Write a letter to the school in which you ask about the details of the course. Include the following points:
explain why you are writing
ask about payment forms and enroll ment requirements.
► Address the recipient in a formal manner.
► Do not use abbreviations, keep the language suitably formal.
► In the first paragraph we usually state the aim of the letter.
► Devote one paragraph to one topic or one piece of information.
► Finish the letter with an appropriate closing phrase.
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing in connection with the advertisement for your Proficiency course in English. I am an eighteen-year-old student from Slovakia. For some time I have been looking for a course in English at a higher level, and that is why I found your course very interesting.
However, I am not sure if the course is for Slovakian students only, or for other Europeans, too. I would like to ask for more details on this matter. I would also be very grateful if you could inform me if there is a choice of meals at the cafeteria: I am allergic to some foods. Finally, I would like to ask if I can pay for the course with a credit card and what kind of documents I need to be enrolled.
I look forward to your answer.
Yours faithfully,
Anna Koval
Exercise 1. Read the exam task below and do exercises a – b.
You would like to go on a summer English course in Cambridge. You have found an advertisement for a language school that looks interesting. Write an email to the manager of the school in which you will ask about:
● the price of a one-month General English course
● the facilities at the school
● afternoon activities
Read a student’s response to the exam task and answer the questions:
Has she included all the questions required by the rubric?
Is there anything wrong with the email?
Dear Sir or Madam,
Could you please tell me something about the school’s facilities?
I also wonder about the social activities.
May I ask you to let me know the price of a course?
Develop the candidate’s email by adding the following lines in appropriate places:
Yours faithfully,
that you mentioned in the advertisement. What are they exactly?
one-month General English
I have read your advertisement and I am interested in taking a course. However, I would like to know some more details.
Finally,
For example, is there a computer room and a library?
Exercise 2. Read the exam task below and write a letter of enquiry.
You would like to take part in a windsurfing course in Australia. You have found the website of a company that organizes such courses. Write an email to the manager of the company in which you will ask about:
● enrollment requirements
● the price of a two-week course
● accommodation
BLOG
Reading Books
Are You Keen On Reading?
Reading books opens up new worlds, expands your knowledge, and stimulates your imagination. Books can be divided into two main groups: fiction and non-fiction. Fiction books contain made-up stories, non-fiction books are books that give facts. There are numerous book genres, ranging from historical novels and adventure stories to atlases and self-help books. A lot of books belong to different genres, like fantasy combined with science fiction, or crime paired with mystery novels.
Genres of Books
This list covers many of the common genres and forms of writing, though there are countless sub-genres and hybrid forms as well.
Fiction Genres
Adventure stories
Classics
Crime
Fairy tales and folk tales
Fables
Myths
Legends
Fantasy
Historical fiction
Drama
Horror
Humour and satire
Mystery
Poetry
Plays
Romance
Science fiction/sci-fi
Short stories
Thrillers
War
Women’s fiction
Young adult (teenagers)
Children’s fiction
Non-fiction Genres
Biography
Autobiography
Memoir
History
Encyclopedia
Dictionary
Reference book
Atlas
Diary
Travel guide
Travelogue
Textbook
True crime books
Journalism (articles in newspapers, magazines, monthly journals, TV news reports, narrative non-fiction, etc.)
Self-help books (books that concern business success, staying confident and organized, relationship advice, dieting, and financial management)
Guides and how-to manuals (cookbooks, musical notations, athletic instructions, and tutorials for home hobbyists)
Philosophy and insight (books that give analysis of scientific or cultural phenomena)
Religion and spirituality
Science Writing (books about scientific topics for a general audience)
Health
Humour, satire, commentary (books that give the author’s point of view and analysis of real-world events)
Reports
Essays
Letters
Book or film reviews
Writing Forms
a novel (a historical novel, a sci-fi novel, a graphic novel,
a story (an adventure story, a horror story, a love story)
a novella (longer than a short story but shorter than a novel)
a saga
a sequel (a continuation of a previously written work)
a trilogy (a series of three related works)
series (multiple related books, often following the same characters or setting)
a volume in a series
a comic (comics)
a journal
Poetry Forms
a poem
a sonnet (a 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme)
a haiku (a 3-line Japanese poem with a 5-7-5 syllable structure)
a limerick (a humorous five-line poem with a specific meter and rhyme scheme)
a free verse (poetry without a fixed rhythm or rhyme scheme)
epic (a long, narrative poem, often about heroic deeds)
ode (a formal, often ceremonious lyric poem that addresses and celebrates a person, place, thing, or idea)
a ballad (a narrative poem often set to music)
an elegy (a poem of serious reflection, often mourning a loss)
Dramatic Forms
a play
a comedy
a tragedy
a screenplay (a script for a film or television show)
a radio play
The People
Each person plays a crucial part in bringing books to readers, from their creation to consumption.
