KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), through Akademi Pengajian
Bahasa (APB) or in English, the Academy of Language Studies Shah Alam and
UiTM Cawangan Sabah, will organise the 6 th Malaysian International Conference on
Academic Strategies in English Language Teaching (My_CASELT) and the 3 rd
Language Invention, Innovation and Design Exposition (LIID) 2019 here on August
21 and 22.
It will be held with the support of strategic partners, namely the Sabah Ministry of
Education and Innovation (MOEI), the Institute of Leadership and Development
(ILD), and the US Embassy, Malaysia.
Sabah Minister of Education and Innovation, YB Datuk Dr Yusof B. Yacob, who is
the co-Patron of My_CASELT 2019, is scheduled to officiate My_CASELT and LIID
2019 in a ceremony to be held at the Grand Ballroom, Pacific Sutera Hotel, Kota
Kinabalu, on Aug 21, at 10.30am. It is to be witnessed by Emeritus Professor Ir. Dr
Mohd Azraai Kassim, the Vice-Chancellor of UiTM and Assoc. Prof. Datuk Dr Haji
Abdul Kadir Haji Rosline, Rector of UiTM Sabah.
The objectives of My_CASELT 2019, themed, “Empowering ELT Professionals in A
Globalised Environment”, is to realise the vision and mission of UiTM towards
academic excellence in English Language Education for greater dynamics among
Bumiputera in all areas of professional conduct; to enable Akademi Pengajian
Bahasa to carve a niche area in the ‘Teaching of English Language for Non-native
Speakers’; and to develop and strengthen the teaching approaches of the English
Language in UiTM to enhance the employability of graduates both in the local and
international market.
Also, the conference aims to support national initiatives of making Malaysia a hub for
world class professional English Language Education. It strives to become a centre
for English Language Education research and development through collaboration
and industrial linkages at both national and international levels; to create an English
Language Research Centre and English Language Teaching and Learning
Reference for non-native speakers in this region; and, to discuss the future of
English Language Education in Malaysia.
Meanwhile, LIID 2019, themed, “Empowering Practitioners’ Innovation in Language
Teaching”, is meant to provide a platform for academics, industries and students to
highlight their innovations, inventions and designs in the field of language learningand teaching; and to support the initiatives of academics, industries and students in developing their ideas and creativity.
About 300 local and international ELT professionals, researchers and experts are
expected to attend both these events. 93 My_CASELT presentations and 41
teaching innovations will be delivered and judged.
This will be followed by two keynote speeches and plenary sessions that are
expected to start from 11.15am and onwards. The keynote speakers are Dr Linda
New Levine and Associate Professor Dr Atta Gebril. The former is with the US
Embassy and is a consultant for public school teachers of language learning among
children and for programmes for teaching of English as a Foreign Language in both
primary and secondary classrooms. AP Dr Atta is a MATESOL programme director
at the Department of Applied Linguistics, American University in Cairo.
The plenary speakers include Professor Dr Othman Ismail of UiTM Shah Alam, YB
Puan Jenifer Lasimbang, Assistant Minister of Sabah Ministry of Education and
Innovation, Professor Dr Supyan Hussin of Institute of the Malay World & Civilisation (ATMA) of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Associate Professor Dr Arshad Abd Samad of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and Mr Sirhajwan Idek, an English language teacher from Keningau Vocational College.
Later, a welcoming dinner for My_CASELT and LIID participants will be held at the
Grand Ballroom, Magellan Sutera Resort and Spa, to begin at 6pm. Deputy Chief
Minister cum Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, YB Datuk Christina Liew, is
also expected to attend this event.
On Aug 22, LIID 2019 will be held at the Pacific Sutera Hotel, to begin at 8.00am
with the LIID Academic Innovation Pitching and Judging. This will be followed by a
sharing session on “Innovative Language Teaching and Learning” at 10.15am.
UiTM Vice-Chancellor, Emeritus Professor Ir. Dr Mohd Azraai Kassim, who is also a
co-Patron, is expected to officiate at the My_CASELT 2019 and LIID 2019 closing
ceremony, which is scheduled to be held at 12noon. Assc. Prof. Datuk Dr. Hj. Abdul
Kadir Hj. Rosline, The Rector of UiTM Cawangan Sabah, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmad
Mazli Muhammad, Dean of Akademi Pengajian Bahasa, Aries Henry Joseph, the
Chairperson for the conference and the rest of the organising team wish to welcome
all conference participants, presenters and distinguished speakers.-pr/BNN