Below you can find a few tips, links and recommendations.
For some personal advice, click here.
Where could we start if not from the beginning. Yes, the alphabet.
The French alphabet includes a few tricks for English speakers. Obviously, although the alphabet is similar in French and English, we do not pronounce the letters the same way.
Fortunately, a few tips can help along the way...
- Tip 1: English speakers find it really difficult to pronounce 'E' so if you have some French colleagues try to listen to their French conversations and you will hear it is a sound we use all the time when we hesitate: 'euh...'.
- Tip 2: 'G' in French is pronounced 'Jay' and 'J' in French is pronounced 'Gee', which is confusing as it is the contrary in English, alors, keep this in mind.
- Tip 3: To pronounce 'H', just say 'Ash' like in ashtray.
- Tip 4: To pronounce 'R', just say 'Air', and breathe.
- Tip 5: The French letter 'U' is extremely important and many English speakers struggle to pronounce this letter correctly. So be aware of your palate and the position of your tongue. Say the French letter 'I' (in English pronounce 'eeee'), keep your jaws and tongue in the same position but round up your lips... Et voila! You are making the right sound: 'U'. Bravo!
For more tips, do not hesitate to contact me.
New French Words
Each time I go back to France I get to learn new words. Can you guess what these words mean?
- Selfie (Yes, it is now a French word)
Well, not exactly tongue twisters but a few words some of my students find difficult to pronounce...
- Vous réussissez
- Il n'y en a pas
- La réalisatrice
- Je pleurerai
- Le psychanaliste
- Le commissariat
- La consigne
- De l'huile d'olive
Is it easy for you?