William Justin Morgan
Modern Languages and Classics
803 Frank Thomas Ave.
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
Tel: (205) 737-5097
Tel: (205) 348-5059
wmorgan@crimson.ua.edu
Education
The University of Alabama
Ph.D. in Linguistics, Expected 2019
The University of Alabama
M.A. in Spanish Linguistics, 2015
The University of North Alabama
B.A. in Foreign Languages, 2012
Teaching Experience
The University of Alabama, The College of Arts and Sciences
Tuscaloosa, AL
Graduate Teaching Assistant/Instructor: Two sections per semester.
Conducted classroom activities, corrected papers, administered exams, lesson planned,
conducted office hours and completed various administrative tasks.
Spanish 201 (Spring 2016)
Spanish 103 (Fall 2015)
Spanish 102 (Spring 2015)
Spanish 101 (Fall 2014)
Team-Teaching Assistant: two sections of Elementary Spanish. Team teaching under
supervision of Ph.D. student. Conducted classroom activities, graded, corrected papers,
and completed administrative tasks.
Spanish 101 (Fall 2013)
Spanish 103 (Spring 2014)
University of Montevallo
Montevallo, AL
Adjunct Professor: Responsible for creating Spanish 101 course for beginners.
Spanish 101 (Fall 2015)
Tuscaloosa County School System
Tuscaloosa, AL
Language Tutor, Spring 2015
Tutored Hispanic immigrant students at Hillcrest High School with their English
proficiency in a group and individual setting. Responsible for assessing language
acquisition and progress throughout the semester.
International Work Experience
Centro Panamericano de Idiomas, 2012-2015
Ensured the adaptation and successful immersion of study abroad students from diverse
backgrounds.
Lived abroad in Costa Rica for eight months, 2012-2013, Summer 2014 and Summer
2015, working for an internationally top-ranked, DELE certified Spanish immersion
school with campuses in San Joaquín de las Flores, Monteverde and Flamingo. Worked
in Departamento de Grupos as a representative for the school. In charge of planning and
executing immersion programs for schools such as Duke University, New Mexico State
University, Georgia Southern University and many more. Translated and interpreted in
professional settings such as clinics, hospitals and guest speakers. Translated
professional documents for the language school.
Current Projects
Exploring the linguistic effects of paired (more than one) vs. non-paired (individual)
homestay placement during short-term study abroad programs as well as students’
attitudes towards their homestay experience.
Exploring students’ global competence and acculturation of university level students
during a short-term study abroad sojourn through journal/diary analysis.
Research Interests
Second Language Acquisition; Study abroad and immersion effects on SLA; Dialectology;
Hispanic Studies; Immigration and migration; Bilingualism; Classroom Pedagogy
Conference Presentations
Morgan, William J. February, 2014. Panel. La inocencia como un tema importante en los textos
de Darío y Nájera. Paper presented at the Alabama Modern Language and Classics Conference:
Tuscaloosa, AL.
Morgan, William J. October, 2014. Vocabulary Frequency in Introductory Spanish Textbooks: A
Corpus Study. Mississippi Foreign Language Association conference: Louisville, MS.
Morgan, William J. December, 2014. Un estudio sobre los vocativos en Costa Rica. IV
Congreso Internacional de Lenguas Modernas: San José, Costa Rica.
Morgan, William J. February, 2015. Panel. Explorando las dificultades de ser inmigrante en los
EEUU: Interpretaciones del filme Entre Nos (2009), de Gloria La Morte. Paper presented at the
Alabama Modern Language and Classics Conference: Tuscaloosa, AL.
Miller, Alyssia and William Morgan. 2015. Social Media in the Foreign Language Classroom:
Facebook versus Twitter. American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Lanugage (ACTFL).
Expected November, 2015. San Diego, CA.
Academic Service
Academic Journal External Editor, Revista de Filología y Lingüística
Evaluator for the academic journal of the University of Costa Rica. Reviewing and
editing professional academic articles.
La última letra Treasurer 2015-2016
Served on the executive board of Spanish graduate student organization. Responsible for
all financial aspects and organization of social meetings with professors from the
department.
The University of Alabama Language Conference Spokesperson 2015-2016
Responsible for all communications with faculty and visiting conference presenters.
Served on executive board. Responsible for organization of language conference in
Spring of 2016.
Spanish Departmental Tutor, 2013-2014.
Tutored elementary and introductory undergraduate Spanish students with coursework.
Learned how to communicate effectively and efficiently linguistic concepts.
Spanish Convention Organizational Committee Member, Spring 2014.
Responsible for preparing the 2014 Spanish Convention at The University of Alabama
under the supervision of Dr. Sarah Mood and Dr. Erin O’Rourke. Learned the
importance of community outreach
Language Program Director Assistant, Fall 2013 and Spring 2014.
Assisted Dr. William Worden with administrative responsibilities during first year of
Master’s program. Special responsibilities include aiding in communication with job
candidates for future Language Program Director position and doing an analysis of two
Spanish textbooks, elementary and intermediate, which were then chosen as the new
textbooks for the 100 and 200 level Spanish courses at The University of Alabama.
200 Level Spanish Coordinator Assistant, Fall 2013 and Spring 2014.
Aided in 100 level Spanish administrative responsibilities under the supervision of Dr.
William Worden and Timothy Alford. Responsible for handling excuse petitions and
aiding in lab orientation scheduling.
McGraw-Hill Consultant, Fall 2013 and Spring 2014.
Aided in revising and editing Spanish grammar of elementary and intermediate Spanish
online language programs used by universities with McGraw-Hill textbooks. Worked
under the supervision of Janet Banhidi and Dr. Leticia McGrath.
Membership in Organizations
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (2015-Present)
Mississippi Foreign Languages Association (2014-Present)
La Última Letra (2013-Present)
Honors and Awards
Travel Awards
Departmental Travel Grant (Fall 2015).
Departmental Travel Grant (Spring 2015).
Departmental Travel Grant (Fall 2014).
Capstone International Center Travel Grant (Fall 2014)
Honor societies
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society (2015)
Sigma Delta Pi Honor Society (2014)
Tau Beta Sigma Honor Society (2010)
Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society (2008)
Study Abroad
Costa Rica program – The University of North Alabama (2012). Program directed by
Dr. Claudia Vance with assistance from Dr. Gabriella Carrasco. Three-week program in
San Joaquín de Flores, Costa Rica. Placed in most advanced Spanish course.
Mexico Program – The University of North Alabama (2008). Program directed by Dr.
Claudia Vance. Four-week program in Mérida, México. Placed in Intermediate level
course.
Languages
Spanish: Near-native proficiency
French: Intermediate oral proficiency, Intermediate-High reading proficiency
References
Dr. Douglas Lightfoot
Department Chair of Modern Languages and Classics
Associate Professor of German
lightfoot@ua.edu
(205) 348-5059
Dr. Bryan Koronkiewicz
Assistant Professor of Spanish Linguistics
Language Program Director, Spanish
bjkoronkiewicz@ua.edu
(205) 348-7648
Dr. Alicia Cipria
Advisor
Associate Professor of Spanish Linguistics
acipria@ua.edu
(205) 348-8483
Dr. Isabelle Drewelow
Assistant Professor of French Linguistics
Language Program Director, French
idrewelow@ua.edu
(205) 348-8463
Dr. Erin O’Rourke
Assistant Professor of Spanish Linguistics
eorourke@ua.edu
(205) 348-6046