CAE letters

 

Letters 


You have received a letter form an English friend


I'm doing a project at college about how people’s lives have changed over the last few decades in different countries. Can you tell me about the situation in your country? I'd like to hear about improvements and also about anything that’s worse now. 


Write a letter in reply. you don't need to include postal addresses. 


Dear Mariam

Great to hear from you. I hope you’re well and enjoying your college course. 

Your project sounds very interesting. I've just had a chat with my grandparents, to find out how the way of life has changed during their lifetime, and a few things came up that you might like to hear about. 

They said their standard of living is much higher now than it used to be, mainly because they have far more money to spend- even though they’re pensioners. When they were much younger, and my grandfather want out to work, it was a struggle to cope on the money he earned especially as they had several children to bring up. 

Now they can spend much more on leisure activities and holidays, so whereas they couldn't afford to go abroad on holiday until they were in their 50s, nowadays they go skiing in Switzerland or Italy every winter, and in the summer they like to go on a river cruise in another country, too. 

The biggest change they say, is in the amount of freedom that they have. As kids, they were under pressure from their families and everyone they knew had to do certain things and behave in certain ways, but now there's much greater tolerance of different ways of living. 

On the other hand, they feel that people don't stick together the way they used to - instead of everyone helping each other, people tend to be more self-centered. 

Well, I hope you can use this in your project, Marian. 

All the best

Mischa 

Letters begin with social remarks before introducing any major topic


Introduces the main topic in a positive way


The writer is surprised that, as pensioners, his grandparents have more money to spend. 



Linking words whereas to introduce a contrast


Informal vocabulary 


Good linking expression in new paragraph, to show change from improvement to something that is worse now


Short paragraphs common in informal letters 


Letter 1

You are having problems with one of your flatmates and recently you mentioned it to your English speaking penfriend. Here is part of a letter your pen friend sent you. 


So what exactly has your flatmate been doing - or not doing? Have you tried speaking to them? Why do you think they’re behaving like that? I've got lots of experience of flat sharing, so is there anything I could give you a few tips on?


Dear Ashley, 

Thanks for your message -it's great to hear from you. And sorry not to get back to you until now, but I've been having a quiet weekend: out in the countryside!

Unfortunately, it's not been so relaxing at home. Far from it. Ever since he moved in, our new flatmate Chaloe has refused to tidy up, left both the kitchen and the bathroom in a terrible state, and - to cap it all - has been keeping me awake until all hours with some of the worst music I’ve ever heard. 

So the other week Jamie (an other flatmate) and I had a word with him. Charlie admitted he'd done almost no housework, said he was sorry and explained he hadn't actually flat-shared before. He promised he'd make more of an effort in future, though as yet our chat seems to have had little effect. 

I got the impression he's a bit down. He clearly didn't want to talk about it, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's missing his family, both to talk to and to tidy up after him! I also wonder whether he's feeling slightly left out - Jamie and I get on really well, and three’s rarely the ideal number. 

So what I'd like to ask ,firstly, is whether you think there might be something else that's bothering him, and also how we can make him see we want to be friends with him. And finally, how do you suggest we get him to turn the music down?

Hope to hear from you soon. 

Best wishes

Lee 


Task

This is part of a letter you have received from an English speaking friend. 

Guess what I'm spending next summer in your country, though sadly not in your town. I'm sure I'll enjoy my visit even though I don't speak the language very well - and I'm a bit shy, too . but I really want to make new friends, so please tell me: what are the best ways to meet people there, and why?

Write your letter in 220-260 words 

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