Self Introduction in English for Students: Examples to Practise Aloud
Five English self-introduction examples for school and college, with pauses, key words and a fill-in template to help you practise aloud.
What to say in your introduction
Start with your name, your class or course, and one interest. For example: “Hi, I’m Ananya. I’m in Class 10, and I enjoy drawing. It’s nice to meet you all.” For a longer introduction, add a reason you enjoy that subject or activity, or something you would like to do this term.
Choose an example for your class or course
| Example | Length | Include | Emphasise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short beginner introduction | About 20 seconds | Name, class, one interest | Name, class number, hobby |
| School introduction | About 30 seconds | Name, class, subject, activity | Name, favourite subject, activity |
| First day of college or university | About 45 seconds | Name, course, hometown, reason for studying | Name, course, place, interest |
| One-minute introduction | About 60 seconds | Name, course, a specific experience, plans | Name, course, experience, plans |
| Introduction to a project group | About 20 seconds | Name, course, interest in the topic, possible contribution | Name, topic, contribution |
The times are approximate. Time your own version, including pauses, and follow your teacher’s instructions. These are fictional examples; replace the details with your own.
We make Phonema, the English pronunciation app mentioned in this guide.
How to read the practice marks
A / marks a short pause between ideas. Bold words show the details to emphasise. Keep the words inside each phrase together and use your normal speaking volume.
For example:
I’m in my first year / studying computer science.
Pause after year and keep computer science together. The marks are suggestions for rehearsal; adjust them to suit your sentences and remove them from any written version you submit.
The British Council’s guide to rhythm describes this use of marked transcripts and short spoken phrases. Our English rhythm guide has further examples of choosing which words to emphasise in a sentence.
Short beginner introduction
Use this when you need a few simple sentences for a new class.
Hi, my name is Ananya. / I’m in Class 8. / I like science and drawing. / In my free time, I draw animals and read comics. / It’s nice to meet you all.
Practise Class 8 as one phrase. Pause after it before adding your interests. If the longer sentence feels difficult, leave it out: “I like science and drawing” already gives your classmates something to ask about.
You can say “I’m Ananya” instead of “My name is Ananya.” Choose the opening you can say comfortably. Keep the pronunciation you normally use for your own name.
School introduction
Good morning, everyone. / My name is Rohan Shah, and I’m in Class 10. / My favourite subject is history because I like finding out how people lived. / Outside school, I play cricket with my friends. / This term, I’d like to take part in the school quiz. / Thank you.
The reason after history makes the introduction more personal. You could use “I enjoy maths because I like solving problems” or “I like English because I enjoy stories” if that is true for you.
Say the class number clearly and let the sentence end before starting the next one. A long greeting can use up much of a short speaking turn; “Good morning, everyone” is enough unless your school asks for a particular form of address.
First day of college or university
On your first day, your course and an interest can help you find people with something in common.
Hi, everyone. / I’m Meera Nair, and I’m from Kochi. / I’m in my first year of a BSc in Computer Science. / I chose this course because I enjoy working out how websites and apps are built. / Outside class, I like badminton and taking photos. / I’d like to join the coding club and build something with other students. / It’s good to meet you all.
Read BSc as the letters “B, S, C,” then say the subject. If the abbreviation makes you hesitate, you can say “I’m a first-year computer science student.” You do not need to recite the full official title of your degree unless the task requires it.
The British Council’s “Meeting other students” lesson has audio and a transcript of new students talking about where they are from and what they study. Listen for the short questions that follow each introduction, then practise answering one with a classmate.
One-minute introduction
If the teacher asks you to speak for a minute, add a short experience that explains one of your interests.
Good morning. / My name is Arjun Patel, and I’m a first-year commerce student from Ahmedabad. / At school, I enjoyed accounting. / Last year, I helped organise a charity sale with my class. / I kept a record of what we spent and collected, and I enjoyed working out how much we had raised. / I’d like to learn more about finance during this course. / Outside class, I play football and cook with my brother at weekends. / I’m looking forward to meeting you and finding out what you enjoy doing. / Thank you.
Choose something you actually did: helping organise a class event, making a poster, or teaching a younger student. You can also explain what made you curious about your subject.
Time a recording before using this model in class. If it runs over the limit at your comfortable pace, remove a detail. Keep enough time to say your name and course clearly.
Introduction to a project group
When you are meeting a small group to work on an assignment, explain what you could contribute.
Hi, I’m Sana, a second-year economics student. / I’m interested in our topic, public transport, because I take the bus to college. / I can help with the survey questions and putting the results into a chart. / What would you each like to work on?
