Introduction
Introducing oneself is a fundamental skill that students will use throughout their lives, whether at school, in professional situations, or in social encounters. As educators, it is essential to teach students how to introduce themselves to adults confidently and politely. This blog post will outline an easy-to-implement no-prep activity, provide discussion questions to stimulate further learning, and suggest related skills for students to develop. Additionally, we will share a link for free samples of related materials to help reinforce these skills.
No-Prep Activity: Role-Playing Introductions
This activity requires no preparation or materials, making it an ideal choice for busy educators. To begin, pair students up and assign one student the role of an adult (e.g., teacher, supervisor, or neighbor) and the other the role of themselves. Have the students practice introducing themselves to each other, following these steps:
- Say your name
- Find out the other person’s name
- Repeat the other person’s name to help remember it
- Say “Nice to meet you”
- Shake hands, using the right hand and maintaining a firm grip for a couple of seconds
After completing the role-play, have the students switch roles and repeat the exercise. Encourage students to provide feedback to their partner on areas where they did well and areas for improvement.
Discussion Questions
- Why is it important to introduce ourselves to adults confidently and politely?
- What are some situations in which you might need to introduce yourself to an adult?
- Why is shaking hands an essential part of introducing oneself? What are some tips for a successful handshake?
- How can repeating someone’s name help you remember it? Can you think of any other memory tricks?
- What are some other polite phrases or gestures you can use when meeting someone for the first time?
Related Skills
In addition to teaching students how to introduce themselves to adults, it is crucial to help them develop other related social-emotional skills, such as:
- Active listening: Developing the ability to focus on and understand what others are saying.
- Body language: Learning to read and interpret non-verbal cues from others and using appropriate body language when interacting with others.
- Assertiveness: Teaching students how to express their feelings, opinions, and needs in a respectful and confident manner.
- Empathy: Helping students understand and share the feelings of others, fostering positive relationships.
Next Steps
To help reinforce the skill of introducing oneself and other essential social-emotional skills, we encourage you to sign up for free samples of skill-related materials at Everyday Speech. These resources will provide you with additional tools and activities to support your students’ social-emotional learning journey.
