Writing a cover letter Intermediate Lesson 38

Today we are going to learn: How to write a cover letter Structure Formal expressions

British Council Caracas Summer School English Teacher We are looking for a teacher to teach young learners and adults during July and August Qualifications: CELTA or DELTA Experience: 2+ years teaching young learners Interactive whiteboard skills Computer skills If you are interested in applying, please send your CV and cover letter to info@britishconcil.org.ve

? What is a cover letter? Why do we need to write cover letters? What information should we include in cover letters? How formal are cover letters?

May 30th 2016 British Council Av Sta Lucia, Caracas, Distrito Capital Caracas, Venezuela Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing in reply to an advertisement for the position of a Summer School English teacher at http://jobs.britishcouncil.org/ dated May 10, 2016. I am a CELTA qualified teacher with over six years of teaching experience. I have been working at the British Council Ukraine since June 2010 and have a wide range of classroom experience, including teaching English to adults and young learners. I also completed DELTA in 2015.

In addition to this, I am a proficient user of classroom technologies, such as SMART board and I have delivered a number of computer skills workshops to teachers. I am looking for an opportunity to further develop my skills as a teacher in an international environment. Your school has an excellent record as an employer and I feel I can become a valuable member of your summer team.

Please, find my CV attached below Please, find my CV attached below. I am available for an interview at your convenience. Please, do not hesitate to contact me if you require further information. Look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours faithfully, Maria _______

Are all the skills and qualifications mentioned? Is the information detailed? Are there paragraphs? Is there a greeting and sign-off? Is the letter formal? No contractions No informal words Formal expressions

Structure Paragraph 1 Say why you are writing Say where and when you found the job advert Paragraph 2 Talk about your qualifications and experience Paragraph 3 Talk about other skills useful for the job Paragraph 4 Talk about why you want this job and why you want to work for this company Paragraph 5 Say what you are attaching When you are available for the interview

Practice In what paragraphs can you find these words? In addition to this, I am a proficient user of classroom technologies. I am writing in reply to an advertisement for the position of … I also completed DELTA in 2015. Please, find my CV attached below. I am a CELTA qualified teacher with over six years of teaching experience. Your school has an excellent record as an employer.

Keys In what paragraphs can you find these words? In addition to this, I am a proficient user of classroom technologies (3) I am writing in reply to an advertisement for the position of …(1) I also completed DELTA in 2015. (2) Please, find my CV attached below. (5) I am a CELTA qualified teacher with over six years of teaching experience (2) Your school has an excellent record as an employer (4)

Greeting and signing off Dear Mr. Smith/Dear Sir or Madam/, Dear Mr. Smith! Dear Will! Hello Looking forward to hearing from you soon. Yours faithfully, Best regards, Love, Do not make up your own greetings – improvisation here won’t make a good impression.

Formal expressions I am writing in reply to an advertisement for the position of a … dated May 10th, 2016. I am writing in reply to an advertisement for the position of a … last week. I am writing to apply for the position of __________ I would like to apply for the position of a ___________ I want to apply for the position of Be polite and avoid ‘I want’. Don’t forget to use the article ‘a’ with the job you are applying for Mention exactly when and where you found the advertisement.

Formal expressions How to describe your achievements: I have a wide range of experience in accounting/international law. I have a degree in Accounting/Finance. I also completed …. in 2015. I have been working at …. for 10 years/since 2005. I worked as a teacher/accountant/sales consultant for 10 years/since 2005.

Formal expressions How to add information. Don’t say ‘and’ all the time! It sounds informal. I have a wide range of experience in teaching, including teaching specialised courses. I attended weekly workshops, as well as Microsoft trainings. I have two certificates in…I also completed …. in 2015. In addition to this, …..

Formal expressions Stay formal! I want to develop = I am looking for an opportunity to further develop my skills… You are a very good company = Your company has an excellent record as an employer. You need someone like me =I feel I can become a valuable member of your team. Here is my CV = Please, find my CV attached/ in the attachment. Call me if you need anything else = Please, do not hesitate to contact me if you require further information.

This cover letter is very informal and it has some mistakes This cover letter is very informal and it has some mistakes. Use the phrases from this lesson and rewrite it.

Hello! I’m writing in reply to your summer job advertisement in Daily Mail a week ago. I want a secretarial position in France or Switzerland. I studied accounting at university. I am a secretary for 5 years and a Personal Assistant for 2 years. And I did a fast typing course in 2015. And I speak French and German fluently, and I have good people skills. I really want to develop my PA skills in your company. You also offer good travel opportunities. I am available to start next week. Call me soon! Best, Natalia

Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing in reply to your summer job advertisement in Daily Mail dated May 10th 2016. I would like to apply for a secretarial position in France or Switzerland. I have a degree in accounting. I was a secretary for 5 years, as well as a Personal Assistant for 2 years. I also completed a fast typing course in 2015. In addition to this, I speak French and German fluently. I also have good people skills. I would like to develop my PA skills in your company. You also offer good travel opportunities. I am available to start next week. Looking forward to hearing from you. Best regards, Natalia

Today we have learned: How to write a cover letter Structure Formal expressions