Speaker A
Hello, hello, hello. Welcome back to our English podcast. We are so happy you're here today.
An English coaching video teaching learners how to introduce themselves naturally: names, origin, age, jobs, hobbies, family, home, travel and goals.
Key Takeaways
- Use multiple phrasings for name, origin, age and job to sound natural.
- Adding one specific detail to any answer makes conversation easier to continue.
- Choose articles correctly: 'a' before consonant sounds, 'an' before vowel sounds.
- Use 'since' with a point in time and 'for' with a duration when describing how long something has lasted.
- Practice introductions aloud and be ready to answer follow-up questions.
What the video covers
- Opens by framing the common problem of freezing when asked 'tell me about yourself' in English.
- Teaches name introductions: 'My name is', 'I'm', 'My name's', and 'People call me...' with a nickname example.
- Shows polite ways to ask for someone's name and how to respond with 'Nice to meet you'.
- Covers saying where you are from, including 'I am originally from' to add detail.
- Explains how to discuss age directly, with ranges like 'I'm in my 20s', and polite ways to ask or decline.
- Covers describing jobs with correct articles (a/an) and adding details about work or study status.
- Teaches hobbies using 'I like', 'I love', 'I'm really into', and advises adding one detail to keep conversation going.
- Covers family structure, including saying 'I'm an only child', and home/neighborhood descriptions.
- Discusses travel experiences and future goals as further conversation topics.
- Includes a modeled full self-introduction, common mistakes (e.g., 'since' vs 'for'), follow-up questions and a dinner-party role play.
Chapters
- 00:00Intro: Why Introducing Yourself Feels Hard
- 01:53Saying Your Name and Asking Others'
- 03:41Talking About Where You Are From
- 05:43Discussing Age Politely
- 07:45Describing Your Job and Studies
- 10:11Hobbies, Interests and Family
- 13:51Home, Travel and Future Goals
- 18:04Full Introduction Model, Mistakes and Role Play
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
Speaker A
Hey everyone. Okay, so let me ask you something. Imagine this. You meet someone new, maybe at work, maybe at a party, or maybe on the street, and they look right at you and say, "So, tell me about yourself."
Speaker A
Oh, no. I know that exact feeling. And suddenly your mind goes completely blank. You forget every single English word you have ever learned in your entire life.
Speaker A
Yes, you are just standing there thinking, "Um, I am a person." Exactly. You are a person. That is scientifically correct. But we want to say a lot more than that. Right.
Speaker A
We do. And that is exactly what today's episode is all about. Today we are going to teach you step by step how to talk about yourself in English naturally, confidently, and fluently.
Speaker A
We will cover your name, where you are from, your age, what you do, your hobbies, your personality, your family, your home, and your future goals. By the end of the session, you will feel so much more confident introducing yourself. So stay with us. This is going to be super useful. Let's get right into it, Alice. Let's start from the very beginning.
Speaker A
The very beginning. When you meet someone new, what is the first thing you share? Your name, of course. It sounds simple, but there are actually many natural ways to say it.
Speaker A
Go for it, Alice. What is the most common way? The simplest and most common way is, "My name is Alice." Clear, direct, and perfect. But in a more relaxed, friendly situation, people often say, "I'm Alice."
Speaker A
"I'm Alice." Yes, that sounds much more natural and casual for everyday conversation, like meeting someone at a coffee shop or a party.
Speaker A
Exactly. And what about "My name's Alice"? Is that correct, too? Great question. Yes, absolutely. "My name's Alice" uses a contraction of "my name is," and it is extremely common in spoken English. So, we already have three ways. "My name is Alice." "I'm Alice." And "My name's Alice." Now, there's another great phrase. "People call me..." This one is wonderful when you have a nickname or if your full name is a bit long. For example, my full name is actually Alexandria, but people call me Alice.
Speaker A
Oh, really? I didn't know that. Alexandria is a gorgeous name. Thank you. But Alice is much shorter and easier, so shorter is sometimes better.
Speaker A
Now, what about asking someone else their name? You need to know how to ask, too. The most common way is simply, "What's your name?" Or in a slightly softer, friendlier way, you can ask, "What do people call you?"
Speaker A
I love that. It feels much warmer. And when someone tells you their name, you should always respond nicely. For example, "Nice to meet you" or "It's nice to meet you, David."
