Teacher Guide
This exercise is designed to promote discussion about finding the appropriate tone to write in. Discuss situations that might require a formal tone and those that might require an informal tone. The students need to replace the red text with more informal, friendly expressions. Then they need to write a reply to the message in the green box, using a friendly tone.
10mins - Conversation: What is your favourite way to communicate? Discuss all possible forms of communication - television, internet, radio, cellphones, facebook, letters, emails, Instagram, face to face conversation, etc. Do you use the same voice to talk through every platform? Discuss the different types of people students communicate with: parents, teachers, friends, family members, family friends, etc. Do you communicate the same way with each of these types of people?
05mins - Review the online homework. What topics were discussed? Was the homework easy, medium or difficult? Answer any questions the students may have.
05mins - Review: Phrasal verbs and linking expressions. Use flashcards for reinforcement.
10mins - Writing: Writing part 2 - Formal vs. Informal writing
- In writing part 2, you have to choose one writing task. The possible tasks are email or letter, article, report or review.
- Today we will discuss the 'email' option.
- The email task often tests your ability to write to an English-speaking friend or colleague.
- You are asked to respond to a situation described in the question. The email must include all the information asked for, and fall between the 140-190 word range.
- Although the email should be written using informal language, sentences are still required to be grammatically correct, utilising correct punctuation and spelling, as well as a good range of language.
- Discuss some examples of formal vs. informal language: use of contractions, friendly vs. impersonal tones, greetings and sign-offs, etc.
10mins - Review: the future tenses - Discuss the present simple, the present continuous, will/shall
Present simple - Used for scheduled events with a future meaning such as timetables, programmes, and people if their plans are fixed by a timetable.
-My plane arrives at Amsterdam airport at 3 pm.
Present continuous - Used for plans which have already been arranged.
-People are travelling all over the world.
Will future - Used for decisions made at the moment of speaking, anything which is uncertain (often used with probably, maybe, I think, I expect, and I hope).
-I'll eat something on my way to the match.
-I hope you will visit soon.
Future continuous - Used to discuss an event which is going on at a particular time or over a period in the future. (will be + verb + ing)
-I will be working at 7 o'clock.
-I'll be visiting them after the holidays.
05mins - Worksheet: 16 future tenses - finish for homework.
10mins - Test: 16 writing practice - part 2
05mins - Warm down: Goodbye, see you next time!
00mins - Homework: Complete the next section of the online homework.
1) In this part, students will need to choose between three different writing styles. The possible writing options include: an article, an email/letter, an essay, a report, and a review.
2) The purpose of this task is for the candidate to develop their ideas on a piece of writing that's meant for a target audience.
3) Students should consider who their 'target audience' is in this task to help them achieve an appropriate tone and level of formality.
4) Students should practice each style of writing at least once, and decide on the two that they feel most comfortable with to expect to complete during the exam.
5) Students should aim to keep all information relevant to the exam question, avoiding unnecessary tangents.
Check for:
- Have they written in an informal, friendly tone?
- Is there a greeting and a sign-off?
- Have they clearly answered all of the questions asked in the original message?
- Is the spelling correct?
- Have they written between 140 and 190 words?