1226_meds Course Master[1]

7/29/2019 1226_meds Course Master[1]

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ESOL PATHFINDER PROJECT

Work Place Learning

At the Muslim EnterpriseDevelopment Services

Materials produced by

Liverpool Community College


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Written by Caroline Helal

Introduction

These materials were produced to support a short course for the Muslim

Enterprise Development Services. The learners were either self-employed

business men who successfully ran their own businesses or were trying to set up

their own businesses and wanted to improve their English. Common needs

including recognising and using formal and informal language and writing letters

were identified. It was run in a workshop style because of haphazard

attendance due to demands of businesses and mixed language levels.

Summary of curriculum coverage

Sc/E3.2c - Use formal language and register when appropriate

Sc/E3.3b - Ask questions to obtain person or factual information

Sd/E3.1d - Express views and opinions

Rt/E3.2a - Understand and distinguish the different purposes oftexts at this level

Rt/E3.7a - Scan different parts of texts to locate information

Wt/E3.1a - Recognise the process of planning and drafting whenwriting certain types of text

Wt/E3.4a - Proof-read to check for content and expression

Ws/E3.2a - Use basic sentence grammar accurately

Ws/E3.3a - Use punctuation to aid clarity in relation to beginningsand ends of sentences


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WORK PLACE LEARNING ATMUSLIM ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

LIST OF CONTENTS

Formal and formal occasions 1

Formal introductions 2

Greetings and requests 3

Analysis of a letter to a bank 4

When to use formal English 5

Example letters 6-8

Identification of formal and informal phrases 6

Exercises - converting informal to formal 8

Layout of letters 10

Practise in laying out formal letters 11

Ways of starting letters 12

Ways of finishing letters 13

Selection of appropriate phrases for different types of letters 14-17

Free letter-writing practice 18


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FORMAL AND INFORMAL OCCASIONS

TASK

Which of these events are formal or informal? Discuss the reasons for yourchoices

1Sd/E3.1d


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INTRODUCTIONS

PRACTICE

You are the Managing Director of a large corporation. Your Personal Assistant

wants to introduce you to the new Sales Executive.

You are hosting a business lunch and introduce yourself to some guests thatyou havent met before

2

Good morning

Mr/Mrs/Ms .May I present our new

Sales Executive,

..

Good afternoon. I dont think

weve met before. My name is

Mr/Mrs/Ms ., Im

the Managing Director.

Sc/E3.2a


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GREETINGS AND REQUESTS

PRACTICE In pairs greet each other informally

PRACTICE In pairs, then in threes, greet each other formally

3

Hi, howre you doing? I

havent seen you for ages

How do you do. My nameisHow do you do? My name is

.

Pleased to meet you

Sc/E3


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Mr Ali HusseinSelbourne Close

Liverpool 8

Dear Bank Manager

I hope you are well and your business is ok. Mybusiness isnt good so I need your help. I want

about 10,000 so that I can do some repairs to myshop and buy some things I need.

I want you to lend me some money and I will pay itback later when my business better

Let me know as soon as possible

Thank you for your help

Ali Hussein

Who wrote this letter?

What kind of letter is it?What is the main purpose of the letter?Is this a formal or informal letter?Look at this letter and write down what is wrong with it.

4

Rt/E3.2a, Rt/E3.7


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WHEN TO USE FORMAL ENGLISH

Practice

In pairs, ask each other the following questions and makes notes

Have you ever?

Sent a note to school No Yes

Ordered something froma catalogue

Written away for abrochure

Applied for a job inwriting

Written a letter ofcomplaint

Written to your M.P.

Written to a newspaper

Written to your employer

Written to your

accountantWritten a report for aninsurance company

Written to a bank

Other

When you have finished, feed back to the class.

5

Sc/E3.3b


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FORMAL AND INFORMAL ENGLISH

Formal English is the kind of English we use when we write business or officialletters

Informal English is friendly. It is written more as we speak. We use it when wewrite to friends or relatives.

Practice

Sue has written two letters, one in Formal English and the other in InformalEnglish. Which is which? How are they different?

Read the following two letters and give examples of phrases that are specificallyformal and informal

6

Rt/E3.2a


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13 Burlingford WayLondon N4 3EN

Dear Anne

Thanks ever so much for your letter. It was lovely to hear from you after all thistime.

