MASH Academic Publishing
Our next course is starting May, 2012!
Our spring 2012 course, the fifth generation of MASH Academic Publishing, will begin May 31, 2012, with our free introductory lesson to be held May 17. All our course sessions are Thursdays at 9pm Japan time. Please sign up for more information about our course and to reserve a space in our free introductory session here.
What others thought of MASH Academic Publishing
“One of my cohorts, who started the [University of Birmingham CELS] MA at the same time as me, and I were talking about how we didn’t really feel that publishing was for us. However, I told her about this course and how it has changed my mind. She was impressed and inspired as well.” - Beth McElmoyle, Japan
“I took the MASH AP course in the spring of 2011, about 1/3 of the way through my Master’s degree. It provided me with the information, inspiration and motivation to look at some of my papers and consider how and where to submit them.”
- Michael Holsworth, Japan
“I…learned a lot about what is out there in the way of publications, what I need to do to get published, and what to expect throughout the process.” - Michael Holsworth, Japan
“I learned a lot in the course and have had an interesting time learning about the world of academic publishing. It really is a jungle out there. Theron’s personal knowledge about the topics was invaluable to help understand the issues raised.” - Tara McIlroy, Japan
“Theron is a fount of practical information on all aspects of publishing and editing and a wonderfully supportive person. Not only did I receive direct answers and helpful suggestions, but the confidence necessary to move forward with my project. MASH Academic Publishing is one course that truly exceeded my expectations, and I have no hesitation in recommending it.“ - Eleanor Granek, Canada
“If you are like me and need to start, but don’t know where, this is the place I would recommend.” - Michael Holsworth, Japan
“While I had successfuly done a couple of presentations and publications before my participation in the MASH AP course, working with Theron and the other participants opened my eyes to many new possibilities.” - Vick Ssali, Japan
“I particularly learned a lot of tricks on approaching publishing in a way that best informs my classes. I also came to the realization that being involved in publication, especially in a collaborative way, opens up to a wealth of other new sources and readings I wouldn’t have otherwise known.” - Vick Ssali, Japan
“My decisions about the topic of my research, my abstracts, methods, discussions and conclusions, will never be the same. I highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to start or even improve their writing for academic publishing.” - Vick Ssali, Japan
“The MASH academic writing course was a good way for me to get re-involved in the writing world. Not only was it motivating, as assignments were due and often pertinent to other projects happening simultaneously (like abstracts and proposals for conferences), it was quite practical. I could write and get immediate feedback before submitting my papers. A great experience overall.” - Kelly Butler, Japan
“By attending the Academic Publishing course, I finally got over my fear of submitting papers. The classes were lively and Theron’s knowledge of Academic Publishing is never ending. I am glad I got the chance to learn from him.” - Paria, Iran
“Before this course I thought academic publishing was out of my league but now I have applied for a poster presentation at the upcoming JALT conference and feel getting a paper published in 2011 is a realistic goal.” - Megan Green, Japan
“Thanks to this course I understand the steps needed to publish academically, the level expected, and most importantly how to reach that level. Theron and Steven’s knowledge, experience, advice, and encouragement have been invaluable. I highly recommend this course for anyone interested in finding out more about academic publishing.” - Megan Green, Japan
“The course is fabulous and Theron totally supportive and really well-organized! You will get a lot out of it.” - Elsbeth Herron, Japan
“I’m really pleased that I got involved. If academic publishing were a language, then before the course, I was a complete beginner. I only had a hazy idea of what ‘getting published’ involved. I hope that I now know enough to go on holiday by myself to Journal land and not get mugged, deported or offend anyone too much.” - Jonathan Shave, Italy
“I really enjoyed the MASH AP course and felt like I got a lot out of it. For me, one of the most important things was conquering my fears and inhibitions related to academic writing…I would recommend the course for anyone like me that is interested in academic publishing but is a bit nervous to get started and needs a push.”
