First

Impressions
Lesson 6
Warm up Activity

1. When and where did you meet most of your friends for the first time?
2. Do you like to meet new people or do you prefer to hang out with
people you already know?
3. Have you met someone who you hated right away even though you
did ’t k o the ?
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Introduction

• In psychology, a first impression is the event when one

person first encounters another person and forms a mental
image of that person. Impression accuracy varies
depending on the observer and the target (person, object,
scene, etc.) being observed. First impressions are based on
a wide range of characteristics: age, race, culture, language,
gender, physical appearance, accent, posture, voice,
number of people present, and time allowed to process.
The first impressions individuals give to others could greatly
influence how they are treated and viewed in many
contexts of everyday life.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_impression_(psychology)

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Speaking Exercise

What would you do to create a good impression in

these situations:

a) at a job interview; e) eeti g you gi lf ie d’s

b) when giving a parents for the first time
presentation; f) first day at school
c) at a drinks reception as g) on a first date
part of a professional h) at a judge court hearing
event, such as a i) at an audition for a TV
conference; commercial
d) at the beginning of a j) at a meeting with the
sales negotiation. Queen of England.

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Discussion
How to Make a Good First Impression
Be confident in who you are. Whether it is a formal function or an informal get
together, the key is to be confident in yourself. Believing in yourself and knowing your
worth in any situation is a key factor in letting people know that you are someone who
knows what they are capable of. Having enough confidence is in itself a very attractive
trait. You don't need to be smartest or the most physically appealing person to be
confident about yourself. The belief that you're good enough makes you appear more
attractive and approachable to the people around you. Confidence is reflected in both
body language and mindset, so take care to heed both (see below).

Be calm and composed. When other people see how calm and composed you are in
any situation, they will look forward to depending on you. Your confidence will assure
them of your abilities. When others see the ease with which you handle yourself they
will also let go off their anxieties regarding meeting someone new for the first time.

Be yourself. Don't pretend to be someone you're not, or you are stuck trying to
keep up a pretense, which soon becomes a bore and tiring. Never lie to anybody
about what you think, care about and consider important. Be honest. If somebody
finds out you have been presenting yourself falsely, they can feel hurt and it might
be hard for them to forgive you.
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Discussion
How to Make a Good First Impression
Develop approachable and friendly body language. Use the palm upwards gesture, a
gesture that subconsciously sends a signal that the talker is open to suggestions and is
a non-threatening entity. A smile goes a long way, so be gracious and smile at the
person when they make eye contact with you. If you are planning to approach the
other person first, walk over confidently and introduce yourself with a firm handshake.
(A loose or too tight handshake gives the wrong signal.) The gesture of taking the first
step will assure the person that you are interested in them and the smiling face will
signal your friendly nature.

Avoid fidgeting. Keep your hands to your side or in your lap. As much as you can,
try to avoid biting your fingernails, twirling your hair or crumpling a napkin in your
hand. Fidgeting can be really distracting and might even suggest a lack of interest
in the other person.

Relax. While posture is important, you don't want to look like a robot, either. Sit up
straight, but don't appear so rigid that you'd fall over if pushed. People can tell if
you're nervous and it makes them feel nervous or awkward too. Just be yourself.
Don't try to impress someone, let your real personality do the work.

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Good-First-Impression
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First Impression Pre-Quiz
1. First impressions set the stage for what a person thinks about you for as long as you
know that person.
True False
2. Which of the following items DO NOT project your first impression to others?
a. Your Clothes b. Your Hair Style c. Your Smile d. Your Handshake e. Your Breath f. All of
the above g. None of the above
3. By working harder and better than anyone else in your company, you will make a
good first impression on everyone.
True False
4. Outstanding Customer Service is:
a. Over-rated b. For cashiers and other retail workers c. A philosophy needed for
everyone you work with and work for d. Difficult to define because everyone has a
different expectation e. Both A and D f. None of the above
5. You can actually make a good first impression at work by:
a. Buying lunch for everyone in your department every Friday b. Letting your boss use
your car on weekends c. Wearing $500 suits everyday d. Listening more and talking less
e. Smiling every minute of every day

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Listening Activity

Listening 6.1
How to make a good first impression?
Answer these questions while listening.
1. Researcher say ____ ________ 3-5 seconds to make a good first
impression.
. Let’s ____ ______ the asi s.
. It’s key to use you eyes as you _____ ______ a oo .
4. Your smile says _____ _______ about you.
. Make su e that you’ e sta di g ___ ______ he you alk i to a oo .
. So, it’s hat you say a d ho ____ ____ ______.
. I the U ites States of A e i a it’s usto a y to ____ _____.
8. Your eye contact, your smile, your _____ _______, and finally your
_________.