Were all keeping well here. Andy has left school now, though he hasnt got a jobyet Im afraid.

Hows life with you? Wed love to see you all again. Why dont you spend aweekend with us when youre free?

Give my love to Dave and the kids

Love,

Sue x

13 Burlingford WayLondon N4 3EN

Mrs M Hughes

D.S.S4-11 Carlton AvenueLondon SE4 5PD

Dear Mrs Smith

Thank you for your letter concerning my National Insurance contributions.

I confirm that I am able to attend for the interview on 15 th November 2003 asrequested.

Yours sincerely

S JOHNSON (Ms)

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WHAT MAKES THIS LETTER FORMAL?

Is clear and gives exact detailsI confirm that I am able to attend for theinterview

Is brief and to the point -

Is cool, polite and business-likeas requested

It is not chatty

Sounds more formal

PRACTICE

The following expressions are written in informal English. Re-write them informal language

Hope to see you soon

Write back soon and let me know

Hi! How are you doing?

Give my love to the kids

Dont forget to send me some more

samplesDont worry, it wont happen again Iassure you

PRACTICE

Change the words which are underlined for a word or phrase from the box below.The first one is done as an example

I got your letter of 15.6.03 about my insurance claim

Here you could say: I received your letterconcerning my insurance claim

When I took back the vacuum cleaner .

I have got hold of a copy of your brochure

I have ordered the goods as you asked

Wt/E3.1a

8


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I am not happy with the repair work

Please send me the right form

I have put in a Postal Order for 15

I would a like a new one

I found that the lens was broken

It was bought on 16.03.2003

I ought to get my money back

I am not paying until the work is carried out

I should like to arrange to come and see you

Please let me have a sample copy

am entitled to dissatisfied received obtaineddiscovered forward enclose concerning

As requested appropriate returned a refundpurchased make an appointment withholding payment

9

Wt/E3.1a


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Laying out formal letters

Your address, but NOTyour name

Date here or above DearRecipients name, position andaddress

Date here or below your

Dear Mr/Mrs if you know thenameDear Sir or Madam.. if youdont know the name

Give reason for writing, eg, Could you please send me details of , or if youare replying to a letter, give the date of the letter

Yours faithfully with Dear Sir or Madam

Yours sincerelywith Dear Mr/Mrs

Your signatureYour name printed

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Practice

Set out the following letters. Remember to include the date.

The first one is done as an example:

To The Manager, Odeon Cinema, 434 High Street, London SE24 3BQFrom Mrs J Thompson, 102 King Street, London SE24 3NW

102 King StreetLondon SE24 3NW

13 November 2003

The Manager

Odeon Cinema434 High StreetLondon SE24 3BQ

Dear Sir/Madam

Yours faithfully

J Thompson

J THOMPSON (Mrs)

To: The Manager, Bell & Stephenson, 312 East Street, London E24 1PTFrom: Ms Paula Foulkes, Chairperson, Weston Residents Association, Weston

Way, London E23 6GN

To: Mr Jameson, Headmaster, Shawcross Comprehensive School, LindonRoad, Manchester M3 6LD

From Yourself

To: The Housing Manager, Housing Dept, Trentham City Council, Town HallBarton Road, Trentham TR4 4DS (Ref JP/43/27)

From Sharon MacDonald, 5 Fordham Close, Trentham TR6 5TP

11

Wt/E3.1a


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WAYS OF STARTING LETTERS

Below are some common forms of starting letters. Read each one and tick whenit is formal or informal, or could be either.

Formal Informal Either

1. We were delighted to hear from you

2. I wrote to you on _________ about

3. Thank you for your letter dated ______concerning/requesting/confirming

4. Im sorry I havent written for so long

5. I am writing on behalf of

6. I would like to apply for the post of

7. Following our telephone conversation

8. How are you doing?

9. I am contacting you regarding

Bracknell StreetLondon N5 3EN

Personnel ManagerMarks and White Ltd15 Southall WayLondon SE5 4TN

25 November 2003

Dear Sir

I would like to apply for the post of Accounts Assistant, as advertised in

the..on 2003.

