Your find that your study load is too heavy. Write a letter to your college teacher explaining why you need to withdraw from two courses. Ask if it is possible to obtain a refund. 1 страница

After being involved in an accident, you were looked after by another person. Write a special letter to express your thanks.

• You should write at least 150 words.
• You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

model answer:

Dear John,

I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude. I am referring to that unfortunate accident the other day, when I was knocked off my bike by a taxi. If it had not been for your timely assistance in giving me first aid and taking me to a nearby hospital, I fear that the consequences might have been much more serious.

The doctor says that my broken leg is healing well, and the bruises and cuts I suffered will soon be completely better. In addition, the taxi company has agreed to pay my hospital bills. Everyone agrees that it was your quick-witted response in that emergency that has lead to this satisfactory outcome.

Although nowadays many people talk about the need to be unselfish and to help others, we see very few people practicing what they preach. But you showed by your selfless action that you are an exception. If there were more people like you, this world would be a much nicer place.

Yours sincerely,

Ted

One of your pen pals will shortly be visiting your city. For some reasons, you can not manage to meet him at the airport on time.

Write a letter asking him to wait for you at the airport and tell him how to identify you.

• You should write at least 150 words.
• You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

model answer:

Dear Mary,

I am very much looking forward to your visit to my city. Just think: after all these years to writing to each other, we will finally have the chance to meet! However, I regret to inform you that I will not be able to meet you at the airport as soon as you arrive.

The reason is that your flight will arrive early in the morning, and the quickest time I can get to the airport will be about an hour after you land. Please wait for me in the arrival lounge. You should be able to have breakfast there while you wait.

By the way, as we have never met I must tell you how to recognize me: I am of medium height and have a small mustache. In addition, I will be carrying a copy of the morning newspaper tucked under my left arm.

Looking forward to our first meeting.

Yours sincerely,

Harry

• You should write at least 150 words.
• You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

model answer:

Dear Prof. James,

I am writing to formally request to withdraw from two courses: Introduction to Elementary Education (EDU602) and Teaching Methods (EDU 619)

The main reason for reducing my course load is that I am finding it extremely difficult to manage six courses. In the beginning of the term, I was perhaps overly optimistic about juggling both my full time studies and my part time job (20 hours/week). Because I really must work part time, I have no other choice but to decrease my course load. I am planning on taking the two courses during the summer semester, if they are available, so that I will be able to complete all the courses for the degree program by the following year.

I would also like to request a tuition refund, and hope I am not too late to receive the full reimbursement. I am sorry for any inconveniences I have caused by this change in plans. This decision was not taken lightly, and I do appreciate the kind consideration you have shown to me.

Thank you for your attention to these requests. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 277-9144. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely yours,

Jane Carter

As part of a student social survey project, you are organizing a group to visit a historical exhibition in a small town. Write a letter asking for information regarding such things as the contents of the exhibition, and the dates of its opening and closing, and if there are any discounts available.

• You should write at least 150 words.
• You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

model answer:

Dear Sir,

I am organizing a group of students to pay a visit to the historical exhibition in your town. This visit will be part of our school’s activities to encourage the students to take part in social surveys. Therefore, I would be grateful if you could supply me with the following information.

First of all, what are the dates between which the exhibition will be held, and what the daily opening hours? Secondly, what is the size of the exhibition, what is its theme and what objects are on display? Thirdly, are there any other activities being held in connection with the exhibition?

I must point out that I hope to bring over students to the exhibition. So I would like to inquire if there is any discount available on entrance tickets for students. If so, how much is the discount and what is the minimum number of students necessary to quality for it?

I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

George Moore

You live in a room in a college where you share with another student. You find it very difficult to work there because your roommate always has friends visiting. He/She has parties in the room and sometimes borrows your things without asking you.

Write a letter to the Accommodation Officer at the college and ask for a new room next term. You would prefer a single room.
Explain your reasons.

