Freshmen English Listening & Speaking

Unit 9 A Letter from Grandma

Ask a Partner

Do you feel that you are busy? What are the things that make you

busy? When did you last receive a letter?

Who was it from? When was the last time you’ve written

a letter? Who was it sent to?

Situation

Rohini was moved by something very simple that her grandmother did.

She wrote Rohini a letter. Listen to Rohini talk about her

grandmother’s letter.

Listen Again – True or False?

1. Rohini was happy to receive a letter from her grandmother.

2. Rohini thinks her grandmother should stay in touch by e-mail.

3. Rohini thinks her grandmother has a boring life.

4. The letter made rohini realize that her own life is too busy.

Vocabulary Stay in touch: to keep contact with s/o regularly Move someone: to touch s/o’s heart, to impress s/o,

to make someone feel something deeply Addressing the envelope: to write a name and

address on the envelope Be connected: to be online, to be in touch with s/th

or s/o. Vet: animal doctor Deeply: very much Envelope: paper bag for letters Instant: very quick, right away

What do you think?

Susan: Rohini needs to write to and visit her grandmother regularly.

Luis: These days, we don’t have enough face-to-face communication.

Ken: Write letters? Why? Sending e-mails and text is better!

Staying in touch

Ways to communicate 1-9 Why?

1. Write letters

2. Meet someone in person

3. Call

4. E-mail

5. Text messages

6. Chat online

7. Visit s/o’s home

8. Hang out together

Someone important to me1. Choose

a person who is important to you.

2. Prepare: a)Name, b) how do I know this person? C) What are some words that describe this person? d) why is he/she special to me? E) what is one experience I remember with this person?

3. Check language hints in p. 45

STRUCTURING LETTERS

Not all social and business letters feature the exact conventional structured format as outlined below.

A social letter, for example, would likely not include an address heading, an inside address or a subject line. An informal business letter may not include a subject line, a postscript or a notation.

A letter written in good taste strikes a balance between the conventional format and the writer’s own personal style.

Formal Letter

Address HeadingThis is the writer’s full address.

Date Inside Address

The recipient’s full name and address. Attention

With formal letters, the "Attention: [full name of recipient]" is placed two spaces below the inside address.

GreetingAlso known as the “salutation,” this is the introductory phrase, “Dear [name of recipient].”

Subject lineA word or phrase to indicate the main subject of the letter, which is preceded by the word “Subject:” or “Re:” (Latin for “matter”).

BodyThe complete text of the letter; the subject matter content.

ClosingThis is the farewell phrase or word that precedes the signature and is followed by a comma.  Closing should reflect a type of farewell or goodbye as writer signs off. Examples:  “Yours truly,” “Sincerely yours,” “Regards,” etc. *Note: "Thank you," is not considered an appropriate closing for a formal or business letter. 

SignatureThe signed name of the writer.

PostscriptIs a brief sentence or paragraph introduced by the initials, “P.S.” (post scriptus) - Latin for “after having been written.”  

It implies that the writer, having completed and signed the letter, had an after-thought.

Although this is still commonly used in informal letters, it is not widely accepted for use in formal or business letters.

Notation

Part of a formal or business letter consisting of brief words or abbreviations as notations.

“R.S.V.P.” (Répondez s’il vous plaît) - French for “Please reply.”The use of this notation indicates that the writer expects the recipient to contact the writer with a “yes” or “no” response to the invitation extended in the body of the letter.

Often a corresponding address and/or phone number is printed directly below this notation.

“cc:” (carbon copy) - These initials are followed by a name or column of names, indicating those people to whom a copy of the letter is being sent to. 

“encl.” (enclosure) - Indicates that something else accompanying the letter is enclosed.

“PL/rm” (initials of persons) - Indicates that a person typed or even composed a letter on behalf of someone else.

The capitalized initials are those of the sender of the letter (Paul Lazarman).

The lower-case initials are those of the person who typed or composed the letter (Rachel McDonald) on behalf of the sender. 

The most common use for this notation is for situations where an administrative assistant composed and/or typed the final version of a letter that was dictated by his/her boss.