Lesson L0.1: Introducing Yourself
Every conversation you’ll ever have in English starts somewhere — and most of the time, it starts with introducing yourself. Whether you’re meeting a new colleague, sitting next to someone on a train, or joining an online call, the way you introduce yourself sets the tone for everything that follows. This lesson gives you simple, natural phrases you can use today, in almost any situation, and enough practice to make them feel automatic.
What you’ll learn
- How to say your name, where you’re from, and what you do, clearly and naturally
- Simple questions to ask when meeting someone new
- How to introduce yourself differently in casual and formal situations
- How to introduce yourself in a group, not just one-on-one
- How to listen for someone else’s introduction and respond well
- Common mistakes learners make when introducing themselves — and how to avoid them
Two real-life scenarios
Scenario 1 — First day at work: You’ve just joined a new office. During the coffee break, a colleague walks up and says, “Hi, I don’t think we’ve met yet.” This is the moment. What do you say next?
Scenario 2 — A group setting: You’re in a training session and the trainer asks everyone to introduce themselves one by one, in front of the whole group. Your heart beats a little faster — but the pattern you already know still works here.
These exact moments happen everywhere — new jobs, new classes, family gatherings, flights, WhatsApp groups, conferences, weddings. The good news: you only need a handful of sentences to handle all of them well, and this lesson gives you all of them.
The building blocks
A simple self-introduction usually has three parts: your name, where you’re from or what you do, and something small to keep the conversation going. In a group setting, you can add one interesting detail about yourself — it helps others remember you. You don’t need long sentences — short, clear ones sound more confident than long, complicated ones.
Key vocabulary
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Introduce | to tell someone your name for the first time | Let me introduce myself. |
| Nice to meet you | a polite greeting when meeting someone new | Nice to meet you, Sarah. |
| I’m originally from… | used to say where you were born or grew up | I’m originally from Pune. |
| I work as a… | used to say your job title | I work as a graphic designer. |
| Likewise | a short way of saying “me too” after a compliment | “Great to meet you.” “Likewise!” |
| A bit about myself | a phrase to start a short self-introduction | Sure, a bit about myself — I’m Reema. |
| I go by… | used to share a nickname or preferred short name | My full name is Rajendra, but I go by Raj. |
| Currently based in… | a professional way to say where you live now | I’m currently based in Bengaluru. |
Sentence patterns you can reuse
Dialogue 1: Meeting a new colleague
Dialogue 2: Introducing yourself in a group
Listening practice
Audio script (read this aloud to yourself, or have a friend read it to you):
“Hi everyone, a bit about myself — I’m Ananya, I’m originally from Jaipur, but I’m currently based in Hyderabad. I work as a project coordinator, and outside of work, I love painting.”
Comprehension questions:
- What is the speaker’s name?
- Where is she originally from, and where does she live now?
- What does she do outside of work?
Practice it yourself
Speaking practice: Say this out loud, filling in your own details: “Hi, I’m ___. I’m from ___, and I work as a/an ___.” Repeat it three times until it feels natural, not memorized.
Writing practice: Write a two-line introduction of yourself as you would type it in a new WhatsApp group or a work Slack channel.
Practical activity: This week, introduce yourself to at least two new people using the group-introduction pattern (name, place, job, one personal detail). Keep it under 15 seconds — that’s usually enough.
Common mistakes to avoid
| Instead of this | Say this |
|---|---|
| “I am belongs to Delhi.” | “I’m from Delhi.” |
| “My name is calling Rohan.” | “My name is Rohan.” / “I’m Rohan.” |
| “I work like a teacher.” | “I work as a teacher.” |
| “What is your good name?” | “What’s your name?” |
| “Myself Anita.” | “I’m Anita.” / “My name is Anita.” |
| “I am having 3 years experience.” | “I have 3 years of experience.” |
Today’s challenge
Introduce yourself to one real person today — a neighbor, a coworker, or even a shopkeeper — using the pattern from this lesson. Notice how it feels to say it out loud instead of just reading it.
Self-assessment
Check off what you can now do confidently:
- I can say my name and where I’m from without pausing to think.
- I can say what I do for work in one clear sentence.
- I can ask “And you?” naturally after introducing myself.
- I can introduce myself in a group setting, not just one-on-one.
- I understood the listening script without reading it twice.
Quick quiz
1. Which sentence is correct?
2. What’s a polite response to “Nice to meet you”?
3. How do you correctly say where you’re from?
4. Which is the best way to start a group introduction?
5. “I go by…” is used to share your:
Lesson summary
You now have a simple, reliable way to introduce yourself in almost any situation — one-on-one or in a group: your name, where you’re from, what you do, and a question or detail to keep the conversation going. Practice it until it feels automatic — this one small script will carry you through hundreds of real conversations.