Learn how to introduce yourself in English

Introducing yourself is a disproportionately daunting task. Irrespective of the your native language, many people will feel chills down their spine hearing the words... tell me a little about yourself! 

You are the sole person alive who can genuinely claim to be an expert in the topic at hand: yourself. And yet, when put on the spot, every single answer feels like the wrong one; and this anxiety is only intensified when attempting to introduce yourself in a language that is not your own. In this blog, I will break down the entire task of 'introducing yourself' into a few easy steps. Convenient advice for a learner of English, and easily memorised by native English speakers who need a helping hand out of the awkwardness.

You are worthy of a proper introduction. First impressions are important, and it is ok to take a little time to curate and design your own ideal introduction. It is not weird to practise introducing yourself in the mirror. There are many different ways to introduce yourself in English, all of which are equally conventional, normal, and appropriate. It is most important that you feel comfortable and confident in whatever you are saying.

Your name

Your name is your headline, let it have impact. Be sure to say your name clearly and confidently, in your own pronunciation. Depending on the setting, you may feel more inclined to give a nickname, if that helps you to familarise yourself with your audience and alleviate tension.

Additional information

Consider everything you want to say before you begin; this will help you pace your tone, and avoid anxieties, such as, 'How much have I said? Am I rambling?'

This will also help you to consider your phrasing and structure. Repetitive syntax can be easier to produce, but can feel boring.

Many people would begin by saying "Hi, I'm [name], I'm a [job], and I'm [age] ". There is nothing wrong with this statement, and it is a completely acceptable choice for beginner English-speaker. However, incorporating complexity and variation in your introduction can offer improvements. For example,  "Hi, my name is [name], I work as a [job], and I am [age] years old." This construction offers no additional semantic content than the first; they are equally valid and effective. However, indicating the topic at the beginning of each phrase helps in building a sense of direction.

This basic introductory sentence can be easily dismantled, substituted, and changed, but it might be a helpful starting point to avoid the moment of panic when you are first asked to introduce yourself.