Many of the Japanese, Chinese & Korean speakers who I work with in my accent reduction coaching program have difficulties with the American English /r/ & /l/ sounds.

Here are a couple of TIPS you can use to help you make these sounds.✔

To make the light /l/ sound, touch your tongue to the ridge behind your upper teeth. The air should flow around your tongue as it leaves your mouth.

Slowly say the words: light, listen, look to feel the placement of your tongue.

To make the /r/, start with your tongue in a central relaxed position. Then bunch your tongue up and back and say red, rent & run to feel the placement of your tongue.

Don’t let your tongue touch the roof of your mouth when you make the /r/ sound!

Use the contrast drills below to pronounce the sounds of /l/ & /r/ in some common words.

Say each word slowly to feel the tongue position for the /l/ & /r/.

• lake/rake
• Eileen/Irene
• led/red
• light/right
• list/wrist
• long/wrong

Getting these sounds right takes a lot of concentration & practice. You won’t master these sounds overnight!

When I work with my Korean, Chinese & Japanese clients we typically work of these sounds for 10 minutes each time we meet. Then I assign them homework drills they can use to practice these sounds.

New sounds, just like new habits, take time to master. ☆

If you are a Chinese, Japanese or Korean speaker who is trying to improve your American English communication skills, follow this link to see the benefits of accent reduction coaching.

While coaching costs more than books & audio courses, the personal attention & feedback that you get will help you improve much more quickly than self study options.☝

Professionals who use English on the job everyday such as doctors, managers & sales people frequently choose coaching to meet their personal development needs.

There are more TIPS for you at the links below!