Meeting people

It's Makayla's first day at a new school and she's lost. 

Instructions

Do the preparation exercise first. Then watch the video and follow the instructions to practise your speaking.

Transcript

Gemma: Hello.
Makayla: Hi.
Gemma: Are you OK? You look lost.
Makayla: Er, yeah. I’m new at this school. I don’t know anyone. 
Gemma: What’s your name?
Makayla: Makayla.
Gemma: That’s a cool name. How do you spell it, with a ‘k’ or a ‘c’?
Makayla: With a ‘k’. What’s your name?  
Gemma: I’m Gemma … with a ‘g’! What year are you in?
Makayla: I’m in Year 11.
Gemma: So am I. So, you’re 16?
Makayla: No, I’m 15. My birthday’s in May.
Gemma:  Ah, OK. What class are you in?
Makayla: I don’t know yet. What class are you in?
Gemma: I’m in 11B.
Makayla: Oh no! I’m late!
Gemma: Don’t worry. Come with me, Makayla with a ‘k’, and we can ask my teacher about your class.
Makayla: Really? Oh, thanks a lot.

...

Gemma: Hello.
Makayla: Hi.
Gemma: Are you OK? You look lost.
Makayla: Er, yeah. I’m new at this s_____.  I d___ know anyone.
Gemma: What’s your name?
Makayla: Makayla.
Gemma: That’s a cool name. How do you spell it, with a ‘k’ or a ‘c’?
Makayla: With a ‘k’. What’s y___ n___?
Gemma: I’m Gemma … with a ‘g’! What year are you in?
Makayla: I’__ i__ Year 11.
Gemma: So am I. So, you’re 16?
Makayla: No, I’__ 15. My b________ i__ May.
Gemma:  Ah, OK. What class are you in?
Makayla: I d___ k___ yet. What class are you in?
Gemma: I’m in 11B.
Makayla: Oh no! I__ late!
Gemma: Don’t worry. Come with me, Makayla with a ‘k’, and we can ask my teacher about your class.
Makayla: Really? Oh, t_____ a l__.
Gemma: No problem. Come on, let’s go.

Discussion

What do you usually say in English when you meet someone new for the first time? 

Language level
Average: 4.3 (13 votes)
Personal online tutoring
EnglishScore Tutors is the British Council’s one-to-one tutoring platform for 13- to 17-year-olds.

Comments

Submitted by CLAUDIA NADALE… on Thu, 02/23/2023 - 17:30

hello my name is claudia and its nice to meet you guys

Submitted by haidar15 on Tue, 12/13/2022 - 08:10

Usually I said "Hallo, what is your name, and how old a you?"

Submitted by MeaMea on Wed, 10/26/2022 - 10:34

wow. Gemma is really kindness...
Profile picture for user JULIETHMANCERA

Submitted by JULIETHMANCERA on Sat, 08/27/2022 - 02:34

HELLO How are you ? what is your name?

Submitted by Y6LZ on Thu, 08/18/2022 - 02:32

Hello.My name is Lily.What’s your name?

Submitted by ahgima099 on Tue, 08/16/2022 - 09:15

I say What's your name? What's grade are you in? How old are you? What is your favorite subject? Are you ok?

Submitted by zoeytruong on Sat, 12/04/2021 - 13:20

As you know I am Vietnamese, I don't have any foreign friends and i don't work for international company. So i don't have opportunity to talk in English. I hope to get many foreign friends when my English better. :)

Submitted by turkishdelight_ on Sat, 06/24/2023 - 19:21

hi the name's Yaren and i'm a english student,
I am trying to improve my English.

In reply to by zoeytruong

Submitted by Hparsa on Thu, 11/25/2021 - 08:44

Why did Gemma laugh when she heard Makayla'name?

Submitted by may2 on Tue, 10/12/2021 - 11:55

When I meet someone I will tell him my name?

Submitted by hein on Tue, 10/12/2021 - 11:52

When I first met I told him\her -Name -Age -Are you ok? -And school

Submitted by Fenic on Sat, 10/02/2021 - 10:17

Hello How are you?

Submitted by Hoang123 on Sat, 09/25/2021 - 03:43

nice to meet you, im Hoang, I'm nineteen years old, what's your name?
Profile picture for user Tina - Coordinator

Submitted by Tina - Coordinator on Mon, 09/27/2021 - 07:38

Hi Hoang123,

Thanks for your comments on LearnEnglish Teens. This website is specially for teenagers aged 13-17 years old but you have written in your comment that you are older than that. You are welcome to keep on using LearnEnglish Teens but if you are over 17, please do NOT post any more comments as we must keep this strictly for teenagers to interact with each other.

Best wishes,
Tina (LearnEnglish Teens team)

In reply to by Hoang123

Submitted by lemaya5899 on Wed, 09/01/2021 - 19:48

When I meet someone for the first time I say, Hello How are you? where are you FORM

Submitted by pm05ipn on Fri, 08/20/2021 - 18:18

Hello, my name is Paola, i really like to watch movies, listen to music, and sleep, my favorite drink is jamaican water. I am a bit shy at firts, but later as i live with others i integrate.
Profile picture for user Elsa

Submitted by Elsa on Thu, 06/24/2021 - 13:01

When I meet someone for the first time I say, " Hello ", "How are you?" , "What's your name?" , "My name is Thun" , "How old are you" , "I'm 13 years old." , "Where are you from?" , " What's you hobby".
Profile picture for user Elsa

Submitted by Elsa on Fri, 09/03/2021 - 15:26

Of course, why not. My name is Thun . My friends call me Thun. I am 13 years old and I'm Burmese. I live in Yangon city, Myanmar. I'm friendly funny and ambitious girl. I love reading and books are my friends. I enjoy travelling too. I'm an only child. I am in Grade(7) but, at the moment I suspend from school because of Military coup. I favorite sport is swimming and I am crazy about swimming. My favorite subject is Mathematic. That's all about me. How about you?

