ENGLISH MS THAO -0584640516

WRITING EMAIL

Beginning your letter

You need to start your letter with something that is appropriate for the situation and that will
capture the reader's attention. If it is a formal letter, you should mention the purpose in the
opening paragraph. If it is an informal letter, you should start with a more general opening
paragraph.

Look at these different ways of beginning a letter.

Formal
 I am writing with regard to / in connection with ...
 I am writing in the hope that ...
 I would like to express my concern about ...
 I am a resident of ... and I would like to draw your attention to ...
Informal
 It was lovely to see you and your family last month ...
 Apologies for not writing for so long, but I've been really busy ...
 It was great to get your postcard ... and I'm thrilled to hear you are ...
 It's been a long time since we saw each other.

You recently bought a camera while travelling overseas. When you got to your
destination you discovered that some important items were missing from the box.

Write a letter to the local representative of the company. In your letter

 give details of the camera and where you bought it

 explain what has happened
 say what you want him/her to do about it

Write at least 150 words.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing in the hope that you can help me with a problem regarding a camera that I
recently bought.

On 27 June, I purchased a Canon DSLR camera from the 'Heinemann Duty Free' store at
Frankfurt Airport on my way from Moscow to Toronto. The camera cost $799 and I paid for
it on my Visa credit card.
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When I arrived at my hotel in Toronto almost 24 hours later I discovered, to my horror, that
the box which contained the camera did not include the battery charger. The space in the
box for the charger was empty.

I am now in Toronto and I am not returning to Frankfurt, so I need to get the missing parts
here. As you are the representative of the company in this country I would be grateful if you
could arrange for the parts to be sent to me. I attach a copy of the receipt with this letter for
your information.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,
Ulrich Nielsen

Useful language
Purpose of letter
 I am writing to...
o suggest that...
o complain about...
o explain...
o invite you to...
o thank you for...
o apologise for...
o ask for your help with...
o apply for...
o give advice about...
o say how sorry I am about/that...
Polite requests
 I would appreciate it if you would/could...
 I would be grateful if you would/could...
Saying 'No' politely
 I'm afraid that...
 I'm sorry that...
Ending
 I look forward to hearing from you soon.
 I hope to hear from you in the near future.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You are a student at a language school in New Zealand studying Business English.
Part of the course is a summer work placement programme. Unfortunately, you have
just learnt from the school that this programme has now been cancelled.

Write a letter to the School Principal. In your letter:

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 state your reason for writing

 describe the problem and your concerns
 explain what you would like the Principal to do.
Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Sample answer
Dear Mr Scheer,

I am writing this letter to express my deep disappointment with the news that the work
placement programme has been cancelled this summer.

One of the main reasons I chose to study Business English at your school in July and
August was the chance to participate in the work placement programme. There are many
English schools in California that offer Business English, but not many who offer the chance
to go and work in a local company as part of the course programme. Your school is more
expensive than the competition, but I was happy to pay extra because I thought the course
programme was better quality. Now however, I am very unhappy because I have spent a lot
of money and I am not getting the course I want.

As the course programme is now very different to the one advertised, I would like to request
a full refund of the money I have paid for this course. I will try to contact other schools in
California, or maybe New York, which run Business English courses and can guarantee a
work placement as part of the course.

I look forward to receiving your reply.

Yours Sincerely,

James charles

General Training Writing Task 1 should be written in the style appropriate to the task: if it is
a letter to a friend, it should be written in a friendly, informal style; if it is a letter to a
company or institution, it should be written in a formal style.

The following are the basic features of formal style:

 All verbs forms must be written in full: do not write contractions such as can't,
don't, etc.
 Do not use abbreviations such as info for information or ads for advertisements.
 Avoid using the active voice and the first person singular; in a formal letter you should
write: „A copy of the receipt will be forwarded to you as soon as possible‟ instead of „I
will send you a copy of the receipt ASAP.‟
 Avoid using informal intensifiers such as really, so, absolutely; use extremely, highly,
entirely, fully instead.
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 Avoid using phrasal verbs which tend to be used in informal writing and conversation;
for example, use seek a job instead of look for a job; most phrasal verbs are idiomatic
in nature, that is, their meaning cannot usually be inferred from their individual parts.
 Avoid using informal discourse markers and link words such as besides or by the
way and use incidentally instead.
 Do not use set phrases and idioms, for example, „I am not going to pay you a penny‟
instead of „Your fee will not be paid.‟
 Avoid ellipsis (leaving out words), for example, leaving out the subject I in „Hope to
hear from you soon.‟

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Last Wednesday you flew from London to Vancouver. When you arrived home, you
discovered that you had left your hand luggage on the plane.

