English Language Tutor & Life Coach

I have deep experience with second language learning because I was an international student, having studied Mandarin in China 北京大学 and Taiwan 政治大學 , Spanish in Costa Rica and Spain, and Afrikaans and Xhosa in South Africa. I can also speak Hawaiian-style English, or “Pidgin English”, the common language spoken throughout the Hawaiian Islands today.

Although I am recently retired from university, I continue contributing to international education through online teaching and learning platforms. If you would like to connect with me for a lesson or consultation in English, please send a brief message here on my website contact page.

Special topics of interest among my international students

In recent years, I have helped learners from around the world. Popular topics currently include:

Life Coaching through conversational English – A learner-centered approach.
Work life balance and and other life philosophies.
World knowledge – Exploring life and the world around us through experiential language learning.
New enlightenment philosophy – Revisiting how we measure personal and professional success in a world of unprecedented social change.
Learning Adventures – Discussing traditional, formal, academic, and time-orientated education and knowledge - in contrast with - untraditional, incidental, accidental, and experiential learning.
Content English – Learning English in the context of special topics of interest, such as those related to school or university classes, courses, or other subject areas. Example: "Weather words".
Conscious language learning versus subconscious language learning – Exploring English through "Graded Readers".
International travel consulting and life experience. See: The Jewel of Travel.
Study abroad and international education opportunities.
International planning for Asian students intending to live or study in Europe, United States, or Canada.
Visa applications and processes for travel or education.
University applications and admissions.
Resume and CV building and editing.
Research, writing, and editing, including university theses and academic papers.
Systematic research and publication, including international journal articles.
Health, wellness, and the food environment – understanding organic foods and farming.
Chinese culture and philosophy 中国哲学 , including the Silk Road 絲綢之路 and the Journey to the West.
Anthropology and the indigenous Taiwanese peoples.
The sport and philosophy of surfing.
Hawaiian culture and history.
Developing new and personal life philosophies.
Exploring and understanding different measures of success.
How and why to build a personal website for yourself and others.

Learning though Content English

Content English is generally understood as a set of vocabulary or world knowledge of a specific subject taught in English. I further define content-based English language learning as a way of empowering students through combining language, literacy, and content knowledge of a given topic, subject, or study area in a real-world context.

Having knowledge of a specialized English vocabulary in the context of a given subject facilitates deeper ‘learning access’ to the world, allowing learners find their own voice and world concept through English.

As a university professor and experienced English language tutor, I do my best to bring the world to my lessons and my lessons to life, encouraging an ‘English journey’ through engaging students to shape their world view in their own words as global citizens.

Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Continuing Education in English Language Learning and (TEFL)

With online English language learning increasing in popularity, I decided to enroll in a 120 hour TEFL course (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), the global standard certificate for English teachers, particularly those who live and work abroad. It was a great way to learn new online teaching skills and strategies, and I completed the TEFL program on December 4, 2023. The course was accredited through the International Council for Online Educational Standards (ICOES) as a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activity.

Life Coaching Through Conversational English

A Learner-centered Approach

I recently completed a certificate in Coaching Skills for Learner-centered Conversations with Imperial College London, a global top 10 university in the United Kingdom. The course was focus on how to hold “effective conversations leading to meaningful change.”

“Coaching is unlocking people’s potential to maximize their own performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them.” – Sir John Whitmore

The learner-centered approach to life coaching is based on the idea that people are resourceful, with inner strengths and capabilities. Coaching differs from conventional teaching as the educator’s role broadens from expert to genuine facilitator of learning-in equal partnership with learners within a relationship of respect.

“A coach assumes that there is a solution for the learner’s needs and that learners can find solutions themselves because of their own inner wisdom.” – London Imperial College

In an education setting, life coaching is based on an acquired skillset based on effective conversations leading to meaningful change, one where the educator actively listens, reflects, and asks powerful questions to support the learner to develop new perspectives and new thinking. In this way, the learner is empowered to move forward with their issue.

