Author’s Column by Tymur Levitin
Language. 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 noise.

The Cult of “Speaking Freely”

Many students come to me saying the same thing:

“I understand a lot. I can speak. But people don’t really listen.”

They are not silent.
They are not shy.
They are not beginners.

They speak — continuously.

But what they produce is a stream of loosely connected words, unfinished thoughts, unclear references, broken logic. The speech flows, yet nothing lands.

This is what happens when fluency is trained in isolation — detached from structure, meaning, and responsibility.

When Fluency Stops Meaning Anything

Real communication is not measured by speed.

It is measured by:

  • whether the listener understands you without guessing,
  • whether your words carry intention,
  • whether your speech has internal order.

Fluent noise feels energetic but empty.
It creates an illusion of competence — especially for the speaker.

But listeners hear something else:
confusion disguised as confidence.

Why Native Speakers Don’t Correct You — and Why That’s a Problem

Many learners proudly say:

“Native speakers understand me. They don’t correct me.”

This is often misunderstood.

Native speakers usually don’t correct you not because your speech is good —
but because correcting you would be impolite, exhausting, or pointless in casual interaction.

Silence is not approval.
Politeness is not validation.

In professional, academic, or serious contexts, this kind of speech quietly closes doors — without confrontation, without explanation.

Accuracy Is Not Perfectionism

Accuracy does not mean:

  • speaking like a textbook,
  • avoiding all mistakes,
  • sounding artificial or stiff.

Accuracy means:

  • choosing words that match your intention,
  • building sentences that carry logic,
  • respecting the listener’s cognitive effort.

Accuracy is not about being flawless.
It is about being clear.

And clarity is the foundation of trust.

Fluency Without Structure Destroys Thinking

Language shapes thought.

When speech becomes chaotic, thinking follows.

Students trained only to “speak freely” often struggle to:

  • explain ideas,
  • argue logically,
  • reflect,
  • pause meaningfully.

They are fluent — but internally disorganized.

This is not a language problem.
It is a thinking problem.

What Real Fluency Actually Looks Like

True fluency is calm.

It allows pauses.
It allows correction.
It allows silence.

A fluent speaker with accuracy:

  • knows when to speak and when to stop,
  • can reformulate instead of panicking,
  • respects meaning over speed.

This kind of fluency does not impress immediately —
but it convinces over time.

Final Thought

Fluency is not the goal.
Accuracy is not the enemy.

Meaning is the goal.

And meaning requires structure.

Author: Tymur Levitin
Founder, Director, and Senior Teacher
Levitin Language School / Start Language School by Tymur Levitin
© Tymur Levitin