01/05/2026
Why understanding English isn’t the same as communicating clearly
Many learners try to improve their English by watching TV series. It helps a lot with understanding, but understanding is a passive skill.
Through listening and reading we receive language. Communication improves in a different way: by producing language, when we speak or write our own ideas.
That’s where many learners get stuck. They understand what is being said, but in real conversations meaning isn’t always clear. It has to be interpreted, and sometimes it’s misunderstood.
This is not just a language issue. It’s a communication issue. A while ago I wrote a short piece on The Undoing with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, where people interpret incomplete information, make assumptions, and sometimes reach wrong conclusions:
“What’s Done by Night Can’t Be Undone by Day” — Nik Kozmin
https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/streaming/now-we-know-who-did-it-fans-speak-out-after-the-undoing-finale/news-story/bcf5f03e3975671c937f68724b4a385b
In real communication, something similar happens. We don’t always have the full picture, so ideas need to be expressed clearly to avoid confusion.
Big-name fans like Kendall Jenner were left stunned by the finale of The Undoing last night — and so were regular viewers across the world.