Mastering the Art of Formal and Informal Letters

Mastering the Art of Formal and Informal Letters

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to differentiate between formal and informal letters and write letters for different purposes.

What do you already know about writing formal and informal letters?

Formal vs. Informal Letters

Formal letters follow a specific structure and language, while informal letters are more casual and personal.

Format of Formal Letters

1. Sender's Address 

2. Date 

3. Recipient's Address 

4. Salutation 

5. Body 

6. Closing 

7. Signature

Format of Informal Letters

1. Sender's Address 

2. Date 

3. Recipient's Address 

4. Greeting 

5. Body 

6. Closing 

7. Signature

Purpose of Letters

Letters can be written for various purposes such as expressing gratitude, making inquiries, requesting information, or conveying personal news.

Interactive Activity: Matching

Match the components of a formal letter with their descriptions.

Interactive Activity: Puzzle

Solve the puzzle to reveal the correct order of components in an informal letter.

Formal Letter Example

Dear [Recipient's Name],
I am writing to inquire about the job vacancy advertised on your company's website...

Informal Letter Example

Hey [Friend's Name],
I hope this letter finds you well. I wanted to share some exciting news with you...

Filling the Gaps Activity

Complete the informal letter by filling in the missing words and phrases.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.