Speaker A
Remember that, learners. Let's practice right now. Imagine I am a stranger meeting you for the first time.
Speaker A
Hi, I don't think we have met. I am Alice. What's your name? Hi, Alice. I am David. Nice to meet you.
Speaker A
Nice to meet you too, David. See how easy and natural that is. Now, let's move to the next most common question in any introduction. Where are you from? This question pops up everywhere: at school, at work, when traveling, or online.
Speaker A
The basic answer is simply, "I am from" plus your country or city. For example, "I am from Morocco," "I am from Brazil," or "I am from Japan."
Speaker A
But you can also make your answer longer and much more interesting by adding your specific city or using the word "originally." Yes, like, "I am originally from Tokyo, but I live in Osaka now." Or, "I am originally from a small town in Morocco, but now I live in Casablanca." It adds fantastic detail to the conversation.
Speaker A
That extra detail makes such a big difference, Alice. Now, let's talk about another classic topic: age. Age can sometimes feel a little sensitive, especially for adults, but it's a very standard part of getting to know someone in English.
Speaker A
Exactly. If you want to share your exact age, the standard way is simply, "I am [number] years old." For instance, "I am 25 years old." Or in casual daily conversation, people often just drop "I am" and "years old" and say, "I'm 25."
Speaker A
Right? You don't need to say "years old" every single time. Now, what if someone asks you? The direct question is, "How old are you?" But in a more formal or polite situation, you can say, "May I ask how old you are?" Or, "If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?"
Speaker A
Adding "if you don't mind me asking" is a wonderful polite touch. And what if you prefer not to share your exact number?
Speaker A
You have options. You can say, "I prefer not to say," or jokingly, "I like to keep that a secret." Alternatively, you can use ranges like, "I am in my 20s," "I am in my 30s," or "I am in my 40s."
Speaker A
That's a great way to stay a little vague if you want privacy. You can also describe your general life stage, like saying you're a teenager, a young adult, middle-aged, or a senior.
Speaker A
Exactly. Now, once people know a bit about who you are, the next big question is always about your work. "What do you do?" Or, "What do you do for a living?"
Speaker A
This is a question you'll hear everywhere: at parties, on dates, and in business settings. The basic structure is, "I am a [job]." For example, "I'm a teacher," "I'm an engineer," or "I'm a student."
Speaker A
Watch your articles here, learners. We use "a" before consonant sounds like "a teacher" or "a chef," and "an" before vowel sounds like "an engineer" or "an actor."
Speaker A
And just like with origins, we can make our job answers much more interesting by adding details. Instead of just saying, "I'm a nurse," you can say, "I'm a nurse. I work at a hospital in the city, and I help patients every day." Details make conversations come alive. You can also say, "I work at a school," or, "I work for a large company." If you're a student, you might say, "I am studying business at college, and I'm in my second year." And if you're between jobs right now, you can politely say, "I am currently looking for work," or, "I'm a stay-at-home parent." All of these options are completely natural and respected.
Speaker A
Now we are getting to the really fun part of any conversation: your hobbies and interests. Once people know what you do for work, they usually want to know how you spend your free time.
Speaker A
Yes, you will almost always hear the question, "What do you like to do in your free time?" or, "What are your hobbies?"
Speaker A
Clear? The most basic way to answer is to use the phrase "I like" followed by a verb ending in -ing. For example, "I like cooking" or "I like reading."
Speaker A
That is completely correct. But if you want to sound more like a native speaker, you should try using stronger, more emotional phrases instead of just "like."
Speaker A
Exactly. Try upgrading your vocabulary with phrases like "I love," "I really enjoy," "I'm passionate about," or "I'm really into."
Speaker A
"I am really into" is such a fantastic natural phrase. It means you are highly interested in a specific activity right now.
Speaker A
And here's a major secret for self-introductions: always add one small detail. If you just say, "I like sports," it stops the conversation. But if you add a detail, it gives the other person something to ask you about.
Speaker A
For example, instead of saying, "I'm into fitness," you could say, "I'm really into fitness. I go to the gym three times a week, and I love hiking on weekends."
Speaker A
That is so much better. Let's practice with you, David. How would you describe your hobbies with a little detail?
