Education

PhD | Applied Linguistics (in progress) | The University of Memphis
MA | Applied Hispanic Linguistics | New York University
BA | Spanish Language and Literature | The University of Georgia

About Allen R. Woodall III

Allen R. Woodall III is an Assistant Professor of Teaching of Spanish at The University of Memphis. His current work focuses on Spanish Second Language Acquisition (SLA), curricular and instructional design, and the integration of emerging technologies such as ChatGPT and other AI tools in language education. Rooted in a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, his teaching philosophy prioritizes student-centered, task-based learning that fosters cultural empathy and professional application of language skills.

In addition to teaching across all levels of the Spanish Basic Language Program, Allen designs and delivers upper-division courses in Conversation, Composition, and Applied Linguistics for Spanish majors and minors. These courses bridge theory and practice, empowering students to explore Spanish linguistics through interdisciplinary applications such as Sociolinguistics, Language Teaching, and Political Science. By incorporating authentic and diverse materials, his Outcome-Driven Model for Teaching and Learning equips students with the skills to communicate effectively, engage critically with cultural perspectives, and apply their knowledge in both academic and real-world contexts.

Allen’s research interests include computational approaches to SLA, AI literacy in education, and task-based learning for professional purposes. His work underscores the transformative potential of innovative pedagogy to create inclusive learning environments and inspire lifelong learning.

Publications

• Under Review: AI Literacy at the Threshold: Axiological Labor and the Wicked Ethics of Teaching Writing, co-authored with Dr. Will Duffy, Critical AI.

Conferences

• ACTFL Convention 2024: Enhancing Spanish SLA via ChatGPT: Pedagogical Potentials & Outcomes.

• The University of Memphis Graduate Student Conference on Applied Linguistics, 2024: ChatGPT in Spanish SLA: Interrogative Subject-Verb Inversion.

• The University of Georgia – Crossroads Conference, 2020: Syntactic Ambiguity in VP-DP-DP Structures in L2 Spanish.

Get to know me!