WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
ABOUT OXUS

WEB DESIGN

"We at DATE/2000 have had the pleasure of doing business with Oxus Communications, and would highly recommend Oxus to another concern. Oxus Communications designed and implemented a website for us. The process was handled from start to finish with impeccable professionalism. Every detail was remembered, once mentioned. The agreement we hammered out initially was fully realized.

"Mark Dickens is a sensational editor. We deffered to his expertise because we recognized immediately we were in the hands of a master. Having seen several websites produced by Oxus Communications, we were anxious to achieve a similar tone. In our estimation, our website does display the Oxus signature, with its clarity, simplicity, and touch of beauty."

Lynn Beyerle, DATE/2000

WRITING AND EDITING

"He worked through the manuscript systematically and efficiently. He not only proved meticulous in attention to the fundamentals of proof-reading--syntax, punctuation, and word choice--but he also showed sensitivity to context, suggesting clarification or amplification in a number of cases where meaning was not immediately apparent. I recommend him very highly for editing or proof-reading work."
Tom Saunders, Associate Professor, Department of History, University of Victoria

"Mark worked with me at editing a number of complicated articles... written by non-native speakers of English.... Mark did this job impeccably. His thorough editing retained much of the style and flavour of the original pieces while transforming them into readable English. He also never failed to trace inconsistencies and contradictions in the manuscripts and he was consistent in indicating where his lack of familiarity with specialist questions in the legal field or in political science left any speck of doubt."
Dieter Haselbach, Associate Professor, Languages & European Studies Department, Aston University (Birmingham)

"Mark Dickens of Oxus Communications undertook a difficult and challenging proofreading job for me.... He had to check quotations, endnotes, and bibliographical references in the typescript of a 450-page scholarly study... this material included texts in medieval and modern languages.... The job required painstaking attention to precise editorial detail (e.g., page references, variable spelling, diacritical marks in foreign languages, idiosyncratic punctuation).

"I am pleased to state that Mr. Dickens performed this difficult job with diligent efficiency and exemplary accuracy, following my instructions to the letter and bringing to my attention inconsistencies in the manuscript as well as questions or problems that I had overlooked. He was, in addition, a pleasure to work with, since he was both highly personable and professional.... I recommend him to you unconditionally."
Iain Higgins, Assistant Professor, Department of English, University of British Columbia

"I was impressed with Mark's superior editing skills in a number of ways. Mark:

• enabled the original writer's 'voice' to be heard in the final draft, despite the massive re-write that was required;
• caught and corrected every grammatical, punctuation and spelling error;
• maintained confidentiality regarding the report's content until the public release;
• ensured the document was consistent and logical throughout; and
• completed the project on time.

If given the chance, I would not hesitate to provide Mark Dickens with an opportunity to bid on other editing assignments. In addition to Mark's friendly attitude, he is hard-working, takes direction well, requires minimal supervision and is eager to do his best."
Shannon Holms, Communications, Elections BC

TEACHING

"Mark...has proved to be interested, highly motivated, and a capable researcher.... His lectures were well-prepared, logically organized, and accompanied by attractive visual aids.... In addition to his undoubted efficiency, Mark is blessed with an attractive personality and a lively sense of humour."
Barbara P. Harris, Assistant Professor, Department of Linguistics, University of Victoria

"Your presentation certainly inspired the students to get on with their work of thinking about the many aspects of being teachers of English. Your good sense and original, creative ideas have infected all of us. Your enthusiasm is contagious.... You certainly left a positive impression of what an ESL teacher can, and should, be."
Maggie Warbey, Senior Instructor, Department of Linguistics, University of Victoria

"Mark was extremely generous with his time and energy, both with the students in the classroom, and sharing information with the other staff members.... He had excellent rapport with his students and many of them became personal friends and corresponded with Mark upon their return home.... Mark helped Fields College International develop our ESL curriculum and edited it as required."
Wanda Fields, Director, Fields College International, Victoria

"Mark has shown great skill in his ability to teach English language to foreign participants in CANTEC's program. He has established a fine rapport with both students and other staff, and is considered 'one of the family.' Based on the written evaluations provided by students at the completion of each program, Mark consistently scores high as an instructor with whom the students feel they can speak comfortably and whose lessons are easily understood."
Glen A. Allen, Program Coordinator, CANTEC Edu-Cultural Services, Victoria