🌍 Lesson 1: Greetings and Self-Introduction

1. Trilingual: English | 中文 (Mandarin) | Português🔠 Level: Beginner |

🎯 Objective / Objetivo / 目标

In this first lesson, learners will:

• Learn how to greet others formally and informally

• Introduce themselves (name, age, country)

• Ask basic questions like “What’s your name?” and “Where are you from?”

• Understand cultural etiquette in greetings across the 3 languages

Section 1: Basic Greetings | Saudações Básicas | 基本问候

Greeting someone properly is the foundation of good communication. Each culture has its own ways of greeting, from handshakes to bows.

­Explanation:

• In Chinese, tone is essential. For example, “hǎo” (好) means “good.” If the tone changes, the meaning changes.

• In Portuguese, greetings vary slightly between Brazil and Portugal, but these are universally understood.

• In English, “Hi” is informal, while “Hello” can be used in both casual and polite situations.

🙋 Section 2: Self-Introduction | Apresentação Pessoal | 自我介绍

When meeting someone new, it’s polite to say your name, where you’re from, and sometimes your age.

👤 English:

My name is Maria.
I’m 28 years old.
I’m from Brazil.
Nice to meet you!

🀄 Chinese (Simplified):  Pinyin:

我叫玛丽亚。Wǒ jiào Mǎlìyà.
我今年28岁。Wǒ jīnnián èrshíbā suì.
我来自巴西。Wǒ láizì Bāxī.
很高兴认识你！Hěn gāoxìng rènshí nǐ!

🇵🇹 Português:

Eu me chamo Maria.
Tenho 28 anos.
Sou do Brasil.
Prazer em te conhecer!

Explanation:

• “我叫…” (Wǒ jiào) means “I am called…” in Chinese. It’s a polite way to state your name.

• In Portuguese, you can also say “Meu nome é…” which is like “My name is…”

• Age in Chinese: “我…岁” (Wǒ … suì), where you insert the number in the middle.

 Section 3: Asking Questions | Fazendo Perguntas | 提问

Here are the key questions for a simple first conversation.

✅ Use these to begin your first multilingual conversations!

🗨️ Section 4: Sample Dialogue | Diálogo | 对话

Let’s see how everything comes together in a short exchange.

🔄 English:

A: Hi! My name is James. What’s your name?
B: Hello James! I’m Mei.
A: Nice to meet you. Where are you from?
B: I’m from China. And you?
A: I’m from Mozambique.

🀄 Chinese:

A: 嗨！我叫詹姆斯。你叫什么名字？

A: Hāi! Wǒ jiào Zhānmǔsī. Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
B: 你好，詹姆斯！我叫美。

B: Nǐ hǎo, Zhānmǔsī! Wǒ jiào Měi.
A: 很高兴认识你。你来自哪里？

A: Hěn gāoxìng rènshí nǐ. Nǐ láizì nǎlǐ?
B: 我来自中国。你呢？

B: Wǒ láizì Zhōngguó. Nǐ ne?
A: 我来自莫桑比克。

B: Wǒ láizì Zhōngguó. Nǐ ne?

🇵🇹 Português:

A: Oi! Eu me chamo James. Qual é o seu nome?
B: Olá, James! Eu sou a Mei.
A: Prazer em te conhecer. De onde você é?
B: Eu sou da China. E você?
A: Eu sou de Moçambique.

🧠 Section 5: Vocabulary Boost

🎓 Cultural Tips

• In China, greetings are often followed by a light bow or nod. Avoid handshakes unless the other person initiates.

• In English-speaking cultures, eye contact and a firm handshake are common.

• In Portuguese-speaking countries, greetings are warm — often with two kisses (Brazil) or a handshake (Portugal/Mozambique).

🧠 Remember: tone and body language are part of communication too!

🏁 Conclusion

Congratulations on finishing your first multilingual lesson! Now you can:

✅ Greet someone in English, Chinese, and Portuguese
✅ Introduce yourself clearly
✅ Ask basic questions to start a conversation
✅ Understand cultural aspects of greetings

📚 Practice Task

1. Write your self-introduction in all 3 languages.

2. Record yourself saying the dialogue aloud.

3. Use flashcards for vocabulary review.