Rt/E3.2

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WAYS OF FINISHING LETTERS - THE LAST LINE

_____________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________am entitled to a refund

I hope you can settle this matter to my satisfaction as soon as possible

Yours sincerely

L H SMITH (Mrs)

Practice

Below are some common forms of finishing letters. Read each one and tickwhen it is formal or informal, or could be either.

Formal Informal Either

e.g. I look forward to hearing from you

I enclose a s.a.e./p.o./cheque for

Please let me know if you need anyfurther details

Best wishes,

I hope you will consider my application

Please give this matter your urgentattention

I hope you can settle this matter toMy satisfaction as soon as possible

If you cannot settle this matter to mysatisfaction in the near future, Ishall be forced to take legal action.

Rt/E3.213


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Practice

Choose a suitable first and last line for each of the following:

1. A letter to your sister

2. A letter applying for a job

3. A letter responding to a letter from the Council dated 2nd

November 2003(Ref:GH/IS/450794) agreeing to pay the rates bill in full

4. A letter ordering a pullover from a mail order firm.

5. A letter demanding a refund.

6. A letter to a second-hard car business that has sold you a car which isdangerous to driver. You want to threaten them with prosecution.

7. A letter to a hotel asking for details about their facilities

8. A letter to your M.P. asking for his/her support in your campaign to get anursery school built in your area

9. A letter to the Electricity Board asking if you can pay half your bill now andthe remainder over the next two months. You have already phoned.

14 Rt/E3.2a


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PRACTICE

Read the sentences and select the most appropriate for a formal letter. Explainthe reasons for your choice, e.g.

a) Ive read your letter you sent last weekb) got your letter that came this morningc) Thank you for your letter, dated 11.9.2

c) is the best one because it gives the date of the letter. (a) and (b) dont giveany dates and are also more long-windedGeneral Letters

1 a) I have written to you twice on 11/6/2003 and 3/9/2003. You have notreplied to either letter

b) I have already written twice you havent answered c) I am sick of keeping on writing

2 a).I am writing in reply to your note concerning my milk billb) I had your note about my milk and am writing to youc) In reply to your note about my milk bill

Letters replying to advertisements

3 a) Could you please send me one of your brochuresb) Please send me a brochurec) I want brochure

4 a) I have put in the moneyb) I enclose a Postal Order for 15c) Here is a Postal Order for the goods

Letters to school

5 a) Tom has got spots from his sister Janet and cant come to school b) Tom cant come to school because the doctor says hes got measles

and must stay in bedc) Tom is unable to attend school. He has measles

a) Im worried about Toms progress. Could I come to see you afterschool on Thursday?

b) Tom cant read yet and his friend Adam can. Id like to know why.c) Youre not teaching Tom properly

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Complaint letters7 a) ..the shoes I ordered on 6/1/2003

b) the things I sent forc) the cheap rubbish you sent me

8 a) The shirt was horribleb) The shirt was very badly madec) What do you expect me to do with a lousy shirt like this?

9 a) Your advertisement is misleadingb) You are a load of crooksc) They are not what you said

Money matters

10 a) I am sorry I cannot settle the bill immediately as ..

b) Im stony broke at the momentc) Please could you wait until Uncle Sam passes on?

Letters to work

11 a) Well, thats meb) I have done this sort of thing beforec) I have worked as a sales assistant for 6 years

12 a) I want more moneyb) Youre not paying me enoughc) I should like to apply for a wage increase

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Write you answers below

1 (..) is best because

2 (..) is best because________________________________________________________________3 (..) is best because

________________________________________________________________4 (..) is best because


________________________________________________________________


________________________________________________________________7 (..) is best because


________________________________________________________________9 (..) is best because

________________________________________________________________10 (..) is best because


________________________________________________________________12(..) is best because

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Rt/E3.2a


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LETTER WRITING PRACTICE

Look at the letter on page 4.. You are going to write to your bank requestinginformation about bank loans and details of the terms and conditions. Using yourhome address, send the letter to Mr R Pritchard, Customer Services Manager,

Lloyds Bank Ltd, 3 Park Court, Stanhope Street, Oldham OL1 3TS

When you have finished, read it through carefully for spelling, punctuation andgrammar mistakes. Write it out again if necessary.

18 Wt/E3.1a, 4a; Ws/E3.2a, 3a

1226_meds Course Master[1]

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