TIPS FOR THE INFORMAL LETTER
You are writing a letter to your pen pal so you will have to make sure that the format is correct. Otherwise you will lose marks. This will involve an address, a date, an opening greeting and a correct ending (when finishing the letter). Make sure to put the address and date on the top right-hand corner on the one line, e.g.: Waterford, le onze juillet
Make sure that the opening format is correct, i.e. Cher Paul, but Chère Marie. As you are writing to a friend and your letter is not a formal letter you will need to use the ‘tu’ form of the verb at all times.
There are five tasks to be completed. Do not omit any one of them or you will lose marks. You can elaborate on each task. Remember, you are being tested on everything you have learnt over three years and so you should use this chance to show off what you know on the following: Make sure that you have a good list of expressions for these. Some of them you will need to know in both in the past tense, e.g.: what you did last weekend, and in the future tense, e.g.: what you will do next weekend. When using the future tense, use both the ‘futur proche’ and the ‘futur simple’ if you can.
Some expressions that might help
Always begin with a nice friendly phrase or inquiry to lead you into the main body of the letter. Merci beaucoup de ta dernière lettre…..Thanks for your last letter. Merci pour la carte postale que j’ai reçue hier…..Thanks for the postcard I got this morning. J’ai reçu ta carte d’anniversaire hier matin…..I got your birthday card yesterday morning. Comment vas-tu et ta famille?…..How are you and your family? Je m’excuse de ne pas avoir écrit depuis un mois…I’m sorry I haven’t written for a month J’écris pour te dire de mes nouvelles……I’m writing to tell you the news. J’écris pour t’informer que…I’m writing to tell you that…
Don’t forget to ask questions and to use suitable comments and explanations to give variety to your writing. Comment as-tu passé les vacances de Pâques?…How did you spend the Easter holidays? Comment vas-tu passer les vacances de Pâques?…How are you going to spend the Easter holidays? Je viens de finir mes examens… I’ve just finished my exams. La biologie était facile/dure… Biology was easy/difficult. Et toi, as-tu réçu de bonnes notes après les examens?…Did you get good grades in your exams? Cette semaine à l’école – C’était casse-pieds!…This week at school was a pain in the neck! Le film que j’ai vu ce weekend – C’était super chouette! … The film I saw this weekend was brilliant! Mon école a gagné le championnat de foot! My school won the football championship!