Asst. Professor “Surf Doctor” Steven Andrew Martin Retires with Certificate of Honor at 2022 University Ceremony

A Systematic Review of Surf Tourism Research in International Journals (2011-2020)

Abstract

Previous research outlined the genesis of a new body of surf tourism research based on a wide array of grey and published literature (Martin & Assenov, 2012). The aim of this paper is to further investigate the development of the field through an evidence-based informetric analysis of international journal articles listed in Web of Science or Scopus databases. Employing a systematic review of journal papers published from 2011 to 2020, the study addresses the previous grey literature problem of accessibility and eligibility criteria for citation. Findings are drawn from explicit and tangential studies which capture an up-to-date overview of the evolution of surf tourism research. The study identifies active journals, authors, field locations, and leading areas of research, suggesting that the field has entered a period of ‘academic professionalization’. A bibliography of 96 journal articles presents academics and readers with a corpus of accessible research.

The Last Refuge and Forced Migration of a Taiwanese Indigenous People During the Japanese Colonization of Taiwan – An Ethnohistory | Journal of Nationalism and Ethnic Politics

ABSTRACT

Through ethnohistorical studies, this paper explores social and political perspectives during the Japanese colonization of Taiwan which led to the forced resettlement of an entire indigenous society. Ethnographic life histories and translations of official Japanese police announcements are used to explore the 1941 Neibenlu (Laipunuk) Incident (內本鹿事件), a critical event in the oral history of the Bunun, a Taiwanese (Formosan) indigenous people of the southern mountains of Taiwan. We examine the reopening of Neibenlu’s Japanese mountain trail and its police stations offering new access to Bunun heritage to inform present and future generations. The study offers an innovative account of a neglected topic of indigenous resistance to imperialism, combining oral ethnography, and historical textual analysis.

Keywords: Bunun; forced migration; Japanese colonization of Taiwan; Laipunuk; Neibenlu (內本鹿); Taiwanese (Formosan) indigenous peoples

Teaching Demo

Additional criteria for the position of Associate Professor includes the publication of research in peer reviewed journals relevant to the study area.

Three publications are required:

Martin, S. A. (2020). A Taiwan knowledge keeper of indigenous Bunun – An ethnographic historical narrative of Laipunuk (內本鹿), southern mountain range. Ethnography. DOI: 10.1177/1466138120937037
Martin, S. A., & Ritchie, R. J. (2020). Sourcing Thai geography literature for ASEAN and international education. Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography, 41(1) 61–85
Martin, S. A., & Ritchie, R. J. (2019). A social science index and conceptual framework for assigning weights in surf tourism planning and development. Tourism Planning and Development, 16(3) 281–303.

Searching & Referencing for Academic Papers

Generally, academic writing adheres to a given style guide or 'school of style'. Common examples include APA (American Psychological Association), CMS (Chicago Manual of Style) and MLA (Modern Language Association).

APA style guidelines: www.apastyle.apa.org
CMS style guidelines: www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/
MLA style guidelines: www.mla.org/style

Example: MLA Style | My 1999 freshman paper | Toponymy of Hawaii

Many publishers of books and journals suggest the Harvard Citation Style (i.e. author-date referencing) although there is actually no official guideline or institutional connection. However, the Harvard University Press does have its own code of formatting author-date citations and reference lists.

Note that publishers of international journals often have unique citation and referencing formats.

While it is important to recognize a variety of formatting styles in academic writing and publishing, our course will focus on undergraduate students gaining proficiency in APA style.

APA references | Conferences papers and presentations

Martin, S. A., & Assenov, I. (2012). Towards a surf resource sustainability index: A global model for surf site conservation and Thailand case study. Proceedings of the 18th Asia Pacific Tourism Association Annual Conference (APTA) Hospitality & Tourism Education: New Tourism & New Waves (pp. 745–760). Taipei, ROC, June 26–29. Busan, Korea: School of International Tourism, Dong-A University.

Martin, S. A., & Ritchie, R. (2018). Towards an ASEAN community: A scoping study and case for teaching the geography of Thailand in the English language. Proceedings of the PSU Phuket International Conference 50th Anniversary Celebration: Creativity and Innovations for Global Development (p. 54). Prince of Songkla University, Phuket, Thailand, March 11–12.

