1. FORMAL NB Revision of Writing Tasks

You have read the advertisement below in a magazine. You’re very interested in attending an intensive English course in London next August so you send an to the school advertised and enquire about the following points: – Levels offered – Starting and finishing dates of courses – Lesson timetables – Accommodation and travel arrangements (if provided) – Prices and what is included in the price – Leisure activities (if organized)

You have read the advertisement below in a magazine. You’re very interested in attending an intensive English course in London next August so you send an to the school advertised and enquire about the following points: Dear Sir or Madam, I read your advertisement in Hello Magazine last Sunday and I am very interested in attending an intensive English course in your school next August. But I need some information. Could you help me please?

Questions 1. Levels offered 2.Starting and finishing dates of courses 3.Lesson timetables 4.Accommodation and travel arrangements (if provided) 5.Prices and what is included in the price 6.Leisure activities (if organized) What levels does the school offer? When do the courses start and when do they finish? Could you give me the lesson timetables? Do you make accommodation and travel arrangements? Do you make accommodation and travel arrangements? How much are the courses? What is included in the price? Do you organize any leisure activities?

Closing Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully, Susana Vega

ANOTHER EXAMPLE

Before - planning 1.Read the question 2.Re-read the question 3.Make sure you understand it 1.Read the question 2.Re-read the question 3.Make sure you understand it Brainstorming: vocabulary: verbs, nouns, etc.

Before -structure Introduction: Dear Suri, Introduce yourself Explain why you are writing Introduction: Dear Suri, Introduce yourself Explain why you are writing Body of the Ask the questions Body of the Ask the questions Closing of Look forward to hearing from you. Regards, Name Closing of Look forward to hearing from you. Regards, Name

Writing Dear Suri, My name is Conchita Pérez and I am an English student in the London School for Languages. I saw your advertisement and I am very interested in the flat but I would like more information please. Dear Suri, My name is Conchita Pérez and I am an English student in the London School for Languages. I saw your advertisement and I am very interested in the flat but I would like more information please. I need to know, how many rooms are there in the house? Does it have all the necessary electrical appliances? Is there a TV in the living room? What about restaurants and shops? Are they near the flat? I need to travel to school so is there a bus stop near the flat? My last question is How much is the rent? Thank you for you attention. I look forward to hearing from you. Regards, Conchita Thank you for you attention. I look forward to hearing from you. Regards, Conchita

2. AN INFORMAL

Read the following

Structure We begin an 1. A greeting: Dear Mary, Hi Mark, Hello Susa, 2. Introduction or first paragraph Ask about health Thank him/her for last Reason for writing

Structure We begin an 1. A greeting: Dear Mary, Hi Mark, Hello Susa, 2. Introduction or first paragraph Ask about health Thank him/her for last Reason for writing

Structure 3. Body It is the most important part of the . Main subject of the We talk about school/ family/ holidays, etc. Each paragraph talks about a different subject: a.School b.Family c.Holidays

Structure 3. Body It is the most important part of the . Main subject of the We talk about school/ family/ holidays, etc. Each paragraph talks about a different subject: a.School b.Family c.Holidays

Structure 4. Conclusion Closing remark: say goodbye ask the other person to write back soon send him/her family your love… It is the last paragraph 5. Closing of Set phrases: Best wishes, Lots of love, Write soon, …

Structure Set phrases Best wishes, Lots of love, Write soon, 5. Closing of

Write the following phrase in the appropriate place. 1.Greeting 2.Introduction 3.Conclusion 4.Closing of

3. WRITING A DESCRIPTION

Writing a description

1.Think about: a)Who b)Where and when c)What he/she looks like/ d)what is he/she like e)What does he/she like to do f)When do you see each other/ what do you do 2. Divide the paragraphs into: a)Introduction b)Body of story c)Conclusion Writing a Story Before you start

A) Introduction: who he/she is When/ where you met A) Introduction: who he/she is When/ where you met Writing a Story Before you start : paragraphing B) Body of description: Paragraph 2 What he/she looks like What he/she is like Paragraph 3 Hobbies What he/she does Paragraph 2 When you meet and what you do B) Body of description: Paragraph 2 What he/she looks like What he/she is like Paragraph 3 Hobbies What he/she does Paragraph 2 When you meet and what you do C) Conclusion: Why is he your best friend C) Conclusion: Why is he your best friend

At first, Roberto can be a little distant and shy but when you know him, he is very friendly and he helps you with anything. He is very intelligent but a little serious too. He is taller than me and he is quite thin. He doesn’t have a lot of hair now, but before it was dark and curly. He has dark brown eyes and a lovely smile. He usually wears jeans, shirts and jumpers. He doesn’t like wearing formal clothes like suits and ties. Roberto is married and he has two daughters. In fact, he is married to me. Yes! he is my best friend and my husband so I see him every day. We sometimes go out for a drink, have lunch or do sports together. We enjoy spending time together. My best friend’s name is Roberto. I met him in 1988 when we studied at university. He was a year older than me so he was not in my class but we had the same friends. My best friend likes to do sports. His favourite sport is swimming. He also likes travelling and spending time with his family and friends. He is an English professor at the university so he sometimes goes on business trips but he doesn’t like them very much. introduction Body Conclusion Roberto is my best friend because I can tell him anything and he understands. He is a good person.

4. DESCRIPTION OF A ROOM

My Office This is my office. It is quite spacious. On sunny days, a lot of light comes in through the window. In my office, there is a huge shelf on the wall. There many books, CDs and DVDs. I sometimes use them to prepare my lessons. On the wall, there are some pictures and photographs of some family trips. In front of the shelf, there is a big table with two computers because my husband and I work in this room. On the table, there are many papers, pens, books and a calendar. Between the computers, there is a telephone, a printer and a scanner. In front of the table and under the window, there is an armchair. My daughters like to read here. I like my office. My family and I spend a lot of time here reading, working or listening to music. (143 words) 1. what 2. On the left 3. On the right 4. In the foreground 5. Conclusion

5. WRITING A STORY

S OMETIMES YOU MAY BE ASKED TO WRITE A STORY. 1. Divide the paragraphs into: Introduction Body of story Conclusion 2. List the events in the story in chronological order.

Useful expressions Set the scene It all happened last summer / During my last holiday…. / One day/morning/night … I was staying at … Describe the main events of the story At first, …/ To begin with, …/ After a while, …/ Soon, …/ Suddenly, …/ Finally, …/ In the end, … / The following day, …/ As soon as, …/ While, …./ After a while, …. Show when things happened Time passed quickly and …. I realised that …. So I decided to ….

I was tired of going to the same place every year, so last year my family and I decided to travel around Brittany for two weeks in a camper van. One night I was driving along a road when I noticed that there were no signposts. Suddenly, I realized that we were lost. There were no lights anywhere, so I stopped the camper van for the night. The following day, I woke up and the camper was moving by itself. We were floating on the sea! I called for help immediately. Meanwhile, my wife was trying to stop water from coming into the camper van. After a while, a boat arrived and pulled us back to the beach. A couple of hours later we were home, safe and sound! From then on, we decided to stay in a hotel for our holidays.