Language of self-introduction

A classroom activityNew campus. New experience. First day. First session.Around 50 students in the class. Girls and boys. Unfamiliar faces. Except for a few, most students are quiet; their faces suggest that they are preoccupied with something. Almost everyone is a stranger to everyone else. The teacher enters the class, greets the students, and tries to break the ice.He sounds very informal, cracks a joke, and makes everyone laugh out loud. He introduces himself in a novel way and says, “Guys, today being the first day, you all seem to be in a pensive mood. I’m sure you all want to get to know your classmates. Let’s break the ice. At random, I’m going to pick some students and ask them to introduce themselves to the class.”“Is there any specific way of introducing oneself?” asks a student.“Guys, you can be creative when you introduce yourselves. Anyway, I’m going to suggest a simple framework that can help. But before I talk about effective self-introductions, let me ask a volunteer to introduce themself.”“Sir, shall I introduce myself?” a student volunteers.“What’s your name?” the teacher asks.“Mythil Kishore,” replies the student.“Let’s welcome Mythil,” the teacher says.“Hi, everyone! I’m Mythil Kishore. You can call me Mythil; that’s what everyone calls me. I’m from Coimbatore, and I’ve joined Mechanical Engineering. Honestly, I wasn’t sure whether I should choose Mechanical Engineering. When I told my friends about my choice, one of them asked, ‘Are you planning to become a mechanic?’”Everyone laughs.“I didn’t know what to say then. But I remembered something that happened when I was in school. One day, our classroom fan stopped working just before an important test. Everyone started complaining because it was extremely hot. While our teacher was looking for someone to fix it, I asked for a screwdriver and tried to find out what had gone wrong. I had no idea what I was doing, but somehow I managed to get the fan working again. My teacher looked at me and said, ‘Maybe engineering is for you!’”Mythil smiles at the recollection.“Maybe she was right. I enjoy finding out how things work, and I like trying to fix things, even though I don’t always succeed. Apart from engineering, I love playing cricket, listening to music, and watching movies. I’m also interested in learning new things and meeting new people. So, I hope I’ll get to know all of you, make some good friends, and, of course, survive the first year of engineering!”Everyone applauds.The teacher claps too and congratulates Mythil for taking the initiative and introducing himself in such a cool manner. Then he looks around the class. Everyone seems more relaxed now. The awkwardness is gone. The students are beginning to feel at home.A sense of achievement!The teacher now analyses Mythil’s self-introduction and shares a few thoughts on how people should introduce themselves in formal and semi-formal settings.“Guys, introducing yourself is one of the most common things you do when you meet people for the first time. And there’s a simple reason for doing it. It helps people feel comfortable with one another, especially when they are going to study or work together as a team.“Of course, you don’t introduce yourself in exactly the same way everywhere. The way you speak to your classmates may be different from the way you speak at a professional gathering. In a professional setting, your introduction is usually more formal. In a social or informal setting, you can be more relaxed and conversational. So, the words and phrases you choose depend on the situation.” PHOTO: Magnific A lesson in introductionSo, how do you introduce yourself effectively?Here are a few simple guidelines you can follow:1. Start with a greeting.Choose a greeting that suits the situation.Good morning/afternoon/evening.Hello.Hi.2. Say your full name and tell people how you are commonly addressed.For example: I am John Joseph. Most of my friends call me John, while some call me Joe.3. Say what you do.Keep it simple and relevant.I am an IT professional. I have around seven years of experience in the IT industry. Currently, I work with Tata Consultancy Services.4. Give some background about your education and experience.You don’t have to tell people your entire life story! Just share the details that are relevant to the situation.After completing my schooling at Alpha Matriculation School, I joined Rajalakshmi Engineering College and graduated in 2018. I was placed in Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTS) and worked there for five years. For the past two years, I have been working with TCS. Now I am a Team Lead, and there are ten people in my team.5. Say something interesting or unique about yourself.This is where you can make your introduction more memorable. Share something that gives people a glimpse of your personality.I love interacting with people. Though I am a voracious reader with a collection of books of different kinds, I enjoy reading people even more.6. End your introduction politely.Finally, thank your audience and leave them with a positive impression.Thank you for listening.It’s nice to meet you all.7. Pay attention to your non-verbal communication.Remember, communication is not just about words. Your voice, facial expressions, posture, and eye contact also matter. Sound pleasant, wear a natural smile, and maintain eye contact with your audience.8. Think clearly before you speak.Clarity of thought leads to clarity of expression. So, think about what you want to say, organise your ideas, and then speak. Choose simple words, articulate them clearly, and, most importantly, connect with your audience.After all, a good self-introduction is not just about telling people who you are. It is also about making people feel comfortable enough to get to know you.Functional LanguageHere is a useful set of English phrases that we can use while introducing ourselves and talking about:Hometown: I’m from…, I come from…, I was born and raised in…Education: I completed my…, I graduated from…, I hold a degree in…I specialise in…Current work/study: I’m currently pursuing…, I’m now working as…, I’m associated withExperience: I started my career as…, I have …… years of experience in…Interests: I’m interested in…, I’m passionate about…, I enjoy…Strengths: One of my strengths is…, I’m good at…,Uniqueness: One thing that makes me different is…, Something interesting about me is…Future goals: My goal is…, I hope to…Introduce yourself so people remember you — not just your name, but your story!(Dr Albert P’Rayan is a Professor of English, ELT resource person and Education columnist. Send your feedback to englishmatters2024@gmail.com)ACTIVITYBased on the formula stated above, introduce yourself in a unique way. Remember, people should remember you—for the right reasons!