This class is taught by Dr. Lindsy Myers, Adjunct Instructor at UMKC. 
Dr. Myers earned her PhD in French Linguistics from the University of Texas.

Course Highlights 

Session 1: Prosody (rhythm, stress, intonation) and the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). 

Guiding questions: How are English and French sounds organized differently in speech? Why are individual words difficult to pick out in extended speech in French? What are the primary melodies and stress patterns in French? How can we practice these sound patterns?

Session 2: Oral vowels

Guiding questions: What are the major differences between French and English vowels? What are the graphemes associated with each vowel sound? What are the most important and meaningful distinctions between French vowels? How can we practice hearing and articulating these sounds?

Session 3: Nasal vowels and semivowels (glides)

Guiding questions: How do we identify and use nasal vowels and semivowels in French? How are they meaningfully distinct from oral vowels? How can we practice hearing and articulating these sounds? What type of variation is observed in the pronunciation of vowels throughout the francophone world?

Session 4: Consonants

Guiding questions: What are the major differences between French and English consonants? What are the graphemes associated with each consonant sound? How can we practice hearing and articulating these sounds? What type of variation is observed in the pronunciation of consonants throughout the francophone world?