Hoofstuk 1. Listening and Speaking: Introducing Yourself and Your World GRATIS
Why is it important to introduce yourself?
In English First Additional Language, one of the first skills you need is the ability to introduce yourself with confidence. Whether you are starting at a new school, meeting a friend, or speaking to a teacher, you will often be asked: “What is your name?” and “How old are you?” This sounds simple, but correct pronunciation and word order make a big difference in how clearly you are understood.
Basic greetings
English has different greetings for different times of the day and for different levels of formality. In the morning one says “Good morning”, in the afternoon “Good afternoon”, and in the evening “Good evening”. Among friends, people tend to use the informal “Hi” or “Hello, how are you?”, with the reply “I am fine, thank you. And you?” Note that English, unlike Afrikaans, often expects a follow-up question - it is considered polite to ask the question back.
Introducing yourself and your family
When you introduce yourself, you use the verb “to be” in the first person: “My name is Thabo.” or “I am fourteen years old.” To introduce your family, you use possessive pronouns and simple sentences: “This is my mother.”, “This is my brother, Sipho.”, or “I have two sisters and one brother.” It is important to remember that “this” is used to point out someone near you, while “that” is used for something or someone further away.
Describing your daily routine
To describe your daily routine, you use the simple present tense, because it deals with regular, repeated events. For example: “I wake up at six o’clock.”, “I brush my teeth.”, “I eat breakfast.”, and “I go to school by bus.” Note the “-s” that is added to verbs in the third person singular, as in “She wakes up early” or “He walks to school.”
Correct pronunciation
Pronunciation is especially important when you speak. Some English sounds do not exist in Afrikaans, such as the “th” sound in words like “this”, “that” and “think”. Practise placing your tongue lightly against your teeth when making this sound. Stress (where the emphasis in a word falls) is also important: in the word “family” the stress falls on the first syllable (FA-mi-ly), not on the second.
Practical tips for an oral presentation
- Speak slowly and clearly - do not rush.
- Make eye contact with your listener.
- Use simple, correct sentences rather than complicated sentences with mistakes.
- Practise out loud before you speak in front of the class.
By practising regularly to describe yourself, your family and your routine in English, you build the confidence you need for any oral assessment in Grade 8.