FORMAL LETTERS

1. Thư yêu cầu ( đặt phòng khách sạn)

You and your family are planning to spend a weekend at a seaside hotel.

Task: Write a letter to the hotel making the arrangements. Let them know when you
will be arriving and leaving, what type of rooms you would like, and ask them how
much the weekend will cost. Also enquire about activities and places of interest near the
hotel.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing this letter to make arrangements for the stay during the weekend at your hotel
and to get more information on the places of interest and different activities nearby.

I will be arriving with my parents and wife to celebrate my parents wedding anniversary on
the 4th of July which will be on Saturday morning, and leaving on the 7th of July afternoon. I
am looking to book double-rooms with the attached bathroom for more privacy and
convenience. I would love to have at least one bedroom with the balcony or seaside view for
my parents. I would also appreciate if you could provide me with the list of activities that we
can take part in during our stay for more fun and adventure. I prefer the locations to be
nearby the hotel as we are not familiar with the place. Furthermore, I would also like to know
if there are any historical sites or market nearby where we can explore more about the place's
history and local culture.

You could send me the detailed information through email or fax no later than the 4th of July
with the total cost of stay during the weekend.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

2. Thư xin việc

You have seen an advertisement in an English newspaper for a job working in the City
Museum shop during the holidays.
You have decided to apply for the job. Write a letter to the director of the Museum. In your
letter:

 introduce yourself
 explain what experience and special skills you have
 explain why you are interested in the job
Write at least 150 words.

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Sample Answer 2:
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to apply for the holiday job at your City Museum shop that was posted in newspaper
last week.  I am a student at the local Lincon College studying history major. We are currently in
our summer break and I was hoping to gain some valuable work experience related to my field
during this time.

We will have summer holidays from 1st June to 30th August. I will be free during these days so I
would be able to work full time or part time as per your requirements. I worked in a local history
Museum in my hometown for 6 months. In addition to that, I am quite good with computers and
numbers. I believe I would be a great asset for you.
I have been interested in history since I was a child. There is no Museum in this city that I
haven't been to. I love your Museum as it has wide variety of historical objects and abundant
audio-visual library to read in.

I believe that my enthusiasm for history and relevant skills will make me a good candidate for
this position. Please let me know if I am suitable for the job. I am able to appear for interview at
any appointed time.

Yours Faithfully,
.You are looking for a part-time job.

Write a letter to an employment agency. In your letter

 introduce yourself
 explain what sort of job you would like
 and say what experience and skills you have

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am a German national from Heidelberg and at present I am studying for a Master’s degree in
Commercial Law here, at the University of Bielefeld, where I have been for the last two months.

I am looking for a part-time job and I wonder if you can help me. Probably, I would like an
office job, perhaps working as a secretary, office administrator or typist. I can only work during
the afternoons and at weekends as my university studies occupy most of the day. I would be
ready to start immediately.

I am a competent typist and I am computer-literate. In addition, I speak Polish and German

fluently and I have been learning English for the past three years. While I studied for my degree,
I worked as a part-time office manager for an import-export firm in Heidelberg. In recent years, I
have also had temporary summer jobs as a hotel receptionist in Mannheim, Germany.

I am looking forward to hearing from you,

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Yours faithfully,
3. Thư phàn nàn
Situation (phàn nàn về dịch vụ khách sạn)

You stayed at a reputable hotel recently but weren’t happy with the customer service you
received. Write a complaint letter to the Director of the hotel expressing your dissatisfaction.

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 4. THƯ PHÀN NÀN VỀ BỮA TỐI Ở MỘT NHÀ HÀNG

You and a friend had dinner in an expensive restaurant last night. The waiter was
incompetent and the food was not good.

Write a letter to the restaurant manager and describe what happened. Ask for your money

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 back.

Dear restaurant manager.

First of all, I want to thank you for having the time and providing me with the opportunity to let
you know my not-comfortable personal experience in your restaurant last night.

Your restaurant is one of the best ranked restaurants in this city, according to Tripadvisor, so I
expected to have the best dinner and service of my life. I had planned a memorable dinner with a
friend I had not seen for years, so I decided to make a reservation with you.

Our reservation was supposedly made for 2 persons at 8:00pm in the non-smoking area, but
eventhough we arrived 10 minutes before, the lady at the main entrance made us wait for an
available table for more than 45 minutes, after that she took us to a table right in the terrace for
smoking people. The waiter served my friend some wine and spilled some wine-drops on her
dress. The food after 30 minutes waiting, arrived cold and tasted like frozen food you can buy in
a market.

