Myth: Just Speak — and You’ll Learn

📍 Why “Practice Makes Perfect” Can Be Misleading in Language Learning

“Just Speak” Sounds Right — But Often Goes Wrong

You’ve probably heard this advice:

“Just speak — don’t overthink it.”
“Speak as much as you can — you’ll learn on the go.”
“Mistakes don’t matter — the main thing is to speak!”

But let’s pause for a moment.

Would you tell someone learning to play the violin:

“Just play, and eventually you’ll sound great”?

Of course not. So why do we believe it about languages?

Practice Is NOT the Same as Progress

Here’s the truth:
Speaking without understanding can reinforce mistakes.

When students speak without correction, without feedback, without structure, they risk:

• Repeating the same errors
• Developing fossilized habits
• Hitting a “plateau” they can’t break through

Practice doesn’t make perfect.
Practice makes permanent.
And only correct practice leads to progress.

Speaking Is the Goal — Not the Method

“Just speak” turns the end result into a technique.
But speaking is a result of thinking, listening, noticing, and understanding.

When you’re told to “just speak,” but:

• You don’t know the right structures
• You don’t understand what native speakers say
• You can’t correct yourself…

…it becomes frustrating, not effective.

What Speaking With Understanding Looks Like

At Levitin Language School, we don’t just push students to “speak more.”

We teach them to:

• Notice mistakes
• Understand word order, logic, and tone
• Recognize false friends
• Build confidence through accuracy, not guesswork

Yes, students speak — but only after their brain is trained to notice and think clearly.

Why “Just Speak” Is a Dangerous Myth

This myth creates guilt and pressure.
Many students say:

“I speak — but nothing improves.”
“I don’t feel confident, even though I talk all the time.”
“I still make the same mistakes after years.”

It’s not their fault.
They’ve been told that speaking alone is enough.
But it’s conscious practice that brings growth — not empty repetition.

What to Do Instead

Here’s how to fix it:

• ✅ Speak, but only with feedback
• ✅ Practice, but with correction
• ✅ Express yourself, but notice the patterns

Speaking is essential.
But it’s not the starting point — it’s the result of meaningful, structured work.

Real Progress Comes From Understanding

At Levitin Language School, we focus on:

• Deep listening
• Cross-language comparison
• Guided speaking sessions
• Logical grammar and real-life communication

You don’t need to be perfect — you need to be aware.
And from awareness comes fluency.

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

Series: Language Myths Busted
Author: Tymur Levitin — Founder and Senior Instructor at Levitin Language School
School: Start Language School by Tymur Levitin — https://levitinlanguageschool.com
Speak Free. Learn Smart.
Teacher Profile: https://levitinlanguageschool.com/teachers/tymur-levitin

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• Myth: You Need a Native Speaker to Learn a Language
• Myth: The More You Memorize, the Better You Get
• Myth: Children Learn Languages Better Than Adults