Lesson Plan- Greeting and Introductions

 

Almost all conversations start with a greeting. There are several expressions that are commonly used as greeting, some formal and some informal. Which to use, of course depends on the situation.

When you meet and greet someone for the first time introductions are needed. There are a number of standard expressions that can be used for introductions. Take a look at some of them.

English Expressions- Greeting/Introductions

Greeting: Hello, I’m ( … Ms. Jaines).
Response: Hello, Ms. Jaines, I’m Susan Appleton.

Greeting: My name is ( … John Grey).
Response: Nice to meet you Mr. Grey, I’m Mrs. Sukjoy.

Greeting: I’m (… George Franks). What’s your name?
Response: My name is Sopida, Sopida Hakam. It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Franks.

Greeting: Allow me to introduce myself. My name is ( … Frank Jeffers).
Response: I’m delighted to meet you Mr.Jeffers. My name is Pornpan Orasa.

Expressions for Introducing Others

On occasion, you may find yourself in a situation where you have to introduce one person to another. Look at these possible expressions that are used for this.

Sam: Peter, I would like to introduce (… Miss Helen Cranston).
Peter: Hello Miss Cranston, nice to meet you.
Helen: Nice to meet you too Mr. Kellogg.

Bob: Min Ju, this is ( … my friend Betty Watson).
Min Ju: Hi Ms. Watson, a pleasure to meet you.
Betty: Same here.

Alice: Harry, let me introduce ( …my supervisor, Mr. Lee).
Harry: Mr. Lee, it’s good to meet you.
Mr. Lee: Good to meet you too. But please, call me Sammy.

Point to remember
Many beginning learners use the expression “Nice to meet you” even when they
interact with a person they have already been introduced to. This expression
(Nice to meet you) is only used at a first meeting, not after that. Instead, if
greeting a person for the second time, use “Nice to see you again”

Expressions for Farewells

Just as there are several standard expressions for greetings, there are also expressions of farewell. The farewell itself is generally very short- one or two words. However, many times people add something to the expressions, depending on what they want to happen in the future or the situation.

Expressions

Goodbye                    Bye
So long                      Catch you later
I have to run               I have to be going now
So long                      Later
Good day

Extensions to farewells
See you again                      I hope to see you again
See you later (soon)            Call me

Point to remember

Bye Bye is an expression that very young children use when they are first beginning
to learn to talk or on very rare occasions by women, but almost never by most adults.

Expressions for Asking about Well Being

After the greeting are finished the conversation should be continued in some way. One of the most common
ways is  to ask about the other persons well being. Again, there are several expressions that can be used for this.

The responses to such inquiries will, of course, depend on how one actually feels. Lets take a look at these.

Expressions                           Responses

IF GOOD
How are you?                           Great.
How’s it going?                        Couldn’t be better.
How are things?                       Fantastic.

IF SO-SO
How are things going?           Could be worse.
How have you been?               I can’t complain.
How do you feel?                     Not bad

IF BAD
How goes it?                            I’ve had better days.
How are you doing?                Not too good.
How’s life treating you?           Lousy.

Dialogue- Greetings/Introductions

Sam: Hello, you look lost. Can I be of assistance?
Mary: Oh, thanks. You’re right, I am lost. I’m looking for the Student Union building?
Sam: You’re close; it’s just across the lawn. It’s the three story brick building over there.
Mary: I see, well thanks a lot. You’ve been a big help.
Sam: Excuse me for saying so, but you’re not from around here, are you? Are you British or what?
Mary: Actually I’m Australian. I’m a new transfer student. You’re an American, I assume?
Sam: Yes, by the way I’m Sam, Sam Jones.
Mary: I’m Mary Donald. Pleased to meet you.
Sam: So how long have you been in the States, Mary?
Mary: I’ve been here about three weeks now. So, what’s your major Sam?
Sam: I’m a pre-med student. What’s yours?
Mary I’m not sure yet, but I’m kind of interested in sociology.
Sam: So, do you live in the dorm?
Mary: Actually no, I have a small apartment about five blocks from here. Well, I have to run. Thanks for
     your help. Maybe we’ll bump into each other again sometime.
Sam: Could be, it’s a pretty small campus. Nice to meet you, Mary. See you later.
Mary: So long.

Conversation Activities- Greetings/Introductions

1. Pair work- Role Play
     Working with a partner, role play the situation, using the information below

The situation: Meeting new people
The roles: See items below

1. One partner is a new student at a university meeting his/her major professor for the first time.

2. One partner has recently moved to a new neighborhood and is meeting their next door neighbor
for the first time.

3. On partner is a new employee at a company meeting a coworker for the first time.

4. Both partners are strangers at a mutual friend’s party meeting for the first time.

5. One partner is a frightened earthling who is meeting a very friendly ET, who is here on earth     forvacation. The ET knows English.

6. Both partners are meeting blind dates.

2. Pair work
     Interview someone in the class you do not know well. After the interview is over, the interviewer      could give a short  introduction of the person to the whole class or to small groups of 4 to 6 people.      
     Questions you may want to ask during the interview include:

* name                                    * age                  * where they are from
* job or major                          * hobbies            * religion
* marital status                        *number of people in their family
* his or her goal in life             * what their family members do
* why they want to learn English
* favorite kinds of music (or food, movies, etc)