2.1 Introducing Yourself

Mini-lesson

Learning how to introduce yourself is an essential part of learning how to converse in English. Introductions are also an important part of making small talk at parties or other social events. Introductory phrases are different than the ones we use to greet friends, but they’re often used together as parts of the broader conversation, as you’ll see.

Introducing Yourself

In this example, Peter and Jane are meeting for the first time at a social event. After greeting each other, they begin by asking simple personal questions. 

Peter: Hello.

Jane: Hi!

Peter: My name is Peter. What’s your name?

Jane: My name is Jane. Nice to meet you.

Peter: It’s a pleasure. This is a great party!

Jane: Yes, it is. Where are you from?

Peter: I’m from Amsterdam.

Jane: Amsterdam? Are you German?

Peter: No, I’m not German. I’m Dutch.

Jane: Oh, you’re Dutch. Sorry about that.

Peter: That’s OK. Where are you from?

Jane: I’m from London, but I’m not British.

Peter: No, what are you?

Jane: Well, my parents were Spanish, so I’m Spanish, too.

Peter: That’s very interesting. Spain is a beautiful country.

Jane: Thank you. It is a wonderful place.

Common Questions and Answer

(Credit: 7els.com)

Introduce Your Name

Question: What’s your name?

Answers:

• My name is …/ I’m …
• My full/ first/ last name is …
• You can call me …/ They call me …/ Please call me …/ Everyone calls me …
• My nickname is …

Introduce Your Country

Questions:

Where are you from?/ Where do you come from?

Where were you born?

Answers:

• I’m from …/ I hail from …/ I come from …/ My hometown is …/ I’m originally from … (country)
• I’m … (nationality)
• I was born in …

Introduce Your Address

Question: Where do you live?/ What’s your address?

Answers:

• I live in … / My address is … (city)
• I live on … (name) street.
• I live at …
• I spent most of my life in …
• I have lived in … for/ since …
• I grew up in …

Introduce Your Age

Question: How old are you?

Answers:

• I’m … years old.
• I’m …
• I’m over/ almost/ nearly …
• I am around your age.
• I’m in my early twenties/ late thirties.

Introduce Your Family

Questions:

How many people are there in your family?

Who do you live with?/ With whom do you live?

Do you have any siblings?

Answers:

• There are … (number) people in my family. They are …
• There are … (number) of us in my family.
• My family has … (number) people.
• I live with my …
• I am the only child.
• I don’t have any siblings.
• I have … brothers and … (number) sister.

Introduce Your Birthday/Phone number

Questions:

What is your date of birth?/ When is your birthday?

What is your phone number?

Answers:

• My birthday is on …
• My phone number is …

Introduce Your Jobs

Questions:

What do you do?/ What do you do for living?/ What’s your job?/ What sort of work do you do?/ What line of work are you in?

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Answers:

• I am a/ an …
• I work as a/ an …
• I work for (company) … as a/ an …
• I’m unemployed./ I am out of work./ I have been made redundant./ I am between jobs.
• I earn my living as a/ an …
• I am looking for a job. / I am looking for work.
• I’m retired.
• I would like to be a/ an …/ I want to be a/ an …
• I used to work as a/ an … at … (places)
• I just started as … in the … department.
• I work in/at a … (places)
• I have been working in … (city) for … years.

Useful jobs for self-introduction: teacher, nurse, secretary, manager, cleaner, policeman, builder, engineer, businessman, firefighter, postman, doctor, architect, farmer, …

Useful places: bank, factory, supermarket, museum, hospital, shop, gallery, …

Pin

Self Introduction Sample! How to Introduce Yourself in English – Image 2

Introduce Your Hobbies

Questions: 

What’s your hobby?/ What do you like?/ What do you like to do?/ What’s your favorite … ?

Answers:

• I like/ love/ enjoy/ … (sports/ movies/ …/)
• I am interested in …
• I am good at …
• My hobby is …/ I am interesting in …
• My hobbies are …/ My hobby is …
• My favorite sport is …
• My favorite color is …
• I have a passion for …
• My favorite place is …
• I sometimes go to … (places), I like it because …
• I don’t like/ dislike/ hate …
• My favorite food/drink is …
• My favorite singer/ band is …
• My favorite day of the week is … because …

Because: (self-introduction sample)

• there are many things to see and do
• This is one of the most beautiful places I have been visited.
• I can relax there
• it’s relaxing/ popular/ nice/ …

Hobbies – Free time activities for self-introduction.

• Reading, painting, drawing
• Playing computer games
• Surfing the Internet
• Collecting stamps/ coins/ …
• Going to the cinema
• Playing with friends
• Chatting with best friends
• Going to the park/ beach/ zoo/ museum/ …
• Listening to music
• Shopping, singing, dancing, travelling, camping, hiking, …

Movies: action movies, comedy, romance, horror, document, thriller, cartoons, …

Sports: volleyball, badminton, tennis, yoga, cycling, running, fishing, …

Questions: What do you like doing in your free time?/ What do you do in your spare time?

