Have you ever been nervous when meeting someone new?Introducing yourself to someone new can be a daunting task. Whether you’re introducing yourself in an interview, to a superior, to a friend or to a group of people you don’t know, introductions are always important. It is often said that ‘First impressions are the best impressions.’ A truer statement has never been spoken! First impressions are very important, as they enable your partner, or group of people to gauge your behaviour, personality etc. It can be a great indicator of your dynamics with the rest of the group as well. So, introductions can be of pivotal importance during social interactions.
Sometimes though, we all face problems when trying to accurately convey exactly what we’re trying to say.
Read on to learn exactly what to say, to make your conversational group get the best first impression of you. Happy learning!
So, let’s start by taking a basic situation that all of us can relate to, and work from there.
*You have gone with your wife’s family on vacation to her hometown. She has taken you to meet her friends, you have to introduce yourself to them*
Read on to find the overall flow, specific vocabulary, phrases, and expressions that can be used for an effective and fluent conversation on this topic. Right below is your guide to having an engaging conversation!
A conversation has specific phases that it goes through. Here is a quick look at we will teach you, to guarantee you a smooth conversation.
Content : What is it that you are going to talk about?
Use the ‘wh’ questions along with the keywords to help you put together the content.
- What is your name? – Kevin, John, Susan etc.
- Where are you from? – Chennai, Delhi, Bombay etc.
- How are you related to the person who has introduced you? (if at all) – Husband, wife, friend etc.
- Why are you in that situation? – Party, Family introductions, Wedding etc.
- What makes you interesting? – You’re good at singing, painting, playing the piano etc.
Choosing Contextual Vocabulary
Choosing contextual vocabulary to suit the scenario you’re talking about can be very important when it comes to giving depth and clarity to what you’re trying to say, as well as piquing your partner’s attention. In this case, you’re talking about yourself.
Listed below are a few words and phrases that could come in handy while elaborating on the topic.
- Character
- Personality
- Likes
- Dislikes
- Hobbies
- Skills
- Talents
- Qualifications
- Interests
- Awards
- Beliefs
- Feelings
- Emotions
- Ideas
- Thoughts
Similarly. given below are a few descriptive words and phrases that you could use to make your conversation more interesting!
- Novel thoughts
- Unconventional ideas
- Easily emotional
- Strong beliefs
- Honorary awards
- Varied interests
- Professional qualifications
- Soft character
- Cheerful personality
- Specific likes
- Vehement dislikes
- Firm advocacy of own ideas
- Tolerant/Intolerant attitudes
- Interesting hobbies
- Practiced skills
Initiate the conversation with a greeting and your name
Hello, my name is Adarsh.
Tell them how you came to be in that situation/How you know the mutual friend who made you two meet
I’m Katherine’s husband, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Katherine was telling me about how I absolutely had to come down to Nantucket and meet all of her friends so here I am!
Comment on the situation, or talk about yourself as the situation requires
- This is fantastic party, very well-organised.
- The food in this restaurant is so sumptuous, I’m on my third round!
- I work with Karen (the hostess) at Selcom Research Institute, we study the theory of evolutionary biology with respect to aquatic organisms.
- I love snorkelling, I’m so glad Katherine decided to have a beach party.
- This is a beautiful park, I love how quiet and peaceful it is.
Acknowledge your conversational partner in the context of the situation
- It was so nice of you to invite us over, thank you so much.
- You have a lovely home, I have to admire your colour scheme and interior design, it looks like the work of a professional!
- It was very kind of you to drive my wife and I to the beach today, we had lots of fun.
- Your cooking is delicious! Please tell me the recipe you used for your lasagne, my wife says it’s a secret but I’m sure you wouldn’t mind sharing, right?
- I can’t help but notice what a prime location your house is in. It’s close to a really good school, and your office is just two blocks away! I must say this is very fortunate indeed.
You could end by asking the other person to tell you about themselves.
So, tell me a bit about yourself. How do you know Katherine?
A model answer would be as follows
Hello, my name is Adarsh. I’m Katherine’s husband, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Katherine was telling me about how I absolutely had to come down to Nantucket and meet all of her friends so here I am! I’m so glad you decided to host a beach party, I love snorkelling. The party was fantastic. It was very kind of you to drive my wife and I to the beach today, we had lots of fun. Your cooking is delicious! Please tell me the recipe you used for your lasagne, Katherine says it’s a secret but I’m sure you wouldn’t mind sharing, right? Anyway, tell me a bit about yourself. How did you and Katherine meet?