That experience is unacceptable in a high rated restaurant like yours. A night that was supposed
to be a memorable moment, will unfortunately be remembered, but not for good reasons. So the
purpose of this letter is to let you know this terrible experience and ask you for my money back
as compensation, otherwise I will have to rank your restaurant with a low score and post my
experience on the Internet.

Thanks for your time and support.

Sincerely yours...
Erick

Your local council is considering closing a sports and leisure centre

that it runs in order to save money.(Địa phương bạn đang xem xét
đóng cửa 1 trung tâm thể thao và giải trí…)
Write a letter to the local council. In your letter,
 give details of how you and your friends or family use the centre
 explain why the sports and leisure centre is important for the local community
 describe the possible effects on local people if the centre closes

WRITING 01

TASK 1 (Nội dung thư: 1 công ty đang tổ chức 1 chuyến đi nước ngoài để huấn luyện ngôn ngữ cho
một số nơi. Viết thư : bày tỏ rằng bạn muốn tham gia, nói tại sao bạn nghĩ bạn nên tham gia, giải
thích tại sao những nhà tổ chức nên chọn bạn )

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You should spend 20 minutes on this task.

A company is organizing a trip abroad for language training to a number of limited places. Write a letter
to the manager of the company. In your letter, you should:

 express that you want to join

 say why you think you should join

 explain why the organizers should select you

You should write at least 120 words. You do not need to include your name and addresses. Your
responses will be evaluated in terms of Task fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Answer:

Dear Sir

I am writing this letter in response to your advertisement in newspaper for a language course in
abroad and there are limited number of seats. I really want to join this training as it is
essential for me.

In future, I have planned to go to abroad for further studies and by joining the training, that your
organisation is providing, will help me to learn foreign language. That is why, It would be
beneficial to me and do not have to face any issue during my studies or while conversing to any
person of foreign land.

Though, training is little bit expensive but I can manage to bear the expenses of the course.
Beside that, I have a few knowledge of french, so I am capable of learning this language easily
and in given short span. I would like that you should enrol my name for this training as I am the
right person with appropriate ability and money to complete this course.

I am looking forward to your response.

Regards,

TASK 2 (Chính phủ nên giảm số tiền cho những vấn đề môi trường và thay vào đó tăng quỹ cho
những vấn đề như sự nóng lên toàn cầu)

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Read the following topic.

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 The government should reduce the amount of money spent on local environmental problems and
instead increase funding into urgent and more threatening issues such as global warming.
To what extent do you agree?

Write an essay to an educated reader to discuss the topic above. Include reasons and any relevant
examples to support your answer.

You should write at least 250 words. Your responses will be evaluated in terms of Task fulfillment,
Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Answer:

Undoubtedly environmental problems have become the most thread to the survival of the
humanity. To me, this idea is appealing in the view of the fact that these events would gradually
not only contribute to vanishing of the lands, but it would result in severe air pollution.

On the one hand, global warming is one of the important issues that would have detrimental
effect on the disappearance of the islands and shores throughout the globe. Reportedly, the
temperature of the earth is increasing annually by 1 degree of the Celsius.

On the other hand, when it comes to air pollution, there are a lot of factors that lead to
acceleration of this phenomenon. One of the most mainspring factor that always is neglected by
people is deforestation.

To sum up, in my personal view, the most urgent issues like global warming and deforestation
shouldn’t be underestimated. It is believed that government of the countries should consider
more financial support to handling these most threatening events. Not only would it result in
creating the superior earth to live, but also it would guarantee the next generation.

WRITING 02 (60 minutes)

TASK 1 (Gần đây bạn có làm 1 cv bán thời gian cho 1 công ty địa phương. Sau vài tuần bạn nhận
ra có 1 số vấn đề với công việc. viết thư: giải thích tại sao bạn lại làm cv này, mô ta những vấn đề
mà bạn gặp phải và đề nghị giải pháp)
You should spend 20 minutes on this task.

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You recently took a part-time job working for a local company. After a few weeks you realized there were
some problems with the job.
Write a letter to the manager of the company. In your letter
 explain why you took the job.
 describe the problems that you experienced.
 suggest what could be done about them.
You should write at least 120 words. You do not need to include your name and addresses. Your
responses will be evaluated in terms of Task fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Answer:

Dear Mr Chen,

I am Rona Lyn Olivar, one of the part-time receptionists at your Sea View Hotel. I have been working
here since July and I have taken the job to gain some experience that I thought would be helpful for my
future career. I am writing to draw your attention to a few issues I have encountered in the hotel. I am
hoping that you would take steps to solve these.

