Unit 1.1 Self-Introduction and Small Talk

Verna May 18, 2026

 

Unit 1.1 Comprehensive Teaching Materials

Self-Introduction and Small Talk

Target Learners

Japanese business professionals working in international companies

English Level

Beginner to Intermediate

Lesson Length

2–3 hours total or divided into smaller lessons

UNIT OBJECTIVES

By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:

  • Introduce themselves professionally in English

  • Talk about their company, position, and responsibilities

  • Engage in workplace small talk confidently

  • Use common business expressions and idioms naturally

  • Listen for key information in introductions

  • Take effective notes during conversations

  • Build rapport in international business settings

TOPIC 1 — PROFESSIONAL SELF-INTRODUCTION

PART A — WARM-UP DISCUSSION

Discussion Questions

  1. Is self-introduction important in Japanese companies?

  2. How is self-introduction different in international companies?

  3. What information should be included in a business introduction?

  4. What makes a good first impression?

PART B — KEY VOCABULARY

Word/PhraseMeaning
PositionJob title
DepartmentDivision in a company
Responsible forIn charge of
HeadquartersMain office
Branch officeLocal office
ColleagueCoworker
ClientCustomer
IndustryBusiness field
ExperienceWork background
ExpertiseSpecial skill

PART C — KEY EXPRESSIONS

Introducing Yourself

  • “Hello, my name is Ken Tanaka.”

  • “I work for ABC Corporation.”

  • “I’m part of the sales department.”

  • “I’m responsible for overseas marketing.”

  • “I’ve been with the company for five years.”

  • “It’s nice to meet you.”

Talking About Your Company

  • “Our company specializes in automotive parts.”

  • “We have offices in several countries.”

  • “We mainly work with international clients.”

Showing Interest

  • “That sounds interesting.”

  • “How long have you worked there?”

  • “What kind of projects do you handle?”

PART D — COMMON BUSINESS IDIOMS

IdiomMeaningExample
Break the iceStart conversation comfortably“Small talk helps break the ice.”
Get the ball rollingStart something“Let’s get the ball rolling with introductions.”
On the same pageHave the same understanding“We need to be on the same page.”

PART E — MODEL DIALOGUE

Dialogue 1

Anna: Hello, I’m Anna Smith from GlobalTech Solutions.

Takashi: Nice to meet you, Anna. My name is Takashi Sato from Sakura Electronics.

Anna: Nice to meet you too. What department do you work in?

Takashi: I work in the international sales department. I’m responsible for client communication in Southeast Asia.

Anna: That sounds interesting. How long have you been with the company?

Takashi: I’ve been with Sakura Electronics for about seven years.

Anna: Wow, that’s impressive.

PART F — SPEAKING PRACTICE

Activity 1 — Guided Self-Introduction

Students introduce themselves using this structure:

Template

  1. Name

  2. Company

  3. Department

  4. Responsibilities

  5. Years of experience

  6. Closing greeting

Example

“Hello, my name is Yuki Mori. I work for Sunrise Logistics in the customer service department. I’m responsible for handling international client inquiries. I’ve been with the company for three years. It’s nice to meet you.”

Activity 2 — Speed Networking

Instructions

  • Students speak with 3–5 classmates.

  • Each conversation lasts 2 minutes.

  • Students ask follow-up questions.

Follow-Up Questions

  • “What projects are you working on?”

  • “Do you often use English at work?”

  • “What do you enjoy about your job?”

PART G — LISTENING PRACTICE

Listening Task 1

Teacher Reading Script

“Good morning everyone. My name is David Miller, and I’m the regional manager at BrightWave Technologies. I’m originally from Canada, but I’ve been working in Japan for six years. I manage a team of 15 employees and focus mainly on international partnerships. Our company develops software solutions for healthcare companies.”

Exercise A — Listening Comprehension

Questions

  1. What is David’s position?

  2. Where is he from?

  3. How long has he worked in Japan?

  4. How many employees does he manage?

  5. What does the company develop?

PART H — NOTE-TAKING PRACTICE

Listening for Key Information

Instructions

Listen to the introduction again and complete the notes.

CategoryNotes
Name
Position
Company
Nationality
Experience in Japan
Main Responsibility

PART I — ROLE-PLAY ACTIVITY

Scenario

You are attending an international business conference in Tokyo.

Instructions

Introduce yourself and exchange information with a partner.

Include:

  • Name

  • Company

  • Department

  • Job responsibilities

  • Work experience

  • One follow-up question

PART J — PRONUNCIATION PRACTICE

Focus Sounds

  • “r” and “l”

  • “th”

  • Final consonants

Practice Words

  • Responsible

  • Client

  • International

  • Three

  • Department

PART K — DISCUSSION TASK

Topic

“Why is small talk important in international business?”

Discussion Prompts

  • Does small talk happen often in Japan?

  • What topics are safe for business small talk?

  • What topics should be avoided?

PART L — WRITING PRACTICE

Task

Write a short professional self-introduction (80–120 words).

Include:

  • Your background

  • Your role

  • Your company

  • Your goals in learning business English

TEACHER’S GUIDE

LESSON FLOW RECOMMENDATION

StageTime
Warm-up Discussion10 mins
Vocabulary & Expressions20 mins
Dialogue Practice20 mins
Speaking Activities30 mins
Listening Practice20 mins
Note-Taking Practice15 mins
Role-Play30 mins
Writing Activity20 mins
Feedback & Review15 mins

TEACHER NOTES

Common Challenges for Japanese Learners

1. Speaking Confidence

Students may hesitate because they fear mistakes.

Teacher Tip

Encourage fluency before accuracy.

2. Difficulty with Small Talk

Many learners are unfamiliar with casual workplace conversation.

Teacher Tip

Provide conversation starters and model responses.

3. Pronunciation Issues

Common difficulties:

  • “r” and “l”

  • Word stress

  • Ending sounds

Teacher Tip

Use shadowing and repetition exercises.

ANSWER KEY

Listening Exercise Answers

  1. Regional manager

  2. Canada

  3. Six years

  4. 15 employees

  5. Software solutions for healthcare companies

Note-Taking Sample Answers

CategoryNotes
NameDavid Miller
PositionRegional manager
CompanyBrightWave Technologies
NationalityCanadian
Experience in Japan6 years
Main ResponsibilityInternational partnerships

RECOMMENDED FEEDBACK FORMAT FOR TUTORING NOTES

Sample Tutoring Notes Template

CategoryFeedback
Speaking StrengthsGood confidence and clear self-introduction
VocabularyUsed business vocabulary accurately
PronunciationNeeds practice with “r” and “l” sounds
GrammarMinor errors with verb tense
ListeningUnderstood key details well
ParticipationActively joined discussions
Homework RecommendationPractice introducing yourself in 1 minute

SAMPLE TEACHER FEEDBACK COMMENTS

Positive Feedback

  • “You spoke confidently and naturally.”

  • “Excellent use of follow-up questions.”

  • “Good eye contact and professional tone.”

Corrective Feedback

  • “Try using complete sentences.”

  • “Practice pronouncing ‘international.’”

  • “Remember to use present tense consistently.”

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES

Homework 1

Record a 1-minute self-introduction audio.

Homework 2

Watch a business interview on TED Talks and write notes about the speaker.

Homework 3

Practice introducing yourself to three people in English.

OPTIONAL ADVANCED TASK

Conference Networking Simulation

Scenario

Students attend a mock international conference.

Goal

Network with at least 5 people using English only.

Students Must:

  • Introduce themselves

  • Exchange business information

  • Ask follow-up questions

  • Maintain conversation naturally

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