My foreign language education, begun in 1959, has included varying amounts of German, French, Spanish, and Latin. I have used my knowledge of foreign languages and of English grammar and usage as a base for a career in language tutoring. In addition, I have extensive German-English translating experience and some Spanish-English translating experience. Since 1976, I have taught my trademarked exercise program, Conditioning with Weights, for which I won a state-wide award. In addition, I am the author of a literary novel (Apart from You) and a non-fiction book (Why I'm Glad I Had Breast Cancer), as well as numerous published articles.
Education
B.A. in German, minor in English, Indiana University, 1972. 3.49 cumulative GPA. 3.77 combined GPA in all language-related courses: German, English, Comparative Literature, Latin, and French.
B.A. in German, minor in French, Metropolitan State College of Denver, 1991. Summa Cum Laude, 4.0 cumulative GPA.
31 semester hours of college Spanish, Metropolitan State College of Denver, 4.0 GPA.
Extensive informal Spanish study.
Study in Germany:
1959-1961: Lived and attended school near Munich, Germany.
1988 and 1990: Took part in Metropolitan State College of Denver's intensive German language study program at the Akademie Klausenhof in Rhede, Germany.
Since 1988, have regularly attended German, French, and Spanish conversation group meetings in the Denver area.
Outstanding Academic Achievements
1962: While a sophomore in high school, placed first in the state of Indiana (out of 740 contestants) in a competitive German competency exam for students of third and fourth year German.
1964: Won my high school's Senior English Medal.
1964: My high AP (Advanced Placement) exam scores allowed me to take third-year German literature courses as a freshman at Indiana University.
While at Metropolitan State College of Denver, earned a grade of "sehr gut" (= A) on the Level I and Level II Goethe Institut German competency exams. (The Level III exam is administered only in Germany.)
While at Metropolitan State College of Denver, was granted several academic honors, such as multiple President's Honor Roll listings and a Colorado Scholars scholarship.
Academic Honor Society Memberships
Delta Phi Alpha National German Honor Society
Phi Sigma Iota International Foreign Language Honor Society
Golden Key National Honor Society
Teaching and Tutoring Experience
Since 1976, have taught my trademarked exercise program, Conditioning with Weights. Am solely responsible for program content and instruction. In 1977, won the YWCA Sportswomen of Colorado Award in Health and Physical Fitness for my "innovative program and outstanding teaching."
In 1987, tutored English composition in the Writing Center at Metropolitan State College of Denver (director, Dr. Elsie Haley).
Since 1988, have tutored Metropolitan State College of Denver and University of Colorado at Denver students in German, French, Spanish, and English as a Second Language (ESL). Currently, my primary work consists of tutoring Spanish and German.
At Metropolitan State College of Denver, have taught and substitute taught various German courses in grammar and reading.
Translating and Interpreting Experience
1963: Translated Heinrich Böll's story "Eine Kiste für Kop," published as "A Crate for Kop" in the short story anthology THE MODERN TALENT, edited by John Edward Hardy (Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1964).
1990: While in Germany, served as interpreter for our student group during a visit to a rural history museum in Westphalia.
From 1991 to 1999, I worked in a translating partnership with Sabina Hatch, of Denver, Colorado. In 1992, we incorporated our translation agency, Translation Partners International, which serves clients in the U.S. and Germany. I acted as TPI's Vice President, head German-English translator, and marketing director. Materials I translated included business correspondence and records, semi-technical and semi-legal documents, advertising, personal correspondence, and various documents pertaining to art, music, travel, sociology, and family records. Denver clients include Cobe Laboratories, Melco Industries, TransLogic Corporation, Genesis, and Escalante International Corporation.
Currently accepting short German-English and Spanish-English translating jobs on a contract basis. Rate for translating business, legal, medical, or technical documents: 15 cents per word of English text. Rate for translating short, informal, personal documents such as letters: $20 per hour, $20 minimum.
Also willing to translate short, informal, personal documents from English into Spanish or German. Rate: $20 per hour, $20 minimum.
Proofreading, Editing, and Writing Experience
1963-64: Assisted my father, the literary critic Dr. John Edward Hardy, with proofreading two of his book manuscripts.
Since 1975, have assisted my husband, David Dvorkin, with proofreading the manuscripts for his 17 books published thus far.
1987: Assisted Dr. Gudrun Clay (Metropolitan State College of Denver) with proofreading the manuscript for the first edition of her business German text, GESCHÄFTSDEUTSCH (McGraw-Hill).
Since 1988, have proofread and edited numerous academic papers in English, German, French, and Spanish for my students at Metropolitan State College of Denver and the University of Colorado at Denver.
Author of the novel Apart from You, Wildside Press, 2000.