• You should write at least 150 words.
• You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

model answer:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to inform you that I wish to move into a new room next term. I would prefer a single room, as I find the present sharing arrangement inconvenient.

I must explain that the reason for my dissatisfaction is my roommate’s inconsiderate behavior. For one thing, his friends are constantly visiting him, for another, he regularly holds noisy parties. In addition, he sometimes borrows my things without asking me. In these circumstances, I find it difficult to concentrate on my studies, and I am falling behind in my assignments.

I am sure you will agree that the only solution is for me to move into a room of my own, where I will be free from such distractions. Therefore, I would be grateful if you could find a single room for me, preferably not in the same building but as near to the college campus as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Janice Kennedy

You went to the local hospital’s Emergency Department with your young child who had severe stomach pains. You had to wait for almost four hours before your daughter was treated by a doctor and, while you were waiting, you were constantly ignored by the other staff.

Write a letter to the Registrar, complaining about the service you received.

• You should write at least 150 words.
• Allow yourself 20 minutes for this task.
• You do not need to write your own address.
• Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir or Madam...,

model answer:

Dear Sir or Madam

I am writing to complain about the treatment my daughter and I received when we visited the casualty department in your hospital last weekend.

During the afternoon, my daughter developed severe pains in the stomach. Because it was Sunday, my normal doctor was not in his surgery, so we went to the hospital casualty department. When we reached the Enquiry counter, it was obvious that my daughter was unwell as she was screaming with pain. However, the Receptionist just told us to sit down and wait.

Over the next four hours, I constantly asked how long it would take for a doctor to see my daughter, but the Receptionist was quite rude and didn’t seem to care very much. Eventually, we did see a doctor and my little girl had to undergo tests to see if she had appendicitis. However, I was really angry because the doctor said he had not seen anyone for over an hour, so the Receptionist wasn’t doing her job properly.

I would be grateful if you could investigate this terrible service to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Yours faithfully

Comment:

This letter was written by a native English speaker, and it is occasionally good for students to see what a native speaker can achieve in the given writing time.

You have been offered a job, asking you to start next week. You want the job very much but, because of
a previous commitment, you want to delay the start for another two weeks.

Write to the Manager, accepting the job, but explaining your situation and asking for the change to
your start date.

• You should write at least 150 words.
• Allow yourself 20 minutes for this task.
• You do not need to write your own address.
• Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir or Madam...,

model answer (with some errors):

Dear Sir or Madam

I am writing to request putting off the job which you have offered. I really want the job but I have a important previous commitment. So, I cannot start to work next week.

I was offered the job yesterday, which wanted me to start next week. Thank you so much for offering the job. I really want to work at your company. However, I cannot start next week because I have a previous commitment which is my sister's wedding. It is next weekend, besides. She lives in Korea and she want me to prepare her wedding with my parents. So I have to go to Korea next Monday. After the wedding I will travel a few days with my parents who wanted me to travel because I have lived for 4 years far from home. That is why I cannot start the work next week. I will come back to Sydney two weeks later. I would like to delay the start for another two weeks. Could you delay the start date for me?

Once again, thank you very much for offering it. I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully

Comment:

This letter shows fluency, and includes some variety in vocabulary and expressions. However, there is also some repetition and some errors in grammar, such as the following:

1) Choice of the type of article when the following word begins with a vowel sound (line 1)
2) Verb tense (line 2)
3) Incorrect linkage (replace relative clause) (line 3)
4) Incorrect use of vocabulary (line 5)
5) Missing preposition (line 7)
6) Word order (line 7)
7) Incorrect vocabulary (line 8)
8) Incorrect time expressions (line 8)
9) Agreement: linking of ‘it’ to related singular noun (line 1)

A friend you met last year has invited you to visit them in their country.
You have never been there before and need some information before you leave.
Write a letter to your friend. In your letter

• request advice about a gift for his/her family
• ask about activities and clothing
• find out about the food

• You should write at least 150 words.
• Allow yourself 15 minutes for this task.
• you do NOT need to write your own address.

model answer:

Dear Robert,

Hi there, I hope you're enjoying your college year. Thanks very much for asking me to come and visit you in Singapore. As you know, I haven't travelled to Asia before, so I though I'd write and ask you a few questions.

