Words You Know — Meanings You Don’t Three phrases. Five cultures. One big misunderstanding. At Levitin Language School, we teach languages not just through vocabulary — but through logic, emotion, and identity. And praise is one of the most culturally loaded elements in language. What’s the Big Deal? Many students ask: The answers depend on who you […]

Pause is not the absence of work — it’s the presence of purpose. In many languages, rest means to stop.To do nothing. To disconnect.But in German, “Pause” is not just absence — it’s a meaningful shift. 1. A Pause is not emptiness. It’s presence. It may look like you’re doing nothing.But in fact, you’re… That’s […]

🔗 Choose your language Is it a mistake to be careful? In many languages, caution is often seen as hesitation. Being careful can be interpreted as being afraid, indecisive, or slow. But in German, it’s different. The word „Vorsicht“ doesn’t carry negative weight. In fact, it is often seen as a strength. In German: Caution is not fear For many […]

What Politeness Really Means in Different Languages “In English, you say sorry when you bump into someone.In some cultures, you say nothing.In others — you’re expected to explain your soul.”— Tymur Levitin At Levitin Language School, we don’t just teach students to memorize polite phrases — we teach them to feel the logic behind them. Because […]

One Phrase. Five Languages. Infinite Meanings “Not every ‘I love you’ means the same thing.Some are louder than silence. Some — emptier than space.”— Tymur Levitin The Illusion of Simplicity Students often ask: “How do you say I love you in Spanish?”“Is it the same in German?”“Do people say it more in English or in Russian?” But […]

🔗 Choose your language:Explore our German Teachers We see it everywhere in German. -ung. At the end of nouns like Rechnung, Bewegung, Übung, Entwicklung, Aussage, Erfahrung, Verbindung… and many more. But what exactly does -ung mean?And how does it compare to English? 🔸 -ung = a process, a result, or a concept In most cases, -ung nouns come from verbs.They express: In that way, they’re similar to English […]

Why Practicing Is Not the Same as Working 🟨 Choose your language Many students — especially adult learners — treat language practice like a job.They sit down, open a notebook, and start “working” on German. But here’s the truth:Üben ist nicht arbeiten.Practicing is not working. And when you treat practice like labor — it stops working […]

Author: Tymur Levitin — Founder and Director of Levitin Language School / Start Language School by Tymur Levitin 📝 “Every language reflects a culture’s view of closeness, privacy, and connection.” Choose your language ➡️ https://levitintymur.com/#languages 📖 Related articles: Why This Comparison Matters Words like “make out,” “hook up,” or “live together” seem simple — until you try […]

Author: Tymur Levitin — Founder and Director of Levitin Language School / Start Language School by Tymur Levitin 📝 “Language is more than words — it reveals how we think and feel.” Choose your language ➡️ https://levitintymur.com/#languages 📖 German version of this article:https://timurlevitin.blogspot.com/2025/08/was-bedeutet-eigentlich-rumknutschen_0482462661.html Why This Topic Matters Many learners of German use expressions like “zusammen sein,” “knutschen,” […]

What “Your Favorite Work” Really Means in German — and Why It’s Often Misunderstood 🟦 The Language I Live — Author’s Column by Tymur LevitinLanguage. Identity. Choice. Meaning. What kind of work do you love? If you’re learning German, you’ve probably learned that Arbeit means “work.”But does it also mean job? Or career? Or profession?And how would you say something like “my […]