William Priest

William Priest

Lecturer in English Language Education
Beppu-shi, JP.

About

Highly accomplished and innovative Lecturer in English Language Education with an M.A. in TESOL and extensive experience in curriculum development, pedagogical innovation, and academic support. Proven ability to enhance student engagement and comprehension through advanced teaching methodologies, including visual syllabi and gamification, as demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications and international conference presentations. Committed to fostering academic success and language proficiency for diverse student populations in higher education settings.

Work

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
|

Lecturer, Center for Language Education

Beppu, Oita, Japan

Summary

Designed and delivered advanced English language education programs, contributing to curriculum innovation and student success at a leading international university.

Highlights

Implemented innovative pedagogical approaches, including visual syllabi and gamification, significantly enhancing student engagement and comprehension in EFL courses.

Designed and delivered comprehensive English language courses for diverse international student populations, consistently achieving positive student feedback and learning outcomes.

Contributed to academic discourse through multiple peer-reviewed articles and numerous conference presentations on topics such as 21st-century literacies, OneNote integration, and genre-based instruction.

Mentored and supported students in developing critical reading, writing, and academic skills, preparing them for success in an English-medium academic environment.

Actively participated in faculty development initiatives, sharing best practices and contributing to the continuous improvement of language education programs.

Compose LLC
|

Writing Tutor

San Francisco, CA, US

Summary

Delivered specialized writing instruction and support to clients, enhancing their composition skills and academic readiness.

Highlights

Guided students through the entire writing process, from brainstorming to final revision, resulting in improved clarity, coherence, and grammatical accuracy in academic papers.

Provided constructive feedback on diverse writing assignments, helping students develop critical thinking and self-editing abilities.

Tailored instructional strategies to meet individual student needs, fostering confidence and competence in written communication.

San Francisco State University
|

Senior Tutor (Reading, Writing, Academic Skills), Tutoring and Academic Success Center

San Francisco, CA, US

Summary

Oversaw academic support services, specializing in enhancing reading, writing, and broader academic proficiencies for university students.

Highlights

Provided individualized and group tutoring to a diverse student body, improving academic performance and retention across various disciplines.

Developed and facilitated workshops on academic writing, reading comprehension, and study strategies, equipping students with essential skills for university success.

Collaborated with faculty and staff to align tutoring services with curriculum objectives, contributing to a cohesive academic support system.

Trained and mentored junior tutors, fostering a high-quality learning environment and enhancing team capabilities and service delivery.

TALK English Schools
|

EFL Instructor

San Francisco, CA, US

Summary

Delivered comprehensive English as a Foreign Language instruction to international students, fostering rapid language acquisition and cultural understanding.

Highlights

Designed and implemented engaging lesson plans for diverse proficiency levels, covering grammar, vocabulary, speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills.

Utilized communicative language teaching methodologies to create dynamic classroom environments, significantly improving student fluency and confidence.

Assessed student progress through regular evaluations and provided personalized feedback, contributing to measurable improvements in language proficiency.

Adapted teaching materials and strategies to cater to the unique learning styles and cultural backgrounds of international students.

Converse International School of Languages
|

EFL Instructor

San Francisco, CA, US

Summary

Provided English as a Foreign Language instruction, enhancing students' linguistic abilities and cross-cultural communication skills.

Highlights

Developed and delivered student-centered lessons focused on practical language application, improving conversational fluency and grammatical accuracy.

Managed classrooms of diverse international students, fostering an inclusive and interactive learning environment.

Administered placement tests and progress assessments, tracking student development and adjusting instructional approaches as needed.

Integrated authentic materials and real-world scenarios to make language learning relevant and engaging for students.

Bay Area Apartments
|

Site Manager & Leasing Agent

San Francisco, CA, US

Summary

Managed residential property operations and client relations, ensuring high occupancy rates and tenant satisfaction.

Highlights

Managed daily operations for residential properties, overseeing maintenance, tenant relations, and administrative tasks.

Successfully negotiated and executed lease agreements, consistently achieving target occupancy rates and maximizing revenue.

Resolved tenant inquiries and issues promptly, maintaining high levels of resident satisfaction and retention.

Coordinated with vendors and contractors to ensure timely and cost-effective property maintenance and improvements.

Volunteer

San Francisco State University
|

Member, Tutoring Implementation Committee

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Summary

Contributed to the development and implementation of a university-wide tutoring program, enhancing academic support infrastructure.

Highlights

Collaborated as one of 14 committee members to design and launch a campus-wide, cross-disciplinary tutoring program, improving student academic support services.

