Business Chain Email/ Letter Game (Lower level version)

Chain Business Emails Game- Low level version
Teachers’ Instructions
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.

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 or S-shape (you might need to pass if from the last person to first). They then fill in the second part of the one they have received, fold, pass to the same person as they passed to before etc. until the emails are finished. Students then open them up, read them and discuss if they make sense and are good emails. Repeat with one or more of the other versions if you wish.
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Worksheets
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
……………………………………………………………………………………..
Dear Sir or Madam
I am writing to you to apply for the job of top model
……………………………………………………………………………………..
which I saw in Flash magazine on Friday 13th.
……………………………………………………………………………………..
I think I am the perfect person for this job because I can speak English and use Word and Excel.
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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 from my past employer, please write to Queen Elizabeth, 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.
……………………………………………………………………………………..
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours faithfully

Asashoryu (Mr)

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E-MAIL/ LETTER A

To: Head of Human Resources, _____________________________ Ltd/ PLC/ Corporation
……………………………………………………………………………………..
Dear Sir or Madam
I am writing to you to apply for the job of __________________________________…
……………………………………………………………………………………..

… which I saw in/ on ___________________________   on __________________________
.……………………………………………………………………………………..
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.

……………………………………………………………………………………..
I can also _____________________ very well.

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In the future I would like to have a job where I can ________________________.
……………………………………………………………………………………..
If you need a reference from my past employer, please write to ____________________________.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

I can come to your office for an interview on _______________________ at ________.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

I can start to work for you ________________________.
……………………………………………………………………………………..
If you need any more information please contact me by _______________.

……………………………………………………………………………………..
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours faithfully
_____________________ (Mr/ Mrs/Ms/ Dr/ Sir/ Lord)

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EMAIL/ LETTER B

Re: ________________________________
……………………………………………………………………………………..

Dear ______________________ (choose the name of a famous person)
……………………………………………………………………………………..

Thank you for your letter of ___________________.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

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.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

Alternatively, it might be possible for us to __________________.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

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 _______________.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

Yours sincerely
……………………………………………………………………………………..
_____________________

______________________ (sign and write the name of another famous person)

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EMAIL/ LETTER C
Re: ________________________________
……………………………………………………………………………………..

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 _________________?
……………………………………………………………………………………..

Hope to _________________ you soon

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All the best/ Yours/ Yours faithfully/ Yours sincerely/ Cheers

……………………………………………………………………………………..
_____________________

______________________ (sign and write the name of another famous person)

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EMAIL/ LETTER D
Re: ________________________________
……………………………………………………………………………………..

Dear ______________________ (choose the name of a famous person)
……………………………………………………………………………………..

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.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

Could you please tell me if it’s true that ___________________________?
……………………………………………………………………………………..

Could you also please inform me of any changes in _______________________?
……………………………………………………………………………………..

On a different topic, can I ask for the latest news on __________________?
……………………………………………………………………………………..

My final question is: _________________________________________?
If you can give me any information on any of these it would be a great help.
……………………………………………………………………………………..

Yours sincerely
_____________________

______________________ (sign and write name of another famous person)

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Over 300 pages of other emailing materials, including a polished up version of this worksheet, available here.