Besides teaching English, I teach violin (fiddle) to beginners of all ages all around the world. See Pauline Lerner's Violin Studio and the page on my personal website called Violin / Fiddle Teacher for Beginners of All Ages.

I love and play almost all kinds of music. I grew up listening to European - American classical music, and I still love it. That's where my musical roots are. I also love, play, and listen to other forms of music including folk / traditional, bluegrass, Celtic, world, ethnic, and anything my students are interested in. I have played in several community (amateur) orchestras, most recently the NIH Community Orchestra (NIHCO) and a ceilidh (Celtic music) band. I also love music jams.

The way I got involved with the NIHCO is interesting. The founder of this orchestra used to live next door to me in a condo / apartment building. He could hear me practicing my violin, and he liked it. Sometimes he couldn't sleep because he heard the people in the unit beneath his playing recordings of country music including "Ache-y Break-y Heart," and they played it loudly. He could not stand it. He would move from his bedroom to his living room, where he could hear me play my violin. He loved listening to me, especially when I played Bach. After he moved away, he started the NIHCO, and he called me to invite me to join. I never knew that I was playing a sort of audition when I played my violin at home. I really enjoyed playing in the NIHCO.

I love to jam. Each jam is run a little bit differently. My favorite one now is CABOMA. This jam is fun because you never know in advance who will attend (although there are a lot of regular attendees), what instruments they will play, and what kind of music they will play. Someone chooses a tune and leads the rest of us. We don't use sheet music. We just play by ear. I have learned a lot of new songs that way. I have also learned how to improvise harmony and rhythm backup. Jamming is one of the biggest highs for me.

I love teaching the violin / fiddle. I am a patient, encouraging teacher, specializing in violin / fiddle for beginners of all ages. I welcome adults and children with or without any background in music. If you don’t have a violin, I can help you get one. I tailor my teaching to each individual, understanding his/her skills, needs, and goals. I do my best to make the learning process enriching and fun, and I love to bring out the best in each student.

Now I can teach students almost anywhere in the world because I use Skype. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact me. I love music and I love teaching, so the combination of the two is great fun.

I just posted a new discussion, an exercise in English listening.

It is a speech by Michelle Obama, the wife of President Barack Obama, and I love it.

Check it out.

Five years ago, a German doctor who came to Great Britain to practice medicine accidentally killed one of his first patients by prescribing a painkiller at 10 times the normal dose. His mistake was attributed to inadequate English language skills. Now European doctors who join Great Britain’s National Health Service will need to pass tougher tests of English language and communication skills.

Work hard at learning English!

See http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/feb/24/european-nhs-doctors-language-checks

All dictionaries are not the same.  Some give you more help than others.   I looked at several dictionaries for three things: a learner’s dictionary, a voice which pronounces the word, and a sentence or phrase containing the word.  I found only one dictionary that has all three.  It is the Cambridge learner’s dictionary. Dictionary http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/learner-english/  They give the word in a sentence or phrase, but it’s hard to see because it is in light gray.  Try it out by looking up these words:  beneficial, eminent, and introduction.

I thank Nida for showing me the Cambridge Dictionary.

A major part of learning English is vocabulary,   When you come across a word you don’t know, look it up on any online English dictionary.  Some dictionaries have a learner’s dictionary with definitions that are easier for nonnative speakers of English.  Some good learner’s dictionaries are http://www.learnersdictionary.com/ (Merriam Webster), http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/learner's+dictionary?s=t (Dictionary.com), and http://oaadonline.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/ (Oxford).  On the Merriam-Webster  learner’s dictionary, you can sign up to receive one new word and its definition each day, delivered to your mailbox.

Some of my English students whom I’ve met online, especially on chat, address me as Darling, Honey,  Madam, or Ma’am.  These are incorrect words to use because they imply a kind of relationship that does not exist.  Darling and  Honey are only appropriate for a romantic relationship. Many women would feel insulted if you use these words.  Madam or Ma’am, which is short for Madam, have a different connotation.  Historically, they were used to show respect for teachers, business associates,  and sometimes for your mother or grandmother.  They are not used much in those ways any more.  There a few exceptions.  Sometimes people from the southern part of the US still say ma’am to their teachers or to people with whom they do business.  They consider it a sign of respect.  

Many people today, including me, use an informal style.  You can just call me Pauline. 

Important vocabulary words from this article:  appropriate, connotation, associates.  Look up their definitions if you’re not sure about their meaning.

 Do you live in any of the places marked red on this map?  If so, your phone conversations and Internet interactions with an American may be scrutinized by the US NSA (National Security Agency).  The American might even be me.

Vocabulary word in this post:  scrutinized.  If you don't know what it means, you should look it up in a dictionary online.

I have put up a new page on Facebook called English International.  I publish some very interesting and helpful things for English language learners there.  Please come and visit me.

I'm following my experience here with another Skype service,  "English International:  improving your skills at speaking and listening."  I will chat for a while with people for free, and I will also give private lessons for a reasonable charge.  I log onto Skype a lot now so that we can talk for free.  My Skype name is paulinefiddle and my number is 13017700973.  Please visit my new Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/English-International/213395795477533).  If you like my page, please click on "Like."  

I hope to talk to you soon.

Pauline