Choose a contribution you can make. You could offer to find sources, check the calculations, organise the slides, or rehearse the presentation with the group. The closing question gives the other students a turn to speak.
Write your own version
Start with this template. Read it aloud as you fill it in so you notice sentences that are too long.
Hi, everyone. / My name is [name]. / I’m in [class or year of study]. / I enjoy [subject] because [short reason]. / Outside class, I enjoy [activity]. / It’s nice to meet you all.
For the third sentence, you might say “I’m in Class 8” or “I’m in my first year of college.” Use an activity such as “reading comics” or “badminton” in the next-to-last sentence.
For a college introduction, you can add your hometown or a reason for choosing your course. For a project group, replace the leisure activity with something you can contribute. If you are introducing yourself to one person, drop everyone and end with a question such as “What are you studying?”
Use words you understand and can explain if someone asks a follow-up question.
Your age, marks, family details, and career plans belong in the introduction when the assignment calls for them or when you want to share them. You can leave them out of a general greeting to classmates.
For a placement or job interview, use our English job-interview preparation guide. That task needs relevant experience and a reason for applying; the models here are for meeting fellow students.
Practise aloud before you stand up
Take one version through these steps:
- Read and shorten it. Read the full text once. If you run out of breath or lose your place, shorten the sentence or divide it into two complete thoughts.
- Mark the key details. Underline your name, class or course, and one interest. Add a pause after each complete idea.
- Record one attempt. Let the recording run even if you hesitate. Listen for one rushed detail or an awkward pause, then practise that phrase separately.
- Put the text away. Speak from four prompts: name, studies, interest, closing. Your sentences can change while the facts stay the same.
- Ask someone to listen. Ask them to repeat your name, course, and interest. Practise any detail that was unclear, then answer a follow-up question.
If university appears in your version, listen to Cambridge Dictionary’s UK or US recording. Both put the main stress on the syllable beginning with V: uni-VER-sity. Keep that emphasis when you put the word back into your sentence. Use the same approach for an unfamiliar subject name. Our pronunciation exercises give you shorter drills if a particular word needs work.
Phonema lets you practise your own text on iPhone and review feedback on the words you say. Remove the pause marks and paste one sentence at a time. For your name or a local place name, use the pronunciation you know and check that your listener understood it; automatic feedback can be unreliable for proper names. See how Phonema works.
A classmate can help you practise the exchange that follows. Ask them to choose a question about something you mentioned, such as “What do you like to draw?” or “Why did you choose that course?” Answer without looking at your script.
If you forget a line
Pause and return to the next prompt. You can say “I’ll tell you a little about my course” or move straight to “Outside class, I…” There is no need to start again from your greeting.
When someone misses a detail, repeat just that part: “My name is Meera,” or “I’m studying computer science.” Give the name or subject a little more time. Practise this with a friend who asks “Sorry, which course?” so the question feels familiar when it happens in class.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start a self introduction in English as a student?
Start with a greeting and your name: ‘Hi, I’m Ananya’ or ‘Good morning. My name is Ananya Rao.’ Then say which class or course you are in and add one detail that helps your classmates get to know you.
How long should a student self introduction be?
Follow the time your teacher gives you. If there is no instruction, try 20–30 seconds for a quick introduction or 45–60 seconds when you are asked to say more. These are suggested practice lengths, not school or university rules.
What should I include in a self introduction for college?
Include your name, course and year, then one interest, reason for choosing the subject, or activity you would like to join. Mention your hometown if you want to. Add an achievement only when it is relevant to the introduction you were asked to give.
Do I need to mention my family in a student introduction?
Mention your family if the teacher asks or if you want to share a relevant detail. For a general introduction to classmates, your course and interests usually give them more to respond to. You can keep personal details private.
How can I practise my introduction without memorising every word?
Write four prompts: name, class or course, interest, and closing. Practise once with the full text, then speak from those prompts. If you forget a sentence, move to the next prompt. Ask a listener to tell you your name, course, and interest afterwards.
References
- British Council, LearnEnglish. Meeting other students. A1 listening lesson with audio, transcript, and exercises about students meeting for the first time.
- Steve Darn, British Council TeachingEnglish. Rhythm. Teaching guidance on sentence stress, connected speech, marked transcripts, and rehearsal.
- Cambridge Dictionary. University: English pronunciation. UK and US audio and transcriptions for the word-stress example.
Sources checked on 9 October 2026. The scripts and pause marks are original practice examples. The timings are estimates, not requirements set by these sources.