Read the extracts A-E from five letters. Number them 1-5 according to how formal they are. (1=very formal, 5=very informal)
A-5
A-5
B-1
C-4
D-3
E-2
1. What is the purpose of the letter each extract is from?
A- Someone is asking for an accommodation in a friend’s home.
B- It seems the answer of a person who have just rent an apartment or similar.
C- Someone is organizing an end of course party for a group of teachers.
D- It’s a gratitude for someone who gave a concert o similar.
E- It’s an apologize for the bad condition of a delivery of CD cases.
2. What can you deduce about the writers and recipients of each letter?
A- Two friends, probably young people.
B- The owner of the apartment, probably an adult.
C- An adult writing to a group of collegues.
D- The responsible of a musical activity, writing to the musicians.
E- The responsible of a company, writing to a client.
3. What features of informal language does each extract include?
A- Colloquial words, contractions.
B- Formal expressions, commercial language.
C- Contractions, informal words, informal meeting.
D- Formal expressions and language, no contractions.
E- Commercial language, formal language and expressions.
Rewrite thesew formal expressions from the extracts in more informal English.
1. We can now confirm that – I can say you that…
2. your forthcoming vacation – your next holydays.
3. will be debited from your credit card – I’ll remove the money from your account.
4. the week following your departure – The next week you leave.
5. Please accept my apologies for this – I’m sorry for this.
6. We do make every effort – We’re making a lot of effort.
Work in pairs. Read the following writing task, then discuss and list some indoor and outdoor activities in your town that you could suggest in your reply to the letter.
Indoor activities: go to concerts, to museums, restaurants, bars…
1. We can now confirm that – I can say you that…
2. your forthcoming vacation – your next holydays.
3. will be debited from your credit card – I’ll remove the money from your account.
4. the week following your departure – The next week you leave.
5. Please accept my apologies for this – I’m sorry for this.
6. We do make every effort – We’re making a lot of effort.
Work in pairs. Read the following writing task, then discuss and list some indoor and outdoor activities in your town that you could suggest in your reply to the letter.
Indoor activities: go to concerts, to museums, restaurants, bars…
Outdoor activities: visit the city, go to the country, visit some villages and near cities…
Discuss the beginning and end of your letter. Which of these ideas would you include at the beginning and which at the end?
- say you're looking forward to seeing your penfriend – End.
- comment on the fact that your friend is planning to learn your language – Beginning.
- give some general information about your town – Beginning.
- suggest meeting during the friend's stay– End.
- ask about the language course your friend is attending – Beginning.
Discuss the beginning and end of your letter. Which of these ideas would you include at the beginning and which at the end?
- say you're looking forward to seeing your penfriend – End.
- comment on the fact that your friend is planning to learn your language – Beginning.
- give some general information about your town – Beginning.
- suggest meeting during the friend's stay– End.
- ask about the language course your friend is attending – Beginning.
Hi Samuel!
ResponderEliminarI have to say that I agree with you in most of the aspects you've given your opinion about.
As you can read in my blog, we both have suggested similar activities for spending the free time, and also we agree in the position of the ideas in the letter.
There is almost no difference between our works so, that's all!
Bye!