There is no one right way to learn French pronunciation. Some people prefer to listen to audio clips of native speakers, while others find it helpful to watch videos of people speaking the language. Still others prefer to mimic a native speaker’s accent and intonation as they speak. No matter which method you choose, the most important thing is that you practice regularly and get feedback from a native speaker.
There are also very good courses to learn French phonetics on your own.
What is French phonetics and why is it important to learn?
French phonetics is the study of the sounds of the French language. It is important to learn phonetics because it will help you to pronounce words correctly and with the correct accent. In addition, phonetics can help you to understand how words are constructed, and it can also help you to distinguish between similar-sounding words.
French is considered the second or third foreign language taught in the world, after English. When teaching and learning this language, learners face several problems: grammar, reading, phonetics, etc. In reading and conversation classes, we found that students had a lot of trouble reading texts aloud and had difficulty pronouncing certain sounds.
There are many different sounds in the French language, and some of them are difficult for English speakers to pronounce correctly. The best way to improve your pronunciation skills is by imitating a native speaker as closely as possible. You can find audio clips of native speakers on the internet, or even watch videos of people speaking French in order to get a sense of the rhythm and melody of the language.
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The best ways to learn French pronunciation
French phonetics is very particular and annoys many students: many silent letters, exceptions, letters that combine to make new sounds. But with a little bit of practice, you’ll be speaking like a pro in no time!
The best method is to:
- concentrate on a particular sound at first
- listen very carefully to examples
- repeat
- get feedback from a native French speaker
- repeat and repeat again
- repeat ? Yes, repeat!
- Always repeat? Repeat again!!!!
How to practice regularly and get feedback from a native speaker?
I know that a lot of students out there are looking for ways to improve their language skills. I’ve been teaching for many years, and one of the best techniques I’ve found for improving student’s language skills is by having them practice regularly and get feedback from a native speaker.
You can find audio clips of native speakers on the internet, or even watch videos of people speaking French in order to get a sense of the rhythm and melody of the language.
However, in order to practice regularly and get feedback from a native speaker, you need to find a way to make it convenient and fun. One way to do this is by signing up for a French pronunciation course. These courses usually offer regular feedback from a tutor, and they also provide practice materials that will help you improve your skills.
Because otherwise, what could be more frustrating than knowing the French conjugation, knowing how words are written in French, but not being able to pronounce them correctly and seeing the face of a French person who grimaces because he doesn’t understand!
Some good courses to help improve your pronunciation skills
There are also very good courses to learn French phonetics on your own. It is important to learn phonetics because it will help you to pronounce words correctly and with the correct accent. In addition, phonetics can help you to understand how words are constructed, and it can also help you to distinguish between similar-sounding words.
Normally, all French teachers are able to teach you how to pronounce the words of the French language correctly. Normally…
Before booking your course, make sure that :
- the teacher is a native speaker,
- the teacher is a specialist in teaching French to foreigners,
- the teacher knows a little bit about your mother tongue in order to make connections – when possible – between French phonetics and sounds that are similar in your language,
- the teacher knows the international phonetic alphabet. It is a tool that is a bit tedious to learn but extremely practical to use in order to write down the sound you hear.
We have thought about our foreign students who are learning French and we are in the process of creating a specific training on French phonetics.
With this course, you will be able to train yourself on all the specificities of French pronunciation:
- how to pronounce the letter /R/ ?
- the semi-vowels (yoga, huit, ouate…)
- nasal vowels: on, an, un, in
- silent letters
- etc.
Are you interested in this course? Write to us to get your 20% discount code to use when the course is available. There is no obligation on your part, you will be free to use it.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the best way to learn French pronunciation is the way that works best for you. If you enjoy listening to audio clips of native speakers, then by all means, keep doing what you’re doing! But if you find it more helpful to watch videos or mimic a native speaker’s accent and intonation, don’t be afraid to try something different.
Just make sure that you practice regularly and get feedback from a native speaker so that you can ensure accuracy in your pronunciation.
What method do you prefer for learning French pronunciation?
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