Yannick: teaching, exploring and championing the French language in Malaysia

🌿 Teaching as a way of exploring the world

Curious, passionate and committed: three words that describe Yannick Tatin perfectly. A biologist by training, a teacher by vocation and a lover of the French language, he has been living in Kuala Lumpur for several years now, embodying a new generation of educators who bring together teaching, nature and culture.

Ever since a childhood spent in a big family garden, between tomatoes and orchids, Yannick has never stopped cultivating his taste for nature and knowledge.

“I grew up surrounded by plants, curiosity and wonder.”

Now a teacher and biologist, he has specialised in Project Based Learning, an active method where students do not simply receive knowledge: they build it.

“I don’t deliver a lesson to passive students. I push them to think, to look for leads, to find solutions.”

This approach gives learning real meaning: science, maths or economics become tools for solving real-world problems.

Every year, his Grade 9 students create their own mini-company: designing a sustainable product, marketing it, selling it, keeping the books… with the profits donated to an environmental NGO.

“Seeing their eyes light up during the sale, and their pride when they hand the funds over to a cause, is immensely rewarding.”

“I don’t deliver a lesson to passive students. I push them to think, to look for leads, to find solutions.”

YANNICK TATIN, Country Manager KUALA LUMPUR

Kuala Lumpur: an easy pace of life and a vibrant cultural scene

A true nature lover, Yannick has found in Malaysia a setting made in his image: green, warm and multicultural.

“The nature, the gentle pace of life, the quality of life… and my Malaysian wife, of course!”

When he is not in the classroom, he explores the region’s tropical forests and the underwater world, always ready to turn his discoveries into something to pass on.

The French-speaking community of Kuala Lumpur, which he describes as “warm and committed”, also fuels his cultural engagement: he shares his passions, his ideas and his energy there, notably within KL Accueil (a member of the FIAFE network).

The Festival International des Auteurs Francophones: a bridge between literature and the French-speaking world

This year, Yannick is taking over the organisation of the Festival International des Auteurs Francophones, whose third edition will take place on 29 March 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, on the theme of the Future.

“It’s an incredible event that brings together writers, readers, students and lovers of the French language.”

Created by Pom Madenjian, the festival quickly became a must-attend event in Southeast Asia, supported by the French Embassy and the Alliance Française of Kuala Lumpur.

Beyond the panel discussions and workshops, Yannick sees this book fair as a genuine mission of transmission:

“It helps promote the French language through literature, and gives francophiles and learners the chance to live a unique cultural experience.”

Among the highlights, Yannick mentions the visit of Wilfried N’Sondé, who came to present “Héliosphéra, fille des abysses”:

“A novel born from a scientific expedition, blending ecology, love and poetry. Exactly what I love: a dialogue between science and literature.”

At Axiom Academic, a bridge-builder of knowledge and trust

As Country Manager for Axiom Academic in Malaysia, Yannick puts his experience as a teacher at the service of the French-speaking families of Kuala Lumpur.

He acts as the link between parents, tutors and students, to guarantee tailor-made academic support.

“When a family or a student thanks you for a success, it’s a huge source of motivation.”

Wearing both hats, teacher and recruiter, allows him to select passionate tutors who truly understand the specific needs of expatriate students.

“Knowing the challenges parents and students face here helps me offer the right tutors, at the right time.”

And when he is not teaching?

You will most likely find him somewhere in the Malaysian jungle, camera in hand, observing a rare bird or a tropical flower.

Or with a Jules Verne novel in his hands:

“Around the World in Eighty Days is a classic that makes you want to learn, to travel and to marvel.”

💌 Would you like to talk to Yannick?

Based in Kuala Lumpur, Yannick supports French-speaking families across Malaysia with their academic needs and matches students with the most suitable private tutors through Axiom Academic.

If you would like to discuss your child’s academic project with him, you can contact him directly:

• By e-mail: yannick.t@axiom-academic.fr
• By WhatsApp: +60 11 5143 0727
• Through our website: our contact page

He will be delighted to answer you and point you towards the solution that suits you best.