Introducing Self in English

#Part 1

Hello, there! Have you ever introduced yourself in English? I bet you must have done it once in your life. Did it run smoothly? How did you feel? To remind you to those feeling, I have provided the following linked introduction video. Watch it and remember the time you did it before. LOL

Well, the video given above is an example of introducing self without facing someone or people in front of you. Mostly, we will have someone to talk to in introducing ourselves. But...as Indonesian natives, introducing yourself to a crowd of people, or even just one person, can make you nervous; moreover, doing it in a foreign language, such as English, is even more so. However, learning how to introduce yourself to others is a must as you will meet new people in your life, for instance your new teachers or classmates. So, how should we introduce ourselves to others?

Look at these examples below!

When introducing self, you should consider the person you talk with because there are two common situations, they are formal and informal situations. You may see the difference between dialog in Text 1 and Text 2. If you need an example in form of video, you may also watch the following short video about introducing self and others.

So, are you brave enough to introduce yourself in English now? Before you do it, you can read some tips or consideration I give to you below.

The following are some steps in doing a proper introduction

1. Start with a greeting

The basic start of self-introduction when you introduce yourself is a greeting.  You can have a formal greeting or an informal greeting depends on where you are or the situation are in. If you are talking with a new friend, you can use the informal one, however, you should use the formal greeting if you talk with your teachers or others elderly. Look at the table below:

Formal Greeting	Informal Greeting
Hello	Hello
Good morning	Hey
Good afternoon	Hi
Good evening	Hiya
Good day	What’s up?
	What’s good?

You may choose one of those examples above based on your current situation. So make sure you pick one that you are really comfortable saying.

2. Giving information

 

Your name
The most important thing is of course your name. When you want to tell your name you can say I’m…, I am…, for example:
I’m Surya, or I am Surya.
 
However, if you are talking to someone in telephone where she/he cannot see you, you can say “my name is …” or “my name’s …”. Examples:
My name is Surya, or My name’s Surya.
You can also use “this is …”, for example:
This is Surya.
 

 

Your address/location
You can describe your address or location by simply saying “I’m from …” then followed by the place name, for example:
I’m from Jimbaran.
 
You can also say “I’m …” and followed by your nationality adjective. Example:
I’m Indonesian.
I’m Japanese.
 
If you are from somewhere that is quite far from the place you are introducing yourself, you can say “I come from …” then followed by the place name. The phrase “come from” implies a little bit more of a journey. For example:
I come from North Sumatra.
 
Lastly, if you want to say where you grew up, you can say “I was born and raised in …” followed by the name of the place. Example:
I was born and raised in Sydney
But, if you were born in one place and grew up in a different place, you can say “I was born in Sydney but raised in Bali” or if you want to say that you are form one place but now you are living in another place, there will be various option. For example:
I grew up in Sydney but now I live in Bali
I originally from London but I’m now based in Kuta, Bali.
 
Optional Detail Information (experience, family, hobby, age, or fun fact)
Example:
Talking about Family:
I have a mom and a dad.
I have a brother.
I’m from a family of four.
I’m one of five siblings.
 
Talking about your hobby:
I really like novels.
I’m a big fan of bowling.
I am a keen football player.
 
Talking about your age:
I’m 28 years old.
I’m 17.
I’m on my mid-teens. 

I’m on my late twenties.

Now you can make an introduction of yourself properly by considering the tips I have given above. Make sure you choose the most suitable one based on your comfort and situation. I hope that you can introduce your self well in English as you will need it in future. 

#HomeworkPractice

In the comment section, write an introduction and fun fact about yourself using English by considering the tips given on this article. Enjoy practicing your English guys!