Representative Ford. In English?
Mrs. Paine. In English. Because she was very hesitant to speak English with me, fearful that her pronunciation would not be correct. She would ask me several times, "How do I pronounce this," although she didn't think she was doing very well with the pronunciation, although she did well.
Mr. Jenner. She was sensitive in this respect, Mrs. Paine, she was hesitant to use the English language in the presence, say, of Americans or even the Russian emigré groups?
Mrs. Paine. I think most people are sensitive about using a language when the person they are with can understand them in the language they use better. She also talked with my immediate neighbor for a short time, when only she and the neighbor were present. I went to see about a child.
Mr. Jenner. Could your neighbor understand Russian?
Mrs. Paine. No.
Mr. Jenner. But there was a measure of communication?
Mrs. Paine. There was some communication, not a great deal. My neighbor told me after she saw Marina on television in January, whatever it was, "that girl has learned a great deal of English." She was amazed at the change.
Representative Ford. The improvement from October to January?
Mrs. Paine. Yes.