The Language I Live Author’s Column by Tymur Levitin

Author’s Column by Tymur LevitinLanguage. Identity. Choice. Meaning. 🔗 Choose your languagehttps://levitintymur.com/#languages When Students Say: “I Need to Pass the Exam” One of the most common sentences we hear at Levitin Language School is simple: “I need to prepare for an exam.” Sometimes it is IELTS.Sometimes TOEFL.Sometimes a Cambridge exam, Goethe-Zertifikat, or TestDaF. But the […]

Author’s Column by Tymur LevitinLanguage. Identity. Choice. Meaning. 🔗 Choose your language:https://levitintymur.com/#languages The Illusion of Success — When a Certificate Isn’t Enough You passed the exam.You received the certificate.Your result says B2, C1, or even higher. And yet something strange happens. You join a real conversation — and suddenly you hesitate.Someone speaks faster than the […]

Many language learners believe that translating in their mind is a necessary step in learning a new language. When they hear a sentence, they translate it into their native language.When they want to speak, they first form the sentence in their native language and only then try to convert it into the foreign one. At […]

The Language I Live — Author’s Column by Tymur Levitin Language. Identity. Choice. Meaning. Before choosing a language or subject to study, explore the full range of programs and learning formats available at Levitin Language School:https://levitintymur.com/#languages When the Conversation About Learning Replaces Learning Itself Over the years of teaching students from many countries, I have […]

Many language learners believe that the key to fluency is vocabulary. They search for longer word lists, memorize hundreds of expressions, and install applications that promise thousands of new words in a short time. The logic seems simple: the more words you know, the better you will speak. But real language learning rarely works this […]

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 […]