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How To Introduce Yourself.

The document provides guidance on how to introduce yourself effectively in English. It suggests developing a brief introduction that answers common questions like where you're from and what you do. Sample introductions are given for professional and casual contexts. For interviews, introducers are advised to tell a story that connects their present, past experiences, and future goals using more advanced grammar like the present perfect progressive and past simple tenses.

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173 views4 pages

How To Introduce Yourself.

The document provides guidance on how to introduce yourself effectively in English. It suggests developing a brief introduction that answers common questions like where you're from and what you do. Sample introductions are given for professional and casual contexts. For interviews, introducers are advised to tell a story that connects their present, past experiences, and future goals using more advanced grammar like the present perfect progressive and past simple tenses.

Uploaded by

ssofyann NN
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How to Introduce Yourself

in English (Like a Pro)
If you have difficulty when it comes to introducing yourself to someone
for the first time, you shouldn’t feel embarrassed. A lot of native
speakers also become tongue-tied when talking about themselves!

Even so, if your goal is to speak English more fluently, it’s a good idea
to develop a clear and brief introduction for yourself.

That way, you’ll be ready to answer the most common questions that
people ask each other – particularly in professional situations and
business contexts:

 Where are you from?


 What do you do?
 What are your special skills?
 What are you passionate about?
Below are some examples of phrases you can use to introduce yourself
and give other people a clear understanding of who you are.

Example of a Professional Introduction


Below is an example of a brief introduction in a formal style. This style
is commonly used at a job interview or business event, or in a cover
letter.

As you read it, notice the words and ideas included – as well as what
is omitted. There are no idioms, no phrasal verbs, no opinions.

You may also notice that there are no contractions (I’m, I’ve, my
name’s), which increases the formal tone of the text.
The goal here is to communicate information about yourself clearly and
quickly (in just 100 words), while showing a potential employer or
client that you are a serious professional.

Hello, my name is Matt Lemanski. I am the creator of Speaking of


English, a blog for intermediate English learners who want to become
more fluent in the language. I am originally from the United States and
I currently live in Germany. I have been a teacher since 2008,
and specialize in business writing and IELTS preparation. Before
becoming a teacher, I worked as a copyeditor for government agencies
in Washington DC and as a ghostwriter for startup founders and
independent consultants around the world. In my free time, I enjoy
hiking, practicing photography, and exploring the city by bike.

Other Phrases for Introducing Yourself


 I’m based in London, but I live in New York. This phrase is
used when you want to make it clear that your current living
situation is temporary, or you do a lot of traveling because of your
job.
 I live in New York, but I’m originally from Lisbon. English
speakers like to use this phrase when mentioning their native
country or city. It’s more common than phrases like I was born
in / I grew up in.
 I’m a colleague of Jane’s. When introducing yourself in a group
or at an event (like a party or a conference), it’s helpful to explain
your connection to other people in the group or event. Similar
phrases include: I work together with Jane / I’m Jane’s brother /
Jane and I both study Chemistry at Toronto University.
 I’m the father of two young girls. You can use this phrase if you
want to say something about your family (it’s also a simple way
for parents to explain why they don’t have much “free” time).
Similar phrases include: I’m the daughter of two psychologists /
I’m one of eight children / I’m the son of Queen Elizabeth.

Phrases to Describe Your Job or Studies


These phrases are good for both formal situations like job interviews, as
well as casual situations like parties.

 I work at English Experts in the Marketing Department. When


English speakers want keep their introduction simple (and avoid
giving long or complex titles like Senior Vice President and
General Manager of North American Sales for Behemoth
Enterprises), they often just give the name of the company, and
perhaps their department. This phrase also works for students: I
study Chemistry at Toronto University / I’m a student at Toronto
University, in the Chemistry Department.
 I have worked at English Experts since 2012 / for 8
years. Details about time are nice to include in your self-
introduction, but remember that English requires a different verb
tense (known as the present perfect) when you use the
prepositions for or since.
 I’m responsible for managing the digital marketing
campaigns. When introducing yourself to people in the same
company or department, you can use this phrase to describe the
most important thing you do. Similar phrases include I’m in
charge of and I deal with. Notice the ing. This phrase requires a
noun (or a gerund, which the noun form of a verb), so you can also
use nouns with these phrases: I’m in charge of the website / I deal
with the suppliers.
 I hold a master’s degree in Chemistry from Toronto
University. This phrase is useful when you want to highlight your
educational achievements, but it is typically only found in cover
letters and formal documents. In conversation, English speakers
use a slightly more informal phrase: I have a master’s in
Chemistry / I have an M.A. in Chemistry.
 When not in the office, you can find me on the football
pitch. This is a nice alternative phrase for mentioning other
activities, especially if you have many sentences that start
with I (I work... I'm responsible... I hold...). When not studying
Chemistry, you can find me spending time with my family. Notice
the ing endings.

Talking About Yourself in an Interview


When introducing yourself in an interview, the person you speak with
may want to know more than a few short sentences and simple details
about you. They may ask you to ‘tell me about yourself’.

In other words, they want you to tell a story that ties together your
present situation, past experiences, and future plans – topics that require
slightly more advanced grammar:

 For several months now, I have been working on a


project. Notice the verb form here; it differs from the earlier
phrase, I have worked. When talking about a project that you plan
or hope to finish in the near future, it’s common to use the Present
Perfect Progressive: have been doing. (Learning English is also a
project: I’ve been learning English since January.)
 My passion for learning languages began 10 years ago, when I
visited Japan. To tell a story, English speakers typically use the
Past Simple tense (as in visited). It’s also good to give details
about place and time, using ago to mark specific times in the
past: a few weeks ago, five months ago.
 I would like to become fluent in English so that I can attend
university in Canada. When talking about your personal goals,
you can use the Conditional form: would like. This common
phrase can be used to talk about any project or action you want to
do in the future.

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