Writing: Essay B1

Happy Friday everybody!!

How are you feeling today? Have you had a good week? 💪😅😎😊🌞

Today I'm going to talk about Essay writing at B1 Level.
One type of essays is writing about a problem and suggesting ways of solving it. This can be on any given topic. (Education, Behavior, Environment, Sports, etc.)

How do we plan our writing? Simple:

First: Introduce and describe the problem
Second: Suggest solutions and expected results
Third: Sum up and express opinion

Doesn't that sound simple? Let's look at an example. 😀

Task: Cities are becoming more and more polluted. There is garbage in the streets and graffiti on many buildings. People don't want to come to city centres because of this, so many shops and restaurants are going out of business.
Write an essay about pollution in your town or city. Describe the problems and suggest ways of solving them.

People used to enjoy spending time in our city centre, shopping and eating at restaurants and enjoying themselves. However, nowadays you don't see many people around anymore. Instead, the streets are full of litter and dirt and tasteless graffiti is on several buildings ruining the image of the city. It's no wonder that people don't want to be in the centre anymore! 

The good news is that there are ways to better this situation. Firstly, more garbage bins can be put in the streets. This way, people won't have any reason to litter the streets and make them dirty. Also, recycling bins could also be placed in parks for plastic bottles and cups. In addition, it would be a good idea to organize special 'clean-up' days, where volunteers can help clean up some of the rubbish. This could get the community involved in keeping our city clean and promoting a more respectful attitude towards the environment. 
Finally, I think that graffiti artists should be punished for destroying property, unless they can create tasteful art that is suitable for the area. Graffiti doesn't need to be a part of pollution, it can be art!

To sum up, the problem with pollution in our city centre is great, but if we all work together I am sure that it can be kept tidy and become an attractive place for people to spend their free time enjoyably.

😊That's a wrap! So, be sure to use expressions like it's no wonder and phrases like enjoy spending and get involved in and passive voice like be surrounded and be punished.
Show your range of vocabulary (tasteless/tasteful, community, promoting, respectful attitude, destroying property, attractive etc.) and be sure to follow the task and write what is asked from you.
Be sure to use words like: Firstly, Secondly, In addition, Also, However, Moreover, Finally, To sum up.

You can do it! Now it's YOUR turn! Start practicing!

😎😄

Word Lists - Fruit!

Now that the weather is HOT it's time to eat more FRUIT! 😅🍉🍓🍒😋

How many names of fruit do you know??

Here's my FRUIT List!

apple
pear
orange
tangerine
lemon
lime
grapefruit
grapes
avocado
plum
kiwi fruit
mango
passion fruit
papaya
melon
watermelon
peach
nectarine
apricot
banana
pineapple
pomegranate
fig
prickly pear
strawberry
cherry
raspberry
blueberry
cranberry
lychee

There you have it! My list of 30 different fruit! Do you know them all? Have you got any to add?

Have a great day and a fantastic summer! 😁🌞🌅

Formal Letters B1

Formal Letter writing!

Following my previous Writing post, let's jump right into Formal Writing!
Here are two B1 Formal Writing tasks, with my model answers.

Again, always read the task carefully and count your words at the end. Make necessary changes and remember: Formal letters require Formal language.
For example, instead of 'want' use 'require',
instead of 'I'm writing about...' say 'I am writing in regards to...',
at the end, always use the phrase
'I look forward to hearing from you.' (or instead of 'hearing' use any other suitable verb in -ing, according to the content of your letter.)
AND, use more passive voice structures! See examples below.

REMINDER: When we don't know the name of the recipient, we write:
Dear Sir / Madam, and end with Yours faithfully, (and your full name)
whereas
when we know the name of the recipient, e.g. Mr. Green, we write:
Dear Mr. Green, and end with Yours sincerely, (and your full name)

Here are the two writing tasks. 😀😀

Task 1

You have just spent a weekend staying at the Grand Hotel in Adelaide. When you get home you find that you have left a bag at the hotel.

Write a letter to the manager of the hotel. In your letter

• say where you think you left the bag
• explain why it is so important
• tell the manager what you want him/her to do

Model answer:

Dear Sir / Madam,

I recently spent a weekend at the Grand Hotel in Adelaide and am writing in regards to a bag that was left behind. Unfortunately, I only realized that the bag was missing when I got home.

I stayed in room 212 on the nights of Saturday May 20^th and Sunday May 21^st and if I remember correctly I think the bag was left at the foot of the bed. I would much appreciate your assistance in locating my bag as it contains two gifts that I had bought for my children. The gifts are items my children are anxiously waiting for.

Would it be possible for you to contact me as soon as possible to inform me whether the bag has been found? If so, I would appreciate if a courier service could be arranged to send it to me. My telephone number is 012-345-6789.

I look forward to hearing from you on this urgent matter.

Yours faithfully,

Max Peters

Task Two

You live in a room in college which you share with another student. You find it very difficult to work there because he or she always has friends visiting. They have parties in the room and sometimes borrow your things without asking you.

Write a letter to Mrs. Peters, the Accommodation Officer at the college and ask for a new room next term You would prefer a single room. Explain your reasons.

Begin your letter Dear Mrs. Peters,

Model answer:

Dear Mrs. Peters,

I am writing to you in regards to the room I share on Star Campus with my fellow student George Glass. I am afraid I need to request a new room, as soon as possible, preferably a single.

Although George is a nice young man, he always seems to have friends visiting and he is constantly arranging parties in our room. The noise, the number of people and the duration of these parties have been affecting my ability to keep up with my studies. Also, George has been quite rude to me, not only because of his bad behaviour, but also because he borrows my things without even asking. He does not consider my feelings and is clearly not interested in doing well in college as much as I am.