Speaker A
I would say, "I'm passionate about history, so I spend a lot of time reading history books. I also enjoy cooking because it helps me relax after a long day."
Speaker A
Perfect. It tells me a lot about your personality. And for me, I might say, "I'm really into creative projects. I love painting, and I'm always trying to learn new things." But Alice, what if someone feels like they don't have any exciting hobbies? Maybe they're just exhausted after work and want to sleep.
Speaker A
That is incredibly common. And you can just be honest. You don't have to pretend you climb mountains on the weekends, right? You can say, "Honestly, I don't have much free time, but when I do, I like to relax at home and watch TV." Or, "I really enjoy spending quiet time with my family
Speaker A
That is so much better. Let's practice with you, David. How would you describe your hobbies with a little detail?
Speaker A
I would say I'm passionate about history, so I spend a lot of time reading history books. I also enjoy cooking because it helps me relax after a long day.
Speaker A
Perfect. It tells me a lot about your personality. And for me, I might say, "I'm really into creative projects. I love painting and I'm always trying to learn new things." But Alice, what if someone feels like they don't have any exciting hobbies?
Speaker A
Maybe they're just exhausted after work and want to sleep. That is incredibly common. And you can just be honest. You don't have to pretend you climb mountains on the weekends, right? You can say, "Honestly, I don't have much free time, but when I do, I
Speaker A
like to relax at home and watch TV." Or, "I really enjoy spending quiet time with my family." Netflix is a perfectly acceptable hobby.
Speaker A
Now, learners, it's your turn. Think about your favorite free time activity. Pause for a second and try saying it out loud using I'm really into or I love and add one small detail. Hobbies give people a great window into who we are.
Speaker A
But to really talk about yourself, you also need to know how to describe your personality.
Speaker A
Describing your own personality can feel a little tricky in any language. But English has some fantastic everyday adjectives that make it super easy.
Speaker A
Let's run through a few of the most useful ones. For example, friendly, meaning you are warm and like talking to people. outgoing, meaning you are social and confident, or shy, meaning you are a bit quiet around new people.
Speaker A
Other great words include funny, patient hardworking creative and ambitious. To use them, you can simply say, "I am." Or make it sound more natural and humble by saying, "I think I'm a blank person." Yes. Like, I think I'm a pretty patient person or I think
Speaker A
I'm a bit shy at first, but once I get comfortable, I'm very outgoing. That nuance is so realistic.
Speaker A
You can also describe whether you are introverted, meaning you prefer quiet time alone to recharge, or extroverted, meaning you get your energy from being around big groups. Or like many of us, you might be an ambbervert, which is
Speaker A
right in the middle. Exactly. Now, once people get to know your personality, conversations often turn toward family. Family is one of the most personal and common topics when building a connection.
Speaker A
To talk about your family, you need the right vocabulary. Parents, siblings, husband, wife, partner, and kids or children.
Speaker A
And when you are sharing your family structure, you can say things like, "I have one brother and two sisters." Or if you have no siblings at all, you can use a very useful phrase. I'm an only child.
Speaker A
Let's practice that phrase, learners. Say it with us. I am an only child. It rolls right off the tongue. You can also describe your relationship status.
Speaker A
Whether you are single, in a relationship, married, or engaged. And if you want to talk about how close you are with them, you can describe your family as a close family, meaning you have a strong bond, care deeply for each
Speaker A
other, and stay in touch all the time. Now that we have covered your family, let's talk about another crucial part of everyday conversation, your home and living situation. People love asking where you live and what your neighborhood is like.
Speaker A
Yes. When you're getting to know someone in a new city or country, that question always comes up. Where do you live? Or do you live alone or with family?
Speaker A
Exactly. First, you can talk about the type of home you have. You might say, I live in a house. I live in an apartment.
Speaker A
Or if you're using British English, I live in a flat. You can also mention if it's a small studio apartment.
Speaker A
And then you can mention who you share it with. I live alone. I live with my family. I live with a roommate. Or I live with my partner. After that, it's wonderful to describe your neighborhood, the area around your home. You can use
Speaker A
descriptive adjectives like quiet, peaceful busy safe friendly or convenient. For example, you can say, "I live in a quiet neighborhood near the city center.