In-text references (or in-text citations) provide a source (author and year of publication) for each piece of information used in your academic writing. In-text citations are commonly placed either at the beginning or end of a sentence or paragraph to identify where information actually came from and are important in order to avoid plagiarism.

Plagiarism is the use of the published work of another person without acknowledgement and is easily avoidable by using an in-text citation to indicate who the original author/s is/are.

Worksheets for today's lesson

Midterm literature review guidelines | PDF

Topic selection and outline

Write a comprehensive literature review based on the topics and annotated bibliographies as developed, discussed and approved during our previous lessons.
The literature review should follow the APA style for in-text citations and references.

The literature review consists of five parts

A brief introduction.
Three to five relevant subtopics of at least two paragraphs each.
Brief discussion or conclusion highlighting key points of interest and/or knowledge gaps (if any).
Brief suggestions for future research.
A reference list with at least 15 sources representing journals, books, websites, etc.

Formatting

Spacing: 1.5.
Font: Times New Roman 12pt.
Length: 1,500 to 2,000 words.
Referencing: APA style (American Psychological Association)

TOPIC 9

How to use YouTube for searching and referencing

Video, documentary film and scholarly presentations: the case of YouTube in searching and referencing online educational films and videos

With digital transformations in education, online films and videos bring to light more than just content, we are exposed to – and adapt to – the use of technology in teaching and learning. For example, searching and referencing videos on YouTube suggest an awareness of search strategies one might employ while identifying diverse genres of videos and experts in a given field or topic area.

In the case of searching and referencing Greece and Asia Minor videos – free and available on YouTube – the following genres come to light and are explored.

Academic lectures and presentations
Mainstream documentary films and series
Diverse videos of interest
Animated video presentations
Travel videos and vlogs

Many academic journals and databases require a subscription or fee to view or download articles. For students and researchers at PSU Phuket, our university has purchased subscriptions to a variety of journals and databases.

You may need to login on campus or through the Prince of Songkla University Phuket Campus Library in order to gain access. This will allow journals and databases to automatically verify the PSU IP address.

Shortist of online databases

Systematic reviews of surf tourism research

Martin, S. A., & Assenov, I. (2012). The genesis of a new body of sport tourism literature: A systematic review of surf tourism research (1997-2011). Journal of Sport and Tourism, 17(4) 257–28. https://doi.org/10.1080/14775085.2013.766528

2012 PDF Download

Martin, S. A. (2022). From shades of grey to Web of Science: A systematic review of surf tourism research in international journals (2011-2020). Journal of Sport & Tourism, 26(2) 125–146. https://doi.org/10.1080/14775085.2022.2037453

2022 PDF Download

For the scholar who studies or works in a university, doing scholarly research and publishing the findings in the form of articles in peer-reviewed international journals are some of the most important academic activities. It is important to learn how to do it yourself so you can set-up your own career.

This workshop includes a number of advanced topics regarding how to publish a paper in international journals. It is very good opportunity for learning from the experience and techniques of an experienced publisher of papers. Emphasis is on practical information on how to do it, and what Dr. Ritchie has leant from experience, that is, what works and what does not.

Ancient Greece and Asia Minor Documentary Film Page

Searching and referencing online educational films and videos

In the case of searching and referencing Greece and Asia Minor videos – free and available on YouTube – the following genres come to light and are explored.

Academic lectures and presentations
Mainstream documentary films and series
Diverse videos of interest
Animated video presentations
Travel videos and vlogs

Prof. Donald Kagan | Yale Lecture Series

Personal note: my intellectual curiosity and research on ancient Greece and Asia Minor has been greatly influenced by Professor Donald Kagan (1932-2021).

The following playlist offers 24 seperate 1-hour lectures by Yale University Professor Donald Kagan titled Introduction to Ancient Greek History. Kagan, a distinguished professor who specialized in ancient and classical Greek history, is perhaps best remembered for his research and publications on the Peloponnesian War.

