How do I pronounce sounds from my grandmother's native language correctly?

[Aubrey.J]

I’ve been trying to learn my grandmother’s native language to feel closer to our roots, but I’m really struggling with the pronunciation of certain sounds that just don’t exist in English. It makes me wonder if I’ll ever be able to speak it without immediately sounding like an outsider.

[VictoriaS]

I had the same feeling. The first time I tried those sounds I sounded ridiculous, but I kept listening to recordings of grandma and imitated the rhythm. I slowed way down, and gradually I picked up a few edges.

[Tyler.S]

A friend and I did a little practice routine, nothing fancy. We would pick a short phrase, say it aloud, then listen back and laugh at how strange it sounded. Somehow that pressure helped me notice where my tongue needed to move.

[JosephH]

There were days I just skipped the hard sounds and stuck to things I could manage, then came back later with fresh ears. Sometimes a week would pass and suddenly a line sounded almost natural.

[IsabellaJ]

Do you think maybe the real barrier is not the sound itself but the lack of immersion and confidence when talking to family?