Introducing Yourself
A first-lesson plan for absolute beginners: say your name, where you're from and your job, using the verb "to be".
Di Stuart
Level
A1 · Beginner — 60 minutes, 1-to-1 or small group.
Learning objectives
By the end of the lesson, students can:
- Greet someone and introduce themselves.
- Say their name, nationality and job.
- Ask and answer three basic personal questions.
Can-do statement (CEFR A1)
"Can introduce themselves and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where they live, people they know and things they have."
Target language
- Vocabulary: hello, hi, name, country, job, nice to meet you
- Grammar: the verb to be (I am, you are, he/she is); possessive my / your
- Question forms: What's your name? Where are you from? What do you do?
Warm-up (5 min)
Greet the student and model a simple introduction: "Hello, my name is… I'm from… I'm a teacher." Have them repeat the rhythm and stress.
Presentation (15 min)
- Introduce the verb to be with a simple table (I am / you are / he is / she is).
- Drill contractions: I am → I'm, you are → you're.
- Present the three core questions and their answers on the board.
Practice (20 min)
- Controlled: gap-fill — "Hi, ___ name ___ Maria. I ___ from Spain."
- Guided: student interviews the teacher using the three questions, then swaps roles.
- Pronunciation: focus on the /aɪ/ sound in "I'm".
Production (15 min)
Role-play meeting someone at a party. The student introduces themselves, asks the three questions, and reacts with "Nice to meet you."
Homework
Write five sentences introducing yourself and one family member.
Teacher notes
Keep it almost entirely spoken at this level. Recast errors gently rather than correcting explicitly.