English, baby!

Introductions

Date: Aug 17 2001

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Many of the questions we receive on the message boards ask about what to say when you meet someone new. This week we thought it would be a good idea to give some good examples of this common interaction.
When you are introduced to someone it is appropriate to let that person know that you are happy to meet them. After this, it is polite to ask the person you are meeting some questions about their life.
In this lesson, I introduce Chad to Randy, one of the people who works upstairs in our building.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Tanis

Randy

Chad

Tanis: Hey Randy! Um, I wanted you to meet one of the newer people at our office, Chad.

Randy: Hi Chad!

Chad: Hey Randy! How are you doing?

Randy: Nice to meet you!

Chad: Nice to meet you. Yeah, I always kinda quickly rush down the stairs and I glance in here sometimes through the window, but never really stop to talk. What do you guys do here?

Randy: Uh, we put in closets, design them up, and I’m a designer here.

Chad: Oh cool!

Randy: I’ve often wondered what you guys do down there.

Chad: We just sit in front of computers all day… play around.

Randy: (Laughs) I wish I knew more about computers.

Chad: Oh. What are you doing there?

Randy: Right now I’m typing out a letter, but we work mainly with kind of mathematical problems to design.

Chad: Oh, like CAD programs and stuff?

Randy: No, I wish it were CAD, it be much easier, but it isn’t. It’s on a uh, different system that they have set up. It’s all numbers!

Chad: How long have you guys been in this office?

Randy: I think they’ve been here about fifteen years.

Chad: Wow.

Randy: I’ve been here about eight, nine months now.

Chad: Oh. How do you like it so far?

Randy: Uh, I’ve been designing closets for fourteen, so it’s pretty… it’s a long time.

Tanis: Wow! Well we’re always glad that we’re in such a welcome environment and I’m, I’m glad you guys finally met.

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3

Go Super to Ask Ebaby! teachers your questions!

The iTEP^® test

Sponsored by

Schedule an iTEP^® test and take the official English Practice Test.
Take Now >

Discussion

Sometimes it’s easier to meet a new friend when you are introduced to that person by someone you already know. In this case, I already know both Chad and Randy, which helps make their introduction go smoothly. You may notice that after I initially introduce Chad and Randy to each other I don’t say very much until the end of the conversation. This is to give them both a chance to get to know each other.
As I mentioned above, it is common to ask the person you are meeting questions after you have been introduced. This isn’t seen as being pushy, it is more like you are showing interest in knowing more about your new friend’s life. Both Chad and Randy ask each other some questions in the conversation above to show they are friends.
When is the last time you met a new friend from a different culture? Come to the message boards and tell us about it!
I hope that you have a wonderful week!
Your Friend,
Tanis