I ask my students to put question marks at the end of a question, maybe an exclamation mark to indicate some kind of excitement in a sentence. It makes me happy if I see quotation marks used with speech, delineating thoughts from dialogue. I am not a grammarian, but some punctuation is important. However when was the last time you used a semicolon? Maybe I am just a little bitter, I have endeavored to improve my education and am taking online courses from one of the few Canadian institutions who have a reputable online programme. My tutor has taken substantial marks off my papers for misuse of commas, improper punctuation related to quotes, even using a period in the title of one of my pieces. I have begun to dislike the subtleties of punctuation.

(more…)

In order to make an indelible impact on society, it is necessary to be at the right place to influence one’s desired changes. Being in the right place positions you to do the right thing… and doing the right thing equals positively impacting society. Being able to be in the right place is essential for succeeding in the international business world. What, then, determines how well and how far can you possibly go in achieving this skill? The answer is short and simple!  International MBA experience! (more…)

There seems to be less opportunity for English teachers these days. Since the Lehman crash it seems that many companies are not seeking the services of language teachers. Those companies who formerly required English teachers, for a benefit for the staff, or as a possible means of increasing growth, are no longer willing to spend that money on training. Private students also seem to be in a downward trend, these days the extra money potential students had for increasing their prospects has dried up. Bonuses and extra monies that businesses and people used to have is disappearing.

So what’s an English teacher to do?

(more…)

It’s been 6 months since I entered Globis University’s international MBA program and one of the things that has really become interesting to me personally since then are the case studies classes.

How we take academic work and then apply it to real world examples of international businesses.  We look at challenges, opportunities and how the people inside those companies have made a difference. Classes like this almost demand that the student be proactive and take the initiative, after all, one day they might be doing something similar in a real-world company and their decision could effect profits, employees and relationships.  After many types of class at Globis University, I have found these ones to be amongst the best.

Business classes (and case studies) teach something else too.  I am an accountant, so have basic knowledge about financial matters, cash flow, record keeping etc. Something I never experienced before however are areas such as HR or Marketing.

Off course this is something that anyone can learn by themselves.  Any number of book stores, even in Japan, have a huge selection of English language books on just such a subject and all you have to do it drop in and choose the one that interests you.  However, the Globis University course gives you something that you can’t get from reading one of these books. It gives you a great environment for applying and taking your learning out side which makes you more confident in the area as a result.

In class teams, when we talk through a TTO study session, we learn some of the frameworks of Marketing and Strategy. By the end I and I’m pretty sure most of the students in the class have a great understanding of it.  We plan to share the experience we have had on the internet, as you never know, what new opportunities and information it might lead to.

M.Ohashi

6:00 A.M: Alarm clock blares. I tell myself “Hey, wake up – Seize the day! Enjoy your MBA student life!” I Get out of bed leaving my wife and a brand-new baby still sleeping. Just enough time to wash down some bread with milk and then on to catch the bus.

7:00 A.M: On the train I skim the headlines in the Nikkei Newspaper before going into the Corporate Finance section more carefully and associating case-studies from yesterday’s class with some of the articles. (more…)

I’m very lucky! I work in a beauty college and get a free lunch as a perk. The lunchroom can sit only about 20 people (closely packed) and is available only for teachers. Students are responsible for their own meals, which many buy at the school store. My lunch is usually hot, includes all the regular Japanese lunch type accessories and did I mention its free!

However, all is not well in this oasis! (more…)

Let me start writing why I chose Globis University to study for an MBA.

I started taking the pre-IMBA course last July and my very first class was “Critical Thinking”. Since I use English at work, I was very keen to find a school which provided classes in English.
(more…)

Why are you studying on evenings and weekends many of my friends ask? For me, it is very worthwhile for to get back to school life and study for my MBA without quitting my current job.

Having been transferred to Europe for a few years; upon returning to Tokyo, I started thinking and researching which school I should apply to and after looking at many schools in Tokyo, I finally decided to enroll at Globis University.

(more…)

This is going to be my second semester studying for my MBA at Globis University and whilst studying here one of my objectives is to grow my network of contacts.

Having returned to Japan in 2000 having lived throughout Europe I started working at a large HR consulting firm; which was a great experience for me as I was able to learn very much from all my many colleagues. Nowadays, I work for a much smaller HR firm and my networking opportunities are not as extensive as before which is my major motivation for putting myself in a new environment where I am better able to interact with a variety of different people – Globis is perfect for me, with new classes starting every 3 months, bringing with it the opportunity to meet many different people.

(more…)