Month: December 2014

Journalism or Political Ax-Grinding?: Setting the Record Straight

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary , , , , , , , ,

My last post of 2014, a great year, in many respects.  Below I describe one online adventure that illustrates the status of the Internet as both a blessing and a curse.  The main lesson here?  Read everything with a critical eye, check the source and question the intent.  Pause and think before jumping on the … Continue reading Journalism or Political Ax-Grinding?: Setting the Record Straight

“Onward Christian Soldiers…” – International Students As Low-Hanging Fruit

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , , ,

These are not run-of-the-mill, live and let live Christians – they are evangelical Protestants, fundamentalists who believe – literally – what Jesus said:  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” And, more significantly, who act accordingly.  Nonbelievers, who, in their opinion, encompass most … Continue reading “Onward Christian Soldiers…” – International Students As Low-Hanging Fruit

Happy 5th Anniversary, An International Educator in Vietnam!

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Events , , , , , ,

Over 500 posts and five (5) years of relative online freedom of speech after four (4) years of working for an employer that had a pre-approval policy for its employees' outside writing and speaking activities. Coincidentally (?), my first post on 16 November 2009 was about a book chapter I co-authored entitled “Developing Globally Competent … Continue reading Happy 5th Anniversary, An International Educator in Vietnam!

“Dear International Students: Thanks for Your Tuition. Now Go Home. Love, Uncle Sam.”

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary , , , , ,

When President Obama announced his executive action on immigration in November, millions of undocumented people welcomed the expanded protections that the reform offered. What grabbed headlines abroad, however, were minor tweaks to visa policies—revisions that are likely to affect as many as 256,000 foreign workers in the U.S. But these changes don’t come close to … Continue reading “Dear International Students: Thanks for Your Tuition. Now Go Home. Love, Uncle Sam.”

VOLUNTEER TEACHERS (or simply “native-speakers” who speak English as their “mother tongue” needed for 3 month renewable contracts along “China Beach” in Tam Ky City

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Interesting post by Karl Matsumoto on Dave's ESL Cafe website.  I'm intrigued by the references to "helping poor people" and teaching them about American culture and helping to "repair the damage the US government did" to these "'innocent' and wonderful people called 'Vietnamese'!" Tam Kỳ is the capital city of Quảng Nam Province in central … Continue reading VOLUNTEER TEACHERS (or simply “native-speakers” who speak English as their “mother tongue” needed for 3 month renewable contracts along “China Beach” in Tam Ky City

Walking the walk – Ethical agency-based recruitment

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary , , , , , , ,

Below is an excerpt from an article I wrote about education agents in Vietnam for University World News (12 December 2014).  The original, and admittedly rather lengthy, title was Walking the Walk:  Ethical Business Practices in the Wild and Woolly World of Agency-Based Recruitment.  That's what editors are for, right? Follow this link to read … Continue reading Walking the walk – Ethical agency-based recruitment

Keynote Address: “Intercultural Competence as a Cornerstone of Innovation”

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Conferences , , , , , , , , , ,

I was honored to be invited to give the keynote address at the recent annual Conference of Business Innovation, organized by the FPT Leadership Institute. First, a word about the parent company.  FPT, Vietnam's leading technology company, was founded in 1988 as The Food Processing Technology Company.  Its first contract was  to provide computers for … Continue reading Keynote Address: “Intercultural Competence as a Cornerstone of Innovation”