Write a letter to the airline. In your letter, you should explain:

 where and when you lost your bag

 what your bag looks like
 what its contents were
Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I would like to report lost property. It seems that I left my hand luggage on one of your
flights. Last Wednesday, November 22nd, I flew from London to Vancouver on LB118 and
took my hand luggage with me. I put it in the overhead bin. Unfortunately, after the long
flight, I must have forgotten it on the plane.

It's a blue hand luggage on wheels. It has one outside pockets and is locked with a small
lock. I had all of my school work and books in it. I also had a new jacket in it. I had just
received it as a gift from my grandmother in London.

As you can imagine, these items are very important to me. Please let me know if you have
my hand luggage and how I can get it back. Write to me at my return address or email:
ana(at)[Link]

I'm looking forward to your reply.

Many thanks,

Ana Feldman
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1. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You are taking a course at a local college. The deadline for your project was last
week but you haven't finished it.

Write a letter to your lecturer. In your letter

 introduce yourself
 explain why you haven't handed in the project yet
 request more time to do it.

Write at least 150 words.

Dear Ms. McKeen,

My name is Leo Smith and I am a first-year student in your Marketing class at Capilano
College. I am writing to you because I have a problem with the project you set about social
media. The due date was last week but I'm afraid I haven't finished it yet. As you know, I
have been absent from class for almost ten days with COVID-19 symptoms and I have not
been attending lectures. I only managed to get the reading list from a friend and go to the
library to do research yesterday. You will see from your records that I have never missed a
deadline for an assignment so far during my course.

However, I am requesting an extension of one week in this case because I am so behind

with my work. I hope you will take my illness into consideration and grant me an extension.

Yours sincerely,
Leo Smith

You recently took a trip with a taxi company. The driver behaved in an unacceptable
way and you had a lot of problems. You complained to the company but no-one has
replied to your complaint.

Write a letter to the taxi company. In your letter

 say why you are writing and how you feel

 explain what happened
 tell them what you would like them to do.

Write at least 150 words.

Dear Sir/Madam,
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I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the service I have received from your taxi
company both during my ride and in dealing with my subsequent complaint.

Last Thursday (3rd of March), I took one of your taxis to go to an important business
meeting in the city. Although the driver said he knew the address I wanted to go to, he took
me to the wrong address. This made me late for my appointment. When I complained about
his mistake, he became angry and shouted at me. I refused to pay the fare and he then
started to threaten me. I took down his information and left the taxi while he was shouting,
and I immediately wrote a letter of complaint to your company. However, I am very
disappointed to find that I haven't a letter of apology for the driver's behaviour. As a
representative of your company, he should behave in a courteous manner; particularly
because it was the driver who had made the mistake.

I would like to recommend that you train your staff to behave in a polite manner to
customers. I also expect an apology for your employee's behaviour towards me.

Yours sincerely,
Jimmy Perez

Your next-door neighbour likes to listen to music late at night. Because of the loud
music, you often lose sleep.

Write a letter to the building manager. In your letter

 describe the situation

 explain the problems it is causing you
 offer at least one solution

Write at least 150 words.

Dear Mr. Rockwell,

I have been living in this apartment building for six years now, and I have always been a
responsible tenant. I am especially careful to be respectful of my neighbours in this building.
I would like to bring your attention to a problem I am having with one of my neighbours.

Last month, Mrs. Somers moved into apartment 2A, right next door to me. She enjoys
listening to music late at night, often after midnight. The music is very loud and I can easily
hear it in my bedroom. It makes it very difficult for me to fall asleep. I have to get up at 6:00
A.M. in order to get to work on time, so this is a serious problem for me.

Since Mrs. Somers is new to the building, perhaps she isn't aware of the building rules
about noise at night. I wonder if you would speak to her and remind her of this. Also, maybe
you could post a notice in the lobby about the noise rule for all the tenants to see.

Thank you for your help.

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Sincerely,
Calvin Harris

You have decided to leave your current job and look for a new one.

Write a letter to a friend. In your letter

 explain why you want to leave your current job

 describe what kind of job you are looking for
 ask for some help or advice

Write at least 150 words.

Dear Luca,

I am writing to let you know about my current job situation, hoping that you can give me
some advice. I have decided to leave my current position at the Swaneset Company. I have
worked there for several years now, and I think I have advanced as far as possible in this
company. I would like to work at a larger company where there are more opportunities for
advancement.

As you know, my most recent position at Swaneset has been as a software engineer in the
IT Department. I have learned a great deal about this type of work and am very interested in
it. I am hoping to find a similar sort of position at a larger company. I do not mind starting at
a new company at the same level as I am working at now, as long as I feel there are good
opportunities to move up before too long.

Since you have a lot of experience in this field, I was hoping that you could help me identify
some companies that might be a good fit for me. I would also appreciate some help with my
resume, if you do not mind my asking. I hope to hear from you soon.

Your friend,
John

(210 words)

ou recently spent a night in a hotel and had to put up with a great deal of noise very
early in the morning because of a faulty central heating system. The manager
promised to contact you regarding compensation but you still haven't heard from
him.