Speaker A
It's very convenient because there are shops, restaurants, and a park nearby." Or on the flip side, you might say, "I live in a busy area. It's noisy sometimes, but I love the energy because there's always something happening.
Speaker A
You can also contrast living in a fast-paced city versus a peaceful countryside or a small town. It gives people a clear mental image of your daily life.
Speaker A
Exactly. Now, learners, how would you describe where you live? Try saying it in two or three sentences, mentioning your home type, who you live with, and what your neighborhood is like. Now, once you've settled into talking about your home, another fantastic way to add
Speaker A
depth to your self- introduction is by talking about your daily routines and lifestyle habits.
Speaker A
Oh, I love this because daily habits show what a person's life actually looks like behind the scenes.
Speaker A
Exactly. People often ask, "What does a typical day look like for you?" or "How do you usually start your morning?" And to answer that naturally, you use simple present tense verbs along with sequence words like first, then, after that, and
Speaker A
finally. For example, I usually wake up around 6:30 a.m., make a cup of coffee, and check my emails. Then I head out to work.
Speaker A
See, that sounds so much more personal than just listing facts. You can talk about your commute, your lunch break habits, or how you wind down in the evening. It's a brilliant bridge between your job, your hobbies, and your home
Speaker A
life. Learners, think about your own morning routine right now. How do you kick off your day? Try saying two or three sentences out loud about your morning habits. Now, another topic that naturally flows out of talking about your life and hobbies is travel and past
Speaker A
experiences. When people get to know each other, they love sharing stories about where they have been or what adventures they have had. Yes, you will often hear questions like, "Have you traveled anywhere interesting recently?" or "What is the best place you have ever
Speaker A
visited?" To answer these, you can use the present perfect tense for life experiences like I have traveled to or I have been to.
Speaker A
For example, I have been to Spain twice and it was amazing. Or I have never traveled outside my country, but I would love to go to Canada one day. And you can add descriptive details about the culture, the food, or the people. The
Speaker A
food in Italy was incredible, and the architecture was breathtaking. It's a wonderful way to light up a conversation and show your curiosity about the world. Learners, think of a place you have visited or dream of visiting and try making one sentence
Speaker A
about it out loud. Now, since we are all English learners here, another amazing and deeply connecting topic to bring up when talking about yourself is your language learning journey. People love sharing why they're learning English and what challenges they face.
Speaker A
That is so true. When you meet someone new in an international setting, you'll often get asked, "How long have you been studying English?" or "Why are you learning English?" And you can answer using phrases like I have been studying
Speaker A
English for 3 years or I am learning English because I want to work abroad or travel the world.
Speaker A
It's also great to talk honestly about the hurdles. You can say speaking can be a little stressful sometimes, but I am practicing every day to build my confidence.
Speaker A
It instantly builds a bond because everyone understands what it takes to learn a new language. Learners, think about your own journey. How long have you been studying and why? Try saying it out loud right now.
Speaker A
We have covered so much today. That brings us to our final core topic, your future goals and dreams.
Speaker A
This is where conversations get truly inspiring. When someone shares their dreams with you, you get to understand who they are on a much deeper level.
Speaker A
Exactly. People will often ask you, "What are your goals?" or "Where do you see yourself in the future?" And you can answer using a few very natural phrases.
Speaker A
The simplest way to start is with I want to. For example, I want to travel the world. I want to learn Spanish. Or I want to start my own business.
Speaker A
Another great phrase is I hope to. This shows something you desire, but maybe you aren't completely sure of the exact timeline yet, like I hope to travel to Europe one day, or I hope to become a doctor. And if you are already making
Speaker A
concrete plans, you can say I am planning to. For instance, I am planning to study abroad next year or I am planning to open a restaurant in the future.
Speaker A
My personal favorite is a strong heartfelt statement. My dream is to like my dream is to write a book or my dream is to see the world.
Speaker A
Dreams are supposed to be big. So learners, what is your biggest dream right now? Maybe your dream is to speak fluent English. Well, you're already making that happen just by practicing with us.
Speaker A
Now that we have looked at all the individual pieces, it is time to put everything together. In real life, someone might ask you to introduce yourself fully and you want to be able to do it smoothly.
Speaker A
Let's model a complete self-introduction for you. Listen carefully to how all these pieces fit together naturally.
