Introduction

Have you ever said "rice" but people heard "lice"? Or maybe you said "light" and someone thought you meant "right"? Don't worry – you're not alone! Many Japanese English learners find R and L sounds very difficult. This is completely normal. In Japanese, there is only one sound (ら/ra, り/ri, る/ru, れ/re, ろ/ro) that is somewhere between English R and L. Your brain learned this sound as a baby, so English R and L feel strange and confusing.

But here's the good news: you CAN learn these sounds! It's not about talent or having a "good ear." It's about understanding how your mouth, tongue, and lips work. Today, I'll show you the science behind these sounds. We'll look at exactly what your tongue should do. Then you'll practice with some easy exercises. Let's solve this mystery together!

Main Tips

Understanding Why R and L Are Different

First, let's understand the science. R and L are made in completely different ways in your mouth. This is why native speakers hear them as very different sounds.

For the L sound, touch the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth, right behind your front teeth. Keep it there. Now make a sound. The air goes around the sides of your tongue. Try saying "La la la" while keeping your tongue tip touching the roof of your mouth. Can you feel it?

For the R sound, your tongue does NOT touch anything! This is the big difference. Curl your tongue back a little (but don't touch the roof of your mouth). Your tongue should be floating in the middle of your mouth. The sides of your tongue touch your back teeth. Try saying "Ra ra ra" without letting your tongue touch the top of your mouth.

The Mirror Exercise

This exercise is very helpful. You need a small mirror (or use your phone camera).

Look at your mouth when you say L. Open your mouth wide and say "Laaaa." You should see your tongue tip touching behind your front teeth. If you can't see your tongue touching, try again.

Now try R. Say "Raaaa" with your mouth open. Your tongue should NOT touch the top. It should curl back and float. If your tongue touches anything, pull it back more.

Practice switching: "La-Ra-La-Ra-La-Ra." Go slowly. Watch your tongue in the mirror. This helps your brain understand the difference.

Practice Word Pairs

Now let's practice with real words. These word pairs sound very different to native English speakers. Say them slowly and carefully.

• Light / Right (Your tongue touches for "light," floats for "right")
• Lock / Rock (Touch for "lock," don't touch for "rock")
• Collect / Correct (Touch for "L," float for "R")
• Alive / Arrive (Touch for "L," float for "R")

Don't worry if it feels strange at first! Your mouth muscles need time to learn new movements. It's like learning to ride a bicycle. At first, it feels impossible. Then suddenly, your body understands!

The Most Important Tip

Here's what many Japanese learners don't know: the English R sound is similar to saying ア (a) with your mouth in a small circle. Try this: say ア, but make your lips round like you're going to whistle. Your tongue naturally curls back a little. That's very close to the R sound! Now add the R feeling: "Rrrr-ア." This connection to Japanese can help you find the right position.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: The Touch Test

Get a clean finger or a pen. Say these words and pay attention to whether your tongue touches the roof of your mouth:

1. Love (touch: YES)
2. Run (touch: NO)
3. Long (touch: YES)
4. Wrong (touch: NO)

If you're not sure, use your finger to check. Put your finger gently on the roof of your mouth behind your teeth. Say the word. Does your tongue push your finger? If yes, it's probably an L sound word.

Exercise 2: Daily Practice Routine (5 Minutes)

Do this every morning for two weeks:

1. Say "La-La-La" 10 times (tongue touches)
2. Say "Ra-Ra-Ra" 10 times (tongue doesn't touch)
3. Say "La-Ra-La-Ra" 10 times (switch between them)
4. Choose one word pair from above and say it 10 times

Record yourself on your phone. Listen to yourself. You'll hear your progress!

Exercise 3: Real-Life Practice

Find an English video or song you like. Listen for R and L sounds. Every time you hear an R or L sound, pause the video. Try to say the same word. Check if your tongue touched (L) or didn't touch (R). This makes practice fun and connected to real English!

Conclusion

Learning R and L sounds takes time and practice, but now you understand the science. Remember: L = tongue touches, R = tongue doesn't touch. That's the secret! Practice a little bit every day with the mirror exercise and word pairs. Your mouth will learn these new movements.

Don't feel embarrassed if you make mistakes. Even native English speakers sometimes have trouble with certain sounds! Every time you practice, you're building new pathways in your brain. You're doing great!

If you want personal help with your pronunciation, I'd love to work with you in a Cafetalk lesson. We can practice together, and I can give you immediate feedback. You can do this – I believe in you!