second language acquisition."