Speaker A
David, whenever you're ready. Hello everyone. My name is David, but you can call me Dave. I am from London, England.
Speaker A
I am in my 30s. I work as an English teacher at a language school. I have been teaching for about 8 years and I love it. In my free time, I enjoy reading history books and cooking. I especially love trying recipes from
Speaker A
different countries. I think I am a patient and friendly person. I love helping people, which is probably why I became a teacher. I live in a comfortable apartment in the city center. I live alone, but I am close to
Speaker A
my family. My parents live about an hour away and I visit them almost every weekend. As for my goals, I am planning to travel to Southeast Asia next year.
Speaker A
And my big dream, I want to write a book someday, a history book of course. That is me in a nutshell. Nice to meet you all.
Speaker A
Oh, that was wonderful, David. So natural, so clear. Now it's my turn. Let's hear how mine sounds.
Speaker A
Hi, I'm Alice. My full name is Alexandria, but please call me Alice. It's much easier. I am from a small coastal town, but I have been living in the city for about 6 years now. I am in my late 20s. I work as a graphic
Speaker A
designer for a creative agency. I love my job because every day is different and I get to be creative all the time.
Speaker A
When I am not working, I love hiking, painting, and watching documentaries. I'm a bit of an introvert. I like quiet evenings at home, but I also enjoy going out with close friends. My family is very important to me. I have one older
Speaker A
brother and loving parents, and we talk on the phone almost every day. My biggest goal right now is to improve my English, and I'm really proud of the progress I have made. My dream is to travel to Japan one day because I've
Speaker A
always been fascinated by Japanese culture. Okay, that's me and I'm so happy to be here. Alice, that was absolute perfection. Now it's your turn, learners. Practice putting your own self introduction together using everything we've covered today. Start slow, take a
Speaker A
breath, and just communicate. That was fantastic practice, David. Before we wrap up for today, let's talk about a few very common grammar mistakes that English learners often make when introducing themselves.
Speaker A
Oh, this is so important. Even advanced learners make these small errors sometimes. So, knowing them helps you speak naturally right away.
Speaker A
Let's look at mistake number one. Saying I am having instead of I have when talking about your family. Many learners will say I am having two brothers. But that is incorrect. The correct way is I have two brothers. We use the simple
Speaker A
present tense for facts. You only use I am having for actions happening right this second. Like I am having dinner.
Speaker A
Ah exactly simple fact versus current action. What is mistake number two? Mistake number two is saying I am agree.
Speaker A
The correct form is simply I agree. No am needed because agree is already a verb. The same goes for saying I am like when you mean I like or I am work when you mean I work.
Speaker A
Good tip. Just use the simple present for action verbs. What about number three? Mistake number three involves using since and for incorrectly when talking about time. For example, saying I have been living here since 5 years is wrong.
Speaker A
The correct phrase is I have been living here for 5 years. Use for plus a period of time and use since plus a specific point in time like since 2019.
Speaker A
That's a classic mixup. And what about age? That's mistake number four, right? Yes. Saying your age incorrectly. Some learners translate directly from their native language and say, "I have 25 years." But in English, you must say, "I am 25 years old." or simply I am 25.
Speaker A
And what is our final mistake, Alice? Mistake number five is forgetting to use a or an before job titles. For instance, saying I am teacher is missing the article. You must always say I am a teacher or she is a doctor.
Speaker A
Those are small adjustments, but fixing them makes you sound instantly more natural. Exactly. Well, what an incredible journey we have had today. We covered names origins age jobs hobbies personality, family, living situations, travel, language, learning, and goals.
Speaker A
Look at that. That is a solid self-introduction framework right there. Fill in the blanks with your own life details. Say it out loud every morning and watch how fast your fluency grows.
Speaker A
Practice really does make perfect and perfect makes fluent. Thank you so much for staying with us through this massive comprehensive master class today. If you loved this episode, give us a thumbs up, subscribe to the channel, and share it
Speaker A
with a friend. Drop your full self-introduction in the comments below because we read every single one.
Speaker A
Smiles, keep practicing, keep believing in yourself and keep speaking English. Bye for now everyone.
Speaker A
See you in the next episode. Now, introducing yourself is only the first step. To keep a conversation going, you need to know how to answer follow-up questions.