I have noticed that some of the duty staffs at night shift sleep inside the hotel's quarter instead of being at
the reception area. Literally, I and Lindsay- who is also a new employee, work and manage everything at
night. They even do not bother to come to the reception area at busy hours when we have an influx of
guests - usually on Friday nights. I believe this is against the rules.

Moreover, breakfast is supposed to be ready before 7:00 am but it is not the case. Sometimes the guests
have to wait till 8:00 am for breakfast to arrive. Some of the guests have lodged complained regarding
this.  

I thought you should be notified about these irregularities. Duty officers at night shift should be
reprimanded and warned so that they execute their duties. Besides, look at the recent complaints
regarding the delay in breakfast serving and talk to the head chef.  

I look forward to your response regarding this matter.

Yours sincerely,

TASK 2 (trẻ con học theo cách cư xử của người lớn.. bạn đồng ý hay ko)
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write an essay on the following topic:

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 Children learn best by observing the behavior of adults and copying it.
Do you agree or disagree?
Give the reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
You should write at least 250 words. Your responses will be evaluated in terms of Task fulfillment,
Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Answer:

Children acquire knowledge by watching adults’ behaviour and copying it is a questionable one.
There is a commonly held belief that this is the most efficient for the children to learn. Some
people say that sometimes adults or parents can not be good role-models for children. I agree
with this opinion to some extent and in this essay, I will support my opinion with examples.

The behaviors of the adults play a significant role in changing children’s interest, action and
character. When the baby is born the first and the nearest adults are his/her parents. Then this
baby starts his learning by observing and replicating adults’ talks and movements.

A child learns more for only paying attention to what others are doing or copying them. For
instance, many boys learn playing football, computer games, future career such kind of things by
following his father.

By watching adults and copying their actions are a big way but that is not the best way all the
time for a child. It may be true for his certain age. After very offspring periods adults’ roles
decline. Then he finds peers and his life may be regulated in large scale by the influence of them
with bad ways.

To sum up, it is an irrefutable point that children should not copy adults’ some actions which can
have a devastating impact on their future life. Personally, I totally agree with this idea.

WRITING 03
TASK 1 ( Bạn chuẩn bị gặp người bạn tên là Douglas vào thứ Bảy tới. Viết thư: sắp xếp gặp bạn ấy
vào thứ Bảy/ đề nghị một số hoạt đông khi gặp bạn ấy/ thời gian bao lâu?)
You should spend 20 minutes on this task.

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You are going to spend some time with your Scottish friend Douglas next Saturday.
Write an email to Douglas. In your email, you should
- Arrange to meet Douglas next Saturday
- Suggest something you could do together
- Say how long you will be able to spend with him

Write at least 120 words. You do not need to include your name and addresses. Your responses will be
evaluated in terms of Task fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Hi Douglas,
how are you? I'm fine and guess what? I'm flying to Edimburgh from Rome next Saturday. I'm
expected to land in the late morning so, if you aren't working, we might meet to spend some time
together...It would be great, wouldn't it?
What about meeting with the other mates of the College in the old pub near the Castle? I would
enjoy talking to them and then, I can't wait to meet your new girlfriend!!!
In the afternoon, why don't we catch the bus to visit Rosslyn Chapel? I'm very curious about its
mysteries and the magic atmosphere that surrounds its story.
Unfortunately I will not be able to stay for long, in fact my return flight is on the following
Wednesday because, next Friday I've got an exam at the University, but ,for now, let's have some
fun!!!
see you soon
Fabio

TASK 2 (chủ đề : tội phạm)

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Read the following topic.
Crime is a problem all over the world and there is nothing that can be done to prevent it.
To what extent do you agree?

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Give the reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
You should write at least 250 words. Your response will be evaluated in terms of Task fulfillment,
Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Answer:

Crime is one of the major issues that all the countries have been facing recently. Some people
believe that there is nothing that can be done to prevent crime. I completely disagree with this
opinion and feel that crime rate can be controlled with appropriate measures.

On one side of the argument, there are some people who believe that crime cannot be regulated.
According to them, criminals prevail all over the world and they try to commit various illegal
activities. No matter how many prevention measures are taken by the individuals and the
government, several people make their daily living through activities like robbery, theft, murder,
hate crimes, and others. 

On the other hand, there are people who argue that crime can be prevented. The government
needs to frame strict rules to control crime. Moreover, there should be fear of punishment

After having discussed the pertinent points related to the issue, I feel that the only logical
conclusion is that crime can be prevented through appropriate action by the government and
individuals.