MAINSTREAM DOCUMENTARY FILMS AND SERIES

Professionally shot and edited documentary films and series produced by mainstream media organizations, such as the BBC, PBS and Timeline, are increasing available online and offer teachers and students a great deal of educational material and introduce key scholars and experts in the field.

However, one must learn to navigate through mountains of duplicated and reposted videos by nefarious YouTube channels when locating full and original content for referencing.

Rick Steve's Europe

Flamboyant and fact-filled, Rick Steves is among the earliest and most prolific travel show hosts and YouTubers. His work began in the late 1970s with The Experimental College at the University of Washington.

Although catering to the tourism industry, his work is informative and encourages learning and appreciation of ancient history and culture. Since the debut of Travels in Europe with Rick Steves on public television (PBS) in 1991, it was my late Grandmother's favorite weekly show, and her enthusiasm for the program and European history made a lasting impression on me.

University Filmworks | Greece and Turkey

University Filmworks is my personal YouTube channel with fun and original content. Production details are available at UniversityFilmworks.com

While the Greece and Asia Minor Documentary Page is orientated towards searching and organizing free online content found on YouTube, I would like to introduce the idea of creating and posting one's own content. From my experience, creating videos is a dynamic learning experience, including the process of editing shots and correctly labeling locations, dates and details.

Egypt and Israel

The only time that I ever really thought I was going to die was in Egypt.

Not from militants, drowning in the Nile, or heat stroke – It was the food!

Sailing south on the Nile from the Aswan Dam, I ate something that I shouldn't have. In a half coma for 3 days, my eyes transfixed on banks of the Nile as the boat drifted downstream with the current, I watched men watering their herds and women washing their clothes.

I thought about the great explorers of yesteryear who had perished on this very stretch of river, and never before did my life seem so insignificant.

After crossing the Sinai Desert by bus, my camera and film were held hostage at the Israeli border.

I was somewhat annoyed while the Israeli police X-ray scanned my film with heavy-duty equipment more than a dozen times. Once they were finished, the film was damaged, and I never bothered to share the remaining pictures with anyone.

The good news was that I eventually passed through the border near Palestine and was on my way to Jerusalem in time to find a hostel for the night.

The photos shown here are from the original 1998 prints dug out of a shoebox.

Click on photos to enlarge.

South America

Interdisciplinary Study

In 2008, the university asked me to design a new course called "Introduction to Interdisciplinary Study". The course description had been approved by the main campus and the rest was up to me.

I understood that the aim of the course was to empower new students with analytical and problem-solving skills required for coursework and self learning, including basic study habits, study skills, and reading and writing strategies.

In order to set a conceptual foundation for the course, I researched and incorporated the deep history and fundamental concepts behind the humanities, social science, science and technology, and applied and professional fields.

The course also needed to introduce research methodologies, including the investigation, write-up, and presentation of a basic research paper on a selected topic.

After eight years of teaching Interdisciplinary Studies, I believe that it is the ultimate course to provide students with a better understanding of the university environment and encourage academic professionalism. The very idea of interdisciplinary study contains diverse concepts for the history of institutional education, the branches of knowledge, past and current trends in research, and life-long learning.

I chose the Maragrita Philosophica [pdf] (the philosophic pearl) as starting point for this course to provide historical perspective and imagination.

The Margarita is a magnificently illustrated encyclopedia compiled in 1503 by a Carthusian monk named Gregor Reisch (c.1467-1525). Reisch produced what is essentially the world’s first interdisciplinary textbook, covering all seven liberal arts and providing appropriate background across disciplines and courses.

Widely used as a university textbook in the early sixteenth century, particularly in Germany, it is a book of historical significance and sheds light on university curriculum and collective scientific knowledge at the close of the Middle Ages, 500-600 years ago.

Separated into twelve chapters, Maragrita Philosophica covers traditional subjects of the trivium (grammar, logic, rhetoric) and quadrivium (arithmetic, music, geometry, astronomy); and four chapters address natural philosophy, including the elements, meteorology, alchemy, the plant and animal kingdoms, optics and memory. The final sections and topics include heaven, hell, purgatory; and the book concludes with a chapter on moral philosophy, reflecting the period when church, state and education were closely integrated.

