CV & References

English Language CV / 日本式履歴書はこちら

Richard Graham Schoonmaker
Current Residence: Nagasaki, Japan
Contact Me By Email

Education

University of Hawai’i at Mānoa,
Honolulu, Hawai’i, USA
M.A. in Second Language Studies, 2014

Harry Whitten Prize for Scholarly Excellence (2014)
Full Graduate Asistantship in the Hawai’i English Language Program (2012-2014)
Department Merit Based Scholarship (2011-2013)

Furman University,
Greenville, South Carolina, USA
B.A. in Art, 2004

Founding Member and Resident of Vista House (2003-2004)
University of Georgia, Study Abroad in Cortona, Italy (Fall 2002)
C.S. Lewis Summer Institute, Oxford & Cambridge, England (Summer 2002)

Employment

Sep 2021 – Aug 2025
Chief Staff, IT Systems
Tokyo International University
Tokyo & Saitama Japan

Provided continued leadership and creative improvements for all technology resources supporting the university’s second language programs, enhancing teaching effectiveness and learner engagement.
Built and managed university websites, ensuring reliable performance, modern design, and alignment with institutional branding and communication goals.
Led the rapid deployment of COVID-era hybrid learning systems, ensuring seamless continuity of teaching and learning during the global shift to online and blended education.
Directed Slack and Google Workspace management for the university, standardizing communication and collaboration across departments, faculty, and students.
Oversaw Learning Management System (LMS) operations and improvements, ensuring stable, scalable, and effective digital teaching infrastructure.
Established institutional leadership in AI policy and response, guiding the university’s academic and administrative approach to emerging technologies.
Designed and implemented advanced classroom AV systems for the new Ikebukuro campus, creating modern, flexible, and future-proof learning environments.

April 2015 – August 2021
Global Teaching Fellow & Lecturer,
Global Teaching Institute (GTI),
Tokyo International University (TIU),
Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan

Taught a variety of reading, writing, listening, and speaking courses for all ESL level students (2015-2021)
Taught academic reading and academic writing classes (EAP classes) for all levels of students in the English Track Program (2015-2021)
Taught the unique IT Literacy class (a media literacy class) for the English Track Program (2016-2021)
Designed the curriculum for the IT Literacy course for the E-Track program; originally only one section, it quickly became one of the most popular elective courses at the university, with 5 sections and about 100 students taking the class each term (2016-2017)
Helped design and establish the testing and placement system for the GTI, now a crucial resource that helps the GTI to more carefully place students into classes of appropriate levels (2015-2016)
As a Program Needs Assessment Coordinator, designed and carried out an extensive needs assessment for the GTI, the results of which played a critical role in helping the program to grow and improve productivity and educational offerings (2015-2016)

2016 – 2020
Specialist in Technologies
for Second Language Programs,
Tokyo International University (TIU),
Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan

Helped lead the GTI in planning, decision-making, and creative problem solving for the numerous adjustments to online learning environments and the coinciding teacher training that was necessitated by the recent coronavirus pandemic (2020-2021)
Helped manage and designed materials for GTI social media accounts during the pandemic (2020-2021)
Designed and built the crucial system for managing the lending of laptops from the English Plaza of the GTI, including data collection and analysis, a system that lends hundreds of laptops to students every week (2019-2021)
Designed and built the system for managing sales, record keeping, inventory, and data collection for refreshments in the Oregon Cafe of the English Plaza (2018-2021)
Designed and built numerous Web 2.0 resources for classes in the GTI; when combined with the webpages of the GTI Website and GTI Handbook, these websites now have more than a million views (2016-2021)
Designed and managed the data collection and data analysis methodologies for the GTI; these data analyses helped to increase productivity significantly in the English Plaza (2016-2020)
Designed and built a website for the faculty of the GTI — The GTI Handbook (https://gtihandbook.com/) This website has played a significant role in helping to manage the recent growth of the GTI, and its resources are essential to the administration and curriculum development practices of the GTI (2016-2020)
Designed and built a website for students of English at TIU – The GTI Website – (https://tiugti.com/) This website and its resources provide essential services for managing attendance and data-collection for the English Plaza at TIU; furthermore, it provides educational resources and community building resources to facilitate the goals of the English Plaza and program learning outcomes of the GTI (2016-2020)
Played a central role in building, designing, and managing the social media resources for the GTI, including the design and management of digital media resources (2016-2021)
Designed and built the crucial systems for managing reservations, attendance, data collection, and data analysis for the Group Learning Spaces and Study Booths of the English Plaza of the GTI (2016-2021)
Managed hardware and software for the English Plaza and provided valuable guidance and leadership for the purchasing and acquisition of hardware and software for the English Plaza, including tablet computers and software for the tablet computers of the English Plaza of the GTI (2016-2021)

