Crafting Your English Introduction

A: Hello, language learners! Welcome back to our podcast. Today, we're diving into one of the most common questions you'll hear when meeting new people: 'Tell me about yourself.'

B: It sounds simple, Emily, but it can feel like a big question, especially for beginners. Where do you even start?

A: Exactly, Paul! The trick for beginners is to keep it basic and clear. We'll start with three essential pieces of information: your name, where you're from, and what you do for work or study.

B: Alright, so name first. That's usually easy enough. 'My name is Paul.'

A: Perfect. Then, we move to your origin. You can say 'I'm from...' followed by your country or city, or 'I live in...' if you want to state your current residence.

B: So, 'I'm from London' or 'I live in Manchester.' Got it. And for what I do?

A: Yes, your occupation. If you're studying, simply say 'I'm a student.' If you work, use 'I work as a...' and then your job title. For example, 'I work as a teacher.'

B: So, a full basic introduction could be, 'My name is Paul. I'm from London. I work as a podcast host.'

A: That's an excellent example! And here's a crucial learner tip: when you're just starting out, don't feel pressured to share everything. Stick to these core basics. Simple is always best to build confidence.

A: Now that we've got the basics down, let's add some personality! How can we tell people more about ourselves, beyond just where we're from?

B: Absolutely, Emily. A great next step is talking about your family. You could say, 'I have one brother' or 'I have two sisters.' Simple and clear.

A: Exactly. And if you have a family, you might also have pets! Many people love their pets. Common pets are 'dogs' and 'cats.' So, you could say, 'I have a dog named Max' or 'I have a cat.'

B: That's a nice touch, adds warmth. What about hobbies? Things you enjoy doing in your free time?

A: For hobbies, we often use the structure 'I like' plus a verb ending in '-ing.' For example, 'I like reading,' 'I like cooking,' or 'I like playing sports.' It’s a very common way to express your interests.

B: Ah, like, 'I like hiking' or 'I like listening to music.' And we can also show stronger feelings, right? Instead of just 'like,' you could say 'I love' something. Or if you really don't enjoy it, 'I'm not a fan of...'

A: Yes, 'I love traveling' or 'I'm not a fan of waking up early.' It adds a lot more detail and emotion. Paul, could you give us an example combining some of these new elements?

B: Sure thing! So, after 'I'm from London and I work as a designer,' I could add: 'I have one sister. I also have a cat, her name is Luna. In my free time, I like playing guitar and I love trying new restaurants. But I'm not a fan of reality TV.'

A: So, we've gone from the very basics to adding some real color to your introduction. Remember those key phrases: 'My name is...', 'I'm from...', 'I work as a...' or 'I'm a student.' Then, 'I have a brother/sister' or 'I have a pet,' and finally, 'I like [verb]-ing' and 'I'm not a fan of [verb]-ing.'

B: It's a lot, but putting it all together makes sense. Let me try a full example: My name is Paul. I'm from London, and I live in Barcelona. I work as a graphic designer. I have two cats, Leo and Luna. I love drawing and playing video games, but I'm not a fan of early mornings.

A: That's a fantastic example, Paul! And for our listeners, a final tip: practice! Record yourself on your phone saying your introduction. Listen to it. It really helps you get comfortable and confident. Try it this week.

A: Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share this episode with anyone learning English. And we'd love to hear from you – tell us about yourself in the comments below!