1. Conversation 1 - Self-introduction

Model Dialogue

Sumisu: Sumisu desu. Hajimemashite. Dôzo yoroshiku.
Hayashi: Hayashi desu. Kochira koso, yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
スミス：スミスです。はじめまして。どうぞ よろしく。
はやし：はやしです。こちらこそ、よろしく おねがいします。

English Translation

Smith: I’m Smith. How do you do? Nice to meet you.
Hayashi: I’m Hayashi. Likewise, very pleased to meet you.

Vocabulary

* Hajimemashite. : How do you do?　
* dôzo : please
* yoroshiku : nicely
* Kochira koso. : Same here.　
* Onegaishimasu. : Please [asking a favor].

2. Grammar and Structure

Identifying things/people

<A> wa <B> desu.
: As for A, it is B.

(Watashi) wa <your name> desu. --- I am <name>.
(Watashi) wa <nationality> desu. --- I am <nationality>.
Shigoto wa <your occupation> desu. --- My job is <occupation>.
Shumi wa <your hobby> desu. --- My hobby is <hobby>.

As in the cases above, "Watashi wa" is usually omitted when it is obvious that the speaker is talking about himself/herself.

* Examples;
(Watashi wa) Sumisu desu.: I am Smith.
(Watashi wa) Amerika-jin desu.: I am American.

3. Exercises

Talking about your occupation

Shigoto wa <your occupation> desu.
* shigoto: work, job

* Examples;
Question) O-shigoto wa?
Answer 1) Kaishain desu.
Answer 2) Enjinia desu.
Answer 3) Dezainâ desu.
Answer 4) Shufu desu.
Answer 5) Gakusei desu.



* Words:
kaishain: company employee
enjinia: engineer
dezainâ: designer
shufu: housewife
gakusei: student

Talking about your hobbies

Shumi wa <your hobby> desu.
* shumi: hobbiy

* Examples;
Shumi wa tenisu desu. ----- My hobby is tennis.
Shumi wa haikingu desu. ----- My hobby is hiking.
Shumi wa ryokô desu. ----- My hobby is travelling.
Shumi wa jogingu desu. ----- My hobby is jogging.
Shumi wa taberu koto desu. ----- My hobby is eating.
Shumi wa kodomo to asobu koto desu. ----- My hobby is playing with my child(ren).

Talking about yourself

Hajimemashite.
Jon Sumisu desu. Amerika-jin desu.
Kobe ni sunde imasu.
Shigoto wa Enjinia desu.
Shumi wa haikingu to kamera desu.
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.


English Translation
How do you do?
I’m John Smith. I am American.
I am living in Kobe.
My job is an engineer.
My hobbies are hiking and camera (taking photographs).
Pleased to meet you.

4. Task

Make your own self-introduction.