August 2011 – July 2014
Instructor & Technology Specialist,
Hawai‘i English Language Program (HELP),
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, USA

Helped increase enrollment numbers significantly during 3 years with the program (2011-2014)
Taught reading, writing, listening, and speaking courses for all levels (2011-2014)
Trained HELP instructors in the use of technologies for second language teaching (2012-2014)
Trained students in the use of technologies for improving second language learning (2012-2014)
Helped design and develop curriculum (2012-2014)
Developed several technology resources for the program (2012-2014)
Served as webmaster for the HELP website: manoa.hawaii.edu/eslhelp/ (2013-2014)
Created digital resources and materials for students and instructors (2013-2014)
Led and carried out most of the work for the design and creation of the HELP website (2012-2013)
Served as the special English instructor for the professional development program for the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS), hosted by the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) (Fall 2012)
Provided technological support and led a workshop for the Eiken Foundation (of Japan) English Teachers Training Course (2012年度英検ハワイ⼤学英語教員研修) (Summer 2012)

July 2004 – June 2009
Assistant Language Teacher,
Japan Exchange & Teaching Programme,
Karatsu City Board of Education,
Karatsu City, Saga, Japan

Taught elementary school English classes and junior high school English classes (2004-2009)
Regularly led teacher-training workshops at educational conferences in Saga Prefecture (2005-2009)
Created teaching materials and designed activities for English teachers in Saga Prefecture (2005-2009)
Cofounded and led Karatsu City’s Many Hands Group for English Teachers (2008-2009)
Served as coordinator for the Saga Prefecture Summer English Activities Seminar (2005-2008)
Helped develop curriculum for young language learners (2007-2008)
Served as the special coordinator for the Saga Prefecture Summer English Activities Seminar (2007)

Publications

Schoonmaker, R. G. (2024). Website for the Institute for International Strategy (IIS) at Tokyo International University. Tokyo International University. https://tiu-iis.org/

Schoonmaker, R. G. (2016). Website for the Global Teaching Institute (GTI) of Tokyo International University. Tokyo International University. https://tiugti.com/

Schoonmaker, R. G. et al. (2016). Handbook Website for the Global Teaching Institute (GTI). Tokyo International University. https://gtihandbook.com/

Schoonmaker, R. G. (2015). A blended learning approach to reading circles for English language learners. Second Language Studies Papers. Volume 33(1).

Schoonmaker, R.G. et al. (2012) HELP Website, Hawai‘i English Language Program, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. https://manoa.hawaii.edu/eslhelp/wordpress

Academic Presentations

Schoonmaker, R.G. – Essential Tech Resources for the 6 Principles of TESOL – Principles, Pedagogy, and Practice – HI TESOL Annual Conference – Hawai‘i, USA – February 13th, 2021

Schoonmaker, R.G. – Increasing your Presence when Teaching Online – GTI MyShare
Presentations – Tokyo International University, Saitama, Japan – October 7th, 2020

Schoonmaker, R.G. – Tech Workshops: Essential Synchronous and Asynchronous Technologies for Teaching ESL – Tokyo International University, Saitama, Japan – October 3rd and November 14th, 2018

