Chain business emails game – Lower-level version
with job application cover letters, responding to complaints, responding to invitations/ making arrangements, and enquiries
Instructions for teachers
Photocopy one copy of Worksheet 1- Example Letter and one copy of Email/ Letter A per student.
Give out the copies of Worksheet 1 and have students answer the question. Answer: It is a bad email/ letter, because although the language is fine some of answers make no sense and the different lines don’t tie together at all. Explain that it doesn’t make any sense because each person wrote only one line without seeing any other part of the email, and that they are going to try the same thing.
Take any questions about the Example Letter, then give out the copies of Email/ Letter A. Students fill the gaps in the first section and fold along the dotted line so the next person can’t read what they have written. They then pass it to the next person in a circle. They then fill in the second part of the one that they have received, fold, pass to the same person as they passed to before etc, continuing in the say until the emails are all finished. Students then pass them one more time, open up and read the one received, and discuss if they make sense and are good emails. Repeat with one or more of the other versions if you wish.
Worksheet 1 – Example letter
Read through the email/ letter below quickly. Is this a good or a bad email/ letter?
To: Head of Human Resources, Microsoft Corporation
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Dear Sir or Madam
I am writing to you to apply for the job of top model
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which I saw in Flash magazine on Friday 13th.
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I think I am the perfect person for this job because I can speak English and use Word.
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People usually say I am a very quick-thinking person.
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I can also ride a motorbike very well.
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In the future I would like to have a job where I can make the world a better place.
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If you need a reference, please write to King Charles, Buckingham Palace, London, UK.
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I can come to your office for an interview on 12 December at midnight.
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I can start to work for you tonight.
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If you need any more information please contact me by text message.
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I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours faithfully
“The Rock” (Mr)
E-mail/ letter A: Job application cover letter
To: Head of Human Resources, __________________________ Ltd/ PLC/ Corporation
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Dear Sir or Madam
I am writing to you to apply for the job of __________________________________…
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… which I saw in/ on ________________________ on __________________________
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I think I am the perfect person for this job because I can ___________ and ___________.
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People usually say I am a very _______________________________________ person.
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I can also ______________________________________________________ very well.
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In the future I would like to have a job where I can ______________________________.
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If you need a reference from my past employer, please write to ____________________.
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I can come to your office for an interview on _______________________ at ________.
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I can start to work for you ________________________________________________.
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If you need any more information please contact me by __________________________.
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I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours faithfully _____________________ (Mr/ Mrs/Ms/ Dr/ Sir/ Lord)
Email/ Letter B: Responding to complaints
Re: _______________________________________________________________
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Dear ________________________________ (choose the name of a famous person)
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Thank you for your letter of ___________________________________________.
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I am sorry about/ that ________________________________________________.
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This was because ______________________________________________________.
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To make up for this we would like to offer ____________________________________. Please let us know if this is acceptable.
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Alternatively, it might be possible for us to _________________________________.
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Please let us know by _________________________ which of these you would prefer.
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If you have any further questions or problems, please contact ____________________.
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Yours sincerely
______________________ (sign and write name of another famous person)
Email/ letter C: Responding to invitations/ Making arrangements
Re: _______________________________________________________________
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Dear _______________________________ (choose the name of a famous person)
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Thank you for inviting me to _________________________________________.
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I am afraid I won’t be free on ___________________ at ____________________.
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This is because I will be _________ing ________________________ at that time.
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Why don’t we ________________________________________________ instead?
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If this is okay with you, can you _____________________________________________ me by ________________________________________________________________?
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Hope to ________________________________________________________ you soon.
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All the best/ Yours/ Yours faithfully/ Yours sincerely/ Cheers
______________________________ (sign and write name of another famous person)
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Email/ letter D: Enquiry/ Asking for information
Re: _________________________________________________________________
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Dear _________________________________ (choose the name of a famous person)
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I am writing to you because I need some information about ___________________.
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I tried looking for this information on/ in _______________________________________, but could not find what I was looking for. I hope you can help me with this.
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Could you please tell me if it’s true that ______________________________________?
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Could you also please inform me of any changes in ____________________________?
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On a different topic, can I ask for the latest news on ____________________________?
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My final question is: _____________________________________________________?
If you can give me any information on any of these it would be a great help.
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Yours sincerely
_____________________________ (sign and write name of another famous person)
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PDF for easy saving and printing:
Related pages
Over 350 pages of other emailing materials, including a polished up version of this worksheet, available here.
