[Music]
00:00
Hello everyone and welcome back to the
00:04
Simple English podcast. I'm Lisa and
00:06
today we've got a super practical and
00:09
very useful episode for you. Let me ask
00:12
you something. Have you ever frozen when
00:15
someone asked, "Can you tell me about
00:18
yourself?" Maybe you were in class or at
00:20
a job interview or meeting someone new
00:23
at a party and your mind just went
00:25
blank. Well, you're not alone. Many
00:28
English learners struggle with
00:32
self-introductions.
00:33
But here's the good news. Talking about
00:34
yourself doesn't have to be scary or
00:37
complicated. If you learn some simple
00:40
phrases, you can sound confident,
00:42
natural, and friendly. So today's topic
00:44
is learn how to talk about yourself in
00:47
English. And I'm not alone. I have a
00:50
special guest with me, Paul. He's going
00:54
to share his tips, give real life
00:56
examples, and maybe even tell us some
00:58
funny stories.
01:00
Hi Paul, welcome back to the show. Hi
01:02
Lisa. Hi everyone listening.
01:05
Thanks for having me again. I'm really
01:09
excited because like you said, this is
01:11
something we all need. Whether it's
01:13
small talk with strangers, introducing
01:15
yourself on the first day of class,
01:18
starting a new job, or even when
01:20
traveling, being able to talk about
01:23
yourself in English is one of the most
01:24
useful skills.
01:26
>> Absolutely. And here's the plan for
01:28
today. We'll walk you through step by
01:31
step how to talk about yourself in
01:33
English. Then at the end, we'll share
01:35
some fun facts and quick tips to help
01:38
you sound more natural. And of course, a
01:40
conclusion to wrap everything up. So,
01:43
grab a notebook or just listen carefully
01:45
and maybe even try to speak along with
01:49
us. Are you ready?
01:51
>> I'm ready. Let's do it.
01:53
>> As always, don't forget to check out the
01:55
free PDF file in the comment section
01:57
below to get the full transcript and
01:59
vocabulary for this episode.
02:01
[Music]
02:03
Let's begin with the very first thing
02:08
people usually ask, your name. This is
02:10
the starting point of almost every
02:13
conversation.
02:15
Paul, how do you usually introduce your
02:17
name?
02:19
>> Honestly, I keep it really simple. I
02:20
just say, "I'm Paul." Or, "My name is
02:23
Paul." That's it. If it's a formal
02:28
situation, like at work, I might add my
02:31
last name. My name is Paul Johnson.
02:34
>> Yes, that's a good point. Learners,
02:37
remember you don't need to say your full
02:40
legal name every time. In casual
02:42
conversations, first name is enough. But
02:45
in formal settings like interviews, you
02:48
can include your full name.
02:50
>> And sometimes people also share
02:52
nicknames. For example, I could say, "My
02:54
name is Paul, but my friends call me
02:57
PJ." That gives people a friendly
02:59
option,
03:02
>> right? I sometimes say, "My name is
03:03
Lisa," short for Elizabeth. That makes
03:05
it easy for people to remember.
03:09
>> Yes. And here's a little tip. After
03:11
saying your name, you can add a friendly
03:14
phrase like, "Nice to meet you." For
03:16
example, I'm Paul. Nice to meet you.
03:19
>> Oh, that's perfect. Because
03:22
introductions are not just about giving
03:24
information, but also about creating a
03:26
good first impression.
03:29
>> Exactly.
03:31
And for our listeners, maybe pause the
03:33
podcast here. Say your name out loud. My
03:35
name is Nice to meet you.
03:37
>> Yes. Practice with us. Don't just
03:40
listen, speak.
03:43
Okay. After the name, the next common
03:45
question is where are you from?
03:47
>> Yes, people love asking this. And again,
03:51
it's simple. I'm from Canada. I come
03:54
from Mexico. I live in Tokyo. Important
03:58
difference here. I'm from means your
04:02
origin, your home country or hometown.
04:05
I live in means your current location.
04:09
So you might say, I'm from Vietnam, but
04:12
I live in Singapore.
04:15
>> Exactly. And you can make it more
04:18
interesting by adding something about
04:20
your country or city. For example, I'm
04:21
from Italy, famous for pizza and pasta.
04:24
or I'm from Brazil. And football is a
04:28
big part of our culture.
04:30
>> That's so good because it gives the
04:32
listener something extra to connect
04:35
with. If I hear, "I'm from Japan, famous
04:37
for sushi," I might reply, "Oh, I love
04:40
sushi." And now we have a conversation.
04:43
>> Yes. Listeners, try it. Say where you're
04:47
from and then add one detail like, "I'm
04:50
from Thailand, known for delicious
04:53
street food."
04:55
See, already more engaging.
04:57
Now, let's move on to age. This one can
05:00
feel tricky because sometimes people
05:03
don't want to share their exact number.