Write a letter to the hotel. In the letter

 describe the problem at the hotel

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 explain what the manager had said at the time

 say what you want the manager to do.

Write at least 150 words.

Dear Sir,

I am writing with regards to the complaint I made to you on 25th October concerning the
stay I had at your hotel the previous night.

You may remember that on the day in question, you had a serious problem with your central
heating system and that there was a great deal of noise, which started as early as 5 o'clock
in the morning. Not surprisingly, this resulted in a very poor night's sleep for my wife and
me. We complained about this to you when we checked out. You agreed that we had a
cause to complain and assured me that you would be contacting us regarding
compensation.

It has now been three weeks since that conversation and we have yet to hear from you.
Could you please confirm that this issue is being dealt with? I would also be grateful if you
could let me know when we can expect to be told the amount of compensation we will be
receiving.

I look forward to hearing from you very soon.

Yours faithfully,
Nick Brewer

You are planning to go and study English at a school overseas. You would like some
information about their courses.

Write a letter to the school. In your letter

 ask about the school

 say what kind of accommodation you want
 mention any special requests you have (for example diet).

Write at least 150 words.

Model answer
Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Renata Pereira from Sao Paolo in Brazil. I have recently registered as a student
at your college to follow a four-week course in Advanced Computer Programming starting at
the end of November this year.
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I am writing to you to try to decide on my accommodation while I'm in Manchester. Ideally, I

would like to stay with a host family because I think that this will also help me to improve my
English. If possible, I would like to stay very close to the College so I don't heed to spend a
lot of time travelling. Last year, I studied on a Business English course in San Diego, USA
and stayed with a host family and really enjoyed it very much. I am hoping for the same
experience in Manchester.

I'd really appreciate it if you could send me any information you have regarding the different
accumulation options (particularly host families). In particular, I'd like to know where the
accommodation is and how much it costs.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,
Renata Pereira

You work for a company. You have seen some information online about a training
course that would be useful for your work.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter

 give details of the course

 say how the course would be useful
 explain how the company could help you do this course.

Write at least 150 words.

Dear Martin

I have recently become aware of a course called Social Media Marketing Essentials and I
am writing to ask for your support in taking this course. It is a five-day intensive program
being offered by the Business Leadership Association and it starts on Monday 15 February.
I believe the course would be of great benefit to our company as we have been recently
considering how to build up our social media presence and attract more customers online.
After reading reviews by former participants, I think this Social Media course will help me
professionally in my capacity as Communications Manager and make a real difference to
our company.

For these reasons, I am requesting paid leave from 15-20 February to attend the course. It
would be helpful if other team members did not take leave at this time; so far nobody else
has applied. I believe this will not be a particularly busy time at work, but I am prepared to
spend some time working on those evenings if needed.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best wishes
Neil MacFarlane
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(183 words)

A friend from another country is moving to your city for work. He / she has asked you
for advice about living in your city.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter

 suggest an interesting part of the city to live in

 describe the public transport in your city
 say how your friend can meet new people there

Write at least 150 words.

Dear Irina,

It's very exciting to hear that you'll be moving to London and congratulations on your new
job!

As you'll probably be working in the city centre, perhaps you could think about living near
me in Croydon. It's a large town in south London. There are people here from all over the
world and it has a friendly, relaxed vibe.

In terms of public transport, you can get around London by bus, train and the Underground.
You should just get an Oyster card, which I'll help you with. It means you can get on and off
without having to buy a separate ticket each time. Public transport is pretty crowded in the
mornings but no worse than in Moscow!

I'll introduce you to my friends and I'm sure you'll meet people at work too. You could try
living in a shared house if you want to meet some locals.

Anyway, I can't wait to see you.

Lots of love,
Jane

(160 words)

You have heard that a developer plans to build a shopping centre near your home.

Write a letter to the council. In your letter

 say how you heard about the plan

 explain how you feel about it
 ask for more information about it
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Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Model answer
Dear Sir or Madam,

I am a resident of Boundary Road and I have recently read in the local newspaper that a
shopping centre is going to be built near where I live.

This news was rather a surprise to me. I have been living in Boundary Road for five years
now and it has always been a very quiet street with very few tall buildings. I think a
construction like this will change the atmosphere of the area considerably and, like many
other residents I have spoken to, I am not at all happy about it.

I think people who live in the area have a right to know more about the plan before it goes
ahead, so I would like to request further details regarding the dates of the planned building
work and the size of the centre. Also, I sincerely hope you are planning to provide a car
park, as otherwise parking will become very difficult for everyone in the area.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,
John Carlson

You are currently taking a course at a college but you will need to have a week off
during this course.

Write a letter to the college Principal. In the letter

 give details of your course

 explain why you need a week off
 say what you want the Principal to do.