- Mike Griffin, Korea
“From my own experience working with Theron, he is a tsunami of information, both practical and theoretical. He loves to assist teachers in improving their writing and enjoys seeing them add to their list of publications.” - Steven Herder, Japan
“Before…the course I knew that getting published…was an important step in moving up the career ladder but was apprehensive about making the leap. Thanks to the excellent input and feedback from the course leader and other participants and the well organized sessions, I now have the confidence to go out there and try to make my mark!” - Amy Brown, China
Visit our testimonials page to view all the testimonials.
What is MASH Academic Publishing?
MASH Academic Publishing is designed to bridge the gap between writing for MA studies and writing for academic publication, and is led by Theron Muller.
The course is a 10-session, online, interactive discussion of various aspects of academic publishing, including the following topics:
- Introduction to academic publishing
- Writing abstracts
- Critically evaluating the literature
- Writing research grant proposals
- Adapting assignments for publication
- Preparing and submitting full academic papers
We use a Moodle to organize the course assignments and discussions and to share participants’ thoughts and reflections.
Before the start of our spring 2012 course, there will be a free introductory sessions May 17. All our course sessions are Thursdays at 9pm to 10pm Japan time. These free sessions help prospective participants experience Theron’s teaching style and become accustomed to the kinds of activities they will be asked to engage in during the course. Please sign up for more information about our course and free introductory session here.
If you are interested in knowing more about some of the topics to be covered in the course, please watch the introductory videos included below. The syllabus for our Fall 2011 course can also be viewed here.
Introductory video 1:
Introductory video 2:
About the course instructor, Theron Muller
Theron has been involved in academic publishing as Coeditor of The Language Teacher, Associate Editor of the Asian ESP Journal, and Coordinator of the JALT Proceedings Vetting Committee. He also has six years of experience as a University of Birmingham CELS tutor, essay marker, and dissertation supervisor. His published articles include contributions to Teachers Exploring Tasks, a book that won the 2006 British Council Innovation Award, the Asian EFL Journal, Asian ESP Journal, and various other articles. He is also a winner of the 2008 John Haycraft Classroom Exploration Scholarship and has given more than 20 academic presentations to date. These experiences put him in a unique position to offer an insiders view of academic publishing that will help to empower participants to confidently pursue their academic research and publication goals.
Express your interest in learning more about the course and future free introductory sessions here.
Costs
There are two options for the course:
- Live, online Skype sessions plus Moodle access, 30,000 yen. There is a limit of 8 participants per course for this option.
- Moodle access only (including access to recordings of the live online Skype sessions, which will be available within 48 hours after the live classes are held), 20,000 yen
The costs and services offered for each option are outlined in more detail below.
| Feature | Live online | Forum access | Other online courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 live online sessions with Theron Muller and other students | ![]() |
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| Individualized feedback from the course instructor, Theron Muller | ![]() |
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Access to the current course Moodle and the Moodle archive, including:
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| Costs | 30,000 JPY | 20,000 JPY | ![]() |
If you aren’t based in Japan and would like to check the costs of the course in your local currency, please feel free to use our currency converter.
We use a blend of user friendly technology to support interaction in the live sessions during the course, including Skype, Etherpad, and WebEx.
Live online course participants will have space reserved in the live sessions, which are limited to 8 students.
We accept payment through international bank transfer and PayPal. Once you have decided to join the course, we will send payment information via email.
Please sign up for more information about our course and future free introductory sessions here.
Scholarship
We are also pleased to offer a scholarship for one student to participate with all fees waived. Our scholarship recipient for the spring 2010 course was Jon Shave, for the Fall 2010 course Paria T, for the Spring 2011 course was Michael Holsworth, and for the Fall 2011 course was Amy Brown. To apply for the scholarship for the Spring 2012 course, please send an email to Theron with a description of what you hope to gain from the course in 300 to 500 words, either in the body of the email or as an attachment. Scholarship applications are due on or before midnight May 26, 2012 JST. Preference will be given to applicants who sign up for our introductory session on May 17, which can be done here.
For any additional inquiries, please contact Theron or post them in the forum. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.




