Letter Sample #153 – You are going to an ‘English and Homestay’ programme

GT Writing Task 1 (Letter Writing) Sample # 153

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You are going to visit a foreign country for an ‘English and Homestay’ programme. You have just received details of your homestay host family.

Write your first letter to the host family. In your letter,

• introduce yourself
• ask the family some questions to get information that is important to you
• tell the family about your arrival date and time

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Mr and Mrs …………………..,

Model Answer 1:

Dear Mr and Mrs Gilbert,

My name is Lu Wang, and I would like to thank you for becoming my host as a part of an “English and Homestay” programme in your country. Currently, I am studying at a university in China, and I am supposed to arrive in London at around 5:00 pm at your local time on 24th June if my flight is on schedule.

I am certainly looking forward to improving my English while staying with you. But, I would also appreciate it very much at the same time if you kindly share some information about your family and lifestyle so that I know exactly what to expect and what not to.

To begin with, can you please tell me how you usually like to spend your time when not working? Do you have any pets? And if you do, will it be possible for you to arrange a separate room or accommodation for me, away from the pets, since I am a bit allergic to pets? Besides, will it be an issue if I talk to my family late at night because of the time difference between our two countries?

Yours faithfully,

Lu wang

Model Answer 2:

Dear Mr and Mrs Blair,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. My name is Sophia Wren, and I am writing to you with great excitement as I prepare to embark on the ‘English and Homestay’ programme in your country. I am eagerly looking forward to experiencing your culture and improving my English language skills.

I am keen to know more about your family and the environment I will be living in during my stay. Could you kindly share some information about your daily routines, hobbies, and interests? Learning about your family dynamics will help me feel more comfortable and adjust smoothly to my new surroundings. Moreover, I am curious to know about the neighbourhood and any nearby amenities, as I will need to travel to the English language school each day.

I am scheduled to arrive in London on the 27th of this month at approximately 6:45 PM. I hope this time is convenient for you, and I am excited to meet you and become a part of your household.

Thank you for opening your home to me. I look forward to hearing from you and to the beginning of this remarkable journey.

Yours sincerely,

Sophia Wren