05:05
>> True, but in most casual situations,
05:09
it's fine. The easiest way is I'm 25
05:12
years old or just I'm 25.
05:16
>> Yes. But if you want to keep it more
05:21
general, you can say, "I'm in my 20s,"
05:23
or, "I'm in my 30s."
05:26
>> Exactly. You can even be more specific.
05:29
I'm in my early 20s, 21 to 23. I'm in my
05:32
mid20s, 24 to 26. I'm in my late 20s, 27
05:35
to 29.
05:40
>> That's a really good trick. Sometimes I
05:42
just say, "I'm in my 30s." And people
05:44
don't need to know the exact number.
05:47
>> Yeah. And honestly, people are usually
05:50
just curious. It's not a test,
05:52
>> right? So, don't stress. Just pick the
05:54
version you feel comfortable with.
05:57
All right. Now, here comes a big one.
06:00
What do you do? People ask this all the
06:02
time.
06:05
>> Yes, very common. You can answer with
06:06
your job or studies. I'm a teacher. I
06:09
work as a nurse. I study computer
06:14
science.
06:17
And if you don't have a job right now,
06:18
that's okay, too. You can say, I'm
06:20
looking for work.
06:24
I'm between jobs at the moment. I'm a
06:26
stay-at-home parent.
06:29
Yes. And you can add more details. For
06:32
example, I'm a teacher. I teach English
06:34
at a high school. Or I work in
06:37
marketing. I create social media
06:39
campaigns.
06:42
That makes your answer stronger because
06:44
it gives people a picture of your daily
06:46
life.
06:48
>> Exactly. And if you're studying, you can
06:49
say, "I'm studying engineering because I
06:52
want to build bridges." Or, "I'm
06:54
learning English because I love
06:56
traveling."
06:57
>> Perfect.
06:59
That way, people don't just know what
07:01
you do, but also why. And that makes
07:03
conversations more meaningful.
07:06
Okay, let's talk about family and pets.
07:10
People love this topic.
07:13
>> Yes, you can start simple. I have one
07:16
brother and one sister. I'm an only
07:19
child. I live with my parents.
07:22
>> And about pets,
07:25
I have a dog named Max.
07:28
I have two cats.
07:31
I don't have any pets, but I love
07:33
animals.
07:35
>> Exactly. And you don't need to share
07:38
every detail, just one or two facts. For
07:40
example, my parents live in Spain, and I
07:43
visit them every summer.
07:47
>> That's nice. It's short, personal, and
07:49
creates a connection,
07:52
>> right? And honestly, talking about pets
07:54
always makes people smile. If you say,
07:57
"I have a golden retriever," many people
08:00
will immediately want to ask about it.
08:02
>> Haha. Yes. Because pets are universal.
08:06
Now we come to one of my favorite parts.
08:10
Hobbies, likes, and dislikes. This is
08:13
where you can really show your
08:16
personality.
08:17
Yes. And this part can turn a short
08:19
introduction into a real conversation.
08:21
Some useful phrases are, I like playing
08:23
football. I enjoy reading books. I love
08:26
cooking. I'm interested in photography.
08:30
>> Great. And for dislikes,
08:33
I don't like loud music.
08:37
I'm not a fan of horror movies.
08:40
I hate waking up early.
08:42
>> Me too. I really hate waking up early.
08:46
>> Same here. And you can also use prefer
08:50
like I prefer tea to coffee or I prefer
08:54
staying at home to going out.
08:58
>> Yes, that's great for showing choices.
09:01
And don't forget, you can add little
09:03
stories. For example, I love traveling.
09:04
Last year, I went to Japan and it was
09:08
amazing.
09:10
Yes, stories make your introduction
09:12
memorable. Instead of just saying, I
09:14
like cooking, you could say, I like
09:17
cooking Italian food. Last weekend, I
09:20
made homemade pasta.
09:23
>> Exactly.
09:26
Then the person listening can ask more
09:27
questions like, "Oh, how did you make
09:30
it?" And now you're having a
09:31
conversation.
09:33
>> So listeners, here's your challenge.
09:35
Pick one hobby you like and add a little
09:37
detail or story. For example, I like
09:40
painting.
09:43
Yesterday I painted a picture of the
09:45
sunset. Try it out loud.
09:48
[Music]
09:52
All right, before we finish, let's give
09:55
our listeners some quick tips to make
09:57
introductions even better.
09:59
Okay. Tip number one, keep it simple.
10:02
Don't try to use big, complicated words.
10:05
Short sentences are perfect.
10:08
Yes. Tip number two, smile and use body
10:12
language. Even if your English isn't
10:17
perfect, a smile makes you friendly and
10:19
confident.
10:22
>> Tip number three, practice different
10:24
versions. Don't always say it the same
10:26
way. sometimes say, "I'm Paul." Other
10:29
times, "My name's Paul. Nice to meet
10:32
you."
