Maria José Carvalho has been a member of the Centre for General and Applied Linguistic Studies, -part of the Faculty of Arts, University of Coimbra - since 1998, and has been a member of the Scientific Committee of the Centre since 2007, the year of her Doctorate from Coimbra University (Portugal). As Auxiliary Professor, she has taught Portuguese Language, at various levels, to foreign students from around the world and from a variety of disciplines - from arts and humanities to science and technology – on the University’s exchange programmes.