Write at least 150 words.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am an international student in my second year of the Computer Science course at the

college. My tutor is Mr Johnson, and I am a full-time student, living in the college residence.
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I am writing to request a week's leave from the college next month. My cousin's wedding is
taking place in my home country and my family expect me to be there. Although this will
mean that I have to miss lectures for a week, I can arrange for one of my friends on the
course to give me any notes concerning what I have missed.

I would be grateful if you would give me permission to be absent for the week beginning
25th May. If you are kind enough to allow me to do this, I will speak to Mr Johnson and
arrange to make up for any work that I did not do while I was away.

Yours faithfully,
Jonah Smith

You are renting a flat from an agency. Your contract was for one year but you need to
leave the flat two months early.

Write a letter to the agency. In your letter

 introduce yourself
 ask to leave the flat before the contract finishes
 explain why you need to break the contract.

Write at least 150 words.

Model answer
Dear Sir or Madam,

My name is John Nordstrom and I have been renting the flat on Parkway Boulevard from
you for the past six months. As I'm sure you are aware I have been a good tenant during
this period. I always pay my rent on time and look after the flat.

My rental agreement with you was for one year and the contract ends in January.
Unfortunately, I have just heard that I will need to leave the flat in November, which is, in
fact, two months early. The reason for this is that my manager has asked me to go back to
Germany earlier than planned and I am afraid this is beyond my control.

As I am now unable to stay here until the end of the contract, I would be extremely grateful
if you could release me from it early. I'm aware that this is not normally allowed but I hope
you can understand my situation and still return my deposit.

Yours faithfully,
John Nordstrom

You are renting a flat from an agency. Your contract was for one year but you need to
leave the flat two months early.
 ENGLISH MS THAO -0584640516

Write a letter to the agency. In your letter

 introduce yourself
 ask to leave the flat before the contract finishes
 explain why you need to break the contract.

Write at least 150 words.

Model answer
Dear Sir or Madam,

My name is John Nordstrom and I have been renting the flat on Parkway Boulevard from
you for the past six months. As I'm sure you are aware I have been a good tenant during
this period. I always pay my rent on time and look after the flat.

My rental agreement with you was for one year and the contract ends in January.
Unfortunately, I have just heard that I will need to leave the flat in November, which is, in
fact, two months early. The reason for this is that my manager has asked me to go back to
Germany earlier than planned and I am afraid this is beyond my control.

As I am now unable to stay here until the end of the contract, I would be extremely grateful
if you could release me from it early. I'm aware that this is not normally allowed but I hope
you can understand my situation and still return my deposit.

Yours faithfully,
John Nordstrom

You have seen an advertisement for a community college that needs teachers for
night classes.

Write a letter to the community college. In your letter:

 say which advertisement you are answering

 describe which course(s) you want to teach, and what it/they would be about
 explain why you would be a suitable teacher
Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

I am writing to City Evening College in reference to an advertisement I saw in The

Vancouver Sun on May 14th for language teachers at your college.
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I am interested in teaching Korean and Korean Cookery. I have seen that your guide for last
term does not include these courses, but I understand there are now large numbers of
second and third-generation Koreans living in this part of the city who may be keen to learn
more about their language and culture.

I have a Bachelor of Science degree and a teaching diploma. I hold special qualifications in
language teaching and cookery. I was a science teacher in Korea, but moved to San
Francisco in 2010. There, I taught Korean for Beginners and Korean Cookery at two
community colleges. The language course assumed students had no prior knowledge of
Korean. It gave them simple everyday language, as well as recognition of the alphabet. The
cookery course focused on easy meal preparation and the art of pickling, or kim chi.

In Vancouver, I could teach the same courses as previously, or we could devise new ones,
depending on what the college considered its market to be.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Kim Stevenson

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

A restaurant has placed an advertisement for waiters and waitresses in your local
newspaper.

Write a letter to the restaurant, applying for the job. In your letter:

 explain what you are currently doing

 describe your suitability for this area of work
 say when you can attend an interview
Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing in reference to the advertisement you placed in the Vancouver Observer for
waiters and waitresses.

I am 19 years old and I am a part-time student at college. I have held several positions in
catering outlets during my studies and, as the restaurant where I am currently employed is
due to close, I am keen to find another position as soon as possible.
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I have completed and passed the advanced certificate in food hygiene and am therefore
familiar with the requirements of working in the catering industry. In my current job, in
addition to working as a waiter, I am also responsible for counting up takings at the end of
the day.

I am very reliable and trustworthy, have a friendly, outgoing personality and enjoy dealing
with the public. I would be very grateful if I could be considered for the position. My
employer is happy to supply a reference and I am available for interview at any time except
Monday and Wednesday afternoons when I attend college.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

John Lee

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You are studying for a qualification, and you would like some time off work to
complete it.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter:

 Ask for some time off to complete a qualification.

