How to introduce yourself in English: formula and 5 examples
To introduce yourself in English, say your greeting, your name, what you do and where you are from, one interesting detail, what you hope for, and thank you, in about 30 seconds. Here is the formula, five sample self-introductions for school, college, work, networking and online classes, and the mistakes that make learners sound unnatural.
By The YoFluent teamUpdated 9 min read
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The 6-step formula for a self-introduction
Almost every good introduction has the same shape. Choose each step, keep each to one or two sentences, and you will never be stuck.
| Step | What to say | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Greeting | A short hello for the group. | “Good morning, everyone.” / “Hi, everyone.” |
| 2. Name | Your name, once, clearly. | “My name is Daniel.” / “I’m Daniel.” |
| 3. Who you are | What you do or study, and where you are from. | “I’m studying computer science. I’m from Lagos.” |
| 4. One interesting detail | A hobby, a project or a fun fact. Be specific. | “I made an app that tracks my football team’s matches.” |
| 5. Why you are here, or what you want | A goal, or what you hope to get from this class, team or event. | “I’m looking forward to working on projects together.” |
| 6. Close | Thank them. You are done. | “Thank you.” / “Thanks, everyone.” |
Change the length by adding or removing step 4. At a busy event, use steps 2, 3 and a question. In a class, use all six. For school and college, see 10 ready self introduction samples for students.
5 self-introduction examples
Each example follows the formula for a different situation. Read it aloud, then change the details to make it yours. Notice what each one does well.
1.In a school class (young students)
About 30 seconds · 62 words
Good morning, everyone. My name is Sara, and I am ten years old. I am in Class 5 at Green Park School. I live with my mother, my father and my little brother. In my free time I love drawing and playing badminton. When I grow up, I want to be a doctor, because I like helping people. Thank you for listening.
Why it works: One short sentence per idea: name, age, class, family, hobbies, dream. Nothing is memorised in a rush: each sentence stands alone, so it is easy to remember.
2.First day at college or university
About 30 seconds · 62 words
Hi everyone, I’m Daniel. I’m from Lagos, and I’m studying computer science in my first year. I chose it because I love building small apps, and last summer I made one that tracks my football team’s matches. Outside class I play the guitar and I’m trying to learn Spanish. I’m looking forward to meeting you all and working on projects together. Thanks.
Why it works: A specific project (an app for football matches) is more interesting than “I like technology”. The last sentence looks forward to the classmates.
3.Joining a new team at work
About 40 seconds · 70 words
Hello, everyone. I’m Mei, and I’m joining the marketing team as a content writer. Before this, I worked for three years at a travel start-up, where I wrote the weekly newsletter for about forty thousand readers. I’m originally from Singapore, but I’ve been living in London for two years. Outside work, I love cycling and trying new cafés, so please send me your recommendations. I’m really happy to be here.
Why it works: Role first, then one result with a number, then a personal detail that invites small talk (“send me your recommendations”).
4.At a networking event
About 15 seconds · 50 words
Hi, I’m Carlos. I’m a product designer at a health-tech company in Mexico City. I mostly work on mobile apps that help people take their medicine on time. I came to this event to learn how other teams test their designs with real users. And you? What do you do?
Why it works: Short, and it ends with a question, so the other person can join in. Nobody wants a speech at a networking event.
5.In an online class or video call
About 20 seconds · 44 words
Hi, everyone. My name’s Fatima, and I’m joining from Casablanca. I’m an English teacher, and I’m taking this course to improve my speaking confidence. One fun fact about me: I can say “good morning” in nine languages. I’m excited to practise with you all.
Why it works: Where you are joining from, why you are here, and one fun fact. The fun fact is what people remember afterwards.
