Your exchange partner in Toronto

Objective & content

This writing sheet teaches pupils to write an email to an exchange partner about plans for a visit (we're going to..., we'll...), what is done or not done yet (I've already..., I haven't... yet, has just...), experiences (Have you ever...?), advice and requests (You should..., Could you...?). Pupils read Arjun's email from Toronto, see how it is built, take its phrases and write their own email. By the end, they can write an email of 100 to 120 words to an exchange partner.

Pedagogical guide

Page 1 has Arjun's email, with a photo of Arjun and of Toronto and the CN Tower. Arjun's teacher has just given him the name of Chloé, his exchange partner, who will stay with him for two weeks in May. He has already made a plan: his mom and he are going to pick her up at the airport; during the week she is going to come to school with him; at the weekends they are going to go up the CN Tower, which is 553 metres high and has a glass floor, and drive to Niagara Falls, two hours away, where she should bring a raincoat. He asks her what she would like to do and for a list of her favourite foods. Pupils answer six questions with three options each. Page 2 shows how the email is built: pupils match each part (say who you are, plans for the week, plans for the weekends, ask about an experience, give advice, ask what your partner wants, end) to its words. The useful phrases follow in a box, and pupils choose the right words in six sentences. Page 3 is the writing: pupils choose between a reply to Arjun and a welcome email to an exchange partner coming to their own town; they plan in notes, write the email and tick a checklist. The answer key gives a model reply.

Suggested procedure

1. (5 min) Ask "Have you ever done an exchange? What would you show a visitor in our town?"
2. (10 min) Read Arjun's email aloud; pupils answer the questions.
3. (10 min) Page 2: pupils match the parts of the email, then read the useful phrases.
4. (5 min) Pupils choose the right words.
5. (20 min) Page 3: pupils choose their email, plan it in notes, write it and tick the checklist.
6. (5 min) Pupils who wrote welcome emails read out one plan; the class says which visit they would choose.

Adaptations

[S] Pupils write the reply to Arjun and follow the order of his email.

[A] Pupils write the welcome email, with a plan for each day of the visit.

Materials & prerequisites

One copy of pages 1 to 3 per pupil. Page 4 is the answer key, the model reply and the teacher notes: keep it. Pupils need going to and will for the future, the present perfect with just, already, yet and ever, should and Could you...?. To take it further, if the class has a real exchange, pupils send their email to their partner.