Source: www.rubenvalero.com
Semi-formal email/letter 3 – Model question
TASK
Your recently helped organise a college ski trip and you have received this letter from a parent of one of the students who went.
I understand you were one of the organisers of our son’s ski trip. I have to say my husband and I were extremely dissatisfied with the arrangements. My son has informed us that the ski slopes were poor, the lessons were fewer than promised and the accommodation was inadequate.
Can you please give us a satisfactory explanation?
Yours sincerely,
Nora White
Write your letter in 140-190 words in an appropriate style.
Note: As you are writing to a parent the register of this letter should be semi-formal, which is characterized by:
- the use of less colloquial language – e.g. Thank you very much for your letter (instead of: Thanks a million for your letter.)
- less frequent use of short forms, phrasal verbs and idioms – e.g. I am writing to request information about… (instead of: I thought I’d drop you a line to ask about…)
- a polite, respectful tone – e.g. I was wondering if you had … (instead of: Do you have…)
Semi-formal email/letter 3 – Model answer
Dear Mrs White,
First, let me apologize for any disappointment your son experienced on our ski trip. It is true that there were several concerns. Since we had been led to believe by the company that there would be sufficient slopes for both beginners and advanced skiers, we were extremely upset when this turned out not to be the case. It was also unfortunate that lack of snow meant that artificial snow had to be used instead.
As for the question of lessons, if you look at the letter we sent you, you will see that only five one-hour ski-lessons were included in the price and that extra hours would have to be paid separately.l
In relation to accommodation, I am not quite sure what you are referring to. I know that in one room there were not enough beds but this was not the case in your son’s room.
We would like to assure you that we take all complaints seriously. We have already decided that next year we will change the company and the location for our trip and we hop that your son will consider joining us again.
Yours sincerely,
Waylon Smithers
(+/- 190 words)