In reply to by hoaiphatjun1

Profile picture for user Kanek131

Submitted by Kanek131 on Mon, 06/07/2021 - 19:39

When I talk someone new for the first time I ask his/her name, where he/she is from and what does he/she do in his/her free time.
Profile picture for user Cfvdv

Submitted by Cfvdv on Tue, 04/13/2021 - 18:34

Hi, ''How are you?'', ''How old are you?'', ''What's your name?'', ''Nice to meet you.''

Submitted by Arivelde on Fri, 04/09/2021 - 23:24

Hello, how are you? What's your name? How old are you? Where are you from? What kind of music you like? What kind of stuff do you like?

Submitted by Pau_Med on Tue, 02/16/2021 - 02:34

i'm say: hi, How are you? Can you explain me it? Please, How old are you? Can you help me? I'm lost
Profile picture for user fanny

Submitted by fanny on Fri, 02/12/2021 - 17:41

Hello. What´s your name? How old are you? Me too. What school are you in ?
Profile picture for user Kostantinus

Submitted by Kostantinus on Sat, 01/09/2021 - 07:03

Where are going? Did you have your meal? Where are you from? What are you doing here? Where do you live? How old are you?
Profile picture for user piyal_sana

Submitted by piyal_sana on Thu, 12/31/2020 - 09:37

Hello, I am knew here. What about you?
Profile picture for user rafaelyeshua

Submitted by rafaelyeshua on Fri, 12/18/2020 - 16:13

hi, my name is Rafael, What's your name?

Submitted by joro1313 on Wed, 10/28/2020 - 18:14

Hi my name is Georgi.

Submitted by samianaznin on Thu, 09/17/2020 - 07:58

Hi! I'm samia.What's your name.

Submitted by stilinski on Wed, 09/02/2020 - 14:39

hello everyone

Submitted by Gui on Tue, 08/25/2020 - 15:08

When I meet someone new for the first time, I say 'Hello! my name is Guido, and yours?' generally I'm very shy, specially with the new ones.
Profile picture for user Xuka

Submitted by Xuka on Fri, 08/07/2020 - 18:36

I usually say "Hi! or Hello! My name's Xuka. What's your name? " when I meet someone new for the first time. Then I ask them "What grade are you in school?". If the talk can be more time, I can ask " Where are you from? Do you like reading? ... Could I have your contact, please?"
Profile picture for user zagrybast

Submitted by zagrybast on Tue, 08/04/2020 - 12:46

Hi! What’s your name?

Submitted by Karl on Mon, 06/29/2020 - 23:10

Hello!
Profile picture for user IANPAUL

Submitted by IANPAUL on Sat, 06/27/2020 - 18:52

Hi how are you? What's your name

Submitted by Thapa01 on Sun, 06/21/2020 - 04:50

When i meet new people usually i say hello ; How are you ? ; where are you from ? etc.

Submitted by frjnkamilo on Sat, 06/06/2020 - 17:21

When I meet somebody for once I ask the name, the age, the hobbies...

Submitted by Bin6688 on Thu, 06/04/2020 - 12:41

I usually say: "Hi, What's your name?" "Nice to meet you."

Submitted by JUAN28 on Fri, 05/22/2020 - 20:39

The most difficult is to correctly order the sentences.

Submitted by beasam0109 on Sun, 05/17/2020 - 16:19

when I meet someone for the first time I usually ask for his name, his age, where he comes from and maybe what his hobbies are

Submitted by JasmineD03 on Sat, 05/16/2020 - 12:56

When I meet someone new first I ask him/her his name, how old he/she is and wheren he/she comes from. Then we talk about our interestd and hobbies.
Profile picture for user Marllavilhosa

Submitted by Marllavilhosa on Fri, 05/15/2020 - 13:11

I ask his name, where is he from, where does he live, and I always say "nice to meet you"

Submitted by BttChiara on Thu, 05/14/2020 - 17:27

When I meet someone new for the first time, I usually ask him/her what is her/his name, where is he/she from, how old is he/she and what are his/her hobbies.

Submitted by Micheleanto on Thu, 05/14/2020 - 16:57

When I meet a new person I say: “hello”, “how are you”, and I say my natinality and then I ask him: “where are you from”, “how old are you”, “do you play football”, “what are you hobbies”.

Submitted by FedericoB8 on Thu, 05/14/2020 - 16:18

When I meet new people I ask questions such as: "what's your name?", "what sport do you do?", "how old are you", "what is your favorite food?"

Submitted by MatildePace on Thu, 05/14/2020 - 14:23

Usually to a person I meet for the first time in English I ask him what his name is, how old he is, where he lives and what he is.
English courses near you