Speaker A
Yes. When you tell someone where you're from, they almost always ask a second question about it. For example, they might say, "What is your hometown like?" Or, "What is the best thing about your city?" Exactly. And you want to be ready with a
Speaker A
good answer. If someone asks me, "What is your hometown like?" I can say it is a very quiet coastal town. The best thing about it is the fresh seafood and the beautiful beaches.
Speaker A
That paints such a great picture. If someone asks me about London, I usually say it's a massive, fast-paced city. The best thing about it is the history, but the worst thing is definitely the traffic.
Speaker A
Traffic is the worst thing about every big city. Let's teach our listeners a great phrase for this. You can say, "The best thing about my city is blank, but the worst thing is blank." Let's practice that. Learners, think
Speaker A
about your city. Say out loud, "The best thing about my city is the food, but the worst thing is the weather." Perfect. Being able to talk about the good and the bad makes you sound very fluent and honest.
Speaker A
Now, what happens when people ask follow-up questions about your job? This happens all the time. Yes, it does.
Speaker A
After you say, I am an engineer or I am a nurse, people will usually ask, "Do you like your job?" or "How long have you been doing that?" And we want to move beyond just saying, "Yes, I like it." We can use a great
Speaker A
phrase like, "I absolutely love it because blank or it is challenging but very rewarding." I love the word rewarding. Rewarding means that even though the work is hard, it makes you feel good inside. For example, being a teacher is challenging,
Speaker A
but it is incredibly rewarding when a student finally understands a difficult grammar rule. That is very true for me. You can also talk about how long you've been working.
Speaker A
You can say, "I just started a few months ago." Or, "I've been doing this for 10 years." Let's give our listeners a chance to practice. Answer this question out loud.
Speaker A
Do you like your job or your studies and why? Take your time. Say, I really like it because and add a reason.
Speaker A
Excellent practice. Now, let's move to hobbies. When you say, "I love reading," people will definitely ask, "What kind of books do you read?" Or if you say, "I'm really into cooking," they will ask, "What is your favorite thing to cook?" You must be
Speaker A
ready to give examples. A great way to give examples is using the phrase especially. For example, I love cooking, especially Italian food.
Speaker A
Or, I enjoy playing sports, especially basketball. The word especially highlights your absolute favorite thing. I enjoy reading, especially historical biographies.
Speaker A
Now, another fantastic way to keep a conversation going is to ask questions back. A conversation is a two-way street. You cannot just talk about yourself the whole time.
Speaker A
Exactly. If you only talk about yourself, people will think you're a little bit selfish. So, how do we bounce the conversation back to the other person?
Speaker A
It's very simple. You can use phrases like, "How about you?" or "What about you?" Or, "And you?" For example, if someone asks, "What do you do for a living?" You say, "I'm a graphic designer." "How about you?" Yes. Or, "I'm originally from Japan, but
Speaker A
I live in London now. What about you? Where are you from?" Let's do a quick role play to show how this sounds in a real back andforth conversation. Let's pretend we're at a dinner party.
Speaker A
Okay, sounds fun. I'll start. Hi there. The food here is amazing, isn't it? I'm Alice, by the way.
Speaker A
Hi, Alice. Yes, the food is great. I'm David. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you, too, David. Are you from around here? No, actually I'm originally from a small town up north, but I moved to the city for work about 5
Speaker A
years ago. How about you? I grew up right here in the city. I've lived here my whole life. So, what do you do for work, David?
Speaker A
I'm an English teacher at the local language institute. It's a very rewarding job. What about you? What do you do?
Speaker A
I work as a graphic designer. I mostly design websites and logos for small businesses.
Speaker A
Oh, that sounds very creative. What do you like to do when you're not designing websites?
Speaker A
I'm really into hiking. I try to go to the mountains every weekend to disconnect from the computer screen. Do you have any hobbies?
Speaker A
I do. I'm passionate about cooking. I actually made the pasta dish we're eating tonight.
Speaker A
Wow. Then I need to get the recipe from you. And freeze. Let's pause the role play.
Speaker A
Learners, did you hear how naturally that flowed? We used all the tools we talked about today. We used our names, our origins, our jobs, our hobbies, and we kept throwing the ball back and forth using how about you.
Speaker A
Role plays are the best way to practice. Let's do one more, but this time let's make it a professional situation. Let's imagine a job interview.