 Suggest what you will do later at work if you have time off.
 Say how the qualification helps your job or company.
Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Tip

When you do not know the name of the reader you should start the letter: “Dear Sir/Madam”
and end with “Yours faithfully”. If you do know the name of the reader, you should start the
letter with: “Dear Mr/Mrs” and end with “Yours sincerely”, plus your full name.

Dear Mr Lee,
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I am writing to you about the possibility of taking a fortnight off work in order to complete my
Master‟s degree in Engineering. I am almost finished writing my thesis, which must be
submitted to my university by June 30th. Unfortunately, all my annual leave has been used
up. Any time I took off, would naturally be unpaid; I would also check my email daily, and be
available for emergency phone calls. On return, I would endeavour to come into the office
earlier than usual and work Saturdays in order to catch up on anything I had missed. I have
already spoken about my situation to my colleagues Mr Grunewald and Ms Tak, who are
both willing to assume my responsibilities for two weeks.

I realise my temporary absence could be an inconvenience to you and the rest of the team,
but in the long term, our company will benefit from my research. As you may be aware, I
have been investigating 3-D printing for some time, and my thesis compares three printers
already on the market with two designs pending patent and production. Since our company
is considering developing software for these printers, my expertise will help give us a
competitive edge.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Alexander Aksyonov

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You play a team sport with some friends. Last week a member of the team had an
accident and wasn't able to play with you at the weekend. You decide to write to him
in hospital, telling him about the match.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter,

 tell him which team won

 describe the conditions on the day
 say how you felt about the match
Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Dear Frank,
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I was so sorry to hear about your accident! I hope you're feeling a lot better today and that
it's not too boring in hospital.
(Expresses sympathy and asks about the reader's health.)
The match on Saturday was disappointing. The score was 2 all, probably because you
weren't there to score that extra goal! The awful thing was that we were winning until 10
minutes before the end, when suddenly they scored another goal. I was so shocked when I
saw the ball hit the back of the net.
(Tells him the score and briefly describes how you felt about the match.)
I think the weather was to blame. It was a really wet day and the pitch was very muddy. By
the end of the game you could hardly see the grass and we were sliding around in the mud.
Everyone was exhausted.
(Mentions the weather and conditions.)
Let us know when you're going home and we'll arrange for someone to bring you to watch
the next game. The rest of the team send their regards and we all wish you a speedy
recovery.
(Finishes with good wishes.)
Best wishes,
Charlie

You are going to another country to study. You would like to do a part-time job while
you are studying, so you want to ask a friend who lives there for some help.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter,

 give details of your study plans

 explain why you want to get a part-time job
 suggest how your friend could help you find a job
Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Dear Sara,

My departure date for Canada is drawing near, and I am busy with preparations. I have
enrolled at an institution called „IDT English‟ in Ottawa, for a four-month intermediate
course, full-time. It is quite expensive but I am hopeful of improving my pronunciation,
especially.

To assist in covering the costs of my study, I aim to find a part-time job. Not only are the
college fees rather high, but also I know that rental accommodation in the capital city will not
be cheap, to say nothing of food and heating expenses! So I would very much like to
arrange some temporary employment before I arrive.
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I was wondering if you could ask around among your friends and colleagues to see if
anyone wants a house-cleaner, gardener, or nanny for their children. I know you have a
wide social network in Ottawa which you could canvas for me, if you wouldn't mind. I'd be
so grateful.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

Best wishes,

Helen

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You are studying a short course in another country. Your accommodation was
arranged by the course provider. There is a major problem with the accommodation.

Write a letter to the course provider. In your letter,

 say what the problem is

 describe the accommodation you thought you were getting
 ask the provider to solve the problem
Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Dear Mr Watterson,

My name is Andrew Fish, and I am taking an eight-week intensive English course at Oxford
House College. My company is paying for my tuition, and I am using my summer vacation
to study. It is expected I will pass an English Proficiency Test as a result, and be transferred
abroad. Therefore, it is rather important to me that I am able to study in the best
environment.

I am staying in Phoenix Hostel on campus. While my room is pleasant and the facilities are
very good, the hostel is extremely noisy. When I organised my accommodation, I was
assured I would be staying only with post-graduate or intensive-course students. However,
most of the people in this hostel are doing summer-school courses due to academic failure,
and they are all under 22. It seems to me they are enjoying one long party: certainly no one
observes light out or turns down music despite being asked to.

I wonder if I may be moved to a hostel which is more conducive to serious study, or I may
use the remainder of my accommodation fee to go towards payment for a hotel.
I look forward to hearing from you.
 ENGLISH MS THAO -0584640516

Yours sincerely,
Andrew Fish

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You have seen an advertisement in an English newspaper for a job working in the
City Museum shop during the holidays. You decide to apply for the job.

