1. Informal letter or email
Writing skills
Informal letter or

2. When do we need to write a letter?

3. give advice / information / an opinion make arrangements
Work with a partner. Think of two sentences you would use in a letter to do the following. Don’t tell the other groups which function you are doing. Don’t do them in order.
make an invitation
give advice / information / an opinion
make arrangements
describe something
offer help
say thanks
be sympathetic

4. What expressions do we use to open and to close a letter?

5. Which of these do you use to open and which to close a letter?
I hope you’re OK
Bye for now
Many thanks for your nice letter
Take care and write soon
Drop me another line if you get time
All the best for now
I hope what I’ve written will help
Let me know all your news
It was really nice to hear from you
I’m looking forward to seeing you / hearing from you
I’d love to hear from you again soon
Sorry I haven’t been in touch for a while

6. Say three expressions you remember to open a letter and three to close one.

7. You have just received this letter from Dan, your English friend
You have just received this letter from Dan, your English friend. How would you reply to Dan? What advice would you give him?
My best friend has asked me to go away on a camping holiday by the sea with him and his family. It sounds fantastic! The problem is my parents have booked a holiday at the same time, and they want me to go with them and my little sister. What should I do?

8. Read the letter that Max wrote to Dan
Read the letter that Max wrote to Dan. Which 5 functions has Max included?
Apologising
Offering an explanation
Making arrangements
Saying thanks
Giving a warning
Being sympathetic
Making an invitation
Giving advice
Agreeing

10. Read the letter that Max wrote to Dan
Read the letter that Max wrote to Dan. Which 5 functions has Max included?
Apologising
Offering an explanation
Making arrangements
Saying thanks
Giving a warning
Being sympathetic
Making an invitation
Giving advice
Agreeing

11. How many paragraphs has Max included in his letter
How many paragraphs has Max included in his letter? How does he use should and if in his letter to give advice and make suggestions?

13. Give suggestions to a friend about these things
Give suggestions to a friend about these things. Use the expressions in Max’s letter and more.
I need a camera to take some good photos.
I’ve left my football kit at home!
I’ve lost my mobile phone.
I’m late, I’m going to miss the bus!

14. You’ll have a great time at the party, ………
Look at the way Max uses a question tag to show he agrees with Dan. Add question tags to these sentences:
You’ll have a great time at the party, ………
It was busy in town yesterday, ………..
This maths homework isn’t very easy, ……….
You should probably help your mum in the kitchen, ………….
We had a great weekend, ………..
We need to buy a birthday present for Sophie, ………

15. Is Mark at home today? Do you know…
Indirect statements and questions can be useful in letters. Look for an example in Max’s letter. Now change these questions into indirect questions or statements:
Is Mark at home today? Do you know…
What homework did our teacher give us?
There might be a party tomorrow night, but I’m not sure.
This answer is wrong, but I don’t know why.
Do teenagers in your country watch a lot of TV? Can you tell me…
Are your sisters going on holiday with you? Do you know…

16. You have just received this letter from Maria, your English friend
You have just received this letter from Maria, your English friend. How would you reply to her? What advice would you give her?
A school friend of mine has invited me to a party next week. I’ve got nothing to wear, but my sister has some great clothes I’d really like to borrow. She often borrows my things, but doesn’t like it so much when I borrow hers! What should I do?

17. You have just received this letter from Maria, your English friend
You have just received this letter from Maria, your English friend. How would you reply to her? What advice would you give her?
A school friend of mine has invited me to her birthday party next weekend. I’d like to give her a present but I’ve got very little money left this month and I don’t know what to give her. What should I do?