Speakers

Detailed Bio

Professor Malachi Edwin Vethamani, an Emeritus Professor at the University of Nottingham, is a distinguished Malaysian poet, writer, and academic whose work has profoundly shaped English Language Teaching (ELT). With a career spanning education and literature, he has served as founding dean at Taylor’s University and Wawasan Open University. His poetry collections and short stories, widely taught in Malaysian schools, promote language learning through cultural storytelling. As a former President of the Malaysian English Language Teaching Association (MELTA), he has advanced ELT methodologies across Asia. Vethamani’s editorial work and academic leadership continue to foster creative expression and linguistic proficiency, making him a pivotal figure in Malaysia’s ELT community.

Impact Story:

In 2022, Professor Malachi Edwin Vethamani’s poetry workshops engaged 300 Malaysian secondary students in Kuala Lumpur, supported by the Malaysian English Language Teaching Association. Over six weeks, his sessions encouraged students to write poetry, resulting in a 35% improvement in creative writing scores, per school assessments. One student’s poem was published in a national anthology, with her teacher stating, “Professor Malachi showed us how poetry unlocks voices.” His efforts to integrate Malaysian literature into ELT have empowered students to embrace their cultural identity while mastering English, aligning with his mission to nurture creativity through language.