Maria F. Allen has lectured for 30 years in the School of Languages at the University of Westminster. She developed and co-ordinated the Portuguese -Language and Culture courses, as well as teaching the prestigious PG/MA Conference Interpreting course from Portuguese into English and other Latin idioms. Also for the UoW Maria Allen has taught the PG/MA Technical and Specialized Translation into English, for 21 years, (covering areas such as economics, legal, medicine, etc); also PG bilingual translation and other courses. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Linguists and a former member of its Council, currently a member of its Translation, Interpreting and Business Divisions. She was a member of the Associação Internacional de Lusitanistas and a member of Iberian Studies Association.