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Anaheim University Ferrotec Akira Yamamura Scholarship 2 students can earn a full scholarship towards an Anaheim University online Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program Applicants can apply the scholarship to 1 of these 3 online degree programs: Online International MBA Online MBA in Global Sustainable Management Online Master of Entrepreneurship Applicants must meet Anaheim University’s MBA entrance requirements. Applicants must express an interest in being considered for future employment by Ferrotec. However, being awarded a scholarship does not guarantee that an offer of employment will be made to the scholarship recipient. Applicants with Heat Transfer, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, International Business / bilingual (English + 1 other language) language skills/experience will be given preferential consideration. Scholarships will be awarded on a merit basis based on the applicant’s qualifications. Applicants must maintain standards set forth by the Scholarship Committee and/or the University’s administration in order to remain in good standing and continue to receive the scholarship funding throughout the remainder of their program. Scholarship recipients are expected to maintain a minimum of a B average at all times and complete each course with a minimum of a 3.0 grade. Scholarship recipients must also remain continuously enrolled from the commencement of their program through graduation. Skipped term fees are not included in the scholarship and skipped terms are only allowed with special permission from the University’s Dean. Scholarship Application Requirements Scholarship Applicants must submit: – standard application materials required for an Anaheim University online MBA or Master of Entrepreneurship program. Click here for a list of program entrance requirements. – a 1,000 word essay outlining: How you feel the Anaheim University degree will benefit you Why you would like to be considered for possible employment by Ferrotec upon graduation Your area of academic and professional specialization To Apply: Click here to complete the online application form. E-mail 1,000-word scholarship application essay to ausupport @ anaheim.edu Application Deadline May 25, 2018 Scholarship Recipients Announced June 1, 2018 MBA Program Start Date July 2, 2018 About Ferrotec Founded in 1980, Ferrotec is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan with locations in Japan, U.S.A., China, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, and Russia. Ferrotec is a diversified technology company with a worldwide presence in a broad array of end products, manufacturing systems, and industries. Ferrotec provides its customers with advanced material, component, and assembly solutions that make their products work better, more precisely, and more reliably. Founded on a technology core of Ferrofluid magnetic liquid and Ferrofluidic® sealing products, the company and its product portfolio have grown to meet the evolving needs of its customers. Ferrotec is now a global enterprise characterized by substantial intercompany cooperation in research, manufacturing and marketing of products. The Ferrotec Group contributes to society as a manufacturer, and a company whose progress brings joy to its customers, shareholders, employees, business partners, the community, and all of its stakeholders. Ferrotec has grown to what it is today through the pioneering and innovative spirit of its President and Representative Director Dr. Akira Yamamura About Dr. Akira Yamamura Dr. Akira Yamamura, who is an Executive Advisory Board member of Anaheim University, established Ferrotec with two people in 1980. At the time, he was president of the Japanese subsidiary of Ferrofluidics Corporation, after joining the company as an engineer. In 1987, he led a management buy-out of the company and then in 1999 acquired the former parent company. Dr. Yamamura has grown Ferrotec to become one of the most important companies in the electronics industry, with annual revenue growing to approximately US$680 million, 27 subsidiaries and more than 5,400 employees in Japan, the US, Europe and Asia. The original business of the company was distributing Vacuum Feedthrough, which applies Ferrofluid, magnetic field. Vacuum Feed-through is a key component to shield the vacuum environment, and utilized in semiconductor equipment, single crystal silicon ingot grower, FPD equipment, and thin film equipment for photovoltaic application. In 2012, Dr. Akira Yamamura was ranked #24 in Ernst & Young’s “World Entrepreneur of the Year” awards.