10:34
>> Tip number four, ask a question back. If
10:35
someone asks you, "Where are you from?"
10:38
answer then ask, "And you?" That keeps
10:41
the conversation going.
10:45
>> Yes. Because introductions are not just
10:48
about talking, they're about connecting.
10:51
>> Exactly.
10:55
And here's a fun fact. Did you know
10:57
introductions can be very different in
10:59
different countries?
11:01
For example, in Japan, people often
11:03
mention their company or school. In the
11:05
US, people usually just say their name
11:08
and job. In some Middle Eastern
11:11
countries, people might introduce
11:14
themselves with their family background.
11:16
>> That's so interesting, and it's a good
11:19
reminder that there's no one right way,
11:21
but in English, keeping it simple is
11:25
always safe.
11:27
Yes. And here's one more tip. Record
11:28
yourself. Use your phone, practice
11:32
saying your introduction, then listen
11:34
back. You'll notice mistakes and you'll
11:36
improve faster.
11:39
>> That's a great idea. And maybe practice
11:41
with a friend. Do a role play. One
11:44
person asks questions, the other
11:47
introduces themselves.
11:49
[Music]
11:52
>> Okay, let's wrap up.
11:55
Today we learned how to introduce
11:57
yourself in English. Start with your
11:59
name. Say where you're from. Mention
12:02
your age if you want. Talk about your
12:05
job or studies. Share a little about
12:08
your family or pets. And show your
12:10
personality with hobbies, likes, and
12:14
dislikes.
12:16
>> And don't forget our tips. Keep it
12:17
simple. Smile. Practice different
12:20
versions. Ask questions back. and maybe
12:22
even record yourself.
12:26
>> Yes, remember practice makes progress.
12:28
So, after this podcast, try to say your
12:34
own introduction out loud. Even better.
12:37
Write it down and then say it without
12:40
looking.
12:43
>> The more you practice, the more natural
12:45
it will feel. Soon, you'll introduce
12:47
yourself without even thinking.
12:49
>> That's the goal. Paul, thank you so much
12:52
for joining me today.
12:56
>> Thank you, Lisa. Always a pleasure.
12:58
>> And thank you listeners for tuning in to
13:01
the Simple English podcast. If you
13:04
enjoyed this episode, please like,
13:07
subscribe, and share it with a friend
13:09
who's learning English. Until next time,
13:11
keep practicing, keep smiling, and keep
13:14
learning. Bye, everyone.
13:18
>> Bye.
13:20
[Music]
13:22
Okay everyone, it's time to learn some
13:25
important vocabulary related to the
13:27
topic. The first word of today is
13:29
introduce. It means to tell someone your
13:32
name and some basic information about
13:35
yourself. Example, when you meet new
13:37
people, it's polite to introduce
13:40
yourself first.
13:41
The next word is background. It means
13:43
the details of your personal history
13:46
such as family, education, or culture.
13:49
Example,
13:51
she shared her educational background
13:53
during the job interview.
13:55
The next word is hobby. It means an
13:57
activity that you enjoy doing in your
14:00
free time. Example, reading is my
14:02
favorite hobby because it helps me
14:05
relax. The next word is strength. It
14:07
means a personal quality, skill or
14:11
ability that makes you good at
14:13
something. Example, one of my strengths
14:15
is that I am a very organized person.
14:18
The last word is ambition.
14:21
It means a strong desire to achieve
14:24
something often related to career or
14:26
personal goals. Example, her ambition is
14:29
to become a successful businesswoman.
14:33
[Music]
14:36
歌词与翻译
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我们正在更新此部分，敬请期待！
重点词汇
开始练习
| 词汇 | 含义 |
|---|---|
|
welcome /ˈwɛlkəm/ A1 |
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practical /ˈpræktɪkəl/ B2 |
|
|
useful /ˈjuːsfəl/ A2 |
|
|
blank /blæŋk/ B2 |
|
|
confident /ˈkɒnfɪdənt/ B2 |
|
|
natural /ˈnætʃərəl/ B1 |
|
|
friendly /ˈfrɛndli/ A2 |
|
|
topic /ˈtɒpɪk/ A2 |
|
|
guest /ɡɛst/ A2 |
|
|
tips /tɪps/ A2 |
|
|
examples /ɪɡˈzæmpəlz/ A2 |
|
|
excited /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/ A2 |
|
|
introduce /ˌɪntrəˈdjuːs/ A2 |
|
|
name /neɪm/ A1 |
|
|
job /dʒɒb/ A1 |
|
|
age /eɪdʒ/ A1 |
|
|
hobbies /ˈhɒbiz/ A2 |
|
|
personality /ˌpɜːsəˈnæləti/ B1 |
|
重点语法结构
即将推出！
我们正在更新此部分，敬请期待！
相关歌曲