You travelled by plane last week and your

suitcase was lost. You have still heard nothing

from the airline company.
Write to the airline and explain what happened. Describe your
suitcase and tell them what was in it. Find out what they are
going to do about it.
Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to inquire about my lost suitcase. I took a flight by the Saudia Airline
from Singapore to London last week and the flight number was SK2547. Unfortunately,
when I reached the London City Airport, I could not find my suitcase anywhere. I am
hoping you would discover the suitcase and inform me once found.

The suitcase is black, medium in size and made of pure leather. A small scratch is visible on
the left side and it has three zippers. The handle is brown and made of metal. It contains
some important documents, a fountain pen, a diary, and some clothing items. The business
documents inside the suitcase are indispensable for me.

Although I have registered the lost item ten days ago, I am yet to hear any update from
the airline. I am disappointed with the customer service and hope that you would help me
locate the suitcase urgently. Please update me about the whereabouts of the suitcase and
oblige thereby.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

You borrowed some books from your school or college library. Unfortunately you
have to go away to visit a sick relative and cannot return the books in time.
Write a letter to the library. Explain what has happened and tell them what you
want to do about it.

model answer:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to explain why I have been unable to return the three books have
out on three-day loan, which are now overdue.
After taking the books out on 16th March, I had an urgent phone call from my elderly aunt's
neighbour to say that my aunt had had a fall and had been taken into hospital. I am her
only surviving relative in this country, so I felt I had to go and see her immediately. I
travelled down to Surrey the following morning, thinking I would stay for only two or three
days.
Unfortunately, my aunt's condition has only improved very slowly, so I have had to stay
here longer than expected. However, the hospital says that if all goes well, she should be
able to go home in two or three days' time, in which case I will be back at the beginning of
next week.

Dealing in mind the circumstances I trust you will kindly waive any fines that may have
accumulated.

Yours sincerely,
B

You and your family are living in rented

accommodation in an English-speaking country.
You are not satisfied with the condition of some
of the furniture.
Write a letter to the landlord. In your letter
 introduce yourself
 explain what is wrong with the furniture
 say what action you would like the landlord to take
Dear Ms Saradha,

Hope you are doing great. I am a new tenant in your apartment 106-C, writing in
connection with the defective condition of some of the furniture in my apartment. I am
hoping that you would arrange to replace them soon.

In relation to the specifics of the faulty furniture, the legs of the dining table are uneven
and it makes the table unusable. Besides, two chairs are missing. On top of that, the sofa
set in the living room is old and substandard. It needs to be replaced immediately.

While I signed the rental contract, you assured me to have these pieces of furniture
replaced. Two months have already elapsed but nothing has been done. Imagine how awful
it is that we can not enjoy our dinner together and cannot seat in the living room!

It would be highly appreciated if you could kindly find a replacement for this furniture soon
and make our living comfortable.

I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

You have decided to join a club which puts pen friends around the world in touch with each
other. Write a letter giving details about yourself and about the sort of person you would
like to correspond with. They will use this information to put you in touch with a suitable
person.
Dear A,

 I am twenty -two. My hair is black. My eyes are brown. I am not very tall. But I
am slim. I go to school. I live in HD. I have a sister. She is older than me. I am
interested in playing computer games. I also like playing volleyball. I like
playing with my pet dog.  I want to join because I want to find new friends to
play with. I think it will be fun. A person I would like to correspond with is the one I
can share both any problems or sadness or happiness and like playing sports such as
football, volleyball, tennis, badminton, ect. Whenever I have any problems, she/he is
always the first person that I talk to. She always cheers me up, gives me pieces of
valuable advice and encourage me to look on the bright side. Moreover, she/he is very
patient , she never gives up anything . Her determination and strong-willed
characteristics have set a good example for me and that is also the thing that I have to
remind myself so that I can be such a wonderful person like her.

I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Your English-speaking friend, Natalie sent you an email. Read part of her email below.

………………………..

Thanks for inviting me to stay with you when I visit your country next month.

I’m not sure how to get to your apartment from the airport. Could you write back giving me some
simple directions? What’s the cheapest means of transport?

What will the weather be like when I get there? I’ll need to know which clothes to pack.

Hope to get your early reply.

 Natalie.

Write a reply to Natalie. In your email, you have to express your excitement of her trip to your country,
tell her how to get to your apartment from the airport and what the cheapest means of transport is, and
tell her about the weather next month.

You should write at least 120 words.

Model answer:

Hi Natalie,

How’s it going? I hope you’re well and looking forward to your trip to Viet Nam. It’ll be great to see
you again. I’ll be on holiday when you come, so I’ve got plenty of time to spend with you. We’ll
definitely be able to visit a few places together.

The cheapest and easiest way to get to my apartment from the airport is on the bus. The number 30
Bus will drop you off at Ben Thanh Market. I’ll be waiting for you at the bus stop when you get there,
so you won’t get lost!

It will still be quite hot here next month, so bring some summer clothes. It might rain as well, but
you can borrow my umbrella!

