I watched this video, practiced, and then practiced with my archetype. I also highlighted parts in my archetype to make it easier for me. I highlighted in yellow what was addressed in this video and also highlighted other features (/r/ with /s/, /b/, or /v/) which are also difficult for me. I decided to try some of the techniques she suggested on those features as well.
C’était le matin
Winnie l’ourson et tigrou
se réveillaient
et vu que ces (que ces) bébés singes étaient partis
et en puis
les bébés singes ils étaient perdus
dans les arbres.
Ils avaient vu de chauves-souris.
Ils avaient vu des crocodiles,
z’hippopotame,
le girafe.
Ils avaient un très long voyage.
Ils ont même pas peut le train.
Et ils ont vu
un crocodile.
Ils avaient vu des grenouilles,
des boites avec des animaux qui sont pauvres,
qui trouver pas leur chemin,
des gens qui voulaient en prison les animaux qui sont pauvres,
qui n'a pas manger.
qui n'a pas manger.
Ils étaient dans en arbres terrible.
Final reflections
Comparison of recordings
When comparing this recording to my first recording, it is so different! I actually wasn't expecting it to be so different, partly because this week's recording was difficult for me and I repeated words numerous times. However, the biggest thing I noticed between the first and last week was the prosody: it was so much less French-like and really just sounded like I was reading a script (which, I guess, I technically was).
I also listened to the week 6 recording just to see how it would compare and it was much more similar to my last recording. In fact, I think I didn't improve too much after that, which is interesting because week 6 was when I first practiced /r/. That really seemed to be a turning point in my pronunciation.
Final thoughts
This project was a great experience and I really want to continue doing it! I think I will find a new archetype (likely another French one) and keep posting on this blog.
One thing that was difficult for me was I sometimes ran out of ideas or I wasn't sure what to focus on. I know that I need to work on other features but I think some of them weren't present in this archetype, maybe because I used an example from a child. This lack of focus also contributed to struggling with practicing every day.
Nonetheless, I think this project did what it intended for me: I am much more familiar with French phonology and think that once I start learning more French vocabulary, actually being able to speak and understand French will be easier.
I also hope to do this with other languages, such as Mandarin and Spanish! I really look forward to it and am so grateful for what I learned this semester!
