gb!B1-3.

5 WS Writing File – Formal letter/Email

WRITING FILE: FORMAL LETTER/EMAIL

Read the task and the response to it:

You have seen and advert fot English language courses at a school in London and you are interested in
going there to do a course. Write a letter (100 – 130 words) to the principal of the college. You should:
- Explain why you want to do the course
- Ask for further information about the course.

1. Read the letter again and complete the guidelines about writing formal letters with a word from
the box.

closing contractions date emails end recipient sender start

- The 1 ……………………………..’s address goes on the top right-hand side, the

2………………………..’s address on the top left-hand side and the 3………………. below the

sender’s address.
- If we 4………………… the letter with Dear Sir/Madam, we 5………………………….. it with Yours
faithfully. If we start it with Dear Mr Brown/ Mrs Smith, we end it with Yours sincerely. In fomal
6…………………………., we would usually know the name of the person we’re writing to and

would end the email with Regards or Best wishes.

- We can use I look forward to hearing from you as a way of 7…………………. a letter or email.

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 gb!B1-3.5 WS Writing File – Formal letter/Email

- We use neutral to formal language, e.g. that is why instead of so; I am able instead of I can, I
would like you to instead of Can you… This includes not using 8…………………….. e.g. I am
interested, not I’m intesterested, and I would like, not I’d like.

2. You have seen and advert for water sports (sailing, windsufing, diving, etc) activity holidays in the
UK and you are interested in going to do one. Write a letter (100 -130 words) to the company.
You should:
o Explain why you want to go on one of their holidays
o Ask for more information about this holiday

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