Sarah Langcuster

334-703-2321 | ​[email protected]​ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-langcuster/

EDUCATION

University of Alabama at Birmingham - 4.0/4.0 ​2019

Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Master of Arts in Education in TESOL

Auburn University - 4.0/4.0

Department of Curriculum and Teaching
Graduate Certificate in TEFL/TESL 2015

The University of Alabama - 4.0/4.0

Department of Modern Languages and Classics 2014
Master of Arts in Romance Languages – Spanish
Phi Kappa Phi

The University of Alabama - 3.74/4.0

Department of Modern Languages and Classics 2011
Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Classics
International Honors Program, ​Magna Cum Laude

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Higher Education
The University of West Alabama, Department of Languages and Literature
Instructor of Spanish and ESL​ (August 2016-Present)
● Coordinate Spanish and ESL classes and teach various courses in both subject areas;
● Supervise Spanish adjunct instructor and co-coordinate curriculum for face-to-face
Spanish courses;
● Developed curricula for online Spanish courses (​SP 101​ and ​SP 129​);
● Created Intensive Review of Spanish course for students with previous experience in
Spanish from high school (Fall 2017);
● Created placement tests for Spanish and ESL classes and am responsible for testing and
placing incoming students appropriately into ESL and Spanish language courses;
● Maintain facilities and coordinate scheduling for Language Lab;
● Work with numerous departments to facilitate placement and overall success for ESL
students.

Courses Taught:
 Introduction to Spanish I & II; Introduction to Spanish I ​(Online);​ Intensive Review of
Spanish; Intermediate Spanish I & II; Spanish for Educators ​(Online); ​Written and Oral
Academic English for Non-Native Speakers I & II​; A ​ dvanced Academic Writing for
Non-Native Speakers

Auburn University, Intensive English Program

Adjunct Instructor of ESL​ (October 2015 – July 2016)
● Taught two to three classes per 8-week term in coordinate program;
● Created lessons and developed assessments for each course taught;
● Assisted with program-wide assessments such as placement testing and TOEFL
examinations.

Courses Taught:
Grammar/Writing 1, Listening/Speaking 3, Reading/Vocabulary 3 ​and ​5

The University of Alabama, Department of Modern Languages and Classics

Graduate Teaching Assistant​ (August 2012-May 2014)
● Taught two sections of introductory Spanish courses in a coordinated program during the
2013-14 academic year;
● Supported another teaching assistant with instruction in the 2012-13 academic year;
● Assisted the Department of Modern Languages and Classics with various tasks such as
creation of an alumni list, tutoring, and organizing the annual Spanish Convention.

Courses Taught​:
Introduction to Spanish 1 and 2; Intensive Review of Spanish

Community
Community English Classes, Birmingham, AL
Team Teacher​ ​(September 2017-December 2017)
● Taught basic English vocabulary and grammar to true beginners as part of UAB’s MA
TESOL practicum requirements;
● Worked with another instructor to create lesson plans and course materials. Assisted with
placement testing.

Courses Taught​:
Level 1 (True Beginners)

Pre-K-12
TRiO Upward Bound Program (Sumter County) – Livingston, AL
Foreign Language Teacher​ (​June 2017​)
● Taught Spanish classes for high school Juniors and Seniors in the Summer 2017 program;
● Created interactive, communicative lesson plans as well as assessments.
Private Language Tutor, Auburn, AL
Private Tutor​ (​March 2016-July 2016)​
● Helped two 6th-grade English Language Learners with school assignments and language
skills two to three times per week; ​(cont.)
● Tailored Common Core-aligned lessons for each student to prepare them for
seventh-grade work.

University Church Preschool, Tuscaloosa, AL

Spanish Enrichment Teacher​ (​September 2012-May 2013)​
● Planned and taught introductory Spanish lessons to children, ages 1 to 5 years old, in a
variety of areas such as colors, numbers, feelings, animals, shapes

PRESENTATIONS

International

Langcuster, S. ​(May 2019).​ ​The American College Experience. ​Radix International Faculty
​ OC Tilburg - Kasteeldreef, Tilburg, Netherlands.
Exchange.​ R

Langcuster, S. ​(May 2019).​ ​Higher Education in the U.S.​ Radix International Faculty Exchange
- ROC Tilburg -​ ​Gerschwinstraat, Tilburg, Netherlands.

