Interview

Ken Beatty

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You completed your Ph.D. studies with David Nunan and Amy Tsui at Hong Kong University. Do you have any advice for teachers in Japan considering doing a Ph.D.?
Imagine you had to move to another country for seven years. Would you rather go to Siberia or Hawaii? Would you rather go with someone who is going to lecture you endlessly about 50 kinds of snow or someone who knows a bit about beaches but who would like to join you in learning to surf?

When you start a Ph.D., have passion for both what you will study and the people with whom you will work. Don't simply choose a topic which you think is safe or practical and an advisor who is an established expert on the topic.

When I first proposed my thesis to David Nunan he dismissively tested me by saying he wasn't an expert on CALL. I explained I knew that, but thought he probably wanted to learn. He liked the answer and took me on. We both learned a great deal through the process. And, as a bonus, I found out that David could easily give up his academic life and become a professional chef; we've had countless great meals together!

On a more practical note, I recommend David's book Research Methods in Language Learning. I read it before I started and it saved me endless grief as it addresses the common problems so many Ph.D. and Masters degree students face.

You recently moved back to Canada. What are your plans for the future?
Sometimes the best plan is to have no plan. I left Hong Kong on 1 July 2004 and traveled through Asia for three and a half months with my wife and two sons, ages 3 and 6. We settled on a small island near Vancouver with a population of 3,200 where wild deer graze on my lawn and salmon spawn in the streams. I settled down to continue writing but have also been drawn into an odd assortment of adventures including consulting on creativity and new product development for an international toy company.

And what next? I'm sure we will live abroad again. My wife is a painter and we always thought a year in Kyoto would suit us perfectly. Now, if only my computer had a crystal ball function to peer into the future!

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