1) Why did you choose Anaheim University? After thorough research, my decision for Anaheim University was based on three major reasons: First: flexibility. As I am permanently employed and studying for a second Masters degree simultaneously, my place of work and time schedule were subject to constant changes. If it was not for a fully online-based program, I would not have been able to juggle three “full-time jobs.” Second: internationality. A German degree in Humanities alone is insufficient to cope with the increasing importance of globalization and transculturalism. As a nationally accredited and English-speaking university with international orientation, I felt that Anaheim University fully met the requirements. Last: uniqueness. With particular attention to the International MBA program, Anaheim University is practically the only online university in the United States which combines business knowledge with strong expertise in Asian studies (special thanks to Dr. Callahan!), which is among my main research interests. 2) Can you tell us briefly about your career? At the age of 16, I underwent a three-year apprenticeship as an IT Management Assistant in the financial sector. Afterwards, I finished my compulsory civilian service for the Red Cross, thus switching over to the tertiary sector. Upon completion, I attended university to study Chinese and Japanese Studies (and later the International MBA), while at the same time co-managing a boutique hotel and working for NHK WORLD. Now I strive to both do a Doctoral degree in Asian Studies and apply for a management job position. 3) Why did you choose to earn an MBA? If it was not for earning a living, I would be perfectly satisfied with studying humanities only and fully dedicating myself to academic research. The MBA was meant to function as my alternative key qualification to enter the free market, in case I failed the academic path. However, in the course of tackling the MBA program, I realized that earning a MBA degree not only increases your job chances and round out the overall picture, you also acquire analytical and organizational skills that are useful for interdisciplinary approaches. Whether as a complement or a stand-alone degree, there are only advantages one can derive from earning an MBA. 4) How do you feel completing the program successfully? Nothing in particular. Just moving on to the next chapter in my life. 5) What did you like best about the program? Honestly, Student Services was the best! Extremely helpful, always friendly, casual communication, fast replies and great dedication (special thanks to Elizabeth and Shizuka). 6) What is your favorite memory from the program? Whenever I received an enrollment key for accessing a new course, I burst with curiosity about the assignments and tasks we had to do over the upcoming six weeks. Upon taking a quick look, I immediately checked the new student list to see with whom I would study together. I personally enjoyed these moments most. 7) How was the experience studying online? As I was also studying at a traditional university, I see great differences compared to studying online. The most outstanding difference in my opinion (taking traditional German universities as a base for comparison) is that you have a strict point system. Thus, you will be forced to actively participate, engage in discussions, and meet deadlines (with exceptions being granted if there is a good reason for it) on a weekly basis. Most students in an “offline seminar” usually do not talk because they are either shy, afraid of saying something wrong, or have language problems. However, these types of students would contribute on an online platform and you can see their potential being drawn out. Naturally, most feel more comfortable with writing instead of speaking. You have time to think about what you want to say. There is no pressure at all. For further discussions, webcam seminars are held twice per course, where you can exchange your ideas and further elaborate on your thoughts with the professor and the group. If that is still not enough, you just arrange private sessions with your classmates which I did a lot. All in all, studying online is way too underrated. It can be efficient and productive in so many ways that traditional universities cannot keep up with. It was definitely worth the experience. 8) How did you balance the time required to study while working full-time? It is all about setting priorities. Anything can be overcome with self-discipline, perseverance, and effort. 9) Did you feel you were part of a learning community? Yes, advancing towards the completion of a course alongside my – best described with the Japanese term – “nakama” (“comrades” with a slightly deeper meaning) was the greatest feeling. Although everyone is scattered around the world, you feel connected with them. You give and receive support. You never have the feeling of being a lone wolf. 10) What was the most unusual location you joined an online class or discussion forum from? A Sushi bar in Shinjuku. 11) What would you say to someone who is hesitant about studying online? Give it a chance. 12) Do you feel the MBA will help to develop your career? Not only career, but life experience as well. 13) What advice would you offer to the Anaheim University incoming students? Don’t underestimate the workload. The degree has to be earned, in the literal sense of the word.

