Welcome to the Wikiotics conversational English lessons.

Teacher

In this first lesson, we will cover the basics of greeting someone and introducing yourself.

Teacher

During the lesson we will repeat each new English phrase twice and then ask you to say the phrase out loud to help practice pronunciation.

Teacher

Listen to the following exchange between Ed and Pam, two strangers meeting for the first time. When they are done we will break down the conversation and go over each part.

Teacher

"Hello"

Ed

"Hello"

Pam

"My name is Ed, what is yours?"

Ed

"My name is Pam. Nice to meet you Ed."

Pam

"Nice to met you too."

Ed

Lets look at the first part of the exchange more closely.

Teacher

Before introducing yourself it is polite to greet someone. Do you remember the greeting that Ed and Pam use?

Teacher

Let's listen to it.

Teacher

"Hello"

Ed

"Hello"

Ed

This is the most common greeting in English and will work in almost all but the most formal of settings with almost everyone. If you are ever in doubt about what to say when meeting someone, this is a safe option. Try saying it yourself.

Teacher

<pause>

The polite response to "Hello" is also "Hello" as we hear in Ed and Pam's exchange. When someone says "Hello" back at you they are acknowledging you and letting you know that you have their attention. That is the right time to introduce yourself.

Teacher

Let's listen to how Ed introduces himself.

Teacher

"My name is Ed, what is yours?"

Ed

"My name is Ed, what is yours?"

Ed

Now try saying it yourself, replacing Ed's name with your own.

Teacher

<pause>

Here Ed is doing two things, telling Pam his own name and asking for hers. This is a simple structure you can use in many places. Let's look at the two portions one at a time before moving on.

Teacher

First is telling your own name, which Ed tells Pam by saying.

Teacher

"My name is Ed"

Ed

"Name" is the English for name while "is" is one of the most common, and most complex to learn, verbs in English. Taken together, the whole phrase can be used as a complete sentence. Let's hear it again by itself.

Teacher

"My name is Ed"

Ed

Now you try saying it.

Teacher

<pause>

While this phrase can work as a complete sentence, you can make it do twice the work if you add this on the end:

Teacher

"what is yours?"

Ed

"what is yours"

Ed

This turns "My name is Ed" into a question, asking the listener what his or her name is. Altogether the phrase is:

Teacher

"My name is Ed, what is yours?"

Ed

Pam replies

Teacher

'My name is Pam. Nice to meet you Ed."

Pam

The first part of this we just saw with Ed. Instead of:

Teacher

"My name is Ed"

Ed

We get:

Teacher

"My name is Pam"

Pam

Since Pam has already heard Ed's name she does not add "what is yours?". Instead she acknowledges Ed's introduction and says she is happy to meet him with this phrase:

Teacher

"Nice to meet you Ed."

Pam

"Nice to meet you Ed."

Pam

Now you try.

Teacher

<pause>

The simpliest form of this expression drops other person's name:

Teacher

"Nice to meet you."

Pam

Adding in the other person's name is a nice way of personalizing the exchange and showing that you were paying attention during the exchange but if you ever get confused or are introduced to many people at once you can always use this simple version.

Teacher

Finally, let's listen to the last line of the exchange, Ed's reply.

Teacher

"Nice to meet you too."

Ed

"Nice to meet you too."

Ed

Now you try.

Teacher

<pause>

The new word here, "too" is used to indicate agreement, showing that Ed is also happy to meet Pam.

Teacher

Ed could also have said:

Teacher

"Nice to meet you Pam."

Ed

But agreeing with Pam sounds less akward than repeating the same sentiment back to her.

Teacher

If you want to add Pam's name to that to be further polite you can put it after the "too", like this:

Teacher

"Nice to meet you too Pam."

Ed

"Nice to meet you too Pam."

Ed

If that gets confusing, you can always fall back to the simple form:

Teacher

"Nice to meet you."

Ed

"Nice to meet you"

Pam

Let's listen to the whole exchange one more time before we end the lesson. See if you understand each part of the exchange.

Teacher

"Hello."

Ed

"Hello."

Pam

"My name is Ed, what is yours?"

Ed

'My name is Pam. Nice to meet you Ed."

Pam

"Nice to met you too."

Ed

Take a moment and practice by answering the following questions to yourself using your own name.

Teacher

How would you greet someone?

Teacher

<pause>

"Hello."

Ed

How would you tell someone your name?

Teacher

<pause>

"My name is Pam."

Pam

What if you also want to know their name, how would you introduce yourself?

Teacher

<pause>

"My name is Ed, what is yours?

Ed

What do you say when you have just met someone and exchanged names?

Teacher

<pause>

"Nice to meet you"

Pam

If you know those basics, you are ready to start geeting people in English. Congradulations! If you want more practice, take a short break and listen to this lesson again later today.

Teacher

This is the end of the first lesson in the Wikiotics conversational English series. For more lessons and resources, visit us at wikiotics.org.

Teacher