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Polly Merdinger, Lecturer
Polly Merdinger, Lecturer in Language, has been teaching at the American Language Program for over 30 years. She began her English teaching career in Jerusalem, Israel, and later taught at LaGuardia Community College (CUNY) and the Harvard University Summer Program. In addition to integrated skills courses, she has taught Advanced Writing, Advanced Academic Preparation, English for Professional Purposes: International and Public Affairs, and Academic Writing for students in the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). Merdinger developed and taught the first language and pedagogy courses for International Teaching Assistants in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (1985 – 1989), and the Practicum in Foreign Language Pedagogy for teaching assistants in the Foreign Language departments (1988). Her current special interests are the teaching of pronunciation and advanced writing.
Merdinger has a longstanding interest in teacher training and observation, and has worked with both experienced and new teachers. She has coordinated in-service teacher training at the ALP, and she is currently a member of the Faculty Development and Recruitment Committee. Merdinger has taught and supervised student teachers in the MA in TESOL Program at Teachers College, Columbia University and in the Certificate in English Language Teaching (ELT) program at the New School.
Merdinger received her M.A. and M.Ed in TESOL from Teachers College, Columbia University. She has been a presenter at many TESOL conferences and teacher training seminars. She has developed and edited materials for two online Business English programs and she is the author of two textbooks, Even If You Can’t Carry a Tune: Grammar through Popular Songs (with Joel Rosenfeld) and NorthStar Listening and Speaking 1 (with Laurie Barton).