Bethany Fazekas graduated with honors from Anaheim University in 2012 with a Master of Arts degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. 1. Why did you choose Anaheim University’s MA in TESOL program? I chose Anaheim University’s MA in TESOL program for the convenience of the online course setup, the outline of classes offered in the program, and because I was excited to learn directly from professors I had read about in my undergraduate program. I had studied their research and was anxious to have them teach me in the MA program! Their vast, global experiences were something I did not take for granted. 2. Can you tell us about your career to date? I have taught for 9 years in the public-school setting. I have taught ESL in Pennsylvania and English and Writing in Texas–grades ranging from 4-12! I am also beginning to tutor international students at the college level, which is very exciting. 3. How has your Master’s Degree helped you to further your career? Besides giving me a vast background in second language acquisition, I have been able to use a lot of the content I studied in the various courses at AU. For example, I served on a curriculum committee for 5 years. I was well prepared, because I had taken the curriculum design course–EDU 580 at AU. In general, my research at Anaheim has encouraged me to think outside the box in my classroom. Research in any area of education has a life-long impact because it affects our teaching practices, which in turn affects student learning. 4. Can you share a favorite memory from Anaheim University? That’s easy! By far, the best memories from Anaheim were attending the residentials and meeting the professors and my classmates face to face…learning with them, engaging with them, exploring with them. I never would have guessed I would get on a plane by myself and travel to Seoul, South Korea, for a graduate program. I did it, and it was one of the most thrilling experiences in my life to date! 5. Did you have a favorite class at Anaheim University? I enjoyed many of the classes, but I think my favorite was EDU 600 (my research portfolio) because it’s where everything came together for me. I pulled together everything I learned into one qualitative research project on freewriting. I felt supported and led by Dr. David Nunan throughout the entire course. It was just a very gratifying class, and I was proud of my work in the end. 6. How did you enjoy the online experience? If I had to describe the online experience in a word it would be: fun. There was always a fun element to each course. The online platform at AU is different than in other places. AU professors work hard to make sure the classes are extremely interactive. Honestly, it felt like I was sitting in a classroom with my classmates many times. It was just very interactive and engaging. 7. Who would Anaheim University’s MA in TESOL program best suit? I would recommend this program to anyone who is currently teaching ESL. This program can help expand your knowledge on TESOL, and it gives you a lot of practical tips for being successful in the classroom. 8. What were the challenges in your program? The biggest challenge was producing an entire 100-page paper/project with 2 other people. We lived in different parts of the world! We gathered data, designed, e-mailed, disagreed, edited, revised, etc. back and forth for months to complete this project. However, in the end, we had designed an entire curriculum– long-distance! This was for EDU 580. The class challenged me in so many ways, and I definitely grew because of it. 9. In your opinion, how does learning TESOL improve careers for ESL teachers? I think if you currently have a classroom, it will allow you to step back and really reflect on your current teaching. I was able to ask myself if I was really meeting the needs of my students and if there were ways I could better myself as a teacher. I even used my classroom as a research study! I started keeping a teaching diary. It improved the way I design materials and deliver content. 10. Which residential sessions did you attend and what did you like best about them? I attended the Seoul, South Korea, residential in October 2010, and also the Anaheim, California residential. I liked finally getting to meet the professors in person. It was a great opportunity to bring your questions and your comments in front of your professors and classmates and be able to process everything we had discussed online. The sessions were always engaging, and Anaheim did a great job at planning some surprise social elements into the sessions…gathering for a meal, watching fireworks at Disney, even celebrating Dr. Nunan’s birthday with a big chocolate cake in a restaurant in South Korea! The residentials are the highlight of the program! 11. How did you feel connected to your learning community? The discussion forums kept you connected all the time. You are networking with people all over the globe. The professors were very accessible, too. 12. What advice can you give to new students entering the MA in TESOL program?  First of all, congratulations on deciding to pursue your MA in TESOL. It is a great decision. I would say to start by keeping a notebook with your questions from the very beginning… questions about your courses, your research, your goals, your current classroom, your methods, etc. These questions will help guide and direct your eventual research project and/or thesis. Also, don’t be afraid to change your ideas. Sometimes where you think you are going ends up being entirely different than where you actually go. When you carry out research, you have the power to shape it and mold it and make it show you something you never knew existed. Finally, make the program personal. Make it