I want to bring a present with me and I wondered what would be appropriate. Perhaps you could let me know what your mum's hobbies are and then I could come up with an idea based on one of them.

Also, what sort of clothes should I bring? I know it's pretty warm where you live but do I need jumpers or a coat? what sort of activities are we likely to do while I'm there and should I bring things like swimming gear or trainers.

Lastly, I hate to be nuisance but I hope you remember that I'm vegetarian. I do eat fish and eggs but I don't eat red meat and chicken at all. Is that going to be a problem?

Look forward to hearing from you.

Barnaby

You have received a letter from your bank, asking you to acknowledge receipt of a new bank card.
However, the card was missing from the envelope.
Write a letter to the bank's head office. In your letter

• explain why you are writing
• express concern about the missing card
• ask them what they intend to do

• You should write at least 150 words.
• Allow yourself 15 minutes for this task.
• you do NOT need to write your own address.

model answer:

Dear Sir,

I am writing to inform you that I received a letter from my bank today, which was supposed to contain my new bank card. Unfortunately there was no bank card enclosed in the envelope when I opened it.

I telephoned the bank to explain the problem, but I could not get through to the right department, even though I waited on the line for over half an hour, which was extremely annoying.

In the letter, you asked me to acknowledge the receipt of the card, but obviousely I cannot do this as I have not received it. I am now very worried because it is a possibility that my card has gone to another customer or got lost. What will happen if somebody has already used the card and and spent my money? Will the bank repay me?

Is it possible for the bank to cancel this card so nobody else can use it? Could you also send me a new card by secure means?

I hope to hear from you soon.

You borrowed an important textbook from a classmate last term.
You now realise your classmate has returned home overseas and you still have the book.
Write a letter to him/her. In your letter

• apologise fro the mistake
• find out how important the book is to him/her
• say what you will do

• You should write at least 150 words.
• Allow yourself 15 minutes for this task.
• you do NOT need to write your own address.

model answer:

Dear Yuki,

I hope you had a safe journey back to Japan, and that your family are all well.

I am writing to say that I'm sorry for not giving you back the book 'English Grammar in Use' which I borrowed from you last term. You lent it to me just before the exams to help me prepare for them, and yesterday I found it under my bed.

Please let me know straight away if you need this book for your studies right now, or whether you can manage without it.

If you really need it, I can post it for you by airmail immediately. If not, do you mind if I send it by ordinary mail as it quite heavy? Or, if you prefer, I can send seme money insead. Please let me know what you want me to do.

I hope you enjoy the holiday.

You have seen an advertisement for part-time work in a hotel for threemonths over the summer.
Write a letter to the Manager.
In your letter

• say what experience you have
• ask what the work involves
• enquire about conditions

• You should write at least 150 words.
• Allow yourself 15 minutes for this task.
• you do NOT need to write your own address.

model answer:

Dear Sir,

I am writing to enquire about the part-time position as a waiter advertised in 'The Evening Echo' on 24th June.

I am looking for work in the months of July and August because my university vacation is then. I have quite a lot of experience in the hotel business, as I was working in a guesthouse last year. The job involved dealing with geusts, and I very much enjoyed it. I can supply references of my previous employer if you require them.

Could you please let me know what this position involves? At the guesthouse, I worked as a porter and also I did some work as a waiter in the restaurant, so I would be interested in either of these jobs.

Could you give me an idea of the working hours? I am available at the weekends as well as during the week, and I can work any hours. However, I would prefer daytime to shifts, if possible. Could you also tell me about accommodation for employees and how much you pay.

I would appreciate hearing from you.

Yours faithfully

You have recently been to stay with an old friend for a few days. You hadn't seen each other for a long time.