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Vocabulary Exercise
Choose the best word to complete the sentence
1. Do you try to ......... good first
impressions?
(a) build (b) spot (c) speak (d) make
2. After initial introductions, it doesn't take
long for people to ......... opinions about
you.
(a) arrange (b) form (c) place (d) position
3. Proper ......... is important when you first
meet a business client.
(a) aimlessness (b) force (c) tracking
(d) etiquette
4. If you want to make a good first
impression, proper ......... is important.
(a) gearing (b) granting (c) grooming
(d) grudges
5. Do you judge a person ......... on his/her
appearance?
(a) based (b) bridged (c) benched (d) bent
6. You don't have to wear extremely expensive
clothing at work, but your ......... should be clean and
professional-looking.
(a) kit (b) wrapping (c) package (d) attire
7. A person's ......... is also evaluated during initial
meetings. Tone of voice, facial expressions and other
gestures all contribute to making good first
impressions.
(a) accent (b) demeanor (c) dialect (d) volunteer
8. People often say that first impressions
are ......... impressions.
(a) taking (b) beguiling (c) lasting (d) futuristic
9. Are gestures and ......... important when judging
others' characters early on in a relationship?
(a) modules (b) mechanics (c) materials
(d) mannerisms
10. Do you think that a neat and ......... appearance is
important when you want to make a good impression?
(a) torrid (b) tidy (c) tempting (d) trying
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Discussion
Give your first impression and explain.

1 2 3

4 5 6

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Listening Activity

Listening 6.2 - First Impression

Complete the sentences
Isma / Indonesia
My first impression of best friend was positive. I mean, she was really nice to me, and she helped me a lot with my
studies and also (1) _____ in a university. So, she was really nice, and until now, we're still best friends.
Matt / United States
I actually don't have a first impression of my best friend, because I grew up with him and I knew him (2) _____, so I
actually don't have an impression of him.
Dani / England
Well, I guess, my first impression sounds quite odd. The fact that she had lots and lots of (3) _____, and I didn't, and
also she had quite short hair and my hair was very long at the time.
Kat / Germany
My first impression of my best friend was I don't like her. I am pretty (4) _____ when I see people for the first time,
and when I saw her, I just instantly didn't like her, and it was the same for her. But once we got talking, I realized
she's going to be my best friend. That was five years ago, and we're still the best of friends.
Mike / Singapore
First impression of my best friend was that he was a little bit crazy. He's from Iran, and his name is [Firos]. He's very
lazy, but I like him because he's (5) _____.
Lindsay / United States
The first impression of my best friend was that she was really outgoing and very (6) _____. I was really attracted to
her from the beginning. I thought, "Wow, she's got quite (7) _____!" and someone that I admire.
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Discussion
18 Things to Say to Ruin a Good First Impression
1. "It's nice to meet you. And, you are who again?"
. "U " o "Uh
3. "How much money do you make?"
4. "Hope you don't mind that I was late."
5. "I couldn't stand my last boss. They were such a
jerk."
6. "Let me be honest."
. "I a 't sta d this eathe .
8. "No. That can't be possible."
9. "Sorry. I got a case of the Mondays."
10. "Do you believe in God?"
11. "Who are you voting for this November?"
12. "Hun" or "Sweetheart"
. "Co g atulatio s! Whe a e you due?
14. "I...I...I..."
15. "Let me tell you about last night..."
16. '"I think .../This may be a silly idea .../I'm going to Source: http://www.inc.com/john-rampton/18-things-to-say-
ask a stupid uestio to-ruin-a-good-first-impression.html
. "A guy alks i to a a ...
18. "You don't look like what I expected."
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Discussion
First Impressions Sayings and Quotes