Q. Why did you choose Anaheim University? I chose AU for my MBA because it was one of the few online programs for Sustainable Management.  My research on the program found that the faculty were global experts on Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility.  Having completed the program, I can attest that it was even better than I had anticipated. Q. Why did you choose to pursue a DBA after you completed your MBA with Anaheim University?   I chose to pursue a DBA because I want to be a Professor and teach sustainability at the graduate level to business professionals.  I also want the credibility in the industry and at my company as a sustainability professional. Q. What do you like best about the program?   What I liked best about the program was analyzing case studies for sustainability solutions that have been tried, tested, and proven to be viable options for reducing negative impacts.  Studying these examples and working through the challenges in class helped me develop new solutions that I have implemented at my company. Q. What is your favorite memory from the program? Finishing the program was my favorite memory.  It was a lot of work but very rewarding. Q. How did you feel attending and speaking at the 2017 Graduation Ceremony? Speaking at the graduation was such an honor.  I am proud to be part of the AU Alumni and I love telling others how AU helped change my career and my life.  I have to admit, I really liked being introduced as Dr. Reiter. Q. Please describe your experience with studying online. Online studying was nice because it was flexible with my demanding schedule.   However, it requires a lot of self-management and dedication to stay on track.  As with any graduate program, there is a lot of writing, reading, and research every single day.  You cannot let yourself fall behind or it will be very difficult to recover.  Stay the course and it’ll be over before you know it. Q. Do you feel you are part of a learning community? I absolutely feel that I am part of the learning community.  Clearly it is not the same as going to a brick and mortar university, but I received all the perks of getting a great education from Anaheim University. Q. What was the most unusual location where you joined an online class or discussion forum? I was on vacation in Palm Springs getting ready to go to a fancy dinner.  While I was under pressure to get the online class done, it turned out to be one of the best lectures I’ve heard on greenwashing.  I’m glad I didn’t miss it. Q. What would you say to someone who is hesitant about studying online? I would tell someone to thoroughly think about what it will take to complete the degree.  Ask yourself if you have the time to drive to and from a traditional college campus and sit in lecture halls for hours on end?  For me, the answer was no.  There is no way that I could maintain my job requirements and attended college full time.  I choose the online MBA and DBA programs at AU and it has made all the difference. Q. Please tell us briefly about your career. I am currently the Executive Vice President and Chief EHS&S Officer for a medium-size General Contractor and Sustainable Construction Consulting firm.  Prior to my current position I was Sr. Principal Advisor for Strategy and Sustainability at Edison International. Q. Do you feel the MBA has helped your career?  How will the DBA further your career? My MBA helped me get an Executive position with a higher salary.  The DBA will help me become a professor and expert in sustainability. Q. Do you think the field of sustainable management is becoming more important in business? What are the merits to studying sustainable management? Sustainability is not a question of “if”, but “when.”  Most large corporations have realized the benefits of being sustainable and those that haven’t will be forced to either by regulations, shareholders, and/or stakeholders.  If your goal is to be in business and manage sustainability, then learning how to actually “manage” sustainability is the direction you want to take.  Studying sustainable management will give you the skills to manage companies from a triple bottom line where profits, people, and the planet are all factored into the decision making of the corporation from the top down.

Anaheim University Ed.D. graduate Linh Phung along with Hayo Reinders and Marilyn Lewis has published a new book: Studying in English, Strategies for Success in Higher Education.   The book was released July 2017 though the Palgrave Study Skills Series. Are you studying, or planning to study, a degree taught in English?  If so, this is the book for you. It’s full of examples, ideas, activities and good advice to help you improve your English and make the most of your university experience, whether you are abroad or taking university classes in English at home. It is available through Palgrave or amazon.com

1)    Why did you choose Anaheim University? Anaheim University offered a combination of qualities in a doctoral program I was looking for: the quality of the content that can be utilized both in academics and real life professional work; the convenience of providing a learning platform that combines online access and state-of-the-art technology and a focus on value that makes the program tuition very competitive with its peers. Anaheim is the best-kept secret that needs sharing with the business world. 2)    Why did you choose to earn a DBA? I believe that the effectiveness of a business consultant and advisor lie in the combination of a great education and the exposure to a rich and wide professional experience. Entrepreneurs greatly value this combination of both conceptual academic and professional excellence when facing either opportunities or challenges. Our clients and I, by working together as a team, have achieved both personal and professional success. Nevertheless, I believe that the same way we had an industrial revolution, and later on a technologic one, now we are living in the times of the “Know-How Revolution” which means that the greater value is placed not only on having resources available (such as Capital and Labor), but in mixing these resources wisely. By undertaking the task of being proactive in my learning and training as an advisor, I will be better equipped to understand the opportunities and challenges and provide meaningful solutions for my clients to continue to succeed. 