The saying “Age is no barrier to success” definitely applies to Dr Marilyn Holloway who, at 80 years old, has just published her first book.
Take the Guesswork out of Grammar, a comprehensive grammar manual for teachers of English, has been four years in the making, and its author was thrilled, finally, to hold the first printed copy in her hands.
Holloway, who has run an English Enrichment programme at Overberg Primary School for the last 14 years, said she was struck by how often English teachers came to her with questions.
“Over the years I collected all my responses and during a clean-out I came across my piles of notes.
“I thought if teachers at my school could ask me questions, how many more must there be, especially those who are not mother-tongue English speakers yet teach English, who would possibly have the same queries. So why not collate all of them and put them together in book form?”
She admitted she didn’t know what she was letting herself in for and she needed another pair of eyes to look it over, so she approached retired English teacher Barbara Milne to act as editor.
“The content was in the bag, but I knew Barbara had a beady eye when it came to the nitty-gritty. That’s how our collaboration started and we worked on it for well over a year.”
Milne, who taught English for 42 years at Overberg High School, said: “I liked the challenge. After retiring I had some free time, but did not realise how much of this free time would be gobbled up by this project.
“It was an education for me as an English-speaking English teacher, and even after my 42 years of experience I still learnt some things. I think it is important for teachers to know that you are never too old to learn. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”
Graphic-design student Alexis Volschenk, an ex-student of both Holloway and Milne, was responsible for the layout and design of the book.
“Some portions were a bit out of my wheelhouse, as we focus mainly on package design, posters, billboards and so on.
“Designing a book was something new but it was a good challenge as it taught me not only a lot about the programmes I use, but to actually apply what I have learnt during my studies.
“I regard this as my legacy to teachers, whom I admire enormously. I think they are greatly undervalued. Particularly teaching English is a very, very difficult job.
“A lot of experience has gone into this book. We tried to make it teacher-friendly: practical, not academic.”
The initial print run will be small, but Holloway and Milne hope to get the book approved by the Education Department, which will make it accessible to many teachers.
For further information contact Holloway on 082 096 8598.
