08/09/2026
New Spanish Teacher Joins ENGL
We are thrilled to announce that Iratxe Rico Orue has joined the Department of English and Communication as our new Spanish Teacher. Iratxe comes to us via the Spanish government's MAEC (Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs) programme, which facilitates the teaching of Spanish at universities abroad. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Spanish Consulate in Hong Kong for their vital assistance in making this appointment possible.
Iratxe brings a diverse academic background to PolyU, holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Hispanic Philology from UPV/EHU, alongside two Master’s degrees—one in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language from the University of Salamanca, and another in Teacher Training for Secondary Education (specialising in Spanish, Latin, and Greek) from the University of Zaragoza. Her teaching philosophy is grounded in applied linguistics and language acquisition, with a passion for methodologies that make learning both effective and engaging.
She has taught Spanish to international students at the University of Salamanca, delivered Spanish and Literature classes from Kindergarten through Grade 12 in Suzhou, China, and instructed Secondary and Baccalaureate students in Spain’s Basque Country. She also collaborated with the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council to teach Spanish to immigrant and foreigner communities of all ages.
As Iratxe herself puts it: "My goal at PolyU is to provide students with a new lens through which to see the world in Spanish. I want them to analyze, enjoy, and experience the language so that it becomes a dynamic, living tool for communication."
We are confident that her expertise, global outlook, and innovative spirit will greatly enrich our students' learning journey. Welcome, Iratxe!
