PROFESSIONAL LIFE: A BRIEF HISTORY
TEACHING (1981 - 1990)
I started my professional career teaching German for one year to 13- to 18-year old students. Thereafter I taught Afrikaans to First Language (home language) as well as Second Language (also referred to as First Additional Language) students, once again in the 13- to 18–year old age group. Within four years, I headed the Afrikaans Department: Second Language, at the Cape Town school where I was teaching.
In my spare time, I taught immigrants who had no or limited knowledge of Afrikaans.
During the above-mentioned period I also assisted with marking ''creative writing '' examination papers (composition and letter-writing) for the Cape Education Department Senior Certificate Examination (students' final school-year examination) in Afrikaans First Language (for a period of four consecutive years).
At the time I also became very involved in amateur acting in school plays as well as in the activities of adult drama groups. I performed (acted), and I directed school plays.
In the mid-1980s I wrote a play, Die kind en die ster, which was entered in a countrywide competition for one-act plays for schools. My effort was awarded the 2nd prize (C.R. Swart Prize) in this competition, which was run by the Afrikaanse Taal- en Kultuurvereniging (ATKV).
I translated various plays by the renowned SA/Irish playwright Geraldine Aron (from English into Afrikaans):
1) A Galway Girl – 'n Meisie uit Galway
This is a play for two actors. It follows the life of a husband and wife from the time they marry until his death. I portrayed the husband in an amateur production (ATKV Competition) to some acclaim.
2) Four Monologues – Vier Monoloë
I translated two, both of which I directed for the stage (ATKV Competition for Schools).
3) Bar and Ger
This remains one of the best known plays in Aron's oeuvre. I translated it into Afrikaans as Bar en Ger. My translation was included in Jan B. Vermaak's Skouspel (a collection of one act plays), which was published by Tafelberg Uitgewers Beperk in 1992.
POST TEACHING
In 1990 I gave up teaching and started a career in the commercial field. I worked in the real estate industry for the next 20 years. Although I was involved mainly in marketing, my office duties often included writing and editing of copy (property-specific) documents. During this period I managed to teach privately from time to time.
In 2011 I started working as a representative for a company that distributes dairy products throughout the Karoo region. I have now given up that position, as it is my intention to work as a language practitioner. Typically, my interests include translating (English/ Afrikaans and Afrikaans / English), editing and proofreading.
In September 2013 I started as a freelancer for The Southern Post/Suidernuus, a community newspaper in the Overberg region of the Western Cape.
FINALLY
I have always enjoyed writing and related activities. Even after leaving teaching and starting to work in business, I have constantly made an effort to keep abreast of literary and linguistic issues.
I regard myself as a punctual person when it comes to meeting deadlines. I am a self-starter and perform well on my own and under pressure.
TEACHING (1981 - 1990)
I started my professional career teaching German for one year to 13- to 18-year old students. Thereafter I taught Afrikaans to First Language (home language) as well as Second Language (also referred to as First Additional Language) students, once again in the 13- to 18–year old age group. Within four years, I headed the Afrikaans Department: Second Language, at the Cape Town school where I was teaching.
In my spare time, I taught immigrants who had no or limited knowledge of Afrikaans.
During the above-mentioned period I also assisted with marking ''creative writing '' examination papers (composition and letter-writing) for the Cape Education Department Senior Certificate Examination (students' final school-year examination) in Afrikaans First Language (for a period of four consecutive years).
At the time I also became very involved in amateur acting in school plays as well as in the activities of adult drama groups. I performed (acted), and I directed school plays.
In the mid-1980s I wrote a play, Die kind en die ster, which was entered in a countrywide competition for one-act plays for schools. My effort was awarded the 2nd prize (C.R. Swart Prize) in this competition, which was run by the Afrikaanse Taal- en Kultuurvereniging (ATKV).
I translated various plays by the renowned SA/Irish playwright Geraldine Aron (from English into Afrikaans):
1) A Galway Girl – 'n Meisie uit Galway
This is a play for two actors. It follows the life of a husband and wife from the time they marry until his death. I portrayed the husband in an amateur production (ATKV Competition) to some acclaim.
2) Four Monologues – Vier Monoloë
I translated two, both of which I directed for the stage (ATKV Competition for Schools).
3) Bar and Ger
This remains one of the best known plays in Aron's oeuvre. I translated it into Afrikaans as Bar en Ger. My translation was included in Jan B. Vermaak's Skouspel (a collection of one act plays), which was published by Tafelberg Uitgewers Beperk in 1992.
POST TEACHING
In 1990 I gave up teaching and started a career in the commercial field. I worked in the real estate industry for the next 20 years. Although I was involved mainly in marketing, my office duties often included writing and editing of copy (property-specific) documents. During this period I managed to teach privately from time to time.
In 2011 I started working as a representative for a company that distributes dairy products throughout the Karoo region. I have now given up that position, as it is my intention to work as a language practitioner. Typically, my interests include translating (English/ Afrikaans and Afrikaans / English), editing and proofreading.
In September 2013 I started as a freelancer for The Southern Post/Suidernuus, a community newspaper in the Overberg region of the Western Cape.
FINALLY
I have always enjoyed writing and related activities. Even after leaving teaching and starting to work in business, I have constantly made an effort to keep abreast of literary and linguistic issues.
I regard myself as a punctual person when it comes to meeting deadlines. I am a self-starter and perform well on my own and under pressure.