A question about :- Jews and Prayer?

I was wondering about how exactly Jewish people pray. I know you pray in Hebrew/Yiddish. I know that you do it in privacy and solitude. But how do you begin? Christians make the sign of the Cross, and then join their hands. I was watching Desperate Housewives the other day and Susan's ex-husband, who is Jewish, is seen joining his hands and praying. Is that it, or is there a ritual of some sort that you perform before you speak to God?