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Essay topics: (nội dung nói về việc có con muộn: nguyên nhân và ảnh hưởng)
Nowadays, in some countries around the world men and women are having children late in life.
What are the reasons for this development? What are the effects on society and family life?
There seems to be a recent tendency that many young people do not want to have babies early in their life.
They have several reasons for this choice, but it could pose to some impacts on both the society and their
own family.

It is obvious that in these days, a large number of individuals are not ready to start a family when they are
still young. Spending more time enjoying life is these people’s priority, which might be considerably
affected if they get married and have children

However, this choice might bring some drawbacks to not only family life but also the society. The
generation gap between parents and children will be clearly expanded if the children are born later.

In conclusion, the choice of having a baby late might be popularly preferred nowadays due to various
benefits, but young couples should take it into careful consideration to avoid negative effects on their
family and community.
(ưu điểm và nhược điểm về mặc đồng phục)
Nowadays companies and other organisations are requiring their employees to wear a uniform. What is
your viewpoint on this?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of wearing a uniform?

Companies and organisations are enforcing their employees to wear a uniform. Is this helpful for the
employer or employee is a debating topic, but here, I will describe some of my views regarding this topic
either they are in favour or in opposite opinion of this view.

A uniform presents itself as a dress code, no one feels superior or inferior to anyone and that provides an
employee the comfort on their job, that ultimately leads to growing in profit

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In spite of above-mentioned advantages, there are some disadvantages.It is very difficult for an employee
to wear the same dress over and over again, each one gets bored and try to avoid being in a uniform. This
thing affects their performance on work.

We find a way to tackle the situation by enforcing the uniform for the employees who are working in the
field or on a technical machine, while uniform would not be necessary for peoples working in clerical
jobs or those who are sitting on managerial positions.

(BÀI VIẾT NÓI VỀ PHƯƠNG TIỆN GIAO THÔNG CÔNG CỘNG)

The rising levels of congestion and air pollution found in most of the world cities can be
attributed directly to the rapidly increasing number of private cars in use. In order to
reverse this decline in the quality of life in cities, attempts must be made to encourage
people to use their cars less and public transport more

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Nowadays, people use more private car, which leads to more cars on the road, heavy traffic jam
and air pollution. These problems always happen especially in the cities. I agree with the way to
solve this problem by encourage people to use public transportation instead of using private cars
because it is the best and easy way that people can do.

Using public transportation saves a lot of money. Firstly, people do not have to buy their own
cars. When it comes to prices, the fare for buses or taxis are cheaper than private cars when
compared bus fare to the oil price. Accordingly, people do not have to spend lots of money on
gas that they have to fill the tank. Also, they do not have to find a place for parking as well.

Moreover, using less private cars saves environment and people’s health as well. It causes less
air pollution because carbon dioxide that released from cars is decreased.

Therefore, these are the reasons why I agree with the way to decrease congestion and air
pollution by encourage people to use less private cars and turn to use more public transportation
that government provided.

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Using a computer every day can have more negative than positive effects on young children.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge
or experience.

Nowadays, young children use computers so frequently that some even use them more than 10
hours every day. Although some people believe that the phenomenon has no harmful effects on
young children, I agree that the disadvantages of it outweigh the advantages.

To begin with, the benefits of using a computer are widely admitted. As high-tech tools,
computers provide children with diversified methods to help them learn efficiently. Animated
web pages and incentive applications are designed for teaching and inspiring them to access
more information  and that process expands their horizons as a result.

On the other hand, negative impacts of using a computer every day need to be emphasised. Since
young children have only acquired inadequate self-control, they are likely to be addicted to
computers, video games in particular.
In conclusion, though computers are helpful to youngsters’ study, the adverse effects they bring
weigh more. It is acceptable that youngsters use computers two or three times a week, but
parents still need to be aware of the unhealthy information on the internet and video games
addiction of their offspring.

Letter from USA friend:

“ I guess there are many traditional festivals in your country. What’s the most important one? Why do
people celebrate this festival? Write and tell me about it”

(kể về lễ hội quan trọng nhất ở đất nước bạn)

Dear Joe,

I’ve just received your email in which you asked me to tell you about the most important traditional festival in
my country.

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 There are a number of festivals in VN but the most important one is certainly TET. It is the time when
family members come home from all parts of the country to have family reunion. It is often a one – week holiday.

Before Tet, people often redecorate their houses by repainting walls, buying beautiful flowers, bonsais,
food, drinks, cakes, candies…

During Tet, people visit their relatives, teachers, friends. People wish each other good luck, good health and
good success. They also go to temples, pagodas… to pray the best luck for their families. Children are so happy
because they are given new clothes and they receive lucky money in red envelops from adults…

What about the most important holiday in your country?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Best wishes

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