The letter is from Katrina inviting her friend Roger to stay with her over the holidays. She thanks him for his previous letter and says they are looking forward to his visit. Katrina describes their usual quiet holiday activities of relaxing at home and going for walks. She invites Roger to go skiing in the mountains with them and visit local restaurants during his stay. Katrina reminds Roger to bring warm clothes for the cold December weather.

1. Writing – informal letters

2. Discuss these questions: Who do you write informal letters to? What kind of things would you write in a letter to a new pen friend?

3. Before you read a sample letter consider the following questions: Effect on the target reader What is the purpose of an informal letter? To advertise sth / to entertain the reader / to explain sth? Register What register should you use? Format What is important about the format of an informal letter?

4. Dear Roger, Thanks a lot for your Letter – it was great to hear from you again and we’re delighted you can come and stay with us. As you can imagine, everything’s very quiet here then. We normally spend the time just relaxing at home, getting over all the celebrations and finishing off the Christmas food! We either read or play games, and occasionally go out for a walk in the snow. When you’re here, though, we’d like to take you to the mountains for a few days – they’re really beautiful at this time of the year. We can go cross – country skiing during the day and then in the evenings we can try out the different restaurants. The place is famous for its good food. The temperatures drop to minus 10 in December, so make sure you bring some warm clothes. A pair of walking boots would be ideal, as well as some waterproof trousers if you have them – just in case you fall over in the snow. That’s all for now, then. See you at the airport on the 27th. Love, Katrina

5. beautiful delighted different famous good great ideal normally occasionally quiet walking warm waterproof well Dear Roger, Thanks a lot for your Letter – it was (1) ________ to hear from you again and we’re (2) _________ you can come and stay with us. As you can imagine, everything’s very (3) _________ here then. We (4) __________ spend the time just relaxing at home, getting over all the celebrations and finishing off the Christmas food! We either read or play games, and (5) ________ go out for a walk in the snow. When you’re here, though, we’d like to take you to the mountains for a few days – they’re really (6) ________ at this time of the year. We can go cross – country skiing during the day and then in the evenings we can try out the (7) __________ restaurants. The place is (8) __________ for its (9) __________ food. The temperatures drop to minus 10 in December, so make sure you bring some (10) ________ clothes. A pair of (11) __________ boots would be (12) ________ , as (13) ________ as some (14) ________ trousers if you have them – just in case you fall over in the snow. That’s all for now, then. See you at the airport on the 27th. Love, Katrina

6. Dear Roger, Thanks a lot (1) your Letter – it was great (2) hear from you again and we’re delighted you can come and stay (3) us. (4) you can imagine, everything’s very quiet here then. We normally spend the time just relaxing (5) home, getting (6) all the celebrations and finishing (7) the Christmas food! We either read (8) play games, and occasionally go (9) (10) a walk (11) the snow. When you’re here, though, we’d like (12) take you (13) the mountains (14) a few days – they’re really beautiful (15) this time (16) the year. We can go cross – country skiing (17) the day and then (18) the evenings we can try (19) the different restaurants. The place is famous (20) its good food. The temperatures drop (21) minus 10 in December, so make sure you bring some warm clothes. A pair of walking boots would be ideal, (22) well (22) some waterproof trousers if you have them – just (23) case you fall (24) in the snow. That’s all (25) now, then. See you (26) the airport (27) the 27th. Love, Katrina

7. Fill in the gaps with the correct form of these verbs: behave, come, cost, eat, enjoy, feel, go, have, have, have, like, love, realise, say, serve, show, smile, stay, take, visit Dear Stefan, How are you? We’re fine. Our trip round the States (1) well and we (2) ourselves very much. One good surprise is that things (3) less here than back home. For example, this weekend we (4) in a motel beside a lake. We (5) a room with a beautiful view for only $ 35 per night. The only thing we (not) (6) is the food. Restaurants (7) dinner rather early. We (never) (8) at six o’clock at home so we (not) (9) hungry then and Americans (10) very big meals. Apart from that, we (11) wonderful time. We (12) lots of interesting little towns and we (13) the scenery. People here (14) in a very friendly manner towards strangers, all the shop assistants (15) at us, and everyone (16) ‘Have a nice day!’ At home, the TV (always) (17) us bad news stories about the States, but in fact, when you (18) here, you (19) it’s a really great place. We (20) lots of photos to show you. Much love, Gienia and Henia