Answers:

• In my free time, I like …
• I like … when I’m free.
• At weekends I sometimes go to … (places)

Introduce Your Education

Questions:

Where do you study?

What do you study? / What is your major?

Answers:

• I’m a student at … (school)
• I study at …/ I am at …/ I go to … (school)
• I study … (majors)
• My major is …

Majors in English: accounting, advertising, arts, biology, economics, history, humanities, marketing, journalism, sociology, philosophy, …

Questions:

Why do you study English?

Do you speak English?

How long have you been learning English?/ How long have you learned English?

Answers:

• I study English because …
• I can speak English very well.
• I’ve been learning English for/ since …
• I can express myself and communicate in English.

Because: (self-introduction sample)

• I like it a lot
• I love it.
• I think it’s important
• I have to
• It’s very important and necessary.
• I want to learn more about this language.
• I love to improve my English skills.

Questions:

Which grade are you in?

Which year are you in?

• I’m in … grade.
• I’m in my first/ second/ third/ final year.
• I am a freshman.
• I graduated from …/ My previous school was …

Question: What’s your favorite subject?

Answers:

• My favorite subject is …
• I am good at … (subjects)

Subjects: Maths, English, Physics, Physical Education, Science, Music, …

Introduce Your Marital status

Questions: What is your marital status?

Are you married?

Do you have a boyfriend/ girlfriend?

Answers:

• I’m married/ single/ engaged/ divorced.
• I’m not seeing/ dating anyone.
• I’m not ready for a serious relationship.
• I’m going out with a … (someone)
• I’m in a relationship./ I’m in an open relationship.
• It’s complicated.
• I have a boyfriend/ girlfriend/ lover/ …
• I’m in love with … (someone)
• I’m going through a divorce.
• I have a husband/ wife.
• I’m a happily married man/ woman.
• I have a happy/ unhappy marriage.
• My wife/ husband and I, we’re separated.
• I am available.
• I haven’t found what I’m looking for.
• I’m ready for a rebound relationship.
• I’m a widow/ widower.
• I’m still looking for the one.
• I (don’t) have … (number) children.

Introduce Your Personality Traits

• I am a … person/ I’m … (character & personality)
• My best quality is … (character & personality)

Character & Personality for self-introduction: brave, calm, gentle, courteous, creative, hard-working, rude, unfriendly, unreliable, lazy, stingy, insensitive, …

Others

• I’ve got a … (pet)
• My best friend’s name is …
• I (don’t) have … (number) international friends.
• My dream is …

Pets: dog, puppy, mouse, rabbit, cat, goldfish, 

Listening Practice

Watch this video

Speaking Practice

Working with a friend or classmate, take turns practicing these role-play.

Conversation 1

Nadia: Hello, my name is Nadia. Welcome to our university.
Alicia: Hi, I am Alicia.
Nadia: Nice to meet you.
Alicia: Nice to meet you too.
Nadia: Where are you from Alicia?
Alicia: I am from Nicaragua, how about you?
Nadia: I’m from France.
Alicia: Is this your first time in London?
Nadia: No, I have been living in London for about three years now.
Alicia: I see, have you been studying here for all that time?
Nadia: Yes, this is my third year here, I have got one more year to go.
Alicia: What are you studying?
Nadia: I’m studying English Literature. I want to be a linguist. How about you?
Alicia: Sounds cool. I want to be a school teacher.
Nadia: That’s great!
Alicia: I have always wanted to study abroad, so I came to London.
Nadia: Nice! Yeah I love it here, I am actually planing to live here even after I graduate.
Alicia: Perfect, you are already from Europe, so it shouldn’t be that difficult for you.
Nadia: Yeah, I will just need to convince my parents, what about you?
Alicia: I love London, but I am just here for school, I will need to go back once I graduate anyway.
Nadia: I see, well, good luck to you, I have to go to class now, it was nice talking with you.
Alicia: Thank you! You too, and have a good class.
Nadia: Good-bye!

Conversation 2

– Hi my name is Carol.

– Hi Carol my name is Michael. Where are you from?

– I am from York in England. It’s a nice place to live. How about you?

– I’m from Dallas Texas. Everything there is very big. Where do you work?

– I work for ABC limited as a software engineer. It’s a good job for me because I like working with computers. How about you?

– I’m a journalist. I interview people and write stories for a famous American newspaper. What do you do in your free time?

– At the moment I’m learning Italian. It’s fun but difficult. How about you?

– I like to go rock climbing. It’s good exercise and I can enjoy the fresh air too.