René Esterhuyse
MA Graduate
Cape Town
Summary
I am a motivated, dedicated individual with
a passion for language and literature. My background of both rigorous academic training and practical journalistic experience has provided me with a skillset that I am eager to apply to the roles of editor, proofreader, copy-writer, and translator. I am particularly interested in storytelling and cultural production from a South African and broader African context; hence, I am a proud supporter of local authors and artists. Additionally, I am enthusiastic about sharing my knowledge of culture and language through teaching and tutoring.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Writing Mentor
Right for Education Africa
06.2024 - 06.2024
- Designing and facilitating a workshop on various topics related to article writing
- Creating interactive exercises for a maximal learning experience
- Editing, proofreading, and providing written and oral feedback on participants' articles
Retail Assistant
Stellenbosch Books
09.2022 - 09.2023
- Assisting with book launches, author interviews, and curation of stock
- Communicating with authors, customers, and publishers to establish and maintain good relationships
French Tutor
Stellenbosch University
03.2021 - 10.2022
- Facilitating small group and one-on-one tutoring sessions
- Implementing interactive activities to reinforce grammar concepts
- Assessing student progress regularly through quizzes, tests, and verbal evaluations
English Language Assistant
France Éducation Nationale
10.2021 - 05.2022
- Teaching English to students between the ages of 4 and 12 at École Paul Verlaine in Longuenesse, France
- Planning lessons, preparing teaching material, and collaborating with senior teachers on projects
- Implementing a variety of teaching techniques for enjoyable and engaging lessons, adapted to suit different levels of proficiency
Freelance Journalist
Blindeye Magazine
09.2020 - 09.2021
- Writing articles on the arts and social issues in South Africa for online publication
- Gathering information through research and/or interviews
- Editing and proofreading others' articles
Education
Master of Studies - Comparative Literature And Critical Translation
University of Oxford
04.2001 -
Master of Arts - Musicology
Stellenbosch University
04.2001 -
Bachelor of Arts Honours - French
Stellenbosch University
04.2001 -
Bachelor of Arts - Music; French
Stellenbosch University
04.2001 -
High School Diploma -
Bloemhof Girls' High School
04.2001 -
Skills
Editing
Writing
Proofreading
Research Abilities
Critical Analysis
Excellent Communication
Problem-Solving
Analytical Thinking
Languages
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Afrikaans
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
French
Advanced (C1)
Conference presentations
2024: 'Negotiating Boundaries: Language difference and translation in K. Sello Duiker’s Thirteen Cents and Maryse Condé’s Histoire de la femme cannibale’, Oxford Comparative Criticism and Translation (OCCT) Discussion Group, 26 February
2023: 'Colonial relations within the trenches of the First World War: At night all blood is black’, Spatio-Temporal Entanglements of European Memory Narratives in Contemporary Literature, hosted by the Institute of Languages, Cultures, and Societies (ILCS) at the School of Advanced Study, University of London, 17 November
2023: '“Empathic Unsettlement” and Traumatic Representation in At Night All Blood is Black and The Head & the Load’, South African Society for Research in Music (SASRIM), 25–27 August
2022: 'Exploring Multidirectional Memory: Africa and the First World War', Legacies of Violence and Trauma’s Repair in the Global South, hosted by the Centre for the Study of the Afterlife of Violence and the Reparative Quest (AVReQ), 7–9 December
2022: 'Instability and Unsettlement in William Kentridge’s The Head and the Load’, South African Society for Research in Music (SASRIM), 25–27 August
Interests
Anglophone and Francophone literature
Modern and contemporary history
Literature in translation
Contemporary African art and photography
South African classical music
Certifications
2023: Summer school at Venice International University: ‘Linguistic Landscapes: Using signs and symbols to translate cities’
2022: DALF (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française) at C1 level
2021: TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) qualification
Extracurricular
2018–2020: Journalist, copy-editor, and proofreader at Die Matie, student newspaper of Stellenbosch University
2019: Summer intern at Tuis/Home, lifestyle magazine of the Media24 Group
2016: Arts and Culture Editor at Fidelis, Bloemhof Girls’ High School’s student newspaper
Timeline
Writing Mentor
Right for Education Africa
06.2024 - 06.2024
Retail Assistant
Stellenbosch Books
09.2022 - 09.2023
English Language Assistant
France Éducation Nationale
10.2021 - 05.2022
French Tutor
Stellenbosch University
03.2021 - 10.2022
Freelance Journalist
Blindeye Magazine
09.2020 - 09.2021
Master of Studies - Comparative Literature And Critical Translation
University of Oxford
04.2001 -
Master of Arts - Musicology
Stellenbosch University
04.2001 -
Bachelor of Arts Honours - French
Stellenbosch University
04.2001 -
Bachelor of Arts - Music; French
Stellenbosch University
04.2001 -
High School Diploma -
Bloemhof Girls' High School
04.2001 -
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