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language communication

I Don’t Know Is Not an Answer. “I’ll Try” Is.
I Don’t Know Is Not an Answer. “I’ll Try” Is. | LEVITIN SCHOOL
Language. Identity. Choice. Meaning.

I Don’t Know Is Not an Answer. “I’ll Try” Is.

There is one phrase I almost never accept from my students. Not because it is rude. Not because it is incorrect. But because it stops the conversation before it even begins. That phrase is: “I don’t know.” Of course, there are situations where we genuinely do not know something. I do not expect my students […]

Tymur Levitin | LEVITIN SCHOOL Tymur Levitin
• 04.06.2026 • 4 min read
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language communication

Why Some Students Sound Fluent — but Understand Very Little | LEVITIN SCHOOL
30.05.2026

Why Some Students Sound Fluent — but Understand Very Little

Author’s Column | Tymur Levitin on Language, Meaning and Respect

The Difference Between Automatic Speech and Real Language Ability Many language learners dream of sounding fluent. They want speech to be: And sometimes they meet people who seem to have achieved exactly that. The person speaks quickly. The pronunciation sounds good. The conversation appears confident. Yet after a few minutes something unexpected becomes visible. The […]

Tymur Levitin | LEVITIN SCHOOL Tymur Levitin
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Why “Knowing a Language” and “Speaking a Language” Are Two Different Skills | LEVITIN SCHOOL
24.03.2026

Why “Knowing a Language” and “Speaking a Language” Are Two Different Skills

Author’s Column | Tymur Levitin on Language, Meaning and Respect

What 22 Years of Teaching Languages Revealed About the Gap Between Knowledge and Communication One of the most common statements I hear from students is this: “I know the language — but I cannot speak it.” At first glance, this sounds contradictory.If someone knows a language, why can’t they speak it? After more than 22 […]

Tymur Levitin | LEVITIN SCHOOL Tymur Levitin
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