3)    What do you like best about the program so far? I am very impressed with the level of professionalism of the professors, their interest in us receiving feedback about our homework and projects in a way that we can complete our understanding. Also, the qualities of my classmates are outstanding; we have accountants, financial experts, professors, technology advisors and other professions that combined makes it really fun to interact and do projects together. We have students from different countries and backgrounds, which definitely makes this an international global program. 4)    How has the experience studying online been so far? This is my first time as a student receiving lectures online in an accredited institution (I have taught as a professor online). I come from a Chemical Science and Accounting background, two professions that require self-study for excellence, thus, the self-study part I find it to be a great match for me. On the other hand, starting this program in my business Tax Season this year; it has required extra focus and discipline, but after 14 years out of College as student, it is an amazing experience that will translate into greater professional excellence in my CPA firm. 5)    Do you feel you are part of a learning community? I feel indeed like being part of a learning community, since we all make comments that are very witty and practical in the online boards, which makes all us wiser and at the same time we answer deep questions from the professor and student hosts (every week one or two students serves as host) in a way that we can trace back to our textbook and actual new developments in the economy and business life. 6)    What would you say to someone who is hesitant about studying online? I would say that studying online requires all of us to build the person within, the future professional we all carry inside into maximum excellence, since either failure or success cannot be attributed to any other party, once the Institution, Program, and Curriculum is of high quality such as this DBA Program within Anaheim University. 7)    Can you tell us briefly about your career? I was born in Cuba to an electrical engineer dad (telecom expert) and a third-generation accountant (my mother). In my house, you could barely walk around without seeing a book lying somewhere with a bookmark. I grew up seeing my father teach in classrooms, and my grandfather reviewing his students’ work at his house (during spring and summer breaks), so early on I developed a great interest into learning concepts, designing new solutions to every day challenges. The economy in Cuba hit its lowest point in 1993-1994 when I was starting my studies as Chemical Scientist, and overnight I became a small entrepreneur, buying and selling things that included food staples, clothes and other wares. When I came to the US in December 1997, I decided I wanted to study business and my Accounting professor encouraged me to become a CPA. I worked in many industries beginning from clerk positions and eventually promoted to Sales Territory Manager at a Fortune 500 Company. In the summer of 2000, my Entrepreneurship professor encouraged me to become a business consultant and advisor and after obtaining my bachelor and master of accounting, I briefly worked as an Auditor at a Big Four Accounting firm, which allowed me to learn about Internal Controls, Accounting and Financial Systems. For the past 10 years I have focused on developing new tools and services that cater to entrepreneurs, especially in the Start-Up and Growth stages, while teaching occasionally at local South Florida Colleges. My dream is to substantiate my knowledge and credentials, so that I can use it as a platform along with my experience, to prevent many business owners from coming short of their dreams, because of lack of information, training and support. The concepts and practical tools that define the initial survival and further development of an organization are not very complex in nature, but require an awareness that most entrepreneurs don’t have at the beginning. 8)    Do you think the DBA will help your career?  This DBA program has already definitely impacted my career in a very positive manner. Sometimes I think about how I will feel once I graduate, and being a business doctor is something beyond my wildest dreams growing up in Havana, Cuba, in one of the most difficult times in our history as a nation. I believe

Co-authors Dr. Ken Beatty and Julia Williams, Director of Renison’s ELS program, have won the TESL Canada Innovation Award for their textbook series LEAP (Learning English for Academic Purposes).              The series began with a textbook Williams wrote in 2005, titled Learning English for Academic Purposes. The textbook was well received, leading Pearson Publishing to approach Williams to develop a full series. Between 2011 – 2013, Williams and co-author Dr. Ken Beatty published an additional seven textbooks. The series is currently into its third round of revisions with the new editions scheduled to be released in early 2018.            This award celebrates the innovation of English language teaching professionals, who produce relevant and creative resources that are used in thousands of classrooms across Canada and the world. The Innovation Awards, which were presented at the recent TESL Canada Conference in Niagara Falls, included awards for several textbook categories.  The LEAP series won the award for Most Innovative Textbook Series published by an International Publisher and Designed for the Canadian Market.           The LEAP series is a four-level English for Academic Purposes series: LEAP 1 (High Beginner: CEFR Level A1+-B1), LEAP 2 (Intermediate – CEFR Level B1), LEAP 3 (High Intermediate – CEFR Level B2) and LEAP 4 (Advanced – CEFR Level C1).  The series delivers a flexible, discrete skills approach to English for Academic Purposes with a Listening and Speaking, and Reading and Writing book at each level.  The books use high-interest international content to prepare students for the academic world.  They take a cross-curricular approach to teaching students the vocabulary and skills they need to thrive in a real-life academic context, while helping them apply critical thinking to a variety of global issues. The books have a clear, colourful and engaging layout that is easy to navigate and pleasing to read.  The books include online support activities for students to reinforce the content presented.