• say how you felt about the visit
• refer to something enjoyable that you did while staying with him/her
• invite your friend to visit you

• You should write at least 150 words.
• Allow yourself 15 minutes for this task.
• you do NOT need to write your own address.

model answer:

Dear XX,

I'm writing to thank you for a really enjoyable visit. It was good to see you after so long, and to be able to spend some time with you, talking about old schoolfriends and teachers.

Now that I'm back home, I keep thinking about how good it was to be somewhere quiet and peaceful. I particularly enjoyed our trip to the wildlife sanctuary and appreciated the opportunity to see so many rare birds and animals. It's made me think that I should try and do more to protect them, so I'm having a look on the internet to see what sort of organisation there are.

Perhaps next time we get together you could come and visit me. There are plenty of places we can go and my brother would really like to see you. Let me know when you might be free to come here and we can fix something up.

Look forward to hearing from you soon.

For the past year you have been a member of a local club. Now you want to discontinue your membership.
Write a letter to the club secretary.
In your letter

• state what type of membership you have and how you have paid for this
• give details of how you have benefited from the club
• explain why you want to leave

• You should write at least 150 words.
• Allow yourself 15 minutes for this task.
• you do NOT need to write your own address.

model answer:

Dear Sir,

In September 2003, I joined your Sports and Social club as a full-time student member. Since then I have paid the monthly membership fees by direct debit from my bank: Nationwide in Sanderson Avenue, Kinghill.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my club membership as it has provided me with useful opportunities to meet up with other young people and to participate in a number of social activities. I have also been fortunate enough to play in some of the inter-club tennis tournaments and have taken advantage of the various classes available such as Yoga and T'ai chi.

However, my studies are now coming to an end and as I will shortly be returning to my home country, possibly for good, I regret that I no longer wish to continue my membership.

I would be grateful, therefore, if you could confirm in writing that the monthly fee will no longer be deducted from my bank account.

You recently stayed in a hotel in a large city. The weather was very unusual for the time of year and the heating/cooling system in the hotel was quite inadequate.
Write a letter to the manager of the hotel.
In your letter

• give details of what was wrong
• explain what you had to do to overcome the problem at the time
• say what action you would like the manager to take

• You should write at least 150 words.
• Allow yourself 15 minutes for this task.
• you do NOT need to write your own address.

model answer:

Dear Sir,

I have just returned home after spending three nights at your hotel in Paddington. The staff were very friendly and the location was extremely convenient. However, I feel I must express my disappointment about the room.

As we all know, London is experiencing a very warm summer this year, with temperatures around 30 °C last week, which is quite unusual. As a result, it was very hot in my room on the sixth floor.

Because of the extreme heat in the room, I had to leave the windows open all night and so it was very noisy, as the hotel is on a main road and the traffic never stops in London. Consequently, I got very little sleep over the three nights.

I think it would be a good idea to install an airconditioning system in the hotel. This could also be used as a heating system in the winter and would certainly make the rooms more comfortable. Perhaps you would consider giving me a discount if I come to your hotel again.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully

You have recently heard that a friend of yours has had some problems as a result of some unusual weather. Write a letter to your friend.
In your letter

• express concern (i.e. say you are sorry to hear what has happened)
• tell them about a similar experience that you once had
• give some advice or offer help

• You should write at least 80 words.
• Allow yourself 15 minutes for this task.

model answer:

Dear Anna and Leo,

We were shocked to hear from Lara about the storm that hit your city recently and the damage done to your house. How awful to come home from your holiday to find the roof blown off the house!

I understand how you must feel, as we had a similar experience a few years ago when there was a sudden electrical storm here in Sydney. I came home from work to find that a tree had fallen on top of the house and all the windows were broken. Fortunately the insurance covered the cost of the repairs, but it was still very upsetting.

I suppose you have to think positively in situations like this and look at the opportunity you have to improve your house - give it a new look. If we can do anything for you in the holidays, we'd be happy to help.

