Self-Introduction

What is a self-introduction?

A self-introduction is how you tell someone who you are. You might introduce yourself on the first day of school, when joining a team, when meeting a new neighbour, or when starting a presentation.

A good introduction is short, friendly and clear. It helps people remember you, and it starts a conversation.

The basic parts

Most self-introductions follow a simple pattern:

1. Greeting: Hello! / Hi, everyone. / Good morning.
2. Your name: My name is Jordan. or I’m Jordan.
3. A few facts about you: age, grade, where you’re from, your family
4. Your interests: hobbies, favourite things, what you’re good at
5. A friendly closing: Nice to meet you! / I look forward to getting to know you.

Example:

Hi, everyone! My name is Priya, and I’m nine years old. I just moved here from Calgary with my mom, my dad and my little brother. I love drawing animals and playing soccer. My favourite food is mango. Nice to meet you all!

What to share

Choose a few interesting details. You don’t need to share everything.

Privacy tip: In a classroom or online, don’t share private information like your home address, phone number or passwords.

Know your audience

Your audience is who you are speaking to. Adjust your words to fit them.

Formal introductions

Use formal language with teachers, principals, interviewers or adults you’re meeting for the first time.

Good morning, Ms. Thompson. My name is Leo Martin. I’m in grade six, and I’m interested in joining the science club.

• Use full sentences.
• Use titles like Mr., Ms. and Dr.
• Avoid slang.

Informal introductions

Use informal language with kids your age or at relaxed events.

Hey! I’m Leo. I just joined the team. I play defence. What position do you play?

Speaking with confidence

How you say it matters as much as what you say.

• Make eye contact. Looking at people shows you are interested and confident.
• Smile. It makes you seem friendly and helps you relax.
• Speak clearly and not too fast. Say your name slowly so people can remember it.
• Use good body language. Stand or sit up straight. Keep your hands relaxed, not in your pockets.
• Use a friendly voice with some expression.

If you feel nervous, that’s normal. Take a deep breath before you start.

Introductions in different situations

First day of class

Hi, I’m Mateo. I’m new to this school. I love reading graphic novels and building with LEGO. I’m excited to be in this class.

Presentation or speech

Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Aisha, and today I’m going to talk about sea turtles.

Written introduction (letter or email)

Dear Mr. Chen,
My name is Sofia Russo, and I am a grade five student at Maple Elementary. I am writing to ask about volunteering at the library.

Introducing yourself to a new friend

Hi! I’m Ben. I saw you like dinosaurs too. What’s your favourite one?

Asking a question at the end keeps the conversation going.

Responding when someone introduces themselves

Being a good listener is part of introductions, too.

• Say their name back: Nice to meet you, Priya!
• Share something about yourself.
• Ask a follow-up question: What made you move here?

Common mistakes

• Talking too long. Keep it to five or six sentences.
• Mumbling your name. Say it clearly and maybe twice.
• Only listing facts. Add something interesting or personal so people remember you.
• Forgetting to listen. An introduction is the start of a conversation, not a speech.
• Sharing private information with strangers or online.

Try it yourself

Write a self-introduction using the five parts: greeting, name, facts, interests and closing. Then:

1. Practise saying it out loud to a mirror or family member.
2. Change it to a formal version for meeting a principal.
3. Add one question you could ask a new classmate.

Quick recap

• A self-introduction tells people who you are.
• Include a greeting, your name, a few facts, your interests and a friendly closing.
• Use formal language with adults you don’t know and informal language with friends.
• Make eye contact, smile and speak clearly.
• Listen and ask questions to keep the conversation going.