Useful phrases, by step
| Step | Phrases |
|---|---|
| Greeting | “Good morning / afternoon / evening, everyone.” · “Hello, everyone.” · “Hi, everyone.” (informal) |
| Name | “My name is…” · “I’m…” · “Please call me…” · “It’s pronounced… , but you can say…” |
| Who you are | “I’m a student of / I’m studying…” · “I work as a… at…” · “I’m from… / I’m originally from…, but I live in…” |
| Interests | “In my free time, I enjoy…” · “I’m really into…” · “One thing I love is…” · “A fun fact about me is…” |
| Goal | “I’m here to…” · “I’m hoping to…” · “I’m looking forward to…” · “My goal is to…” |
| Close | “Thank you.” · “Thanks for listening.” · “It’s nice to meet you all.” · “I’d love to hear about you too.” |
Common mistakes (and what to say instead)
| Often said | Better | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Myself Priya. | I’m Priya. / My name is Priya. | “Myself” can’t be the subject of a sentence in standard English. |
| Today I will introduce about myself. | Let me introduce myself. / I’d like to introduce myself. | “Introduce” does not take “about”. You introduce yourself. |
| My good name is Ravi. | My name is Ravi. | “Good name” is not used in English introductions. |
| I am having two sisters. | I have two sisters. | “Have” as possession is not used in the -ing form. |
| I am belonging to Kerala. | I’m from Kerala. | Simpler and natural everywhere. |
| I am studying in B.Tech. | I’m studying engineering. / I’m doing a B.Tech. | You study a subject; “in” is for the place (“in Class 9”, “at Delhi University”). |
| I am 20 years old boy. | I’m 20 years old. / I’m 20. | Don’t add “boy” or “girl” to your age. Adults often skip their age. |
| Thank you for giving me this opportunity to introduce myself, it is my great pleasure… | Thank you. It’s nice to meet you all. | Long, formal openings sound memorised. Shorter is stronger. |
Another common problem is a memorised speech spoken too fast. Slow down, and pause after each idea: the pauses make you sound calm and clear. Our guide to how to speak English fluently has more on rhythm.
How to say your name so people remember it
- Say it slowly, once, then repeat it later. “I’m Nguyen. Nguyen Minh.” Names are hard to catch the first time, even for native speakers.
- Give a hint if it’s hard. “It’s pronounced ‘Zyed’, like ‘side’ with a Z.” Or offer a shorter name: “Please call me Alex.”
- Check theirs. “Sorry, could you say your name again?” is polite. Then use it: “Nice to meet you, Maria.”
- Practise the sounds that are hard in your name. The th sound and word stress guides help with names and words you use often.
Practise until it sounds natural
- Write your own with the formula, 60–90 words. Replace any sentence you can’t say easily.
- Read it aloud three times and time yourself. Cut anything over 40 seconds.
- Learn the six steps, not the words. You should be able to say it a little differently each time.
- Say it to a listener, then answer a follow-up question: “What kind of apps do you build?”. Real conversations always continue.
An AI tutor can be that listener: it asks you to introduce yourself, follows up, and tells you which words to improve. See how an AI tutor call works, or practise the next step with small talk.
Frequently asked questions
How do I introduce myself in English?
Say a short greeting, your name, what you do or study and where you are from, one interesting detail, what you hope for, and thank you. For example: “Hi, everyone. I’m Daniel. I’m studying computer science, and I’m from Lagos. I love building small apps. I’m looking forward to working with you all. Thanks.”
How long should a self-introduction be?
About 30 seconds, or 60 to 90 words, for a class or team. At a networking event, 15 seconds is enough. Stop early rather than late.
Is it “introduce myself” or “introduce about myself”?
It is “introduce myself”. The verb “introduce” does not take “about”. You can say “Let me introduce myself” or “I’d like to introduce myself”.
How do I introduce myself in a job interview?
Use a longer, structured answer in three parts: present (your role or degree), past (one or two relevant experiences) and future (why this job). Our “Tell me about yourself” guide has five sample answers.
What should I say after my name?
Say what you do or study and where you are from, then add one specific detail such as a hobby or project. Specific details are easier to remember than general words like “hard-working” or “friendly”.
How do I introduce myself online or on a video call?
Keep it short: your name, where you are joining from, why you are there, and one fun fact. For example: “Hi, I’m Fatima, joining from Casablanca. I’m taking this course to improve my speaking confidence.”
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