We are thrilled to announce that Melodie Bellegarda has emerged victorious in the prestigious University of Nebrija’s ‘Tu Investigación en 3 Minutos‘ competition celebrated on the 14 and 15 of November 2024 in Madrid. This annual event, organized by the School of Doctoral Studies and the Faculty of Languages and Education, challenges young researchers to present their work in a concise, engaging manner to a non-specialist audience.

About the Competition
The ‘Tu Investigación en 3 Minutos’ competition aims to promote the dissemination and public understanding of research conducted by young scholars in the fields of Cognitive Sciences, Languages, and Education. Participants are tasked with the formidable challenge of summarizing their complex research projects in just three minutes, using accessible language and engaging storytelling techniques. This year’s competition saw a diverse array of topics and innovative presentations, making Melodie’s win all the more impressive.

Melodie’s Winning Presentation
Melodie Bellegarda captivated the judges and audience with her presentation titled «El idioma oculto de los sonidos cotidianos: Innovando en la enseñanza de lenguas». Her research explores the hidden language of everyday sounds and its potential applications in language teaching. By integrating acoustic elements into language learning environments, Melodie aims to enhance vocabulary acquisition and retention, making the learning process more immersive and effective.

About Melodie Bellegarda
Melodie is currently completing her PhD in Experimental Psychology at the University of Granada, where she is a member of the Memory and Language Research Group at the Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC). Her research focuses on vocabulary learning in foreign languages, particularly how multimodal contexts (acoustic and visual) can facilitate word acquisition. Melodie has conducted extensive research on the impact of environmental sounds on novel word recall and semantic integration, using both behavioral and EEG methods.

Her dedication to advancing our understanding of language learning and her innovative approach to integrating everyday sounds into educational practices have earned her recognition and accolades in the academic community. Melodie’s work not only contributes to the field of cognitive psychology but also holds practical implications for improving language education methodologies.

Melodie Bellegarda’s success is a testament to her exceptional research and presentation skills. Her innovative approach to language teaching through the use of everyday sounds has the potential to revolutionize the way we learn languages. We congratulate Melodie on her well-deserved victory and look forward to seeing the impact of her research in the years to come.

Link to the presentation in Spanish.