Speak Easy English: Crafting a Memorable Self-Introduction in 3 Minutes

Jack

Hey everyone, welcome back to Speak Easy English! I’m your host, Jack. Today we’re diving into something incredibly practical and essential for anyone looking to make a lasting impression. We’re talking about how to craft a self-introduction that people will remember. And to kick things off, I’ve got a little social disaster story to share. But first, let’s hear from my co-host, Lucy.

Lucy

Hi everyone! I’m Lucy. Today’s topic is super important — making a memorable self-introduction, whether it’s at work, a party, or just meeting new people. But first, Jack, tell us about your recent social disaster to warm up! I hear it was quite the experience.

Jack

Oh man, don’t remind me. Last week, I went to a friend’s garden party. The vibe was amazing, everyone was chatting and having fun, right? Then I saw a girl from behind who looked really familiar, so I went over and patted her shoulder like, ‘Hey! So glad you’re here!’ ...Turns out, I had the wrong person. She turned around, and I just stammered, ‘Uh… I’m Jack…’ Looking back, that intro had zero presence — she probably forgot me two seconds later.

Lucy

Haha, that’s rough! But honestly, most people when introducing themselves either give a boring, flat ‘Hi, I’m X,’ or totally freeze up and ramble nonsense. I had the opposite problem recently — my self-intro in a coffee shop actually got me a guy’s social account who I thought was cute! Jack, you gotta hear this.

Jack

No way! You gotta tell us how that happened.

Lucy

So, I was in a coffee shop working on a project, when a guy comes over holding the same iced Americano I had and asks if he can share the table. I look up… and his laptop has a sticker of VACATIONS, an indie band I love! So I didn’t start with my name. I just smiled and asked, ‘You like VACATIONS too? I went to their concert last week, it was amazing!’ Instantly, he lights up and says his favorite song is Midwest — he’s totally into the melody and lyrics.

Jack

That’s too perfect! Starting with common interests beats ‘Hi, I’m X’ every time. So, how did you smoothly introduce yourself after that?

Lucy

Exactly! Then I smoothly introduce myself: ‘I’m Lucy, a social media strategist. I love going to indie band shows and I collect quirky coffee mugs. How about you?’ Turns out he’s an architect, also into indie music and coffee. We ended up chatting in English for a while. When leaving, I casually said, ‘If there’s any news about VACATIONS’ next tour or a rare live version of Midwest, I can share it with you — want to follow each other?’ He said yes immediately! The key? My intro had focus and matched the topic, so he remembered my core tags.

Jack

Wow, that’s genius! Any tips for crafting intros like that?

Lucy

Totally! I broke it down into three simple steps: Hook + Highlight Tags + Make a Connection. Super easy to remember. Step 1: Hook — Start with something that relates to the other person, a shared interest. For me, it was the VACATIONS band — just asking a question about it made the conversation natural. Step 2: Highlight Tags — Don’t just say your name. Clearly state your profession and key hobbies. Example: Social media strategist, loves indie bands, collects quirky coffee mugs. Three tags max — more than that can be confusing. Step 3: Make a Connection — Offer some value or ask a question to keep the conversation going. For example: ‘I can share any new tour news with you.’ This gives people a reason to continue talking.

Jack

Makes sense! Do you adjust this for different situations, like in a professional setting?

Lucy

Absolutely. For work, the Hook could be work-related: ‘I heard your overseas marketing project did really well.’ Tags could be professional skills: ‘Skilled in copywriting and managing international social accounts.’ The Connection could be a resource: ‘I have a template for cross-border marketing — I can send it to you.’ It’s professional and still builds rapport.

Jack

All this is great, but practice makes perfect. Let’s try a 1-minute challenge, anyone can join, right now! Lucy, let’s break it down for our listeners.

Lucy

Yes! Two levels: Beginner and Advanced. Ready? For the Beginner level, grab something nearby — your phone case, your coffee mug — as your hook. Example: ‘You have the same bear phone case? I’m Lucy, love cats and making bubble tea. Do you usually switch phone cases often?’ All of that in 10 seconds. For those who want a bigger challenge, try Advanced! Add a little twist or ‘unexpected fact.’ Examples: ‘I’m Jack, a programmer, but I learn flower arranging on weekends.’ ‘I’m a physics student, but I love writing handwritten cards for friends.’ This makes you more memorable and interesting.

Jack

And if you come up with something even better than ours, share it in the comments! See what hooks and twist tags others are using — it’s great for inspiration. Also, if you haven’t subscribed to Speak Easy English, hit that button now! You won’t miss these super practical tips.

Lucy

Even if you don’t try the challenge today, just daring to speak up is already a win. A couple more tries and it’ll flow naturally. Plus, you’ll start enjoying meeting new people. You won’t think, ‘Uh, what should I say?’ Instead: ‘OK, I got this, I know how to start.’

Jack

That’s it for today! Once you try it, you’ll feel the difference — your intros will flow, conversations feel easier, and the awkward moments shrink. Thanks for hanging out with us! If you liked this episode, subscribe, and share it with anyone whose intros are ‘loading failed.’

Lucy

That’s a wrap for today~ Hope you can use these tips next time you meet someone new. See you next time! Bye!