An essential guide for pre-service and in-service English language teachers.  There are countless theories and approaches to language teaching, and with so many different methodologies available it can be difficult for teachers to weigh up the pros and cons of each – or even to know where to start. Written by an experienced teacher and researcher, Methods and Methodologies for Language Teaching takes a fresh look at ten approaches to classroom language teaching and learning. Each chapter includes suggested activities and further reading, presenting the origins and key features of each methodology before discussing its relation to assessment and learning outcomes. This is a clear, concise and context-driven introduction to teaching methods which reasserts the significance of methodology as a central pillar of language learning. Dr. Curtis’ latest book is available from Palgrave publising and can also be found on Amazon.com.

Anaheim University is pleased to announce that it is the organizing sponsor of the Multicultural Education Conference in Anaheim (MECA), which will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday, August 19th and 20th, from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm each day. The event is hosted by the Academia Foundation, which is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The multicultural-related presentations will cover a wide range of topics of importance to teachers, administrators and those interested in multicultural education and intercultural communications. Presentations will be made related to the following themes: bilingual education TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) intercultural communications school leadership and classroom strategies international film and culture initiatives for peace and sustainability Presentations will be given by Anaheim University TESOL faculty Dr. David Nunan and Dr. Kathleen Bailey, who are former Presidents of the TESOL International Association, the world’s largest language teaching association as well as Dr. Julie Choi, an Anaheim University MA TESOL graduate who is now a lecturer in Education at the University of Melbourne and a specialist in sociolinguistics and cross-cultural communication. Other speakers include Anaheim Unified High School District Superintendent Michael Matsuda and the Center for Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning Executive Director Dr. Sharroky Hollie. Nearly every school district and university in Southern California is expected to be represented at the conference. Registered attendees come from as far south as the Mexican border and as far north as the Siskiyous. There is no charge to attend but online registration is required. More information can be seen at the conference website at: http://www.academiafoundation.org

Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific Vice President of Production and Development, Vikram Channa serves as Associate Dean of the Anaheim University Akira Kurosawa School of Film. Vikram, who in addition to having a Masters in Film and Television Production and a Masters in History, earned his MBA from the University of Chicago and brings strategic thinking to the film set and innovation to the classroom. At Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, he is responsible for the production of all original Discovery content out of Asia-Pacific. Based in Singapore, he works closely with Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific’s (DNAP) senior management and country heads to provide editorial direction. Vikram and his team produce approximately 100 hours of programming every year across DNAP’s portfolio of eight channel brands. Vikram first joined Discovery in 1995. He has taken on various roles within the company from on-air promotions to programming and production. Together with his team, he executive produced over 500 documentaries, several of which garnered accolades at events such as the Asia Television Awards, New York Festival, Omni Intermedia, and the Academy Awards. Vikram began his working career in India as an independent producer of short films. Recently we contacted him regarding the upcoming launch of the MFA program this September and asked him his thoughts about the program and the current direction of the filmmaking industry. The MFA program is scheduled to commence this coming fall. Do you have any advice for our incoming students who are just commencing their MFA? It’s an exciting time! The media, like many other industries, is changing around us. As you step into this program it’s critical to ask the right questions with regard to ongoing changes and ask what they mean for you from a professional perspective. Can you tell us about one of your favorite projects you have worked on? I am currently working on creating the definitive series on Traditional Chinese Medicine. It’s a real window into a deep understanding of Chinese culture. What makes a great documentary? Balance between providing great insight and perspective in a way that is both visually and emotionally compelling. Can you tell us some of your thoughts regarding Akira Kurosawa? Akira Kurosawa was the ultimate globalist before ‘globalisation’ became the norm.  He defied convention and made a mark as a universalist visual storyteller. Which is why a number of his movies have inspired Hollywood remake versions even during his career. How is the art of film expanding in a global context? It’s an interesting time. If you observe what is happening, cinematic values and storytelling have taken over Television. It’s like a golden era driven by UHD Smart TV sets where viewers watch this amazing high quality content whenever they want to, unlike in the past when this technology was unavailable. Yet at the same time it’s Hollywood film that is moving into the mold of classic TV series/multi episode mode with X-men, Spider-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Trek, Star War Reboots.  At the same time, both globalization and the Internet together have created unique possibilities for niches from other cultures to find audiences and coexist with the mainstream media more than ever before. What do you hope Anaheim University’s MFA graduates will gain from the program? I think I would go back to the thought expressed in Question 1: It’s an exciting time. Success now depends so much on the clarity with which one can see opportunity in these times of tremendous change. You can define the pathway to success, but you also need to be plugged into the changes in the industry.

