Reference

Think about what to put in the reference. what should you not include?

I would not include the first two points, because their information is irrelevant to the reference; the ideas contain personal information which doesn't suit the writing. I doubted wether the third point should be also included or not, but, in my opinion, it can be useful to reinforce some ideas about our "friend's" way of being or so.
I would neither use the informal and colourful language, because in this case, it's not adequate.


Plan the reference by stating the number of paragraphs you will need, what information you will include in each paragraph and how you will end it. Jot down the different ideas for each paragraph and how you will develop them.

I think a good number of paragraphs would be 4.
In the first one, you should tell why you are writing and start introducing your chosen apliant, maybe talking about his/her character.
In the second, you should tel why you like your friend, and talk about your friend's interests and skills, and tell why you think he or she is suitable for the job, as a way of remarking them.
In the third paragraph you should develop your friend's previous experiences: where did he/she work, for how long ....
The last paragraph should be used to sumarize, and to give the last support to your friend.

Letter

Read the extracts A-E from five letters. Number them 1-5 according to how formal they are. (1=very formal, 5=very informal)

A-5
B-1
C-4
D-3
E-2

1. What is the purpose of the letter each extract is from?

A- To ask for a place to sleep in a city or village.
B- To confirm a payment to a client through his/her credit card account.
C-To organise a special lunch (barbecue) for all the teachers and students of a course before summer holidays start.
D-To thank a group of musicians and dancers for their show, maybe in a bar or pub.
E- To apologise for the delivery of a packet in bad conditions.

2. What can you deduce about the writers and recipients of each letter?
(Writer-W; Recipient-R)

A----W: Maybe a friend of the recipient.
R: Maybe friends of the writer.
B----W: A travel agent or a hotel worker.
R: A client.
C----W: Headmaster or headmistress.
R: Teachers and students.
D----W: The owner of a pub.
R: The group he/she hired.
E----W: An employee
R: A client.

3. What features of informal language does each extract include?

A: Vocabulary, contractions.
B: None.
C: Contractions, vocabulary.
D: None.
E: None.

Rewrite thesew formal expressions from the extracts in more informal English.

1. We can now confirm that--- We can tell you that

2. your forthcoming vacation--- Your next holiday

3. will be debited from your credit card---Will be charged from your credit card

4. the week following your departure---The next week after you leave

5. Please accept my apologies for this--- I am very sorry for this

6. We do make every effort---We do as much as possible

List some indoor and outdoor activities in your town that you could suggest in your reply to the letter.

-Indoor activities: Going to the cinema, to the theatre, to some bars or pubs, museums...

-Outdoor activities: Going for a walk, spend the day in a park, visiting the city...

Discuss the beginning and end of your letter. Which of these ideas would you include at the beginning (B) and which at the end (E)?

- say you're looking forward to seeing your penfriend---E
- comment on the fact that your friend is planning to learn your language---B
- give some general information about your town---B
- suggest meeting during the friend's stay---E
- ask about the language course your friend is attending---B