Write a letter to the director of the Museum. In your letter,

 introduce yourself
 explain what experience and special skills you have
 explain why you are interested in the job
Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I‟m writing to apply for the holiday job which you advertised recently in the newspaper. I am
a twenty-one-year-old student and I speak English quite well. At present I am in my second
year studying History at Lincoln College and I am very keen to have a holiday job this
summer. I am extremely good at adding up, so I think I would be an asset to your shop.

My term finishes on 5th July and I am free until 20th September. Last year I worked in a
restaurant serving tourists from all over the world and I enjoyed it very much. I would like to
have the opportunity to meet people and practise my English again.

I enjoy going to museums and am particularly keen on history. Last year I went to an
exhibition of Ancient Greek objects which was held in London. I have often been in your
museum and am familiar with the items you have. I do hope you will be interested in my
application.

I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Yours faithfully,

Dimitris Boudramis
In the GT Writing Module you may be asked to write a letter of application for a job.
You will need to use a range of vocabulary, some quite specialised, in your letter.

Complete the letter by filling the gaps with a word from the box below.

CV

post
 ENGLISH MS THAO -0584640516

department

developer

interview

experience

qualified

closing

skills

salary

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to apply for the of Software Development Manager advertised on February 9th
on the University of Kent vacancy database. I have worked for the past ten years as a
senior in a telecommunication company in the IT . I think now is the right time to apply for a
better position as I believe I have gained relevant and skills.
As you can see from my enclosed , I am a engineer and believe I have excellent technical
and management . My current is $55,000 a year.
I realize that the date for applications was last Saturday, but I hope you will still consider
my application. I will be available for at any time, apart from the 12 - 24 March when I have
arranged a holiday in Italy.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely
John Smith

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You are due to move into a rented apartment next month but you will not be able to
because you have some problems.

Write a letter to the course provider. In your letter,

 explain your situation

 describe your problems
 tell him/her when you think you can move in
Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

 ENGLISH MS THAO -0584640516

Dear Miss Berry,

As you know, I have rented 41 George Roche Road from you for six months from 15th
August. However, I am afraid I will no longer be able to move in on that date, as my plans
have had to change because of illness.

During the summer vacation, I was working in a company as a Project Manager. Towards
the end of my shift, I slipped and fell on a wet floor and broke my wrist. Luckily, it was a
clean break and didn't require surgery. However, it is my right wrist, and so I am unable to
write for the time being.

At present, I am at home in Kuala Lumpur until the plaster can be taken off – I think this
should be in the last week of September. I will then return to my course in Canterbury and
take up residence at 41 George Roche Road.

I hope this will not cause you any difficulties.

Yours sincerely,

Rachel Yu

ou should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You are going on a short course to a training college abroad. It is a college that you
have not been to before.

Write a letter to the accommodation officer. In your letter,

 give details of your course and your arrival/departure date

 explain your accommodation needs
 ask for information about getting to and from the college
Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ................. ,
Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to inform you that I will be attending the Advanced Life Insurance course, being
held from Tuesday 24th April until 27th April, at the University of Hartford.

I will be arriving on the afternoon of Monday 23th and will be leaving on the morning of
Saturday the 28th of April, so I will require a single room for this time. I would prefer my own
bathroom, if this is possible, but do not mind sharing if I have to; however, as I am
 ENGLISH MS THAO -0584640516

wheelchair bound, the room will have to be disability friendly. Could you please tell me how
much this will cost and how I should make a payment? Do you accept VISA?

As I do not know the area, I would also be grateful if you could provide some information
about getting to and from the University. Will I need to take public transport from the station
or is there a University bus service? Any information on what to see and do in the area
would also be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your assistance.

Alex Jones

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You are looking for a part-time job.

Write a letter to an employment agency. In your letter,

 introduce yourself
 explain what sort of job you would like
 and say what experience and skills you have
Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ................. ,
Dear Sir/Madam,

I am a German national from Heidelberg and at present I am studying for a Master‟s degree
in Commercial Law here, at the University of Bielefeld, where I have been for the last two
months.

I am looking for a part-time job and I wonder if you can help me. Probably, I would like an
office job, perhaps working as a secretary, office administrator or typist. I can only work
during the afternoons and at weekends as my university studies occupy most of the day. I
would be ready to start immediately.

I am a competent typist and I am computer-literate. In addition, I speak Polish and German

fluently and I have been learning English for the past three years. While I studied for my
degree, I worked as a part-time office manager for an import-export firm in Heidelberg. In
recent years, I have also had temporary summer jobs as a hotel receptionist in Mannheim,
Germany.

I am looking forward to hearing from you,

 ENGLISH MS THAO -0584640516

Yours faithfully,
Heinrich Bukowski

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You have a full time job and are also doing a part time evening course. You now find
that you can not continue the course.