On March 5, 2017, AU doctoral student Linh Phung successfully defended her Dissertation on Learners’ Engagement in Task Performance.  Two weeks later, she became Dr. Linh Phung, the first graduate of Anaheim University’s Ed.D. in TESOL program.  After her Defense, we interviewed Dr. Phung about her experience with Anaheim University. – Why did you choose Anaheim University’s Ed.D. in TESOL program? Completing a doctorate has been my goal since I finished my Master’s degree. I first learned about Anaheim University’s Ed.D. in TESOL when I saw an advertisement on the TESOL International’s website. Since I work full-time, studying online fit my schedule perfectly. I was also impressed by who was on the faculty and wished to learn from them, so I applied, got accepted, and started the program. – Can you tell us about your career to date? I’ve been teaching EFL and ESL for almost 15 years. I’ve taught in various universities in Vietnam and the U.S. I’m currently the director of the English Language Program at Chatham University. I oversee different aspects of the program, including curriculum, assessment and placement of new students, student advisement, student progress and achievement, ELP admission, and program evaluation. It’s a challenging job, but I expand my experiences by handling different challenges every day. – How do you expect your Ed.D. to further your career? I knew that I wanted to go all the way in the education journey to attain the highest degree. I pursued an Ed.D. mostly because I always enjoy learning. The Ed.D. will, hopefully, provide me with opportunities to teach graduate courses, conduct research, and publish in the future. – Can you share a favorite memory from Anaheim University? I enjoyed talking with classmates after each lesson. We talked about so many things, and I felt I had a voice. It gave me confidence. – Did you have a favorite class at Anaheim University? I enjoyed so many classes that it is difficult to say what my favorite class was. I enjoyed Dr. Ellis’ courses because of the clarity of his instruction. His Instructed SLA course provided me with a clear taxonomy of different options in teaching grammar and promoting learners’ linguistic development. I also liked his Individual Differences (ID) course because I was fascinated with the dynamic concept of motivation although sometimes I felt I was being in a maze of hazy ID concepts. Dr. Tomlinson’s Materials Development course has been highly influential since I have been applying his principles of materials development in many of the courses that I teach. It was the first time that I thought about “cognitively and affectively” engaging materials. In addition, it motivated my dissertation research into learners’ engagement in task performance. Dr. Lambert’s Researching Tasks course introduced me to task-based language teaching (TBLT). No matter how influential the approach has been, I did not think much of TBLT before this course, probably because it was not discussed as frequently in the U.S. as in other contexts. The case study I completed in his course was expanded into my dissertation research. I loved Dr. Bailey’s Language Teacher Education and Qualitative Research courses because she was simply amazing instructor, who held high expectations of the students while being motivating at the same time. Dr. Murray and Christenson’s ELT Management course equipped me with frameworks and tools to be a better leader. Dr. Reinders’ lessons were always so thoroughly prepared and fun! Other courses were also interesting and informative to my work and research, and I truly enjoyed them all. – How did you enjoy the online experience? I enjoyed the online experience at Anaheim University because it allowed students to work independently as well as collaboratively. It also incorporated weekly live lectures, which were important in pushing us to complete all the necessary work before the lecture. The fact that the students and professor were on camera together once a week created a better sense of community. – Who would you recommend to the Anaheim University Ed.D. program? I would recommend the program to anyone who is currently working as a language teacher and wants to expand their knowledge and have access to leadership, research, and publication opportunities. – What were the challenges in your program? The challenges have somewhat faded from my memory probably because I greatly enjoyed the program. I think taking course work non-stop for three years was difficult as I was always busy with reading, completing tasks, and doing assignments. The weekend when the major papers were due was when I had to work dozens of hours straight. I know I’m a procrastinator. – Please tell us about your experience the Oral Defense.  