The Powerful Words by Prof. Dra. Hj. Utami Widiati, Ma., Ph.D Guru Besar Universitas Negeri Malang- faruqubaidillah.wordpress.com

Yesterday, on Saturday 22, 2012, ESA Unisma has just concluded their seminar on “Building Up Confidence with English in Global Challenges”. This event was specially hosted on Mother’s Day as well. There are a lot of things I want to convey in this writing. I think, it is not fair to tell the goodness first. Well, this year’s seminar is the most shocking one ever since; and it is the greatest agenda ESA has ever had. Firstly, we, planned to invite Mr. Junaidi Mistar, Ph.D to be our speaker, and he agreed upon our invitation. But later, two days before the due date of the seminar, Mr. Junaidi cancelled it due to his necessity in Jakarta on the same day. Everyone must have felt  how shocking that was !! Even me, working as public relation team, I was puzzled on finding the proper speaker to replace Mr. jun’s position.

Then, I tried hard to contact four of my lecturers such as Dr. Mutmainah, Dr. Alfan Zuhairi, Mr.Asa, and Mr. Yunus, M.Pd. Rather, none of them could replace Mr. jun’s position. I and Betty ( The Project Officer of the seminar) were desperate at that time. We could do nothing on it. Then, having thought several times in front of FKIP building, I then dare myself to phone a great professor from English graduate program of Universitas Negeri Malang, Prof. Utami Widiati, MA., Ph.D. Trying hard to contact her, there was soon positive reply from her. “Yes Faruq, thank you for inviting me, I think I can be the speaker replacing Mr. jun in that seminar. I can come at 10 a.m. so I can be the second speaker” she phoned me. Oh my God, I could say nothing at that time. It was a big pride of ESA to invite a renowned Professor in English seminar this year. Everybody can’t believe it. About  9.55 a.m. I picked her up, then I accompanied her to Oesman Mansoer Hall. Everybody was staring at me while I walked next to her. Haawkwkwkw.

At 10 sharp Prof. Utami staredt her speech. As she is a professor with two overseas educational background, the audience in the hall kept silent and deeply listened towards her speeches. Also me, I never let any second without staring at her. Prof. Utami is a discipline lecturer. It is proven on how she attend the seminar  and wait for me at pascasarjana office of unisma. Also, albeit the invitation is seemingly sudden, she can still prepare it well. No wonder if then the audience are more enthusiastic in her performance. Indeed, this performance which then encourage me to be more avid in reading and writing English matters. She told a lot about her journeys in attaining MA as well as Ph.D degree in Australia and England.

I do realize now that reading plays a very important role for all English language learners. What we have to maintain now is how we force ourselves to love reading and writing so that we can grasp our  bright future. More importantly, Prof. Utami added that “Reading is Nikmat dan Lezat” I do like this sentence ,and I will tell and apply it for my students in the future, especially when I become a prominent professor in English Language Teaching. Amiiinn,,,