Education

San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA, United States of America

M.A.

TESOL

San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Graduate Certificate

Teaching Composition

San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Graduate Certificate

Teaching Post-secondary Reading

San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA, United States of America

B.A.

Japanese

Waseda University
Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

Certificate

Japanese Language Study

Awards

Member

Awarded By

Golden Key International Honour Society

Recognized for outstanding academic achievement and leadership by invitation to the Golden Key International Honour Society.

Publications

Poster presentation: Syllabus bot-chan: Easy access to improve engagement

Published by

Asia Pacific Language Journal Symposium

Summary

Presented a poster on 'Syllabus bot-chan' as a tool for improving student engagement at the Asia Pacific Language Journal Symposium in Beppu, Japan.

Visual syllabus in 3 parts: Engagement, comprehension, and first impressions in university EFL

Published by

JALT 7s

Summary

Presented a three-part series on the impact of visual syllabi on engagement, comprehension, and first impressions in university EFL at JALT 7s in Oita, Japan.

Visualizing the syllabus: Engagement, comprehension, and first impressions in university EFL

Published by

Journal of Education and Learning

Summary

Co-authored a peer-reviewed article investigating the impact of visual syllabi on student engagement, comprehension, and initial perceptions in EFL.

Revisiting the visual syllabus: Utility, impact, and teacher impressions in university English as a foreign language

Published by

Journal of Education and Learning

Summary

Co-authored a peer-reviewed article exploring the effectiveness and and impact on teacher perception of visual syllabi in university EFL contexts.

Journal club: Revisiting the visual syllabus: Utility, impact, and teacher impressions in university EFL

Published by

Asia Pacific Language Journal Symposium

Summary

Led a journal club discussion on the utility, impact, and teacher impressions of visual syllabi in university EFL at the Asia Pacific Language Journal Symposium in Beppu, Japan.

Gamification in the L2 classroom: Engagement and motivation

Published by

JALT 7s

Summary

Presented on the use of gamification to enhance engagement and motivation in the L2 classroom at JALT 7s in Oita, Japan.

OneNote in the classroom: Basics for EFL instructors

Published by

Spring Faculty Development Conference

Summary

Presented on the practical application of OneNote in EFL classrooms for instructors at the Spring Faculty Development Conference in Beppu, Japan.

Gamification in EFL: Learning is fun again?

Published by

APU Language Journal Symposium

Summary

Delivered a presentation on the effectiveness of gamification in EFL at the APU Language Journal Symposium in Beppu, Japan.

Genre-based language instruction in university EFL

Published by

Fall Faculty Development Conference

Summary

Presented on genre-based language instruction strategies for university EFL at the Fall Faculty Development Conference in Beppu, Japan.

OneNote for EFL classrooms: Basics for instructors

Published by

Fall Faculty Development Conference

Summary

Delivered a presentation on integrating OneNote into EFL classrooms for instructors at the Fall Faculty Development Conference in Beppu, Japan.

Multilingual composition utilizing 21st century literacies

Published by

M.A. English Conference

Summary

Presented findings on multilingual composition and 21st-century literacies at the M.A. English Conference at San Francisco State University.

Multilingual Composition Utilizing 21st-Century Literacies: A Course Development Project (Capstone, published)

Published by

San Francisco State University

Summary

Authored and published a capstone project focusing on the development of a course curriculum for multilingual composition, integrating 21st-century literacies.

Pragmatics of student participation

Published by

CA-TESOL Conference

Summary

Presented research on the pragmatics of student participation at the CA-TESOL Conference in San Jose, CA.

Languages

Japanese

Proficient

English

Native

Skills

Academic Support

Tutoring, Academic Coaching, Student Mentorship, Study Strategies, Course Design.

Interpersonal & Communication

Cross-cultural Communication, Public Speaking, Stakeholder Engagement, Team Collaboration.

Technology

Microsoft OneNote, Learning Management Systems (LMS), Digital Pedagogy, AI + Education, AI Prompt Engineering.

Research & Analysis

Qualitative Research, Academic Writing, Conference Presentation, Data Interpretation.

Teaching & Pedagogy

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Curriculum Development, Lesson Planning, Gamification, Visual Syllabus Design, Genre-Based Instruction, 21st-Century Literacies, Academic Skills Instruction, Writing Instruction, Materials Design.

References

Steven Pattison, Ph.D.

Director of English, Center for Language Education, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Email: steven@apu.ac.jp

Matthew Saunders, M.A.

Level Coordinator, Center for Language Education, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Email: saunders@apu.ac.jp

William Priest