Allen Woodall - Department of World Languages and Literatures
Assistant Professor of Teaching, Spanish | Media & Communications Coordinator
Jones Hall 201Fa.woodall@memphis.eduEducation
PhD | Applied Linguistics (ABD) | 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 and a Ph.D. candidate (ABD) in Applied Linguistics. His current work explores Spanish Second Language Acquisition (SLA), instructional and curricular design, and the integration of emerging technologies—particularly ChatGPT and other AI tools—into language education.
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 lenses such as Sociolinguistics, Language Teaching, and Political Science. His Outcome-Driven Model for Teaching and Learning incorporates authentic, demographically rich materials to help students communicate effectively, engage critically with cultural perspectives, and connect their learning to future careers.
Allen’s research interests include computational approaches to SLA, AI literacy in education, and task-based learning for professional purposes. His dissertation examines how Research and Methodological Literacies (RMLs) among teaching-track faculty can foster professional identity, institutional fellowship, and program revitalization in the context of declining enrollments. His work underscores the transformative potential of practitioner research and unrestrictive pedagogy to reshape the future of language education.