21 January 2018

Writing Emails in English

Electronic mail, most commonly abbreviated email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages.
An electronic mail message consists of two components, the message header, and the message body, which is the email's content. The message header contains control information, including, minimally, an originator's email adrress and one or more recipient addresses. Usually additional information is added, such as a subject header field.
Emails are a fast way to communicate for business and pleasure. In this post you'll find useful hints and tips to write better emails in English.


Parts of Email
Here are the fields of the Email defined with example texts
Example Subjects
The Subject is more important than the email itself, it should be focused, clear and informative.


Strong Subjects:
  • Invitation to the ABC Conference, Nov 2009
  • Application for Account Manager Position #413 – Jane Smith CV
  • Agenda for the meeting on Monday, 10am
  • Party Invitation for John, Sally and Martin
  • Updates on the building plans
  • Meeting scheduled for Oct 15, Thursday @ 10am
  • Great craft ideas using recyclable materials
Weak Subjects:
  • [blank]
  • Hi, Hello, How are you?
  • First line of the email message
  • Words to avoid: Help, Percent Off, Reminder, Free


Example Greetings:
  • Dear [name],
  • Hi [name],
  • Hi,
  • Hello [name],
  • Hello,
  • To whom it may concern,
Example Opening Sentences
  • Following our phone conversation, I am sending you…
  • Attached please find the documents you requested regarding…
  • In regards to the upcoming pilot program, I have listed below the tasks and deadlines that need to be completed.
  • Further to our last discussion, I would like to bring to your attention the following issues:
  • As we agreed, there will not be …
  • Please reconsider our proposal for …
  • In response to your job post for Marketing Director, please find below a brief overview of my skills. I have also attached my CV for your review.
Example Email Information in Detail: details, information and actions required.
  • Here is the detailed list:
  • In addition to the attached agenda, please click on this link http://www...
  • To register for the online event, please go to...
Example Closing Sentences
  • I look forward to your reply.
  • Thank you for the time you have taken to review my candidacy for the position.
  • Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.
  • Thank you, in advance, for your time.
  • I await receipt of the information we discussed.
  • Please forward me the exact information.
Example Sign-offs before the Signature: identify yourself, company and contact information.
  • Sincerely,
  • Thank you,
  • Best Regards,
  • Thanks,
Signature
Name
Title, company name
Email
Phone/Fax
Web Address
Click here for more example emails.
  • Job Interview Thank you
  • Job Cover Letter
  • Request For Update on a Pilot
Email Features

There are many features that are included in emails; here I will highlight just a few important ones.
Spelling: Always proofread before sending: spelling, punctuation and grammar. [F7]
Insert: Since emails are filtered here are a few tips regarding attachments and links:
  • Keep file sizes small.
  • ZIP or PDF attachments (exe, jpg, xls, doc are sometimes considered spam).
  • When replying, do not resend attachments again.
  • Use links whenever possible to files that are stored online or in shared folders.
Options: If the email is very important, under options request a read receipt, this way you can ensure the email has arrived at its destination.
Reply to All: Stop and think before hitting reply to all sometimes you may just need to hit reply.

The information in this post has been taken from Wikipedia and Learn English on line

17 January 2018

Basic formal letters

Click on the link below to learn how to write formal letters in English



Click here to see an example of different types of letters with useful expressions (Hacer clic en los enlaces abajo para ver ejemplos de distintas cartas formales con vocubulario y frases útiles)

Letter Writing Exercises




Letter writing is one of the tasks you may be asked to do for your Certification Terminal Test in June. So, the more you practise, the better.
To start with,you can have a look at several model letters and then do these exercises.

05 December 2017

A Tender Story



04 December 2017

B1 Level Practice Tests

I you click on the button below you will find a good number of listening and reading comprehension practice tests at B1 level you may find really useful.


14 November 2017

What are you like?




Introduce yourself and tell us about your family, your personality and interests. Use some of the vocabulary you've learnt so far and don't read anything, you're supposed to look at the camera and speak spontaneously. Ready, steady, go!

You can do the activity on your computer, writing the password in the gap below , but you can also do the activity on your mobile after you download this app. It is called FLIPGRID.

 

07 November 2017

British Council Listen & Watch



You can find a lot of interesting material to improve your listening comprehension skills at British Council learning site. It's great and you'll be able to learn a lot if you do the activities you can find there. You just have to click here to visit the site.

25 October 2017

B1 Picture Description

20 October 2017

Present Simple or Present Continuous

Find the mistakes

Viernes no lectivos curso 2017-18

VIERNES NO LECTIVOS



OCTUBRE

13 y 27

NOVIEMBRE

10 y 24

DICIEMBRE

1 y 22

ENERO

19

FEBRERO

2 y 16

MARZO

2 y 16

ABRIL

13 y 27

MAYO

11

19 April 2017

Modals to express probability

In this exercise you will practise using modal verbs to express present probability: must, can’t, could, may, might.

18 April 2017

A1 Picture Description

20 February 2017

Talk for two minutes about what the wheel decides. Good luck!

27 January 2017

Revision Exercises for Elementary Students

Click on the link below to do some listening, grammar and vocabulary activities realated to aspects we have learnt in our classes, such as the Present Simple, 3rd person singular, Saxon genitive, the familiy,the days of the week, etc..)

11 November 2016

Physical Appearance

Describing People

10 November 2016

Description

I have found several interesting activities at Joan Serra's web page, where you can practise both physical and psychological description. There are also listenig comprehension exercises.

31 October 2016

English Numbers



LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND NUMBERS

Click here and practise with numbers in English.

Click here to do some activities with big numbers, fractions, dates, phone numbers, etc.

Listening exercises

Basic Listening Exercise 1

Basic Listening Exercise 2

Basic Listening Exercise 3

Basic Listening Exercise 4

Basic Listening Exercise 5

Basic Listening Exercise 6

26 November 2015

Listening Exercises For 1st Year Intermediate Level

                                                                   
nuevomy son
nuevobeating stress
nuevoliving on your own
nuevovynil records
nuevopocket bikes
nuevoEsperanto
nuevomulti-cultural adverts
nuevogood or bad?
nuevohelping your memory
nuevobooks for dummies
nuevoTV culture
nuevobigger and better
World cup soccer fiasco
smoking
weekly exercise
Bankia
shopping
going to the cinema
planning to play golf

All the activities above belong to Escuela Oficial de Pinto website.

29 April 2015

Picture Description

Speaking

How would you describe the picture below? Click on the photo for some useful tips.



What about this one? Look at the picture carefully and then do the activities below.



To express your impressions you can use :
Look + adjective
Look like + (a) noun
Look as if + sentence

Expressing degrees of certainty.

I'm sure it's a dog- It must be a dog
I'm sure it isn't a dog- It can't be a dog
Perhaps it is a dog- It could/might be a dog


Listening

  • You have to draw a picture. Listen to the recording and draw the picture described.



  • Identify the fathers and mothers with their sons and daughters.
 
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