Schoonmaker, R. G., and Zheng, D. – Synchronous and asynchronous co-annotation in hybrid reading circles for second language learners. – Finding Common Ground: Ecological, and Cognitive Perspectives on Language Use. – University of Connecticut, USA – June 12-14, 2014

Schoonmaker, R.G. – Technologies for Teaching English for Academic Purposes – Hawai‘i English Language Program – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa – August 16, 2013

Schoonmaker, R.G. – Working with Assistant Language Teachers – Eiken Foundation (of Japan) English Teachers Training Course (2012年度英検ハワイ⼤学英語教員研修) – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa – August 8, 2012

Schoonmaker, R.G. – Technologies and Activities for Enhancing English Classes – Saga Prefecture Conferences for English Teachers – Several Presentations from 2005 to 2009

Honors, Awards, & Recognition

Harry Whitten Prize for Scholarly Excellence, Department of Second Language Studies, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa – May 2014

Full Graduate Assistantship in the Hawai‘i English Language Program (HELP), Department of Second Language Studies, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa – 2012-2014

Department Merit Based Scholarship, Department of Second Language Studies,
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa – 2011-2013

Workshop for the Eiken Foundation (of Japan) English Teachers Training Course
received the highest satisfaction rating of all of the program’s workshops – 2012

Academic Organizations

Japan Association of Language Teaching (JALT)
Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) Special Interest Group (SIG) of the Japan Association of Language Teaching (JALT)
International Association for Language Learning Technology (IALLT)
Asia-Pacific Association for Computer Assisted Language Learning (APACALL)
Hawai‘i Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (HITESOL)
Distributed Language Group (DLG)

Skills

Teaching English as a Second Language
English for Academic Purposes, Blended/Hybrid Learning, Extensive Reading, Media Literacy, Speaking & Listening Skills, Reading & Writing Skills

Educational Technology
– Computer Assisted Language Learning, Mobile Assisted Language Learning, Web 2.0 Technologies

Coding for Websites
HTML, Javascript, CSS, Google Apps Scripts

Data Collection & Data Analysis
Cloud-Based Resources, Real-Time Data Visualization, Data Security, etc

Curriculum Design & Curriculum Development
English for Academic Purposes, English as a Second or Foreign Language, Blended Learning, Distance Learning, Technologically Enhanced Curriculum Design, ESL Media Literacy

Teaching Multimedia Literacy & Intercultural Media Literacy
Multimedia Presentation Design, Critical Thinking for Modern Media, Data Visualization Design, Video Editing Skills, Social Media Literacy, Basic Graphic Design

Qualitative Research
Multimodal Text Analysis, Conversation Analysis, Discourse Analysis, Action Research

Web Design, Graphic Design, and Art
WordPress, Wix, Adobe Creative Cloud, Photography, Apple Software, Etc

Teacher Training
Using Technologies to Enhance Second Language Teaching and Learning

Digital Materials Design
Websites, Tablet Computers, Keynote, Powerpoint, Google Tools, Social Media Tools

Intercultural Communication
East Asian and European Countries, Multimodal Communication, New Literacies

Public Speaking & Presentation Media Design
Advanced Presentation Design, Data Visualization, Multimodal Communication

Language Skills

English – Native Speaker
(South Carolina, North Carolina, Hawai‘i)

⽇本語 (Japanese) – Advanced Proficiency
(16 years living in Japan: Kyushu & Kanto)

Spanish, French, Italian, American Sign Language – Some Ability
(Languages in Attrition)

References

Kevin Mueller – kmueller@tiu.ac.jp
Director of the Global Teaching Institute at Tokyo International University

George Hays – ghays@tiu.ac.jp
Associate Director of the Global Teaching Institute at Tokyo International University

Joel Weaver – joelw@hawaii.edu
Director of the Hawai‘i English Language Program at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

Dongping Zheng – zhengd@hawaii.edu
Associate Professor in the Department of Second Language Studies at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa