Pratique du Shadowing: How to Answer Tell Me About Yourself—Job Interview in English - Apprendre l'anglais à l'oral avec la vidéo

Création de la leçon...
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Hi, I'm Anne Marie with Speak Confident English and welcome to your Confident English Wednesday lesson.
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This week we are focused on one of the most popular topics on the Speak Confident English website.
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It's also one of the most common questions I receive by email or from my students, especially those who are looking for a new job,
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trying to advance their career, and use English.
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So today we are focused on tell me about yourself.
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We're getting very specific on just this one question
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because it's the most common question in a job interview and maybe even the most important.
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Both native
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and non-native English speakers search all over the internet to find out how to best answer this question
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and there are some fantastic examples and resources online.
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But today I want to focus on one specific thing, three do's and don'ts of how to answer this question.
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Today's lesson actually comes from my own experience.
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Yes, I've interviewed four jobs before in my life, but I've also been an interviewer many, many times.
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And in that experience, I've seen some really wonderful interviews and some not so impressive.
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I don't want you to be in that second group.
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So I'm going to share with you exactly what impressed me as an interviewer, what helped make someone memorable,
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and what is important for you when you interview for your next job in English.
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Now, very quickly, before we get to the lesson, I do want to let you know that I have a super special download for you today.
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It's a step-by-step workbook that will help you think about how to best create your unique answer to this question.
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We'll talk a little bit more about the workbook as we go through this lesson, but after you watch this video,
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make sure that you visit the online lesson so that you can download the workbook and prepare,
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practice, and perfect your answer to tell me about yourself.
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So the first don't in today's lesson is in this question, don't tell your life story.
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Yes, the interviewer is asking you to tell her or him about yourself,
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but they don't want to know where you grew up or all of the travels that you've taken in your life.
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They don't want to know about all your time at university studying.
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They want to know one thing.
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Are you the right person for the job?
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they want to get an immediate idea about whether or not you are.
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So this question helps them understand that immediately if you answer it correctly.
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Now that doesn't mean there's a right or a wrong answer, but it does mean there is a correct way or method to answering it.
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The key is to think about this specific job that you are interviewing for and then thinking about your entire experience,
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your work experience, your accomplishments, the skills that you've gained, and choosing the things that are most specific
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that relate directly to this job so that you can show that you are the right person, that you have the qualifications,
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expertise, strengths to perform well and be the best person for this job.
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Now, if you've never talked about your accomplishments, your strengths, and that feels uncomfortable,
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maybe it's not something that's common in your culture, That is okay.
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I know it feels strange and awkward at the beginning,
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but that is exactly why I created this workbook for you to help you begin the process of brainstorming
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and thinking about what should you say?
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What could you say?
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What is part of your background, your expertise that would be important to highlight in this question.
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Don't number two, don't repeat your resume word for word.
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Honestly, this just isn't impressive.
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Your interviewer will most likely have a copy of your resume directly in front of them
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and they've probably read a little bit of it.
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So they don't need you to repeat everything to them.
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Again, remember the key of this question is are you the right person for the job?
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So everything you say in the response to this question should be those skills,
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those areas of expertise that will make you the right person for the job.
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They should directly connect to that position.
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Think of it as an opportunity to highlight the most important things about you
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and what you want the interviewer to know the most so that he or she can make the right decision.
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This is only the first question.
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There will be many more questions in the interview where you will have the opportunity to expand your answers,
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but here you want to give an overview and highlight the key points.
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Now in the online lesson I have given you some good
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and bad examples so that you can see what I'm talking about
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when you answer this question and I've I have given you several more examples in that step-by-step workbook.
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And don't number three, don't speak for too long.
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Again, this is only your first question.
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You're just getting started with the interview.
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Your answer to this question should be about two to three minutes long.
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No longer.
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This is your introduction.
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So you want it to be brief, you want it to be clear, and you want it to be succinct.
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If you know me, you know I love that word succinct.
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It It means saying everything you need to say and nothing more.
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Now the only way to make sure that you answer this question in the best way possible is to prepare.
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Yes, prepare before you go to the job interview.
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Know what you want to say.
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Practice it.
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Say it out loud.
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Time yourself to make sure that it's not too short.
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30 seconds is too short, but of course you don't want it to be too long either.
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You want it to be just right and you want to sound natural and free and easy when you communicate in English.
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The best way to do that is to practice with it.
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Get comfortable with those words and the language and what you're going to say.
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So after you watch this video, after you download the Step-by-Step Workbook to help you create
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your answer feel free to share it with me you can do
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that in the comment section just below this video you can also read comments from others to see their examples
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and i do read
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and provide feedback on all of them it's a great opportunity for you to begin
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that first step of preparing and practicing so
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that you have your perfect answer to tell me about yourself
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and with that have a fantastic week thank you
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so much for joining me and i'll see you next week for your confident english wednesday lesson

About This Lesson

In this lesson, learners will focus on how to effectively answer the common job interview question: "Tell me about yourself." You will practice creating a concise, engaging response that highlights your skills and experience relevant to the job you are applying for. By following the guidelines and avoiding common pitfalls, you will be able to impress your interviewer and set a positive tone for the rest of your interview. This lesson emphasizes the importance of preparation, allowing you to build confidence in speaking about your professional background in English.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Interview - a formal conversation to assess a candidate's suitability for a position.
  • Resume - a document summarizing a person's educational background, work experience, and skills.
  • Accomplishments - achievements or successes that demonstrate your capabilities.
  • Qualifications - the education, skills, and experience that make you suitable for a job.
  • Overview - a brief summary or general outline of your experience.
  • Succinct - expressing much in few words; concise and to the point.
  • Brainstorming - the process of generating ideas to help create a strong response.
  • Memorable - something that leaves a lasting impression.

Practice Tips

To enhance your ability to answer "Tell me about yourself," consider incorporating the shadowing technique into your practice. Listen carefully to the video transcript and try to mimic the speaker's pace and tone, also known as shadowspeak. This technique will help you become more comfortable with the rhythm and flow of American English as you articulate your thoughts confidently.

Practice speaking aloud and aim to create a 2 to 3-minute introduction that summarizes your key qualifications. Focus on clarity and brevity, making sure to avoid lengthy explanations or irrelevant details. By engaging in shadow speech, you will also improve your pronunciation and intonation, contributing to a more engaging conversation style. Remember that the goal is to be succinct and impactful, making you a memorable candidate during interviews.

As you prepare, use the provided workbook to brainstorm relevant accomplishments and skills that align closely with the job description. Rehearsing your answer will not only build your confidence but will also ensure that you stay on track during the interview. Consistent practice with these strategies will increase your chances of making a positive impression on potential employers.

Qu'est-ce que la technique du Shadowing ?

Le Shadowing est une technique d'apprentissage des langues fondée sur la science, développée à l'origine pour la formation des interprètes professionnels. Le principe est simple mais puissant : vous écoutez de l'anglais natif et le répétez immédiatement à voix haute — comme une ombre suivant le locuteur avec un décalage de 1 à 2 secondes. Les recherches montrent une amélioration significative de la précision de la prononciation, de l'intonation, du rythme, des liaisons, de la compréhension orale et de la fluidité.