Informal email to a friend You have received an email from a friend who is looking for a job in tourism. He enjoys skiing and snowsports and wants a chance to practise thses sports would also appreciate an opportunity to practise his English. He knows that you worked in such a job last season and he asks you if you would recommend him to apply to the same company. Write an email message to him giving him some advice which might help him make up his mind to apply. You should write around 200 words.
Example 1
Hi Jaime, I am glad to write you this letter to encourage you to apply for this job! There are several reasons why I think that you should do it: you will earn enough money, you will learn to snowboard and the most important thing by far is that you will meet beautiful girls (you will need to speak to them in English). Supposing I had not applied for the job, what would I have done this winter…? I can be quite clear about that: NOTHING WHATSOEVER. So, if you want my honest opinion, you can’t afford to delay in sending your application form. First of all, when you go to the job interview, it is vital not to underestimate the importance of choosing your words carefully due to the fact that the boss has a tendency to be very critical of how people address him. This is your opportunity to impress him. In spite of the fact that the first days seem to be very stressful (providing equipment to the clients, taking care of the complaints, doing paperwork,…) the job will allow you to fully enjoy the benefits of the snow. I am wondering if you are aware that you'll never get another chance like this. Hope to hear from you soon All the best Andreu
Examiner comments Good, natural, gives good advice. Jaime is well informed about the job and will make his decision accordingly. Organization is good and the use of linkers is appropriate and natural. Language and vocabulary are appropriate to the task and correct. Sample 2 Dear Jaime, Thanks for your letter –good to hear from you! So you’re considering working for the same company I did. I’ll tell you about my experiences, and you can decide whether to apply. It’s not quite as clear-cut you might think! There isn’t much skiing as part of the job, even though you’re working for a winter holidays company; as you said you wanted to try snowboarding as well as skiing you’d be a bit disappointed. I really only got on the slopes on the last day! I spent most of the time in the office doing paperwork. And as for doing it free – no chance – I bought my own ski pass! I had to organise things like getting equipment for clients which took up a lot of time, and it was very stressful when clients complained. It certainly wasn’t always my fault! When the weather wasn’t good enough for skiing I had to set up alternative activities – which people didn’t always like! That was pretty frustrating. I did get the chance to improve my English as the clients came from different countries, and English was the shared language. That was good, but it certainly wasn’t an easy four months. I have mixed feelings about it. Why don’t you apply, have an interview and decide for yourself? Good luck whatever you decide!
All the best Esteban Examiner Comments This is an excellent answer. All the points are covered clearly, and Jaime would be able to make a decision based on the information given to him. This is very important in a Part 1 answer, as there is always a reason for writing. The style of this letter is informal and all the relevant points are organised coherently. The paragraphing is clear and logical.