Keep calm and carry on!
Please tell me about yourself.
Duration: 30-40 minutes.
Objectives and Goals:
I have written a little about myself as an example, to help you prepare your conversation with me. We will talk about you, and what you like or dislike.
Example 1
Jay Andrews
I moved to São Paulo 6 years ago, from the north of Brazil. I’m an English teacher and my name is Jay, and I have a midsized family, so I have a very busy daily routine!
First, I get up every day at five am, get washed and dressed, and leave for work by six at the latest.
Example 2
After I return home, usually around 7pm, I do some exercise, eat dinner (I really love fish and chips) with my family and watch TV , I love to watch series on Netflix. I go to bed at about ten o’clock. That’s my day.
Do:
- Think about the types of topics and questions you may be asked before. Family, free time, daily routines and future plans are common topics.
- Practice answering simple questions about yourself.
- Record yourself and listen to the recording.
- Listen carefully to the questions. If you don’t understand the question, ask me to repeat it.
- Give complete answers in full sentences if you can.
Don’t:
- Memorize your answers. It’s good to have ideas ready, but it’s better not to memorize long replies to typical questions.
- Just reply with ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
- Panic if you are asked an unexpected question. Take a few seconds to think before you answer it.
Here are some examples of things you can say about yourself:
| Phrase | Example Use for Adult English Learners |
|---|---|
| My name’s … | “My name’s John. Nice to meet you.” |
| I’m from … / I live in … | “I’m from London, but now I live in Manchester.” |
| I was born in … | “I was born in 1990 in Birmingham.” |
| I’m … years old. | “I’m 35 years old.” |
| I go to … . | “I go to university in the evenings.” |
| I like … because … | “I like hiking because it helps me relax and stay fit.” |
| I don’t like … because … | “I don’t like horror movies because they scare me too much.” |
| In my free time / After work, I … | “In my free time, I enjoy reading novels.” |
| My best friends are … because … | “My best friends are supportive and always there for me.” |
| My favourite (subject, actor, pop group, sport) is … because … | “My favourite subject is history because I find learning about the past fascinating.” |
| I have … brothers and sisters. | “I have one brother and two sisters.” |
| In the future, I’d like to … because … | “In the future, I’d like to travel the world because I want to experience different cultures.” |
I am going to conduct an interview with you now.
Don’t worry, I may jump around, from question to question, but I will make sure to cover everything on the list. Feel free to take turns speaking, and it might be helpful to jot down some notes and prepare to ask me some questions as well. Let’s start!
Let’s compare some language, I have composed two answers; one in simple English and the other in advanced English.
How would you describe yourself as a child?
Basic English:
When I was a child, I was very active and always had a lot of energy. I loved playing outside and trying new things. I was also a bit shy, but I was always eager to make new friends.
Advanced English:
As a kid, I had a lot of energy and loved going on adventures. I was always exploring and pushing myself to try new things. Even though I was sometimes shy, I still enjoyed meeting new people and learning about different things because I wanted to learn and grow.
What goals do you have for the future.
Basic English:
I want to improve my skills and learn new things in my field. I also hope to travel to new places and experience different cultures.
Advanced English:
My aspirations for the future encompass professional development and personal growth. I intend to cultivate my expertise and broaden my knowledge within my area of work. Additionally, I aspireate to embark on adventures to diverse locales, affording me the opportunity to immerse myself in various cultures and expand my worldview
Tell me about something important in your past.
Basic English:
One important thing in my past was when I graduated from high school. It was a big accomplishment for me because I worked really hard and I was the first person in my family to go to college. I felt proud of myself and my family was really happy for me too.
Advanced English:
A seminal moment in my past was my high school graduation. This achievement represented a culmination of arduous efforts and marked a pivotal moment in my life as the first in my family to pursue higher education. My graduation engendered a profound sense of pride within me and elicited an outpouring of joy and congratulation from my family.
Now I want you to tell your story with some questions about you.
- What’s your full name? How do you spell it?
- Who chose your name? Why?
- Where were you born? Were you the first child? Second? Fifth?
- Do you have any siblings? If so, what are their names and ages?
- How would you describe yourself as a child?
- What will you do at the weekend?
- Tell me about your job. Are you the boss?
- What would you do if you won the lottery?
- Tell me about something important in your past.
- Can you recommend any movies or series to watch?
- What sports do you like watching or playing?
- What goals do you have for the future?
Photo by JOSHUA COLEMAN on Unsplash
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