Write a letter to your tutor. In your letter,

 describe the situation

 explain why you cannot continue at this time
 say what action you would like to take
Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ................. ,

Dear Sir or Madam,

My name is Muhamad Abdul. I am taking a part-time evening course. I am having a hard

time keeping up with this course. I am afraid I cannot continue the course.
My problem is, I have a full-time job, from 9am – 5pm. Sometimes, I am asked to stay extra
hours, to finish up the rest of the work. That is because the holidays are coming up soon.
Also I have to do some work preparations for the next day.

At night when I get home, I am too tired to even prepare a dinner for myself. Also I have no
time to study for this course.
I would like drop this course this quarter. Then take it again the next quarter. So, please
accept my situation.

Thank you for your cooperation

Sincerely

M. Abdul

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Your neighbours have recently written to you to complain about the noise from your
houselflat.
 ENGLISH MS THAO -0584640516

Write a letter to your neighbours. In your letter,

 explain the reasons for the noise

 apologise
 describe what action you will take
Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ................. ,
Model answer
Dear James,

I was very shocked to get your letter saying that the noise from my flat has been spoiling
your evenings and causing you some distress. I am really, really sorry about that. I had no
idea that you would be able to hear so much, so I hope you will accept my apologies.

As you may have guessed, I am trying to refit my kitchen in the evenings when I get home
from work. Unfortunately it is all getting longer than expected and I have been having
problems with getting things to fit properly. This has meant to a lot of banging and
hammering.

As the kitchen is still not finished, I have decided to call in a professional builder who will
finish the work in the next day or two. He‟ll work only during daytime hours, so you won‟t be
disturbed in the evenings again, I promise.

Sorry to have caused these problems,

Bill.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Your car is hired from a company and while you are driving on holiday, you have a
small accident. You will have to write a report to the company to explain it.
In your letter:
 when and where you hired it
 describe how the accident happened
 what kind of action did you take after the accident
You should write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write your own address. Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir,
ENGLISH MS THAO -0584640516

Dear Sir,

I am a recent customer of your rental company having I rented a car from your downtown
outlet in Detroit. The car hired was an economy model vehicle which I rented from March
21st to the present. I would like to commend your company on their professionalism and the
service offered, and as such I am sure you will handle my incident with these qualities.

Unfortunately, I had an unavoidable accident involving the aforementioned vehicle and

another party. The accident was caused by the other car failing to stop at the red light of the
intersection I was passing through, and as such the second party collided into the driver's
side of my automobile. The police were informed in situ, whereupon they recorded
information regarding the accident and the other driver‟s insurance details.

The police established the other driver's responsibility for the accident, and the second
party's insurance company has been informed. I would like to request that a replacement
vehicle be offered while my current vehicle is incapacitated. Once again, I would like to
commend your company's professional attitude.

Yours sincerely

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You cannot go to a company where you got an offer. Write a letter to the HR
supervisor to
 explain the reason why you decline the offer
 express you gratitude
 explain you like your current job very much
You should write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write your own address. Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir,

I was a potential employee to whom you made a job offer. I would like to extend my thanks
for such an offer, especially at such a company as yours. It is, however, with deepest regret
that I must decline your generous invitation and apologize for any inconvenience I may have
caused.

I appreciate immensely the interview organized by your company and the extensive effort
made by all the staff involved. Their attitude was impressive and highly commendable. As
such I must pass my sincerest apologies for any difficulties related to the extra work that
must have been involved, and the time wasted on your behalf. Although the offer was
substantial, it wasn‟t enough to encourage me to sever the bonds with my current employer.
During my time at my present company my superiors supported me and fostered my career.
In short, they made me the employee I am today.

I would like to keep the lines of communication open between our two parties, and look
ENGLISH MS THAO -0584640516

forward to further correspondence.

Yours sincerely

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Write a letter to complain about a situation in which some adolescents let their dogs
run wildly causing dangerous.
You should write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write your own address. Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir,

Model answer
Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to draw your attention to a situation that has been developing in my

neighborhood.

Recently, I have witnessed many dogs on the loose in the neighborhood.

The dogs, which are fierce looking and not muzzled, are given license to run around the
neighborhood. They are intimidating, especially to children and the elderly. I am afraid that
it‟s just a matter of time before someone gets seriously injured.

The owners of these dogs, a bunch of adolescents, seem to be unaware of the dangers of
letting their pets off the leash and have adopted a nonchalant attitude. The teenagers have
been asked by numerous locals to keep the dogs under control but all requests have been
ignored and the situation has not improved. I therefore believe that immediate action must
be taken and I ask that you investigate the matter and take appropriate action as soon as
possible to prevent the occurrence of injury and serious bodily harm.

(162 words)

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You ordered a new cheque book from your bank two weeks ago but you have
received nothing.