Drop us a line and let us know.

Best wishes

You recently visited a place that had a strong impact on you.
Write a letter to a friend about the place. In your letter

• explain where the place was and how you got there
• describe what you saw
• offer to take your friend there

model answer:

Dear Sam,

I have just returned from my holidays in France and while we were there we climbed a mountain called 'Parleman' in the French Alps. We were able to drive half way up the mountain but then the road stopped. So we parked, put on our walking boots and began the long uphill struggle.

Despite of the road at the begining, it still took us a while to complete the climb but it was well worth the effort. When we got to the top of the mountain, the view was incredible. I could see right across the town and the lake to one side, and on the other side were the snow-covered peaks of Mont Blanc. It was simply breathtaking.

As you know, we often go to France on our holidays and next time we plan a trip, I'd really like to take you there. I'm sure you would love the scenery and as you enjoy exercise, you would be able to take advantage of all the mountain walks.

I hope to hear from you soon.

You recently took a part-time job working for a local company. After a few weeks, you realised there were some problems with the job.
Write a letter to the manager of the company. In your letter

• explain why you took the job
• describe the problems that you experienced
• suggest what could be done about them

model answer:

Dear Sir,

I have been a part-time fitness instructor in your gym for four months. I was pleased to be offered the job, not only because I need to earn some extra money to cover my living expenses but also because I need some experiense in fitness training.

It has been obvious to me that people often need help in using the gym equipment.However, it seems that the other trainers have not been encourage to offer assistance to club members. I offer as much as I can, but this means that I am constantly in demand and therefore, working harder than anyone else in the gym. This situation seems rather unfair.

While I realise that members receive initial gym instruction, I feel that they also need ongoing help with the equipment. Could I suggest that a letter is sent to trainers promoting this? After all, personal attention of this kind makes people feel valued and may result in increased membership.

Yours faithfully

A friend has asked you to babysit on Saturday and wants to know how much you charge per hour for this. Unfortunately, you already have a commitment this weekend and cannot help. However, you free the following weekend.
Write a letter to your friend exlaining that you are not able to help this time, but could help later. Explain also what your fee for the service is.

• You should write at least 150 words.
• You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
• You do not need to write your own address.

model answer:

Dear XX (name of colleague)

Thank you for asking me to babysit for you. As you know I enjoy looking after Anthony and would be happy to help you out. However, this weekend I have a commitment which I cannot break.

My parents are coming to visit and I am going to take them down to the coast as I have always promised to do. They are getting older so I like to spend as much time with them as possible. Also, it is my father's birthday and I want to celebrate with them. I am really sorry that I am not able to help this time, but I am free next weekend and I would be glad to babysit for you then, if you should choose to go out for the evening.

My charge is fifteen dollars per hour until midnight and twenty dollars per hour after that. You would need to give me any special instructions you might have and, of course, leave a phone number in case of emergency.

Yours sincerely

You have just rented an unfurnished flat and a friend has told you that the Opportunity Shop in the shoping centre has cheap second-hand furniture.
Write to the shop owner describing what you need and asking whether they have these items and what they cost.

• You should write at least 150 words.
• You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
• You do not need to write your own address.

model answer:

Dear Sir/Madam

I have just arrived from overseas and need to have some furniture for my unfurnished flat. A friend has told me that you have some cheap second-hand furniture for sale.

Perhaps you can help me. I would like a kitchen table, some chairs, a double bed, as well as a single bed for a visitor, a cupboard for our clothes, and a bookcase. If you sell home appliances, I would like a microwave oven, a fridge, TV set and a CD player too. These must all be clean and the electrical items must be in good working condition with a guarantee of at least three months.

I would be grateful if you could give me some prices for these items. If you do not supply electrical goods, can you recommend another shop which does? Also, could you let me know what you would charge to deliver goods to High Street.

Thank you for your help. I look forward to hearing from you.

Дата добавления: 2017-02-01