Student Schedule: Using the monthly calendar provided in the coursebook, students keep a personal study schedule with important dates and details for their assignments. A study schedule should contain a student’s class schedule, assignment due dates, appointments, study group meetings, and extracurricular activities. Keeping a monthly schedule is a life-long organization skill.
Word Bank: Using the pages provided in the coursebook, students create their own vocabulary list. The Word Bank should be at least 2 pages (with 2 columns per page). Vocabulary should be focused on course content, especially the Humanities, Social Sciences, Physical and Natural Sciences, and Technology. Keeping a Word Bank is a life-long study skill and students are suggested to build a digital version for future learning.
Curriculum Vitae (CV): Using the template and examples provided in the coursebook, students construct a personal CV. The CV should be 1 to 2 pages and identify a student’s special qualities and attributes. By identifying and documenting one’s education, background, and accomplishments, students gain a sense of self-worth and prepare for their futures as young professionals.
University Mapping: As an exercise in experiential learning, students go beyond the classroom to explore the university campus. Students may photograph, video, conduct face to face interviews, and use the internet to identify the history, faculties, departments, and degree programs of PSU. The focus of this project to instill the benefit of experiential learning and to make connections with the campus and the disciplines of study.
Library Assignment: Learning to locate, reference, and cite materials in your studies are essential to university and academic professionalism. Students complete the library assignment sheet provided in the coursebook as part of their mastery of library resources, including locating and referencing books, journals, and digital materials. University library resources include subscriptions to journals and databases and are available to students free of charge.
Environmental Studies: Through an interdisciplinary approach, students share contemporary news and engage in critical thinking toward Environmental Studies. Subjects include current environment issues, such as climate change and tourism, and pinpoint the disciplines of study in a global context.
History of English: English is emerging as the key international language. It is the first language in numerous countries and an important second language in many others. Through lecture, discussion, and an in-class assignment, students discover the history, development, and adaptability of the English language, and how different languages influenced English. Stem-words, root-words, prefixes, and suffixes come to life as students realize the language’s history and nature. (Check out the short presentation, reading passage, and assignment below).
Advanced Searching, Downloading and Organizing Digital Materials: Students develop and apply skills to locate, review, qualify, save, and organize academic information, including journal articles. The assignment is essential for literature reviews and serves to support the individual research paper project due at the end of the semester.
Individual Research Paper: Students learn how to write a 10-page research paper. Topics are academic in nature, focused on the disciplines of study, and need approval from the course lecturer. Research papers follow the research project guidelines and formatting requirements provided in the coursebook. Referencing follows APA Style.
Research Presentation: Students gain practical experience in public speaking and presentation skills through arranging a presentation based on their individual research paper. Presentations are given in PowerPoint (approximately 10 slides). Students learn to be brief, informative, and deliver a presentation in 10 minutes.

English is emerging as the key international language. It is the first language in numerous countries and an important second language in many others.

Through lecture, discussion, and an in-class assignment, students discover the history, development, and adaptability of the English language, and how different languages influenced English.

“Surf Doctor” Steven Andrew Martin

Professor of Area Studies in Sociology and Anthropology

English Language Tutor and Life Coach for International Students and Teachers of All Ages and Backgrounds

Hello! I’m Steven, a recently retired Professor of Asian Studies in Sociology and Anthropology.

My online English tutor name is “Surf Doctor” because I developed of the “Surf Resource Sustainability Index” (SRSI), a global model for surfing break conservation, which earned me a PhD in Environmental Management.

English Tutor and Academic Advisor Intro Video for Professor “Surf Doctor” Steven Andrew Martin

Special topics of interest among my international students

In recent years, I have helped learners from around the world. Popular topics currently include:

Subjects which I taught as a university professor and continue to share and discuss online with students of all ages and backgrounds

Learning though Content English

Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Continuing Education in English Language Learning and (TEFL)