Thriving through motivational intelligence Speaker: Dr Bianca Manuela Sandu, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran CanariaChair: Dr. Sal ConsoliSeminar Organiser: Dr. Florence Bonacina-PughAbstract This talk explores how language learning motivation research can move beyond the classroom to engage with wider questions of social change. It reports on a two-day intervention programme that brought together motivational activities grounded in Consoli’s concept of life capital, Dweck’s work on mindset and Dörnyei’s vision system. Focusing on students’ reflections and life narratives, the study traces how language learning motivation developed before, during and after the intervention. In doing so, the talk introduces the concept of motivational intelligence, asking whether more meaningful and sustained forms of social transformation might emerge if these motivational capacities are explicitly recognised, cultivated and valued within educational contexts. Bio Bianca Manuela Sandu (PhD) is Associate Professor at the Department of Modern Languages, Translation and Interpreting (English) at the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, where she teaches English language and cultural topics. Her current research interests include language learning motivation through intervention programmes based on the L2 Motivational Self System and other state-of-the-art motivational theories with undergraduates and teachers. Additionally, she conducts research about motivational intelligence and social action, semantic networks and bilingual education. Joining on TeamsJoin the talkMeeting ID: 327 534 264 017 5Passcode: jT7RV9D2 Tags Education events Language, Interculturality and Literacies Research events Conferences, seminars and lectures Feb 18 2026 14.00 - 15.00 Thriving through motivational intelligence The second talk in the 2026 LIL Hub Seminar series features Dr Bianca Manuela Sandu of the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. 5.02 (Charteris Land) or MS Teams
Thriving through motivational intelligence Speaker: Dr Bianca Manuela Sandu, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran CanariaChair: Dr. Sal ConsoliSeminar Organiser: Dr. Florence Bonacina-PughAbstract This talk explores how language learning motivation research can move beyond the classroom to engage with wider questions of social change. It reports on a two-day intervention programme that brought together motivational activities grounded in Consoli’s concept of life capital, Dweck’s work on mindset and Dörnyei’s vision system. Focusing on students’ reflections and life narratives, the study traces how language learning motivation developed before, during and after the intervention. In doing so, the talk introduces the concept of motivational intelligence, asking whether more meaningful and sustained forms of social transformation might emerge if these motivational capacities are explicitly recognised, cultivated and valued within educational contexts. Bio Bianca Manuela Sandu (PhD) is Associate Professor at the Department of Modern Languages, Translation and Interpreting (English) at the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, where she teaches English language and cultural topics. Her current research interests include language learning motivation through intervention programmes based on the L2 Motivational Self System and other state-of-the-art motivational theories with undergraduates and teachers. Additionally, she conducts research about motivational intelligence and social action, semantic networks and bilingual education. Joining on TeamsJoin the talkMeeting ID: 327 534 264 017 5Passcode: jT7RV9D2 Tags Education events Language, Interculturality and Literacies Research events Conferences, seminars and lectures Feb 18 2026 14.00 - 15.00 Thriving through motivational intelligence The second talk in the 2026 LIL Hub Seminar series features Dr Bianca Manuela Sandu of the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. 5.02 (Charteris Land) or MS Teams
Feb 18 2026 14.00 - 15.00 Thriving through motivational intelligence The second talk in the 2026 LIL Hub Seminar series features Dr Bianca Manuela Sandu of the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
