What happened when a simple question refused to stay simple It started with what looked like a very simple question. “Is it few or a few?”“And in Ukrainian — кілька or декілька?”“And in Russian — why is it полтора, but then suddenly полутора?” These are the kinds of questions that usually take thirty seconds to […]

There is a moment in every language lesson that makes many students uncomfortable. The teacher asks a question.The student understands it.But instead of answering immediately, the student pauses. A few seconds pass. And suddenly the student feels that something is wrong. Many learners interpret this silence as a failure.They think: “If I were good at […]

Author’s Column by Tymur Levitin Language. Identity. Choice. Meaning. One of the most persistent myths in language learning is the idea that speed equals proficiency.Students often say: “I need to speak faster”, “Native speakers speak so quickly”, “If I pause, it means my level is low.” This belief is not only incorrect — it is […]

Author’s Column by Tymur LevitinLanguage. Identity. Choice. Meaning. There is a modern belief that fluency is everything. Speak fast.Speak freely.Don’t stop.Don’t think. And above all — don’t worry about accuracy. This idea sounds liberating.In reality, it is one of the most damaging myths in modern language learning. Because fluency without accuracy is not freedom.It is […]

The Language I Live — Author’s Column by Tymur Levitin Language. Identity. Choice. Meaning. One of the most persistent myths in language learning sounds deceptively simple: “Don’t worry about accuracy. Just speak.” It is often presented as a cure for fear, hesitation, and silence.But in real life — and in real classrooms — this advice […]

Author: Tymur LevitinFounder, Director, Senior TeacherLevitin Language School / Start Language School by Tymur Levitin© Tymur Levitin, 2025 Introduction: Fluency Is a Result, Not a Starting Point In modern language education, fluency has become an obsession.Students want to speak fast. Courses promise quick results. Teachers are encouraged to “get learners talking” as early as possible. […]

The Language I Live — Author’s Column by Tymur LevitinLanguage. Meaning. Thinking. For more than twenty years, I have been teaching languages to people of different ages, cultures, professions, and life situations.And during all these years, one idea keeps returning — sometimes quietly, sometimes painfully clearly: Language learning is not really about language. It is […]