Getting to know you more featuring ... Mdm. Er Ann Nah / Rasaya Marimuthu

Could you kindly provide some details of yourself? Maybe a bit of your biodata, your involvement before working at UiTM, and also your work philosophy.
I was trained as an English teacher in Maktab Perguruan Sultan Halim in Sungai Petani and in 1989, started my career in a primary school. After 7 years, I applied for a scholarship and spent 4 years in France completing my degree in Teaching French as a Foreign Language (FLE). I studied at the Universite de Franche Comte in Besangon. Prior to joining UiTM, I was a French teacher in Sekolah Menengah Sains Tun Syed Sheh Shahabudin, Bukit Mertajam, Penang for 7 years. Upon joining UiTM, I continued my Master’s degree in FLE and completed my distance learning in 2007.
Where work is concerned, I believe if we do our best and spend less time procrastinating and postponing the inevitable, more gets done. This leads to less stress and a happier me.

And now a bit of your workplace at UiTM. How long have you worked here? How was working life at this campus?
I started working at UiTM Penang in 2007 and I have been teaching the French language here for 15 years. Working in a university offers a different perspective than school. Here, I have the opportunity to teach specialised French for culinary and hotel students. I also have the possibility to do research and explore different methods to improve my teaching.

What were your memorable moments at the UiTM campus? Specific incidents that you will remember for the rest of your life.
My fondest memories are the language carnivals held in UiTM. It was a lot of hard work to get it on the ground but I enjoyed every bit of it. The hustle and bustle creates an excitement for students and lecturers alike.

What are your plans for the future, considering the fact that you will be retiring soon? Perhaps pursuing other academic goals, or ....?
I have no lofty goals; I would rather cherish doing day-to-day ordinary things that give me pleasure. First and foremost, I would like to keep myself active by doing regular exercises. And then, I am hoping to spend time catching up with my readings and, of course, devote some time to nature as well. Lastly, given the opportunity, I hope to do some volunteering work to give back to the community.