2. New Horizon English Course Section C Writing Personal Letters (2)

3. About Personal Letters Sample Reading Useful Patterns Exercises CONTENTS CONTENTS

4. About personal letters Personal letters, also known as friendly letters, are used for social interactions. They are written for family concerns, thanks, congratulations, invitations, consolations, favors, condolences, apologies and so on. The style and tone of personal letters is usually casual. There are three basic styles for writing personal letters: block style, modified block style and indented style. Personal letters, also known as friendly letters, are used for social interactions. They are written for family concerns, thanks, congratulations, invitations, consolations, favors, condolences, apologies and so on. The style and tone of personal letters is usually casual. There are three basic styles for writing personal letters: block style, modified block style and indented style.

5. About personal letters Compare the formats of these three styles, and try to find out the differences among them. ________ ______________________ _________________ ______________________ ________________ ______________________ __________________ ________ Block Style Date Opening Body Closing Signature

6. About personal letters Modified Block Style ________ ______________________ _________________ ______________________ ________________ ______________________ __________________ ________ Opening Date Body Closing Signature

7. About personal letters Indented Style ________ ___________________ _____________________ _________________ ___________________ ________________ ___________________ ________________ ________ Opening Date Body Closing Signature

8. Sample reading The sample is written in indented style. In this case, each paragraph is indented 4 to 5 letters. In this letter, the writer writes to one of his former teachers, telling him about his study and his present job.

9. Sample reading November 8 th, 2008 Dear Mr. Yang, I wonder if you still remember me, Zhou Xiaolin, from Oxford University. I have often wondered how you have been getting along since you came to teach in Beijing, but I’m sorry I have been so slow in getting in touch with you. I returned to Shanghai in September after completing the math course. The university has recently sent me a letter telling me that I’ve passed all the examinations and that I will be awarded a doctoral degree. I’m very pleased with the results. Now I’m working at Fudan University. Is there any possibility you might be able to visit Shanghai? It is getting more and more beautiful. I can show you around the city if you come. I’m looking forward to hearing from you. Sincerely yours Xiaolin

10. Sample reading 亲爱的杨老师： 我叫周小林，是牛津大学的学生。不知道您是否还记得我？ 我一直想知道自从您到北京任教以来过得好不好？很抱歉我这 么久才和您联系。 九月份我读完数学课程后回到了上海。牛津大学刚刚来信告 知，我已经通过全部的考试，将授予我博士学位。对此，我十 分高兴。 现在我在复旦大学工作。您是否有机会到上海来？上海越来 越美了。如果您来的话，我会带您四处逛逛。 盼望您的来信。 周小林 2008.11.8

11. To begin a personal letter: 1. I am very happy to receive your letter of 16th April. 2. I had been looking forward to hearing from you and you can imagine my pleasure when I got your letter. 3. I hope you can forgive me for putting off writing to you for so many days. 4. I’m sorry that I didn’t write to you as soon as I got your letter, but I’ve been very busy. … Useful patterns To end a personal letter: 1. I look forward to seeing you soon. 2. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon. 3. Please remember me to your mother. 4. I hope you’ll get well soon. 5. I wish you every success. …

12. The following is a complete letter. Organize it correctly. Pay attention to its layout. Note that the body of the letter has two paragraphs. (1) January 15 th, 2008 (2) Dear Su Lin, (3) How pleased we were to receive your letter, which came a few days ago, particularly as I had just been released from the hospital. My previous letter was nearly my last; but after a month in bed, I’m home and about again. (4) There’s a lot of snow here － the streets are quite covered. It has been a very cold winter. How is the weather in Nanjing? Do you have a lot of snow, too? I hope spring will come soon. (5) Yours sincerely, (6) David Exercises- A

13. January 15th, 2008 Dear Su Lin, How pleased we were to receive your letter, which came a few days ago, particularly as I had just been released from the hospital. My previous letter was nearly my last; but after a month in bed, I’m home and about again. There’s a lot of snow here － the streets are quite covered. It has been a very cold winter. How is the weather in Nanjing? Do you have a lot of snow, too? I hope spring will come soon. Yours sincerely, David Exercises- A

14. Exercises- B Study the layout of the following letter and see what is wrong with it. Put it in a proper layout. Dear John, …………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………… ………………………………….. Miss Linying Yours sincerely, May 6th, 2008

15. Key to Ex. B Study the layout of the following letter and see what is wrong with it. Put it in a proper layout. May 6th, 2008 Dear John, …………………………………………………………. ………………………………….. Yours sincerely, Lin Ying

16. Complete the following letter by using the given information and translate the Chinese into English. Exercises- C Recipient of the letter: Mr. Anderson Sender of the letter: Gao Keming Date: (Use today’s date) Exercise>>>

17. (1) ______________ (2) __________________, I was very pleased to hear that you were (3) ___________________ ( 提升经理 ) of the Overseas Department. Please (4) ______________________________( 接受我的祝贺 ). For many years, you (5) ________________________________ ( 为 公司努力工作 ). Your winning of the position shows that your good service has been recognized by all. I’m sure that the department will make greater progress under your guidance. I (6) ________________( 我祝你成功 ) in your future career. Sincerely yours, (7) _____________ (1) ______________ (2) __________________, I was very pleased to hear that you were (3) ___________________ ( 提升经理 ) of the Overseas Department. Please (4) ______________________________( 接受我的祝贺 ). For many years, you (5) ________________________________ ( 为 公司努力工作 ). Your winning of the position shows that your good service has been recognized by all. I’m sure that the department will make greater progress under your guidance. I (6) ________________( 我祝你成功 ) in your future career. Sincerely yours, (7) _____________ Exercises Open-ended Dear Mr. Anderson have worked very hard for the company promoted to Manager accept my warm congratulations wish you success Gao Keming

18. THANK YOU The End