Speaker A
Oh, a job interview introduction is very different from a party introduction. You want to sound more formal, more confident, and focus on your skills.
Speaker A
Exactly. In an interview, when they say, "Tell me about yourself." They do not want to know that your favorite hobby is watching Netflix. [laughter] Definitely not. They want to hear your professional story. So, let's practice what that sounds like. David, you will
Speaker A
be the boss interviewing me. Good morning, Alice. Thank you for coming in today. To start things off, could you please tell me a little bit about yourself?
Speaker A
Good morning, David. Thank you for having me. I am a dedicated graphic designer with over 6 years of experience. I am originally from the coast, but I moved to the city to study design at university. For the past 3
Speaker A
years, I've been working at a marketing agency where I lead a small team of artists. I consider myself a highly creative and hardworking person, and my goal is to continue growing my skills in a management position.
Speaker A
Excellent. That was a perfect professional introduction. Let's break down why it was so good.
Speaker A
First, I used formal adjectives. I didn't say, "I am fun and outgoing." I said, "I am dedicated, creative, and hardworking." Second, you focused your timeline on your career. You mentioned studying at university and your current experience leading a team.
Speaker A
And finally, I ended with a professional goal. I said, "My goal is to continue growing my skills in a management position." This shows ambition.
Speaker A
Learners, if you are studying English to get a better job, you must write down a professional introduction just like that one. Practice it in the mirror until you can say it without shaking or feeling nervous.
Speaker A
Let's give you some helpful sentence starters for your professional introduction. Say these out loud. I have over blank years of experience in blank.
Speaker A
For example, I have over 5 years of experience in sales. or I have over 10 years of experience in education.
Speaker A
Here's another one. I consider myself a blank and blank professional. For example, I consider myself a highly organized and motivated professional.
Speaker A
And the final one, my current professional goal is to blank. My current professional goal is to lead a larger team. Or my current professional goal is to expand my knowledge in international business.
Speaker A
Brilliant. Now you have a casual introduction for making friends and a formal introduction for securing a great job.
Speaker A
You know, Alice, sometimes the hardest part about talking about yourself is not the vocabulary. It's the fear of talking too much or talking too little.
Speaker A
That's a great point. Finding the right balance is key. If someone asks, "Tell me about yourself," you should aim to speak for about 30 to 45 seconds.
Speaker A
If you only speak for 5 seconds, you sound closed off and shy. But if you speak for 5 minutes without stopping, the other person will get bored.
Speaker A
So keep it to the rule of three. Pick three things to share. For example, your name and origin, your job, and one hobby. then ask a question back.
Speaker A
The rule of three that makes it so much less overwhelming. We want you to feel totally relaxed next time you meet an English speaker. The more you listen to these natural conversations, the easier the words will come out of your mouth.
Speaker A
So, how about we talk a bit about sharing interesting or funny personal facts? Sometimes an introduction asks for a fun fact.
Speaker A
Oh, ice breakers. When a teacher or a boss says, "Let's go around the room, say your name, and share one fun fact about yourself," people panic.
Speaker A
It is true panic. A fun fact doesn't have to be crazy. You don't have to say, "I jumped out of an airplane." It can be simple.
Speaker A
You can say, "A fun fact about me is that I have a pet lizard." Or, "A fun fact about me is that I can speak three languages." Or a fun fact about me is that I have never drank a cup of coffee
Speaker A
in my life. People love small quirky details. It makes you memorable. If you say you don't drink coffee, people will remember you as the non- coffee drinker. It starts great conversations.
Speaker A
Let's pause again. Learners, what is one fun fact about you? Think of something small and interesting. Say out loud, "A fun fact about me is blank." Excellent. You are doing so much hard work today. Listening to English for
Speaker A
this long is a massive workout for your brain. If your brain feels a little tired right now, that is a good sign. It means you're building new neural pathways.
Speaker A
Your English muscles are growing. We are incredibly proud of your dedication. You're investing in your future right now. Minute by minute.
Topics:English speakingself introductiondaily conversationESLspoken Englishsmall talkEnglish fluencybeginner Englishhobbies vocabularyintroduce yourself
![[YBA] frosti — Transcript](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KAH0o3xSL3w/maxresdefault.jpg)
