I am a Senior Lecturer in Spanish here at MMU and I teach Hispanic culture and society and Spanish language years 1 and 4. My research has focused on Cervantes and the portrayal of friendship in his works, the origin of the novel and Cervantes's influence in Spanish contemporary literature, aspects of Golden Age culture and fascinating personal accounts of the Spanish Civil War. At present I am looking at new ways to teach Spanish Golden Age texts in the 21st century.
The most important aspect of teaching, for me, is to engage with students and build a strong academic relationship. I try to be approachable and friendly and to share in the learning process with students. I love being able to work with my students as equals and share ideas.
I feel that I learn all the time. I love my job because I get to be with people everyday. I also believe that your culture is an important part of who you are. It’s not only my job but my privilege to transmit Spanish culture to others.
Being at university is a wonderful opportunity to not only get a degree but to develop as a person. My advice would be to throw yourself into lots of activities outside of study, such as volunteering or societies. These activities make a difference to your time at university and you might not get the chance again!
1984-1987 BA (Hons) in Spanish, Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London. Subsidiary subject: Italian
1987-1992 PhD: 'Human Relationships in the Novelas ejemplares of Cervantes: An Ideological and Literary Study', Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London. I received a scholarship from Westfield College for the first three years of my PhD studies.
1992-93 Part-time lecturer in Golden Age Literature, King's College, London
1993-94 Part-time language tutor, University of Manchester
Examinations Officer
Disability Officer
Timetable coordinator for the Department and Faculty link
Spanish
Catalan
Italian
Hispanic culture and society; Shifting borders; Spanish language years 1and 4.
Cervantes and friendship, the origin of novel and Cervantes's influence in Spanish contemporary literature; aspects of Golden Age culture; personal accounts of the Spanish Civil War; teaching literature through new media.
Working with Ana Almeida in the University of Liverpool on a website about teaching literature in the language classroom.
https://litinclass.wordpress.com/
I. Puig, K. McLaughlin (2019). Spanish Golden Age Texts in the Twenty-First Century: Teaching the Old Through the New. I. Puig, K. McLaughlin. Peter Lang.
I. Puig (2009). Tradition and modernity : Cervantes's presence in Spanish comtemporary literature. MI. Puig. Oxford: Peter Lang.
I. Puig (2000). Memoirs of Spanish Civil War: translation from Catalan text and general introduction. Lampeter: Edwin Mellen Press.
I. Puig (2011). Relationships in Los trabajos de Persiles y Sigismunda: parental authority and freedom of choice. Anuario de Estudios Cervantinos. 7, pp.211-222.
I. Puig (2011). Cervantes’s presence in Javier Marías’s Mañana en la batalla piensa en mí. Cuaderno Internacional de Estudios Humanisticos y Literatura. 16, pp.133-141.
I. Puig (2000). The portrayal of friendship in Don Quijote. Bulletin of hispanic studies. 77(3), pp.359-373.
I. Puig (1998). El celoso extremeño y El licenciado Vidriera: las excepciones que confirman la regla. Revista del Instituto de Lengua y Cultura Espanolas (RILCE). 14(1), pp.73-88.
I. Puig (2005). Cervantine Traits in Las dos doncellas and La señora Cornelia. In: A companion to Cervantes's Novelas Ejemplares. Woodbridge: Brewer and Boydell Ltd., pp.221-234.
Literature in Language Learning: from the context of the current A-Levels to university, University of Liverpool, 14th June 2019.
Symposium: Teaching the old through the new:
approaches to teaching Spanish Golden Age texts in the 21st century, April 2018
Grant received from Manchester Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence to organise 'Tilting at Windmills, Cervantes 'meets' Shakespeare 400 years on'.
https://manmetlife.wordpress.com/2016/04/29/success-for-shakespeare-meets-cervantes-event
Senior Lecturers in Spanish, Karl McLaughlin and Idoya Puig, provided insight into the importance of Spain’s
traditional fiestas at the launch of a new exhibition of photographs at the
Instituto Cervantes by Manchester-based photographer Guille Ibañéz and the
Redeye Photography Network. 31st January 2018
video link
School Governor at St. Aidan's Catholic Primary School, Wythenshawe
Association of Hispanists of Great Britain and Ireland
Cervantes Society of America
Higher Education Academy