EnglishClass101

Learn English with FREE Podcasts

Audio Transcript

Basic Bootcamp Season 2 , Lesson 1 - How to Introduce Yourself

INTRODUCTION

Gina Hello and welcome to EnglishClass101.com. This is

British English Basic Boot Camp Lesson 1 – How to
Introduce Yourself. I’m your host Gina.
Gabriella And I’m Gabriella.
Gina In this lesson, you’ll learn the basics about
introducing yourself in the UK.
Gabriella The formal conversation takes place in an office,
and the casual one takes place at a party
Gina Each conversation is between two people
Gabriella The speakers are business people in the first
conversation, and in the second they are a friend and
a family member.

1 Gina Let’s listen to the formal English conversation first.

POST CONVERSATION BANTER

Gina We heard two different types of introduction there.

Gabriella We did – both formal and informal.
Gina Let’s talk a little about a formal situation first.
Gabriella As this is an audio lesson, we wouldn’t have seen
this, but Gabriella and Donna probably shook hands
as they were introducing themselves.
Gina Shaking hands is very important when you first meet
someone, isn’t it?
Gabriella It is. The handshake should be firm but not harsh and
not last for too long. Just a few shakes of the hand is
 EnglishClass101
Learn English with FREE Podcasts

enough.
Gina Do people shake hands in informal situations?
Gabriella They can do. It isn’t as common though.
Gina What might people do instead in informal situations?
I don’t remember much hugging and kissing
happening…
Gabriella No, that’s quite rare! Maybe a nod of the head or a
raised hand, almost like a little “hello” wave.
Gina This sounds a little complicated to judge. How do
you know if things are formal or informal, or whether
you should shake hands or not?
Gabriella If you’re unsure, then let the other person set the
tone. Let them introduce themselves first if you can
and follow their lead.
Gina But if you can’t let the other person go first?
Gabriella Then I would suggest being formal. If you’re too
formal then it may be seen as funny, but if you’re too
informal you run the risk of offending someone.
Gina How about using people’s names? Surnames or first
names?
Gabriella Sometimes people will introduce themselves and
then tell you what you can call them. The situation
2 dictates what name to use too. At a party you’ll
definitely use someone’s first name or nickname, but
at work it could be either the surname or first name.
Gina Yeah, some workplaces are informal enough that
even the most important bosses are happy to be called
by their first names. Others would want to be
addressed by their surname, as Mr. or Mrs.
Gabriella If in doubt, ask!
Gina I think that’s good advice for many things!
Gabriella Me too!
Gina Okay, let’s move onto the vocabulary.

KEY VOCAB AND PHRASES

LC: BB_S2L1_021514 © www. EnglishClass101 - All Rights Reserved 2014-02-15

 EnglishClass101
Learn English with FREE Podcasts

Gina Let's have a closer look at the usuage for some of the
words and phrases from this lesson. Our first item of
vocabulary for this lesson is “to call”.
Gabriella This can mean many things, but in the context of the
dialogue it refers to how you say someone’s name.
“Please call me David” means “please use the name
David”.
Gina If you’re not sure, you could ask someone “what
should I call you?”
Gabriella That’s right. It’s not just used for people though –
you can also use it for places, buildings, sports
teams… anything.
Gina Ah, for example, Manchester United are called the
Red Devils, right?
Gabriella In this case it’s referring to a nickname that the team
are known as. So yeah, it can be used for anything.
Gina Next is “brother”.
Gabriella In simple terms, a brother is a male family member
that has the same parents as you. The female
equivalent is sister.
Gina “Brother” can also cover people who share only one
parent or someone adopted into the family too.
Gabriella If you have a male friend that you’re really close to
3 you can call him your brother too. It’s used in many
circumstances.
Gina Finally we have the verb “to know”.
Gabriella If you have some knowledge, then you know it. I
know how to speak English.
Gina That’s handy for these lessons!
Gabriella It is, isn’t it? You can also say that you know people.
Gina Ah, like I know you, because we work on these
lessons together.
Gabriella Yes, you have knowledge of who I am. Another
handy thing for recording together!
Gina (laughs) Yes, it is! Okay, let’s on to the grammar.

LC: BB_S2L1_021514 © www. EnglishClass101 - All Rights Reserved 2014-02-15

 EnglishClass101
Learn English with FREE Podcasts

GRAMMAR POINT

Gina In this lesson, youll learn about the verb “to be”.
This is a very important verb in English, isn’t it?
Gabriella It is. It’s at the core of many sentences and is
especially handy when you’re introducing yourself.
Gina Okay, let’s run through the different forms it takes,
because although it’s a very common and important
verb, it’s also one of the most irregular.
Gabriella Of course it is!
Gina So when referring to yourself in the present tense, we
use…
Gabriella “Am”. As in, “I am David”.
Gina “I am speaking English”.
Gabriella When speaking of somebody else, it’s “are”. “You
are Donna.”
Gina “You are speaking English”. How about a third
person?
Gabriella “Is”. “He is David.” “She is Donna.”
Gina “He is speaking English.” “She is speaking
English”. And if it’s more than one person?
4 Gabriella It’s “are”. “They are David and Donna”.
Gina “They are speaking English”.
Gabriella That’s right!
Gina Let’s hear some more examples from the dialogue.
Gabriella “I am friends with your brother and he speaks very
highly of you.”
Gina That’s “am” as the speaker is talking about himself.
Like when Donna says “I’m glad to hear that.”
Gabriella Ah, did you notice something about the example you
just gave?
Gina Ah yes, it was ‘I apostrophe m’ “I’m” instead of “I
am”.
Gabriella It’s more common for the verb “to be” verb to be
contracted in speech so “I am” becomes “I’m”.

LC: BB_S2L1_021514 © www. EnglishClass101 - All Rights Reserved 2014-02-15

 EnglishClass101
Learn English with FREE Podcasts

Gina “You are” becomes ‘you apostrophe re’ “you’re”.

Gabriella “He is” and “she is” become ‘he apostrophe s’
“he’s” and ‘she apostrophe s’ “she’s” respectively.
Gina And “they are” is ‘they apostrophe re’ “they’re”.
Gabriella You have to be careful with “you’re” and they’re”,
as there are some words very similar to them that
have different meanings, and even native speakers
confused them sometimes!
Gina Thanks for the extra information!

OUTRO

Gina Well, that’s all for this lesson. Don’t forget to check
the lesson notes and practise introducing yourself in
English.
Gabriella See you next time. Bye!
Gina Bye!

LC: BB_S2L1_021514 © www. EnglishClass101 - All Rights Reserved 2014-02-15

Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)