| There's a lot to grasp when you're learning a new | | | | that way you'll know exactly what you sound like. |
| language. If you're a native English speaker there | | | | Listen to the example, record yourself, listen to |
| aren't just the words but also new verb forms, | | | | yourself. How do you sound? Now to be honest |
| different grammatical construction and, as if that | | | | you'll probably feel a little foolish at first, most of |
| wasn't enough, you've got to learn French | | | | us do, but you do want to learn French |
| pronunciation - and your mouth shape isn't used | | | | pronunciation don't you? Can you think of a better |
| to that at all! | | | | way? |
| Now that might sound a bit odd to you, but the | | | | A good place to start is the French alphabet. |
| truth is that you've always pronounced words in a | | | | There are several places online that offer free |
| certain way, and it's affected the way your | | | | MP3s. Another way to learn is to download these |
| mouth and tongue works. Pronouncing French | | | | to a player or a CD so you can listen to them |
| words - especially those with certain vowel | | | | while you're on the move. You can't do the |
| combinations and the famous 'rolled r' - is quite | | | | 'record and playback' thing, but hearing French |
| different. Believe me, once you start you'll soon | | | | over and over again will help it sink in. Once |
| discover exactly what 'tongue tied' means. | | | | you've got the alphabet learned you can move on |
| Sometimes it seems you just can't make that | | | | to useful phrases. Again you should find quite a |
| sound, and the harder you try, the worse it gets! | | | | few online. |
| The answer of course is not just practice but the | | | | As you progress you'll soon get beyond what's |
| right kind of practice. It's no good, for example, | | | | available for free. I would then suggest you go |
| getting a French book and just reading the words | | | | for one of the downloadable courses or perhaps a |
| out - how will you know if your pronunciation is | | | | CD. Good ones can definitely help accelerate your |
| correct? Fortunately you've got the perfect tool | | | | learning and will offer interactive lessons you can |
| right in front of you - your computer. | | | | play on your PC and text files in addition to the |
| For a start, a quick search of the internet will find | | | | all-important sound files you can use while you're |
| quite a few free French audio files. It's a good | | | | at home or on your MP3 or CD player (before |
| place to start because you can listen and repeat | | | | you buy, make sure you'll be able to do this). |
| the sounds yourself. The drawback is that what | | | | I wouldn't be being fair if I said that learning |
| you sound like to yourself may not be what you | | | | French pronunciation was easy. Sometimes it's |
| really sound like. If you've ever listed to a | | | | very frustrating. I still get it wrong sometimes, |
| recording of your own voice you'll know exactly | | | | much to the amusement of my French friends. It |
| what I mean. | | | | really doesn't matter, the benefits of being able to |
| Your pc can come to the rescue again here. If it | | | | speak to the French in their own language is far |
| hasn't already got a microphone built in you can | | | | more rewarding than the occasional faux pas that |
| buy one for a few dollars and record yourself, | | | | you'll make! |