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3. Tips to introduce yourself.

What do you say when you meet someone new? You introduce yourself of course!

Introducing yourself is much more than saying your name. You need to tell some more information about you in English. Introducing yourself to strangers can be tricky because what you say depends on the context, situation (introducing yourself in a job interview, introducing yourself in an email or making a self presentation in a meeting or in an English class).

Tips to introduce yourself.

Introduce Yourself: 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 …

Self-Introduction: 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 Yourself: 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 …

 

Self-Introduction: 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 Yourself: 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, …

Self-Introduction: 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 ever 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 movie, comedy, romance, horror, documentaries, thriller, cartoons, …

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

Self Introduction: 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 yourself: Jobs

  • 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.

 

Introduce Yourself: Family

Questions:

How many people are there in your family?

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

Do you have any sibling?

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.

 

Self-Introduction: 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 Yourself: Others

  • I’ve got a … (pet)

  • I am a … person/ I’m … (character & personality)

  • My best quality is … (character & personality)

  • My best friend’s name is …

  • I (don’t) have … (number) international friends.

  • My dream is …

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

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

difícil

Mote

Now it´s your turn.

Speak with your colleague and ntroduce yourself!

Speak with your colleague and introduce yourself in an informal situation.

  1. Could you introduce yourself? It´s your turn... come on!
  2. Do you like meeting new people? Why? Why not?
  3. Do you usually get nervous when meeting new people? Why? Why not?
  4. What do you usually do when you are new in a place, do you go and introduce yourself or do you wait for people to come to you? Why?

Exercise

Could you introduce yourself, Carlos?

A step ahead

Lisen to these videos about people introducing themselves. In the first one, you will learn how to introduce yourself in an informal situation, whereas in the second one, you'll listen to what to say when looking for a job, in a formal situation. Have fun!

Text summary.

Text summary.