an author
a co-author
a novelist
a writer
a playwright
a poet
an illustrator
an editor
a translator
a publisher
a designer
a librarian
a bookseller
a bookstore owner
a book reader
a book reviewer / a critic
Parts of a Story and the Characters
the plot
a realistic plot
the storyline
a believable storyline
the setting (the time and place in which a story occurs)
the climax (the most intense or exciting point in a story)
an anticlimax
a racy narrative
the narrator (the person or character who tells the story in a book)
a chapter
the characters
the hero
the heroine
Parts of a Book
the table of contents
a volume
a series
a foreword (an introduction to a book, typically written by someone other than the author)
a preface (an introduction written by the author, discussing the book’s creation or purpose)
a prologue (an introductory section of a book that sets the scene or provides background information)
an epilogue (a concluding section that follows the main text of a book)
an appendix (supplementary material at the end of a book, providing additional information)
a glossary (a list of terms and their definitions, usually found at the end of a book)
Book-Related Terms
A bestseller is a book that sells a large number of copies.
A fast-seller is a book that sells quickly soon after its release.
A page-turner is a book that is very engaging and exciting, making readers eager to continue reading.
A publishing house is a company that produces and distributes books.
A book-signing tour is a promotional event where an author travels to various locations to sign copies of their book and meet readers.
A digital ebook is an electronic version of a book that can be read on digital devices like e-readers, tablets, or smartphones.
A manuscript is the original text of an author’s work before it is published.
A book fair is an event where publishers, authors, and booksellers display and sell books.
A hardcover is a book bound with rigid protective covers.
A paperback is a book bound with a flexible paper cover.
An edition is a particular version of a published text.
A print run is the number of copies printed in a single production cycle.
Book-related Idioms
A book worm – a person who loves reading and spends a lot of time doing it.
Don’t judge a book by its cover – don’t form an opinion about someone or something based only on appearance.
An open book – someone or something that is easy to understand.
A closed book – if you are a closed book, you are a mystery; it can also mean you are something that cannot be understood.
Read between the lines – look for or understand a hidden meaning in something that is not immediately obvious.
Read someone like a book – to understand someone very well and be able to predict their thoughts or actions.
In my book – in my opinion
The oldest trick in the book – a well-known and often used method for achieving something.
To use every trick in the book – you have tried every possible way and method to do something.
To crack a book open – begin to study
By the book – you strictly follow the rules and guidelines.
A dog ear is a folded down corner of a book page. A dog ear can serve as a bookmark.
To balance the books – to add up all debits and credits
To cook the books – to falsify facts or figures
To have your nose in a book – to be reading intensely
To hit the books – to study
To throw a book at – to punish severely
To flick through – to look quickly through a book
read from cover to cover – from the first page to the last
Reading is good for many reasons. It helps your brain stay sharp by making new connections and increases your knowledge by exposing you to new words and ideas. Reading also helps you focus better and reduces stress, giving your mind a chance to relax.
When you read stories, you can understand other people’s feelings and viewpoints better, which makes you more empathetic. It can also make you a better writer by showing you examples of good writing.
Reading about different cultures and histories broadens your understanding of the world and gives you interesting topics to talk about with others. It boosts your creativity and can be a source of inspiration and motivation.
Most importantly, reading is fun and enjoyable. It offers a chance to escape into different worlds and experience exciting adventures, making it a great source of entertainment.
Reading Books Speaking
Are you a keen reader?
How much time do you spend reading?
Do you need to read for your literature classes?
How often do you go to your local library?
Is it better to read for pleasure or for knowledge/education?
Are e-books going to replace conventional books one day?
Should governments spend money on public libraries?
Why are there still people who can’t read?
How important are books to you?
What would life be like without books?
How different do you think reading will be in the future?
If you wrote a book, what would you write about?
If you could only have one book for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Do you think the Internet will make books disappear?
What do you think of Google’s idea to put all the world’s books on the Internet, accessible for free?
Why doesn’t everybody enjoy reading books?
What are your earliest memories of reading?
Would you like to read more?
How important is reading?
What do you enjoy reading most?
Talk about your favourite book. You should say what the book is, who the writer of the book is, what the book is about and explain why it is your favourite book.