In view of this situation, I would like to be moved to a single room where I can concentrate on my studies without any interruptions. If this can not be done immediately, then next term will be fine.

Thank you for your assistance.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Colin Brooks

Both tasks are a little over 150 words. They weren't that hard, were they?? 😉😊 

Now it's  your turn!! 😎😎😁😁📧📧

Informal Letter B1

Hello everyone!

As promised, I have prepared my first Writing post WITH a model answer for you.  😁

I've decided to start at level B1, which is Upper Intermediate. This level of writing is usually expected from exams like the IELTS General examination (Task 1) and it's good preparation for developing skills to conquer more advanced informal letter writing for the B2 level (where more complex vocabulary is needed).

Let's begin!😊

Always make sure you read the task carefully and that you do exactly what is expected from you.
Read the task below.

Your English friend is coming to visit you for a month. She/he likes running and asks you whether she/he could go running in your town. Write an e-mail and inform her/him about the following:

• where you can go running in your town
• would you go running with her/him and why
• what sports you like and why
• what other sports your town offers (e.g. swimming, tennis, etc.)

Usually writings should be 150-200 words, so make sure you edit your work and be within the word limit. This is a letter (e-mail) to a friend, so it should be fun and easy.

It's pretty straight-forward, isn't it?

Here's the model I've written:

Dear Julie,

I'm so excited that you're coming to visit! I can't wait to see you! We're going to have so much fun! You asked me whether you could go running in my town and I'm happy to say that YES you can!!

We've got three lovely parks in our town, all with special paths for running and jogging! You're going to love running here! The best thing is that one of the town's parks is just two blocks away from my house! I walk through it often and sometimes even have lunch there! All the parks have benches and picnic tables and the big park, in the centre of town, has a small lake, too!

You know I'm no good at running, so I don't know if I'll be joining you there! The only sports I can play are volleyball and ping-pong because not much running is involved! Volleyball is more of a team sport and I like being part of a team. I used to play more when I was in school. I also like playing ping-pong, which isn't much of a team game, but it's still great fun!

Our town has got many sporting facilities, like courts for basketball and tennis and there's even a public swimming pool!

Let me know if you need anything and don't forget to bring your camera!

See you soon,

Amy xx

This letter is a little over 200 words. It wasn't that difficult, was it? It's informal and friendly and all the points have been mentioned. Little bits of extra information have been added to show interest and grammatical+vocabulary range. It's not a very complex letter, but it's to the point.

Now it's your turn. 

Seriously.

If you'd like to practice and don't have someone to look over your work, I'm here to assist you! I'd love to see your letters in the comments and I'd be happy to give you feedback. If you don't want to post your letter in the comments, you could always e-mail it to me using the Contact Me! form on the left. 😄👍

My next writing post will be a B1 level letter again, but a formal one. 

And each post after that will follow the same strategy and level up as I go. 

Stay tuned! The levels will reach up to C2! (Proficiency level)

Have a wonderful Wednesday! 😎😎

Writing Letters. Formal and Informal

Hello there, English Learners!

Today I wanted to review the Writing task of LETTERS.
There are two categories: Formal and Informal.

There are many different types of Formal letters, but the main ones we practice when learning English as a foreign language are usually four:
1. Letter of application (usually for a course at a college or for a job)
2. Transactional letters (these are letters of complaint or letters requesting certain information. They are called 'transactional' because they require ACTION to be taken by the recipient!)
3. Letter of reference (usually a character reference for a friend or colleague or to nominate someone for something)
4. Letter to the authorities or press (usually to express personal opinion of something public, like a new law or an event that creates controversy)

The FIRST thing you need to know and ALWAYS remember is how to begin your letter and how to end it! 😁
If you know the name of the recipient, for example Mr. Jones, always begin with
Dear Mr. Jones,
and always end with Yours sincerely (or Sincerely yours), and your name.

If you don't know the name of the recipient then always begin with
Dear Sir or Madam,
and always end with Yours faithfully (or Faithfully yours), and your name.

The SECOND thing you must remember is to use full forms of contractions, which means using I am instead of I'm and are not instead of aren't, etc. It's amazing how easily you can forget and use these contractions when you're writing! Also, try to limit the use of phrasal verbs. Be careful!

The THIRD thing you should remember is that in formal letters it is better to be indirect with your reader, meaning that you should use the passive voice when addressing actions. Also, try to use more advanced vocabulary.
For example, instead of writing:
I would like a refund and I would like a free replacement of my purchase.
write:
A refund and complimentary replacement of the product in question would be very much appreciated.
See how formal the re-written sentence sounds? 😎 Replacing 'free' with 'complimentary' makes a lot of difference and changing 'my purchase' to 'the product in question' makes the object more neutral.

Informal letters are basically letters to friends and relatives and nowadays they can also be in the form of e-mails.
These letters, to me, are the easiest because you can use idioms and phrasal verbs. The hardest part here is proving your good level of English without sounding too formal!!
For example, when you end your letter, use
Love, Lots of Love, See you soon, etc. and avoid Kind Regards, or Best Wishes, which are more formal.
😎

That's all for now! 😆
I hope I've given you all a nice little reminder on beginnings and endings when writing letters and I will be posting more on Writing soon.
Are there any types of letter that you find harder to write than others? Let me know!
I will post Writing Tasks with modal answers for your reference, so check back soon!

Have a great day and Happy June!! 😄😁👍😎😊