Short answer: To introduce yourself in German at A1 level, say one or two simple sentences about your name, where you come from, where you live, your languages, your job or studies, your family and your hobbies. Practise them aloud and get ready for a few easy follow-up questions.

Below you will find the exam format, key phrases, a sample answer, likely questions, common mistakes and a 7-day practice plan.

What the ÖSD A1 speaking exam asks

The speaking part of the ÖSD Zertifikat A1 takes about 10 minutes and has three tasks, worth 25 points in total. Task 1 is "sich vorstellen" (introducing yourself). In the official model set, you choose four of six topics, such as Sprachen (languages), Hobbys, Sport, Familie, Beruf (job) and Lieblingsessen (favourite food), and say a few sentences about each. The examiner may ask questions about them.

In Task 2 you describe a picture, and in Task 3 you act out the situation in that picture with the examiner. You can download the free model set from the ÖSD downloads page.

The Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 also starts with a short self-introduction, so these phrases help for both exams.

Key phrases to introduce yourself in German

  • Name: Ich heiße Nimal Perera. / Mein Name ist Nimal Perera. (My name is Nimal Perera.)
  • Herkunft (origin): Ich komme aus Sri Lanka. (I come from Sri Lanka.)
  • Wohnort (where you live): Ich wohne in Kandy. (I live in Kandy.)
  • Alter (age): Ich bin 24 Jahre alt. (I am 24 years old.)
  • Sprachen (languages): Ich spreche Tamil, Englisch und ein bisschen Deutsch. (I speak Tamil, English and a little German.)
  • Beruf (job): Ich bin Krankenpflegerin. / Ich arbeite als Buchhalter. (I am a nurse. / I work as an accountant.)
  • Studium (studies): Ich studiere Informatik. (I study computer science.)
  • Hobbys: Meine Hobbys sind Lesen und Kochen. Ich spiele gern Cricket. (My hobbies are reading and cooking. I like playing cricket.)
  • Familie: Ich bin verheiratet und habe zwei Kinder. (I am married and have two children.)
  • Lieblingsessen: Mein Lieblingsessen ist Reis mit Curry. (My favourite food is rice and curry.)

A sample A1 self-introduction

Guten Tag! Ich heiße Tharshini. Ich bin 23 Jahre alt. Ich komme aus Sri Lanka und wohne in Jaffna. Ich spreche Tamil, Englisch und ein bisschen Deutsch. Ich bin Studentin und studiere Informatik. Ich habe einen Bruder und eine Schwester. In meiner Freizeit tanze ich gern. Mein Lieblingsessen ist Dosa. Ich möchte in Deutschland studieren.

In English: Good day! My name is Tharshini. I am 23 years old. I come from Sri Lanka and live in Jaffna. I speak Tamil, English and a little German. I am a student and I study computer science. I have a brother and a sister. In my free time, I like dancing. My favourite food is dosa. I would like to study in Germany.

A short version

Hallo, ich heiße Kasun. Ich komme aus Sri Lanka und wohne in Colombo. Ich bin Koch von Beruf. Mein Hobby ist Fußball.

(Hello, my name is Kasun. I come from Sri Lanka and live in Colombo. I am a chef by profession. My hobby is football.)

Follow-up questions the examiner may ask

  • Was sind Sie von Beruf? (What is your job?) – Ich bin Lehrerin.
  • Haben Sie Geschwister? (Do you have brothers or sisters?) – Ja, ich habe zwei Brüder. / Nein, ich habe keine Geschwister.
  • Was machen Sie gern in Ihrer Freizeit? (What do you like doing in your free time?) – Ich lese gern und spiele Badminton.
  • Was essen Sie gern? (What do you like to eat?) – Ich esse gern Kottu.

Common mistakes Sri Lankan learners make

  • "Ich bin von Sri Lanka" is wrong. Say "Ich komme aus Sri Lanka."
  • Verb in the wrong place: "In Colombo ich wohne" is wrong. The verb comes second: "In Colombo wohne ich" or "Ich wohne in Colombo."
  • Wrong verb ending: "Ich heißen" is wrong. With "ich", say "Ich heiße."
  • Adding "ein" before a job: say "Ich bin Lehrer," not "Ich bin ein Lehrer."
  • Mixing du and Sie: use the polite "Sie" with the examiner, unless they offer "du".
  • Numbers back to front: in German, 24 is vierundzwanzig, literally "four and twenty".

Pronunciation tips

  • ei sounds like English "eye": heiße, mein, zwei. ie sounds like "ee": spiele, vier.
  • w sounds like English "v": wohne, Woche.
  • z sounds like "ts": zwei, Zeit.
  • sp and st at the start of a word sound like "shp" and "sht": Sport, Student.

A simple 7-day practice plan

  • Days 1–2: Write two sentences for each of the six topics.
  • Day 3: Say them aloud, record yourself and listen for mistakes.
  • Day 4: Practise the follow-up questions with a friend.
  • Day 5: Practise numbers, spelling your name and difficult sounds.
  • Day 6: Do a full timed practice of all three tasks.
  • Day 7: Review mistakes and repeat your weakest topic.

Practise Your A1 Speaking with the Grman Exams Premium App

Between classes, the Grman Exams Premium app helps you practise:

  • AI Speaking Practice: talk with the AI speaking tutor in Grman Exams Premium at A1 level. It asks typical exam questions about yourself and everyday topics and gives short feedback. In Correction Mode, it repeats your sentences in the correct form.
  • ÖSD A1 practice test: the AI tutor takes the examiner's role for all three tasks. You choose four of six topics, describe a picture and do a role-play, then get feedback with improvement points, grammar tips and vocabulary suggestions.
  • Pronunciation Coach: listen to and record words with tricky sounds like ü, ö, ch and r, then get a score and a tip written for Sinhala and Tamil speakers.
  • Grammar Games: A1 topics such as sein and haben, the present tense, W-questions and numbers, with quick quiz and sentence-builder questions.
  • GE Arena vocabulary game: 10 quick German–English questions per round. Play alone or live with your class and earn XP.

AI practice scores are for training only, not official exam results. Some features, such as AI Speaking Practice and the Pronunciation Coach, are for students enrolled in a Grman Exams course.

Get the app on the App Store, on Google Play or on the web at premium.grmanexams.lk.

Frequently asked questions

How long should my A1 self-introduction be?

Six to eight short, clear sentences are enough.

Can I memorise my introduction?

Prepare sentences for all six topics, but avoid one long fixed script. Flexible sentences help when the examiner asks questions.

Is "Ich bin aus Sri Lanka" wrong?

No, it is correct. "Ich komme aus Sri Lanka" is just more common. Avoid "Ich bin von Sri Lanka".

Should I use "du" or "Sie" with the examiner?

Use "Sie", unless the examiner invites you to use "du".

What if I don't understand a question?

Stay calm and ask: "Entschuldigung, können Sie das bitte wiederholen?"

Start speaking German with confidence

Want to practise your introduction with a teacher? Join our German A1 classes at our Colombo, Kandy, Jaffna or Vavuniya branch, or online. When you are ready, sit the ÖSD A1 exam at our Colombo (Nugegoda) exam centre, and read the ÖSD A1 and A2 passing criteria before exam day. Contact Grman Exams or call or WhatsApp +94 773 968 779.