ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cathryn Varney learned Japanese when she lived in Japan while she was in high school and majored in French and Spanish in college. She spent most of her life wondering why other people have talents for things like art and music while she was dealt “languages”. Learning languages was always easy. If you needed someone to parse a sentence, she could be the go-to person. She won spelling bees without studying. It seemed like a waste because the only time she ever really used those languages was in sales at work and watching foreign movies.

After her husband retired and they moved to New Mexico in 1998 she answered a tiny ad in a free local newspaper. The local literacy agency was asking for volunteers to teach basic literacy and English to adults. There would be free training. She figured she could do that; it was indoors, two hours a week, and no heavy lifting. Gradually she took on more students and then started teaching classes for ESL students who were waiting for tutors or who just wanted extra classes. She became a tutor trainer and got certified by The New Mexico Coalition for Literacy and Proliteracy. She was Tutor of the Year (2005) at Readwest, Inc. in Rio Rancho, NM and the New Mexico Coalition for Literacy Trainer of the Year (2007-2008). She found her calling.

By the way, she eventually learned some art and people buy her paintings which is proof that anybody can do anything with a lot of effort! Talent helps, but the lack of it should not be a barrier to you or your students.

Photo by Toni Beatty

For copies of this book, send $17.95 each (US) to

Cathryn Varney

4903 Dolores Hidalgo Dr. SE

Rio Rancho, NM 87124

USA

Postage is included in the price of the book.

All profits from the sale of this book are donated to

literacy programs in New Mexico

You may contact me at

roncathvarney@aol.com