Well, that’s all for now, Natalie. When you have a moment, drop me a line and confirm your flight
and arrival times. I’m sure you’ll have a great time here.

See you soon,

TASK 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Compare the advantages and the disadvantages of smart phones?

Write an essay to an educated reader to discuss this situation. Include reasons and
any relevant examples to support your answer.
You should write at least 250 words. Your response will be evaluated in terms of Task
Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Nowadays, the increasing popularity of mobile phones seem to be an

unstoppable trend. However, whether the social, medical and technical
dilemmas it causes will outweigh the benefits remains a controversial issue. My
view is that despite the detrimental aspects, we can not just discard the little
tiny tools.

First, it is obvious that the mobile phones have tremendously promoted and
facilitated our communications, bridging the gap between people no matter
how far away they are separate from each other. With mobile phones,
businessmen can negotiate without bothering travelling long distance to meet;
parents can know where their kids are at any time. If we do not have the
devices, communication would definitely pose a significant obstacle to our
social development.Moreover, integrated with the cutting-edge Internet
technologies, the mobile phones can be treated as little computers in people’s
pockets. After installing varied apps, it can help navigate the route when
driving, interact with friends with text, images and videos, and even act as an
office assistant dealing with emails and office documents – the list is endless.
Therefore, the mobile phones have become an integral part of our life.

That is not to say that we could disregard the negative aspects. It has been
reported that some heart diseases, indulging in virtual world, invading the
individual’s privacy are caused by overuse of phones. But any way, to be
honest, all powerful technologies should be harnessed strictly under
regulations.

In sum, mobile phones are just indispensable to our daily life; meanwhile,
though the pros clearly outweigh the cons, the problems should be handled by
efforts. Only by doing so can wen ensure that we can utilise the devices
smartly, making our society more convenient and interesting.

Task 1:
Your English-speaking friend, Mary, whom you haven't met for a long time, sent you an email.
Read part of her email below:

……..
Do you remember me? We met when you visited my high school in Oxford during
your summer trip to England 3 years ago. We haven't heard from each other for a
long time, right? Anyway, how are you? What have you been doing? You always
wanted to be a teacher!
Here some of my news. I'm studying Laws at Oxford University. I think I have
 changed a lot over the years. I don't like thrillers any more. I prefer history books
now. Do you remember Pete, the tall thin guy with glasses? He's on the same course
as me. We are best friends now!
Well, I must finish now because I have an exam tomorrow. It would be really good if
we could get together again.
Write back soon and tell me all your news.

Mary.

Write a reply to Mary. In your email, you have to tell her you still remember her and the
time you visited her high school, tell her all your news, and ask her to send your regards
to Pete.
You should write at least 120 words.

Hi Mary,

I’m very happy to hear from you again. It’s been such a long time. Of course, I still
remember you and the time I visited your high school in Oxford. I had lots of nice
memories with you and your classmates that summer.

I’m studying English at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education. I will be a teacher of
English after graduation. I also work part-time as a tutor. I love to teach English to
children because they look so adorable and seem eager to study another language.

You know, it’s great to tell you that I will have a chance to return to Oxford this summer
and definitely see you again there. As the best student of the course I’m taking at
university, I have been awarded a two-week trip to Oxford this June. Just think and tell me
what we are doing then.

Please send my best regards to Pete.

Keep in touch.

TASK 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
What are the advantages and the disadvantages of studying abroad?
Write an essay to an educated reader to discuss this situation. Include reasons and
any relevant examples to support your answer.
You should write at least 250 words. Your response will be evaluated in terms of Task
Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Today, more and more students are choosing to attend higher education
programs abroad. From my perspective, the benefits of this trend outweigh its
negatives, living in another country provides a wider perspective of the world
which leads to improved confidence.

On the one hand, studying overseas brings drawbacks such as culture shock
and its reverse effect. First and foremost, because of the host country's
diverse norms and practices, culture shock can make it difficult for
newcomers to adapt to the unfamiliar way of life. Unless students have
already mastered the host country's language proficiency, they might not be
able to comprehend or communicate with locals and could experience
difficulty speaking with other students. Furthermore, reverse culture shock
also exists. Returning home after adjusting to their study abroad place might
still be difficult. As students and their home countries both change when
living overseas, this makes it challenging for them to readjust to their new
surroundings when they return home.

Overseas education, on the other hand, is an excellent way to boost one's

self-esteem and perspective on the world. To begin with, acquiring a global
perspective is a vital aspect of the educational journey. Individuals who
study abroad have the opportunity to learn about other cultures and subjects
in completely different settings. Students will also be able to experience
everything that the new culture has to offer, giving them a deeper
understanding of what it is like to live there. Secondly, studying abroad is a
once-in-a-lifetime chance to live life outside of one's comfort zone. The
confidence gained will be invaluable in dealing with any challenging
situations that may be encountered in the future.
In conclusion, the benefits of this phenomenon, in my opinion, outweigh the
drawbacks because living in another country provides a larger perspective of
the world, which leads to improved confidence.