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Working on something, processing it, developing it and revising it are not the same action. Six German verbs reveal how language distinguishes activity, transformation, effort and results. By Tymur Levitin | Levitin Language School 1. “I worked on the document.” But what did you actually do? Imagine a manager asking six employees what they have […]

“A school problem becomes easier to solve when we stop asking who is responsible for the result and start identifying what produced it.” — Tymur Levitin Your child comes home from school in Switzerland. Something is wrong. Perhaps the grades are lower than expected. Perhaps the teacher says the child needs to improve their German. […]

Why error-free writing can still confuse readers, weaken professional relationships, and fail to produce the intended result. You write an email. You check the grammar, correct the punctuation, and make sure every sentence is properly constructed. There are no obvious mistakes. You send it. But the recipient does not understand what you want. Or understands […]

A student understands a scientific process but cannot explain it in the language of the examination. Another student knows the correct mathematical method but struggles to describe the reasoning behind it. A third student can discuss a historical event intelligently in conversation but produces a weak written answer. All three may receive disappointing examination results. […]

The Difference Between Explaining Knowledge and Creating Conditions for Independent Thinking A teacher asks a question. The student hesitates. Three seconds pass. The teacher offers a hint. The student begins to answer but stops. The teacher explains the problem, demonstrates the solution and provides another example. The student nods. Everything is clear. But there is […]

A number tells us how many. But before we can count, we must know what qualifies as one. — Tymur Levitin Imagine a table with three things on it. A banana. A piece of paper. A glass of water. You point to the banana and say: One banana. Then you point to the paper: One […]

Certified translations, notarization, apostilles, document requirements, and the difference between linguistic accuracy and administrative acceptance. You have a document. You hire a professional translator. The translation is accurate. The names are correct. The dates match. Nothing important has been omitted. You submit it to an institution. And the institution rejects it. The immediate reaction is […]

An action does not exist in isolation from the thing being acted upon. Languages differ in how much of that relationship they build into grammar. — Tymur Levitin Imagine I ask you to give me something. You pick up a ball. Then a rope. Then a blanket. Then a handful of sand. Then a glass […]

One situation, six perspectives: how German distinguishes a task, an action, an occurrence, a process, a procedure and an operation By Tymur Levitin | Levitin Language School 1. One situation can have six different descriptions Imagine a technician working in a factory. A machine has stopped unexpectedly. The technician receives instructions to inspect it, checks […]