-L

light pink = where tongue touches top of mouth for this sound

How to make this sound:

  • Back of tongue raised (like the sound “oo”)
    (This is how final L differs from L in other positions of words! See image below)

  • Tongue tip on alveolar ridge (i.e. the bumps behind your teeth)

  • Voice on

Tips:

  • To help them say the sound by itself, have them say "oo" (like in the word Boo!), then keep that sound going while they touch the tip of their tongue up to the bumps behind their upper front teeth. See the image below for a visual

  • To help them say the sound in a word, model how your jaw moves for the vowel before the "L," then point out that your tongue tip ends up, behind your upper teeth. Ex: "I drop my jaw to say "awww" then bring my tongue up for the "L."

  • Contrast the error with the target. Ex: "You said caw. That word is call. See how I say "caww" then put my tongue up?"

Note! Unlike most other sounds, "L" can change in the final position of words. If your student is targeting "L" in the initial/medial positions of words, that homework is found here.

Ways to make this homework easier:

  • Decrease the speed (keep your voice on, but say the sounds in the words slowly)

  • Decrease length of utterance (ex: If they can't say "call" correctly, have them just say "L")

  • Model the word before each of their attempts.

  • Say the word at the same time as them, with them watching your mouth.

  • Give more feedback, after each production (ex: "Try again, don't forget to use your tongue" or "You said "call" with a good "L" sound!)

  • Switch to modeling the practice words (and emphasizing the target sound) instead of having them produce the word.

Ways to make this homework more challenging:

  • Increase the speed (no speed-talking necessary, but add natural intonation and speed to their productions)

  • Increase length of utterance (if they can say the word, see if they can use the word in a phrase, then small sentence, then short sentence, then in conversation)

  • Give less feedback; wait until they are done (ex: "You said 7 out of 10 of those words with a great "L" sound!")

  • Expand beyond these relatively simple words. Find more words here or here or while reading out loud together. (If you practice in other ways than the weekly assignments above, that's great! You can still click on the homework above and just add a couple words about what you did in the optional "comments" section.)