A stunning first impression was You never get a second chance to

not the same thing as love at first make a first impression.
sight. But surely it was an Andrew Grant
invitation to consider the matter.
Lois McMaster Bujold First i pressio s are al a s u reliable.
Franz Kafka
If you want to make a good first
People so eti es talk about the po er of first
impression, smile at people. What does it
i pressio s, a d belie e e, there is truth to it.
cost to smile? Nothing. What does it cost not
Ann Brashares
to smile? Everything, if not smiling prevents
you from enchanting people. Go out of our a to ake a outsta di g
Guy Kawasaki first i pressio .
Robert Cheeke
First i pressio s atter. E perts sa e
size up new people in somewhere between First feeli gs are al a s the ost atural.
30 seconds and two minutes. Louis XIV
Elliott Abrams
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Vocabulary Building
Small talk is the kind of conversation you make when you want to talk to someone but
either of you a ts to get i to a ery deep or co plicated co ersatio . It’s s all
because you talk about unimportant things, in a way that fills up silences and makes
you both feel more comfortable and friendly with each other.

Talking about the weather
•Beautiful day, isn't it?
•Can you believe all of this rain
we've been having?
add o e …
Talking about current events At the office
•Did you catch the news today? •Looking forward to the
•Did you hear about that fire on weekend?
Fourth St? •Have you worked here long?
add o e … add o e …

Out for a walk Waiting somewhere

At a social event I didn't think it would be so
So, how do you know Justin? How old's your baby?
What's your puppy's name? busy today.
Have you tried the cabbage The bus must be running late
rolls that Sandy made? add o e …
today.
add o e … add o e …

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Grammar Exercise
Present Perfect - Simple or Continuous?
Complete the sentences below by filling in the spaces provided.
Put the verb (in brackets) into the correct tense and/or find the missing words.
1. How long (you learn) _____ English?
2. How many cigarettes (you
smoke) _____ this afternoon?
3. Sophie (work) _____ in London since
2010.
4. My father has had his watch _____ a
long time.
5. How many years (you live) _____ in
Tokyo?
6. Mark is exhausted. He (play) _____
tennis two hours.
7. Emily (do) _____ very well at school
since the beginning of the year.
8. I (wear) _____ this sweater since 9
o'clock this morning.
9. My parents (know) _____ Laura for
many years.
10. Peter (attend) _____ English
classes two years.
11. My best friend (always hate) _____
fish.
12. How many chapters of the book
(read) _____ so far?
13. Tom (wait) _____ for the bus a long
time.
14. Amy (listen) _____ carefully to the
teacher the beginning of the lesson.
15. How long (be) _____ a member of
the tennis club?
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Useful Expressions
Make an impression on someone
to produce a positive memorable effect on someone while one is present. (Akin to leave an impression
(on someone).
Tom made quite an impression on the banker.
First impressions are the most lasting.
Prov. People will remember the way you appear when you first meet them, so it is important to look and act your
best when you meet someone for the first time.
George spent two hours picking just the right clothes to wear when he met the head of the law firm, since he knew
that first impressions are the most lasting.
Leave an impression (on someone)
and leave someone with an impression
Fig. to provide a lasting memory for someone after one has left. (Akin to make an impression on someone.)
Her performance was less than stunning. She didn't leave a very good impression on us.
Make an impression
Produce a strong effect on one. This phrase is often qualified with an adjective such as good, bad, strong, or the like.
For example, He tried to make a good impression on his girlfriend's parents, or Be careful or you'll make a bad
impression on the jury, or You made quite an impression with that speech
Under the impression
Thinking, assuming, or believing something, as in I was under the impression that they were coming
today. This idiom often suggests that the idea or belief one had is mistaken.

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Speaking Activity
. Whe you look at so eo e, hat akes you thi k they a e…
Dangerous Intelligent Not smart Generous
Greedy Kind Crazy
2. What are some good things to ask or not ask to someone you just met?
3. What are some ways to overcome being nervous about meeting new people?
4. How important are first impressions to you?
5. What do you do if you forget the name of someone you've just been introduced to?
6. What kind of people do you like to meet?
7. Have you ever experienced being completely wrong in your first impression?
8. What is the favourite topic for new acquaintances in your country?
9. In your country, how do you know if you can trust a person that you meet?
10. Are you a person who approaches someone first?
. What is the ea i g of Do ’t judge a ook y its o e ?
12. Do you try to make a different first impression now than you did in high school?
13. Have you ever tried to make a great first impression but completely messed it up?
14. In what jobs do people have to make very quick decisions based on first
impressions?

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The End