Write a letter to the manager complaining about the bad service. Say when and how
you ordered the cheque book. Ask how much longer you will have to wait and ask the
manager what action he will take over this matter.
You should write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write your own address. Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir,
ENGLISH MS THAO -0584640516

Dear Sir,

I am writing to complain about the service that I have received at your bank. Two weeks ago
I ordered a cheque book by filling out the appropriate form when I visited the bank but since
then I have not received the cheque book and I have received no other correspondence
from the bank. It is quite urgent for me as I have quite a few bills that I need to pay that can
only be paid by cheque.

Please write to me as soon as possible and let me know how much longer I will have to wait
for my cheque book and please explain why I have had to wait so long. I would also like to
know what action you are going to take regarding this bad service.

I have been a customer of your bank now for fifteen years and this is the first time I have
had to complain. It is very disappointing.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Graham Swann

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You would like to buy some electrical goods at a shop in a nearby town.

Write a letter to the shop and ask if they have the things you want or whether they
will be able to order them. Ask what the prices are and how long they will be able to
hold the goods for you.
You should write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write your own address. Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir,

Model answer
Dear Sir,

I am writing to enquire if you have various electrical goods that I want to buy. I have tried
shops in my own town but they don‛t have exactly what I want.

I want the new Sony DVD player, a Technics turntable and a radio with long wave
capability. Do you have these items in stock or, if not, will you be able to order them soon? I
also need to know what price you charge for these items. If you do have these things, would
you be able to hold them for me and for how long? I am free this weekend and, if you have
them, I can come over on Saturday morning to pay you and pick them up.

Please write back to me as soon as possible at the above address or call me on my mobile
ENGLISH MS THAO -0584640516

number (07364 957 143). I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Jervis

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You have been invited to attend an interview for a place studying a course in a
college. Unfortunately because of a previous appointment you cannot come at the
time they wish.

Write a letter to the admissions tutor and explain your position. Apologise and offer
to come on another day or later the same day. Ask also how long the interview will be
and whether there will be any tests during it.
You should write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write your own address. Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir,

Model answer
Dear Sir,

Thank you very much for your letter dated 15th May inviting me for an interview at your
college on Wednesday 2nd June at 10am. I am extremely sorry but I am unable to come to
an interview at that time because I have a maths exam that morning. It really cannot I miss
this exam but of course I really wish to attend the interview with you. Is it possible that I
could come to the interview the same day but in the afternoon? Failing that, I would be able
to come the next day or any day after.

I would also like to ask some things about the interview. I would like to know how long it will
last and also whether I will be required to do any tests during it.

Once again I apologise for not being able to attend the interview at the time that you wanted
and I hope I will be able to meet with you at another time.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

James Walker

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

A friend of yours is going on holiday soon and has asked you to recommend a
destination.
 ENGLISH MS THAO -0584640516

Write a letter to your friend and recommend a good place for a holiday that you have
visited before. Say where you went, where you stayed, what you can do there and
what the food was like.
You should write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write your own address. Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sarah,

Model answer
Dear Sarah,

Thanks for your letter. I‛m glad you and the family are well. So, you‛re thinking of going on
holiday in the UK. Well I can certainly recommend one destination for you. I went one year
to a place called Lochinver in the north west of Scotland. It‛s quite a long trip to get there as
it‛s only about thirty miles from the north coast but it‛s worth it.

There are only a few places to stay. There are two hotels, the Kirkaig and the Assynt in the
centre of town, and a campsite just outside town. We stayed at the Kirkaig Hotel but I know
you and your family are keen campers so you might prefer the camping option.

There is a lot to do but it‛s a bit dependent on the weather. There‛s a beautiful beach, a golf
course, the fishing is excellent and there are fantastic hills nearby for walking in amazing
scenery. If it‛s wet there‛s a small cinema in town but that‛s about all. Take some board
games!

The food is typical British in the hotels but some of the Scottish specialities are fantastic. If
you‛re camping though, food will be up to you!

Anyway, I‛ve got to go out now and pick up the kids. Write again if you need any more
information.

Regards,

Mary
You have just spent a weekend staying at the Lilo Hotel in Adelaide. When you get
home you find that you have left a bag at the hotel.
 You should write at least 150 words.
 You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

model answer:

Dear Mr. Simpson,

I stayed in your hotel on the 23rd and 24th of October. I was in Room 603. When I arrived
ENGLISH MS THAO -0584640516

home, I discovered that I had left one of my bags at the hotel. Could you please check your
Lost and Found Department and see if my bag is there?

The bag is a small black leather, document case with a narrow strap. Inside the bag, you
will find several business cards, a fountain pen, a small address book, three copies of a
business proposal and a silver pocket calculator. These things are not very valuable in
money terms, but they have a lot of personal value.

I would appreciate it if you could contact me as soon as possible, particularly since I need
the proposals for a presentation this week. If you could send the bag to me by courier
service, I would be most grateful. I have arranged to pay for the service.

Thank you for your help.

Yours sincerely,