The R sound is used a lot in English. It is a high frequency sound (right, read, run), it impacts the vowel that precedes it (were, more, hear), and is used in consonant clusters or blends (print, screen, scroll). Correcting this sound will make you sound much clearer.
There are several mistakes that foreign speakers make with the R sound:
- Move the R…in English it does not move, flap, or trill
- Confuse the R with W and L…these are very different in English and change the meaning of the word. For example: rye, why, lie
- Leave the R sound out when it comes near a vowel…in English we say each sound, the vowel then the R
To correct this error, do these things:
- If you move your R sounds, keep your tongue still by placing the sides onto your top teeth
- Learn the difference between the L (make with the tongue behind the top teeth), the W (make with the tongue in the middle of the mouth), and R (made with the tongue tip in the bottom of the mouth the the back pulled towards the roof of the mouth OR with the tip pointing towards the back of the mouth.) Use which ever position which works for you.
- Say all sounds. Slow down to ensure that you say the vowel THEN the R. Make the R longer and stronger.
Good luck…people will notice the difference!