Business Letter Writing

Warm-up

1) Look at the sample letters (A) and (B), and identify which is formal and which is informal. Why?

A. Dear Kate,

I want to tell you how sorry I am about what happened yesterday. I didn’t mean to hurt you and I’m really sorry I made you feel sad.

Why don’t we meet next Sunday just to have a good friendly talk?

I hope you’ll forgive me. I want to say again how sorry I am.

Love,

Max

B. Dear Mr Dawson:

I am writing to you with reference to our last meeting. I wish to apologize for my behaviour.

As you know, I was most disappointed by the rejection of my application to the educational programme last September, and that was the reason of my rude behaviour last week.

Please, accept my most sincere apologies. I hope we can get together again in the near future.

Yours sincerely,

Laura Smith

2) Think of possible reasons for writing a business (formal) letter.

1.Read and memorize the following words:

1. identifyраспознавать; устанавливать

2. achieveдостигать

3. relevant относящийся к делу

4. accurate точный, правильный

5. applicant претендент, кандидат

6. recipient получатель

7. desire желать

8. response ответ

9. layout расположение, план

10. spellписать, составлять (по буквам)

2.Translate the following word combinations:

an experienced manager; formal communication; every educated person; all necessary relevant and accurate facts; a job applicant; the recipient of the letter; from this point of view; desired

response; relevant facts; the layout of the letter; to spell correctly; accurate facts

Reading