How to introduce yourself in English

A simple four-part structure

A good self-introduction is short and answers the questions people would ask anyway. In most situations, four parts are enough:

1. Greeting and name. Use your first name in informal situations and your full name in formal ones.
   Hi, I'm Alex. Nice to meet you.
2. Where you are from or where you live. One sentence is enough; add a detail only if it is interesting.
   I'm from Leeds, but I live in London now.
3. What you do. Your job or your studies — the part people remember.
   I work in marketing. / I'm studying economics.
4. One personal detail or your reason for being there. This gives the other person something to ask about.
   In my free time I play football — and I'm here because I want to improve my English.

In a conversation, end by turning the question back — How about you? — so it becomes an exchange rather than a speech.

Sample introductions for six situations

The structure stays the same; what changes is the length, the level of formality and which part you develop.

Meeting new people

Hi, I'm Alex. Nice to meet you! I'm from Leeds, but I've been living in London for a few years now. I work in marketing, and in my free time I like hiking and trying new cafés. How about you — what brings you here?

Short and relaxed. The question at the end hands the conversation back to the other person.

In class or at university

Hello everyone, I'm Alex. I'm a second-year student in computer engineering. I'm from Leeds, so London is still quite new to me. I'm interested in game design, and I joined this course because I want to build my first app this year. I'm looking forward to working with you all.

The reason for joining the course is the detail the teacher and classmates will remember.

Job interview: "Tell me about yourself"

Sure. I'm Alex, and I've been working as a customer support specialist for about three years. In my current role I handle around forty requests a day, mostly from international clients, so I use English every day. Last year I helped set up a new help-centre system, which cut our response time by about a third. I'm now looking for a role where I can move into team coordination, and that's what attracted me to this position.

Focus on work, not your life story: current role, one concrete achievement, and why this job is the next step. About one minute.

IELTS Speaking Part 1

What's your full name?
My full name is Alexandra Moreno, but most people just call me Alex.

Where are you from?
I'm from Leeds, in the UK. I've lived in London since I started university, though.

Do you work or are you a student?
I'm a student. I'm in the final year of a business degree, and I also work part-time in a bookshop at weekends.

The examiner asks short questions; answer each one in one or two sentences, adding a small detail instead of a bare yes or no.

First day at a new job

Hi, I'm Alex — I've just joined the finance team. Before this I worked at a smaller company in Leeds, so I'm still learning who does what here. If you need anything from finance, feel free to ask. And I'd love to know where people usually go for lunch!

Say which team you have joined, what you can help with and something friendly — colleagues care about those three things.

Online meeting

Hi everyone, I'm Alex, joining from London. I'm a product designer, and I'll be working with you on the new booking page. I usually work from nine to five our time, so mornings are the best time to reach me.

Name, location, role and what you will work on together. Practical details (time zone, availability) are welcome here.

For more on interviews, see English interview questions and answers; for the IELTS Part 1 topics, see the Part 1 question list.

Useful phrases

Family details are optional. In a job interview, leave them out unless you are asked.

The same introduction at A1, B1 and C1

Here is one person introducing themselves at three levels. The facts do not change; the language around them does.

A1

Hello. My name is Alex. I am from the UK. I live in London. I am a student. I like music and football.

Short, separate sentences with be and the present simple. Correct and clear — a perfectly good start.

B1

Hi, I'm Alex. I'm from Leeds, but I live in London now because of my studies. I'm studying economics, and I really enjoy it, although it's quite hard. In my free time I play football with friends and listen to a lot of podcasts.

Sentences are joined with but, because, although; there is a reason and an opinion (I really enjoy it).

C1

Hi, I'm Alex. I grew up in Leeds, moved to London for university and somehow never left. I'm in the last year of an economics degree — I'm particularly interested in how cities deal with housing — and outside of that I'm the kind of person who'll happily spend a Sunday playing football and the evening catching up on podcasts.

Natural phrases (somehow never left, the kind of person who…), an aside in the middle of a sentence and a light, personal tone.

The most common mistakes

• I am 25 years. ✗ → I'm 25. / I'm 25 years old.
  Age in English uses be and either the number alone or years old — never just years.
• I am engineer. ✗ → I'm an engineer.
  Jobs need a or an in English: a teacher, an engineer, a nurse.
• I am working in a bank since 2020. ✗ → I've been working at a bank since 2020.
  A situation that started in the past and continues needs the present perfect with since or for.
• My hobbies are reading books, listening music and travelling. ✗ → In my free time I read, listen to music and travel.
  Listen needs to. Also, a list of hobbies sounds more natural as verbs than as a list of nouns.
• I'm graduated from university. ✗ → I graduated from university.
  Graduate is a normal verb: I graduated, not I am graduated.
• I am a person who is very hardworking and honest. ✗ → I'm hardworking — last year I … (a real example).
  Adjectives about your character sound empty without proof. Give one short real example instead.

Mistakes that come from your first language

Many self-introduction mistakes are direct translations. A few appear in many languages:

• I have 25 years. In French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and other languages you "have" your age. English uses be: I'm 25.
• No article before a job. Languages without articles — or that drop them here — lead to I am doctor. English needs a doctor.
• Too modest. In some cultures it is polite to start with My English is not good. In English it makes the listener worry before you have said anything. Just start.
• Too long. A self-introduction is not a CV. If you speak for more than a minute without a pause, the listener stops following.

Each language version of this guide lists the typical mistakes for speakers of that language.

How to prepare and practise

1. Write a 60-word version using the template below. Keep the sentences short.
2. Say it aloud five times, then put the paper away. You want to remember the points, not the exact words — memorised text sounds like reading.
3. Make three lengths: 20 seconds (meeting someone), 1 minute (interview, class), 2 minutes (when someone asks for more).
4. Prepare for follow-up questions. Whatever you mention, someone may ask about: Why did you move? What do you like about your job?
5. Record yourself and listen once. Check speed, pauses and whether you sound like you are reciting.

Hi, I'm ______. I'm from ______, and I live in ______ now.
I work as ______ / I'm studying ______.
In my free time I ______.
Right now I'm ______ (a goal or something new in your life).
Nice to meet you!

Practising with a speaking partner

An introduction only sounds natural after you have said it to someone who reacts and asks questions. In TalkSmart, the AI speaking partner does exactly that: introduce yourself to Mia, Victor or Leo, answer their follow-up questions, and see your corrected sentences in the report afterwards.

Preparing for a job interview? Interview mode starts with Tell me about yourself and continues with the questions that usually follow, then gives you a readiness level and action items. Every free account includes one speaking session.

Introduce yourself to an AI partner → Practise an interview

Frequently asked questions