Hi, I'm Georgiana and I'm back with a new episode of the Speak English Now podcast, the podcast that helps you speak English fluently, with no grammar and no textbooks.
This is the first episode in a special pronunciation series.
We'll do four episodes in a row, each one focused on different sounds.
In this first episode, we'll work on R and L. Next time, we'll practice the TH sound.
Then we'll look at V and B. And finally, we'll practice SH and CH.
So, step by step, you'll train your pronunciation with word pairs, tongue twisters and fun mini-stories.
And, if you like this style of practice, I also have a complete pronunciation course with many more exercises to help you improve.
Visit pronunciationcourse.com to get started.
Okay, let's start.
Why are R and L sounds tricky?
In some languages the R and L sounds are very similar, but in English they're different and they change the meaning of words.
For example, rice and lice, light and right, glass and grass.
First you'll practice with word pairs and tongue twisters.
Then we'll do a mini-story. to help you speak more automatically.
Okay, listen and repeat.
Light, right, glass, grass, collect, correct, fly, fry, play, pray, long, wrong, clue, crew, Climb.
Crime.
Alive.
Arrive.
Belly.
Bury.
Okay.
Let's practice with some simple examples.
Light.
Right.
I see you in the right light.
Glass.
Grass.
There is glass on the grass.
Collect, correct.
Please collect the correct paper.
Fly, fry.
The fly landed on the fry.
Play, pray.
The children play and the parents pray.
Long, wrong.
The long answer is not wrong.
Clue, crew.
The crew found a clue.
Climb, crime.
He wants to climb, not commit a crime.
Alive, arrive.
We were alive to see the train arrive.
Belly, bury.
He has a berry in his belly.
Let's practice with some tongue twisters.
Listen and repeat.
Yellow lorry.
Red lorry, yellow lorry.
Larry likes red lollipops.
Lions like to roar loudly.
Lions like to roar loudly.
Lily really likes lemons.
Lucky rabbits like to run rapidly.
Lucky rabbits like to run rapidly.
While doing these exercises, coach your mouth.
Exaggerate the R and L the first few times.
You can even record yourself once at slow speed and once at fast speed to compare.
If you want to practice more, get my pronunciation course.
Visit pronunciationcourse.com.
And now let's practice your speaking with a mini story.
I'll tell you a short story.
Then I'll ask you questions.
After each question, you'll answer out loud.
Then I'll confirm the correct answer.
This helps you think in English and improve your speaking.
Ready?
Let's go.
Tom went to a restaurant because he was hungry and wanted rice.
Who went to a restaurant?
A dog?
No, no, not a dog.
Tom.
Tom went to a restaurant.
Tom is a man, not a dog.
Why did Tom go to the restaurant?
Did he want to work there?
No, he didn't want to work at the restaurant.
He went there because he was hungry.
What food did Tom want?
No, no.
He didn't want lice.
Lice isn't something you eat.
He wanted rice.
Tom looked at the menu and practiced the word rice, but he still felt nervous.
Did Tom feel relaxed or nervous?
Nervous He felt nervous.
What word did he practice?
Rice He practiced the word rice.
When the waiter arrived, Tom tried to order.
But he pronounced rice incorrectly.
He said lice.
Did Tom pronounce rice correctly?
No, he didn't pronounce it correctly.
What did he say instead of rice?
Lice.
He said lice instead of rice.
Was the mistake with the R sound or the L sound?
The R sound.
He confused R and L.
The waiter looked confused and a bit alarmed because he heard lice.
Did the waiter understand Tom?
No, he didn't understand Tom.
How did the waiter feel?
Confused or confident?
Confused.
He felt confused.
What word did the waiter hear?
Rice or lice?
Lice.
He heard lice.
Tom realized the problem and decided to speak more slowly.
He smiled and said, I want rice, not lice.
Did Tom cry?
No, no, he didn't cry.
In fact, Tom smiled.
Did he speak quickly or slowly?
Slowly.
He spoke slowly.
What did he say he wanted?
Rice.
He wanted rice, not lice.
To be extra clear, Tom pointed to the word rice on the menu and repeated, Rice, please.
Did Tom point to the menu or to the door?
The menu.
He pointed to the menu.
What word did he point to?
Rice.
He pointed to rice.
Did Tom repeat the word or stay silent?
He repeated it.
He repeated the word.
The waiter finally understood and smiled.
He said, Ah, rice.
Then he brought Tom a big bowl of rice.
Did the waiter finally understand Tom?
Yes, he finally understood.
What did the waiter bring, bread or rice?
Not bread.
Rice.
He brought rice.
Was it a small bowl or a big bowl?
A big bowl.
He brought a big bowl of rice.
Tom tasted the rice and relaxed.
Then he ordered lemon tea to relax a little more.
What drink did Tom order?
Coffee or lemon tea?
Lemon tea.
He ordered lemon tea.
Did he want to relax or to run?
To relax.
He wanted to relax.
Tom laughed about the mistake and practiced one more time.
Rice, rice, rice.
The waiter laughed too and said, No lice, only rice.
Did Tom cry?
No, no, he didn't cry.
He laughed.
He laughed about the mistake.
Who else laughed?
Another customer or the waiter?
The waiter.
The waiter laughed too.
Excellent work today.
You practiced R&L with word pairs, tongue twisters, and a fun mini-story.
Remember, practice every day.
Start slowly, pronounce clearly, then build speed.
And if you want record yourself and compare your performance at the beginning and at the end of the week.
If you want to practice more, get my pronunciation course.
If you want to help me, share the podcast with your friends and family.
That would mean a lot.
Thanks.
I'll be back next week with a brand new episode.
Bye-bye.
