WRITING HANDOUTS FOR FAST-TRACK PROGRAM_ CLC2

WRITING HANDOUT 2: INVITATION LETTER

A. Useful language
Letters of invitation can be formal or informal depending on the situation and who we
are writing to. They usually contain some additional information such as latest news,
description of the event (party, wedding, etc.), place (hotel, house, restaurant, etc.) and/or
directions to the place.
Useful Language for Letters of Invitation:
Formal letter Informal letter
+ We would be honored if you can + I’m writing to invite you to …
come… + I’d like to invite you to …
+ I cordially invite you to … + I’d love it if you could come to …
Opening
+ Your presence would be + We’re organizing a … and would
appreciated at … love it if you could come
+ You are invited to attend …
+ I have included some directions. + I’ll give you some directions.
+ In case you do not know the way, I + Here are a few directions so that you
Giving would like to show you some don’t get lost.
direction directions. + In case you don’t know the way, I’ll
s + In case you have no idea of the show you some directions.
exact way, I would like to include
some directions.
+ We would be grateful if you could + I hope you’ll be able to make it
… + Hope you can come
Closing + Please indicate whether you will + Looking forward to seeing you then
able to attend + Please let me know as soon as
possible

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 WRITING HANDOUTS FOR FAST-TRACK PROGRAM_ CLC2

Useful Language for Letters of Invitation Acceptance:

Formal letter Informal letter
+ I am writing to thank you for the + Thanks for the invitation to …
kind invitation + Your event sounds lovely.
+ Thank you for the kind invitation + I’d love to say thank you and surely
Opening which I would be honored to accept come to …
+ I would be very pleased/delighted + Your invitation is a lovely surprise
to accept your invitation + Thanks for your invitation and my
answer is “yes”
+ I look forward to seeing you + Really looking forward to it
Closing + We wait for the event with great + See you then
anticipation

Useful Language for Letters of Invitation Refusal:

Formal letter Informal letter
+ I thank you for your recent + Thanks for the invitation to …, but …
invitation to … but unfortunately… + Thanks for inviting me to …, but I’m
+ I would like to show my afraid I can’t come
Opening
appreciation to your invitation to … + I’m thankful to your invitation but I’ll
but unfortunately … still have to refuse
+ It is not possible for me to … + I simply can’t make it
+ I am sorry to miss the opportunity + I hope we can get together some
of … other time
Closing + Thank you again for the invitation + I’m really sorry I’ll have to miss it
+ I hope we will have the opportunity + It’s a pity that I’ll have to miss it
to meet

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 WRITING HANDOUTS FOR FAST-TRACK PROGRAM_ CLC2

B. Exam focus
Exercise 1: Study Jenny Marshall’s letter to her friend, Anne. Complete the letter by
putting the sentences and phrases in the appropriate places.
- I have to book the tickets
- Love
- Dear Anne,
- Friday, May 5th
- would like to join us
- I’m sorry I haven’t written
- Looking forward to hearing
- I’d like you to meet Trevor

……………………..
…………………….. to you for such a long time. I’ve been so busy at the university. But
now something has come up with that would give us the chance to meet. The university
drama department is organizing a trip to Stratford on ……….…………… to see Twelfth
Night. I want to know whether you and Bob …………………………?
We’re planning to come up by coach on Friday, but my new boyfriend, Trevor, lives
in Warwick, and his parents have invited me for the weekend. I would be lovely to see
you on Saturday if you are free. ………………………
………………………... by next Friday, so could you let me know before then if you would
like to come and join us. In any case, I hope we can meet at the weekend.
……………………….. from you.
………………………..

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 WRITING HANDOUTS FOR FAST-TRACK PROGRAM_ CLC2

Exercise 2: VSTEP WRITING TASK 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You received an email from an English friend, Tom who is planning to study in
Hanoi. Read part of her email below.

I’m going to study in Hanoi at Vietnam National University in a year. I’m thinking about
homestay to learn more about your culture. Can you help me to find a host family?
Also, I don’t know much about the weather there. What should I bring?
I have a spare week after the course, so can you suggest some places to go?

Write an email responding to Tom to invite him to stay with your family during his time in
Vietnam and give him some information regarding his requests. .
You should write at least 120 words. You are not allowed to include your name or address.
Your response will be evaluated in terms of Task Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and
Grammar.
Language Input:
- Paragraph 1: Greeting & Purpose of the letter
+ I was so delighted to receive your letter and be informed of your upcoming trip to
Vietnam.
+ I’m writing to invite you to visit my family and if you don’t mind, you can stay with
us.
+ I’d love it if you come to stay with my family during your time in my country.
- Paragraph 2: Describing your family
+ I’ve just told my parents and they’ll be glad if you accept my invitation regarding
your accommodation here.
+ Our house is located …
+ The neighborhood is …
- Paragraph 3: Informing him of the weather and clothing items he should bring
+ My country is situated in the tropical zone. When you arrive, it is in the middle of
summer when it can be really boiling, so you should bring …
- Paragraph 4: Suggesting some places for his trip

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 WRITING HANDOUTS FOR FAST-TRACK PROGRAM_ CLC2

+ Regarding your one spare week after the course, I recommend you should …
- Paragraph 5: Closing
+ I can assure you that if you stay with my family, you will feel at home because my
parents are very open-minded and hospitable.
+ Hope you will accept my invitation.
+ Convey my warms regards to your family.
+ Looking forward to seeing you soon in this beautiful country.
Your answer:
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 WRITING HANDOUTS FOR FAST-TRACK PROGRAM_ CLC2

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 WRITING HANDOUTS FOR FAST-TRACK PROGRAM_ CLC2

ANSWER KEYS
Exercise 1:
Dear Anne,
I’m sorry I haven’t written to you for such a long time. I’ve been so busy at the
university. But now something has come up with that would give us the chance to meet.
The university drama department is organizing a trip to Stratford on Friday, May 5th
to see Twelfth Night. I want to know whether you and Bob would like to join us?
We’re planning to come up by coach on Friday, but my new boyfriend, Trevor, lives
in Warwick, and his parents have invited me for the weekend. I would be lovely to see
you on Saturday if you are free. I’d like you to meet Trevor.
I have to book the tickets by next Friday, so could you let me know before then if
you would like to come and join us. In any case, I hope we can meet at the weekend.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Love