Academic and Professional CV
Màiri Joanne Anderson has been a CEL at the University of Bologna Language Centre since 2016. She has also been an adjunct lecturer at the University of Bologna since 2022 and at the Istituto di Alti Studi SSML Carlo Bo since 2024. Her work focuses on English for academic and professional purposes, academic writing and language assessment, with particular attention to the use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in teaching.
Education and Qualifications
In 2001, she graduated from the University of Edinburgh with an MA (Hons) in Italian, awarded Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1). Her dissertation explored the grotesque in three works by Luigi Pirandello. In 2017, she completed a MEd in TESOL (English for Academic Purposes) at Sheffield Hallam University, graduating with Distinction. Her dissertation examined the perceived effectiveness of learner strategy training for a lexical approach and its impact on learner beliefs.
She obtained the Cambridge CELTA in 2001 and completed all three modules of the Cambridge DELTA in 2014, specialising in medical English for Module III. She qualified as an IELTS Speaking Examiner in 2014, with subsequent refresher training in 2016 and 2018.
Academic Career
She began working at the University of Bologna as a Language Trainer in 2013, teaching academic writing to doctoral students in Agriculture and delivering language courses at the Bologna and Romagna language centres. Since February 2016, she has held a permanent position as a CEL at the University Language Centre (CLA), initially in Forlì and, since September 2022, in Bologna.
Since 2022, she has been an adjunct lecturer in the Department of Education Studies at the University of Bologna, teaching on the single-cycle Master’s degree programme in Primary Teacher Education. Since 2024, she has also taught English on the translation and interpreting degree programmes at the Istituto di Alti Studi SSML Carlo Bo.
Previously, she taught at the Escola d’Idiomes Moderns of the Universitat de Barcelona (2002–2005), delivering general English and Cambridge FCE and CAE examination preparation courses. She also taught summer courses at ESADE Executive Training in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Teaching
At the University of Bologna Language Centre, she delivers 250 contact teaching hours annually. Over the years her teaching duties have included courses in general English from A2 to C1, Idoneità preparation, academic writing, ESAP English for nursing, business English, EMI and preparation courses for IELTS Academic and Cambridge Advanced. She also regularly delivers EAP skills courses for students completing their degrees, doctoral students and academic staff.
She teaches B1+ general English workshops on the Primary Teacher Education degree programme. At SSML Carlo Bo, she teaches writing and spoken English development courses. She designs and adapts teaching materials and assessments for classroom, online and blended learning. In January 2020, she delivered the Winter Academic Writing Workshop for the Fondazione Alma Mater, focusing on research article writing for doctoral students.
Institutional Responsibilities and Academic Appointments
Since 2024, she has been the contact person for language certifications across all language sections at the University of Bologna Language Centre. She is a member of the AICLU working group on university language centre certifications and served on the CLA Management Committee for the 2021–2026 term.
She participates in working groups reviewing the Omnibus courses and B1 and B2 English language proficiency assessments. Her responsibilities also include developing, monitoring and revising testing materials. Her appointments include membership of selection panels for language trainers in the academic years 2015/2016 and 2023/2024, and for Collaboratore ed Esperto Linguistico positions in the academic years 2024/2025 and 2026/2027.
Contributions to Language Teaching and Conferences
In December 2025, she presented “AI-based scaffolding, monitoring and intervening in the formative feedback loop at the University Language Centre” at the AIHUMS (101) – AI in the Humanities workshop in Krakow. In October 2016, she presented “Tools and strategies for improving your scientific writing autonomously” at a conference held by the Academy of Sciences of the Institute of Bologna in collaboration with the Italian Chemical Society and the Royal Society of Chemistry.
In December 2015, she participated in three international Council of Europe workshops to validate language proficiency descriptors, particularly those relating to mediation activities and strategies, to complement the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Publications
Anderson, M. J. (2026). "Prompt English Intermediate Grammar". Prompt English.
- Paperback edition: ISBN 979-12-82751-0-08
- Kindle edition: ISBN 979-12-82751-0-01
Anderson, M. J. (2016). “Promoting the use of concordancers”. Modern English Teacher, 25(2), 57–59.
Anderson, M. J. (2016). “A functional approach to the timed essay”. Modern English Teacher, 25(1), 15–18.
Anderson, M. J. (2016). “IELTS Writing Task I”. Macmillan Publishers Limited, onestopenglish, online teaching resource.
Anderson, M. J. (2015). “Getting feedback on your feedback”. Modern English Teacher, 24(3), 68–70.
Anderson, M. J. (2015). “Truth or lie?”. English Teaching Professional, 98, 40–41.
Anderson, M. J. (2015). “IELTS report writing”. Macmillan Publishers Limited, onestopenglish, online teaching resource.
Other Professional Experience
From October 2014 to March 2022, she worked as an IELTS Speaking Examiner for the British Council in northern Italy. She also taught at the British Council in Barcelona (2002–2004). Between 2005 and 2013, she delivered corporate language training in Italy, including for Cofimp and Fondazione Aldini Valeriani, designing courses in technical and professional English.