Regional

Langcuster, S. ​(January 2020).​ ​Strategies to Promote Digital Literacy in Adult ESL Courses.
AMTESOL Conference. Auburn, AL.

Langcuster, S​. & Potthof, M. (April 2019). ​Teaching English as a Second Language in
Germany and the USA.​ Tigers International Visiting Faculty - University of West Alabama.

Langcuster, S. ​(November 2018). ​Word Context from Meaning (Levels 4-5)​. INTO UAB,
University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Brantley, M., Garcia-Galinat, I., ​Langcuster, S.​, & Sessions, J. (April 2018). ​Building
Connections: Merging Domestic and International Students.​ Alabama Association for
International Educators (AAIE) Annual Conference. Tuscaloosa, AL.

Langcuster, S.​ (October 2017). ​Teaching Academic Writing to Chinese ELL’s Utilizing Concept
Mapping.​ SETESOL Conference. Birmingham, AL.

Langcuster, S.​ (April 2014). ​Women in Limbo: A Look at Latin American Women in Spanish
Film. Carolina Conference on Romance Literatures.​ The University of North Carolina – Chapel
Hill, NC.
Langcuster, S.​ (February 2014). ​La muerte en La Celestina: una indicación de la corriente
judeo-pesimista. ​Alabama Modern Languages Conference. The University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL.

Langcuster, S.​ (October 2013). ​Esteban Trueba, el patrón: La función de un narrador

masculino en un texto feminino​. Thinking the Past/Re-Mapping the Present: First Academic
Symposium on Post-Dictatorships in Latin American Narrative(s) and Film. The University of
Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL.

Langcuster, S.​ (March 2013). ​Usos de lo grotesco y la animalización en la literatura española

de la posguerra​. Alabama Modern Languages Conference. The University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, AL

RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS

● Featured in “Student Showcase” – Office of Student Services, University of Alabama at

Birmingham, Spring 2018.
● Premio Javier Marías (Best Spanish Essay at 400-level) - The University of Alabama,
Spring 2011.

Grants
● Graduate Student Research and Travel Support Award ($200). Graduate School at the
University of Alabama, Spring 2014.

Honor Societies
● Phi Kappa Phi – Honor Society (Inducted in Spring 2014)
● Sigma Delta Pi – Spanish Honor Society, Beta Alpha Chapter (Inducted in Spring 2013)
● Eta Sigma Phi – Classics Honor Society (Inducted Spring 2010)

SERVICE

University of West Alabama

Academic Integrity Committee—Member (Fall 2018-Spring 2020)
International Club—Co-advisor (Spring 2018-Fall 2019)

College of Liberal Arts

Homecoming Planning Committee (Fall 2016)

Department of Languages and Literature

UWA Creative Writing Workshop – Judge (Spring 2017)
Poetry Slam – Assistant (Fall 2017; Spring 2019; Fall 2019)
University of Alabama, ​Department of Modern Languages and Classics
Spanish Convention – Graduate Student Organizer (Spring 2013); Judge (Spring 2014)
La última letra – Spanish Graduate Student Association (Fall 2012-Spring 2014)
Member​ (2012-2014), ​Vice President​ (2013-2014)

MEMBERSHIPS

Alabama-Mississippi TESOL
Alabama Association of International Educators

LANGUAGES

English – Native
Spanish – Near-native
German - Novice (low)

EXPERIENCE ABROAD

Radix International – Netherlands/USA Faculty Exchange Program (October 2018 and May
2019). Tilburg, Netherlands. Exchange responsibilities included:
● Hosted exchange partner in the U.S. and coordinated professional development
opportunities on campus; Promoted and advertised an on-campus talk by partner
● Shadowed exchange partner and met with other faculty members for professional
development. Observed English as a Foreign Language courses and presented at various
campuses about the higher education system in the United States.

Modern Languages Studies Abroad (Summer 2013). La Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro,
Costa Rica. Courses included:
● La novela de Gabriel García Márquez
● La poesía de Jorge Luis Borges

Alabama in Greece (Summer 2011). Course included:

● Ancient Greek Civilization

Alabama in Spain (Summer 2010). La escuela universitaria Cardenal Cisneros, Alcalá de

Henares, Spain. Courses included:
● Survey of Spanish Literature ​(cont)
● Art & Museums