Were you nervous beforehand? I submitted my dissertation in December, but because I and my Defense Committee members are located in several different continents, the defense could only be scheduled in March. I took a break from my dissertation for several months before starting to prepare for the defense. I read my dissertation again several times, reread some of the major articles I cited, and took notes of what I took away from the research. I was anxious the day before the defense, a few hours before the defense, and also during the defense. I was also excited, so I just said whatever came to my mind in response to the examiner’s questions. I might have talked too much, but with passion, so it might have been a good thing. The bottom line was that I passed, so I was exhilarated. – What was your dissertation topic and why did you select it? My topic was learners’ engagement in task performance. I selected it because I’m interested in developing tasks and materials that are cognitively and affectively engaging to learners. When learners are highly engaged, perhaps, they will learn more from their lessons. – Which residential sessions did you attend and what did you like best about them? I attended two residential sessions in California. It was great to see the professors, classmates, and Anaheim’s

In 2007, Haoyang (Don) Wang completed his Online Global MBA with Anaheim University.  Recently we contacted him and asked him about his experience with the program. – Can you tell us briefly about your career? I work in a public Japanese company based in Tokyo and I also have been working in a Shanghai subsidiary for 10 years as a general manager. Our company is a manufacturer in the surface finishing industry.  Our technology is widely used in the PWB, electronics, semiconductor, and automobile industries. – Why did you choose Anaheim University? Anaheim University has good lecturers and the program structure is great.  All the faculty are of course very knowledgeable, but what’s more, they are supportive of the students and often go out of their way to help when needed. There are lots of world-class professors. One of Anaheim University’s slogans that I like very much is “Students first. Always.” And what’s more, there is a bonus that comes with studying at Anaheim University which is the community of other students. It is a very learner-centered environment at Anaheim University. – Why did you choose to earn an MBA? First, I wanted an MBA because I wanted to advance my career and be prepared for the new challenges with a more professional MBA perspective. While enrolled in an MBA program, I knew I would have the opportunity to learn general business and management expertise that can be applied to nearly any industry. Second, I now know more people to enhance my personal network. Third, one of the best reasons to get an MBA is because I am truly interested in studying business administration. – What did you like best about the program? The professors often analyzed the case studies in the class directly. This made it very useful for us to understand and apply the theories.  This method can help us solve these same real-work problems which we will meet in the future. – What is your favorite memory from the program? Not only were the lecturers some of the best around, but the support that the university provides was also very good. If I had a question regarding my studies, I usually got a reply to an e-mail within 24 hours.  And the answers were very thorough. – How was the experience studying online? The format for the online classes allowed students to interact with professors and students from all over the world, and I found myself being more engaged and discussing the issues more deeply than I ever had the chance to do in a face-to-face class. It was challenging, it was fun, and you would meet students from all over the world. It was fantastic to chat with classmates from Japan, Korea, California, Minnesota, Canada, and Pennsylvania at the same time. – Did you feel you were part of a learning community? Of course I was.  It is a very learner-centered environment at Anaheim University and I was working with some truly inspiring people from all walks of life. The MBA program was not easy. Most people needed to put in many hours to get through the required work. Many spend most of their free time with a book or at a computer. I myself had to do this, but it was certainly worth it. – What was the most unusual location you joined an online class or discussion forum from? Once when I was waiting to board a plane at the airport, my classmates decided to discuss a topic online suddenly that I had to respond to immediately. This was the most unusual location I where I joined an online discussion. – What would you say to someone who is hesitant about studying online? Like you, I was wary of putting my trust in studying online, but Anaheim University is a quality educational institution and the experience has far exceeded my expectations. If you are looking for an environment supported by the best textbook writers in the industry plus students from all corners of the globe, then you will be happy at Anaheim. If you choose Anaheim University, I believe you’ll be glad you did. If you are seriously looking for an online university at which to study your MBA, I can highly recommend Anaheim University.