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Lesson 47
A1+
Extension
60 min

Writing Simple Messages

Texts, emails and notes that feel natural.

Use the Open → Body → Close framework to write short, friendly messages.

  1. A0/A1
    Beginner
  2. A1/A2
    Elementary
  3. A2/B1
    Pre-Intermediate
  4. B1/B1+
    Intermediate
  5. B2
    Upper-Intermediate
  6. C1
    Advanced
  7. C2
    Proficiency

Look & say · Step 1

5 min

Get ready

discussion
Text

Who do you text every day?

activity
Email

Do you write emails in English?

reflection
Notes

Name 1 note you wrote this week.

Words to learn · Step 2

8 min

New words today

Open in Vocabulary Bank

Hi / Hello

Friendly open

"Hi Anna, how are you?"

Hey

Very informal open

"Hey Tom!"

Dear ___,

Formal open

"Dear Mr Smith,"

Thanks / Thank you

Quick close

"Thanks!"

See you (soon)

Friendly close

"See you soon!"

Bye / Cheers

Informal close

"Bye for now!"

Best (regards)

Polite close

"Best regards, Sara."

Yours sincerely

Very formal close

"Yours sincerely, Mr Lee."

Are you free…?

Ask availability

"Are you free on Friday?"

Just a quick note…

Soft start

"Just a quick note to say hi."

Sorry for the late reply

Polite apology

"Sorry for the late reply!"

Let me know

Ask for reply

"Let me know what you think."

Activate · Personalise · Recycle

Use these words now

Make each sentence true for you. Say it aloud to a partner.

Best (regards)

"For me, best (regards) is …"

Finish the sentence with your own idea.

See you (soon)

"For me, see you (soon) is …"

Finish the sentence with your own idea.

Thanks / Thank you

"For me, thanks / thank you is …"

Finish the sentence with your own idea.

You'll meet these words again in Reading, Listening, Speaking and Homework.

Matching
Match the type of message with the open.

Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

Answer all items, then check.
Categorise
Group by formality.
Answer all items, then check.

Sounds & saying · Step 3

5 min

Reading aloud what you write

Read your message OUT LOUD before sending. If it sounds strange, change it. Punctuation = breath: full stop = pause, comma = quick pause.

  • • Hi Anna,
  • • Are you free on Friday?
  • • Let me know.
  • • Thanks!
  • • Best regards, Sara.

Language focus · Step 4

10 min

Open → Body → Close

Open in Grammar Bank

Quick rule

Open → Body → Close

Every message has 3 parts.

When to use it
  • OPEN (Hi / Hello / Dear).
  • BODY (your message — short, clear).
  • CLOSE (Thanks / See you / Best).
See it in action
1

Hi Anna, (open)

2

Are you free on Friday? (body)

3

Thanks! (close)

4

Dear Mr Smith, … Best regards, Tom.

5

Hey Sam, just a quick note. See you!

Question 1.Friendly open:

Question 2.Formal open:

Question 3.Friendly close:

Question 4.Formal close:

Answer all items, then check.
Conversation Builder
Build it. Hear it. Say it.

Rebuild each line, spot the natural chunks, then practise responding aloud.

1
1Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…
2
1Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…
3
1Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…
4
1Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…

Quick check 1.Texts to friends are usually…

Quick check 2.Emails to work use…

Answer all items, then check.

Reading · Step 5

7 min

Three real messages

📱 TEXT (to a friend): Hey Mia! Are you free on Saturday? Cinema at 7? Let me know. xx 📧 EMAIL (to a teacher): Dear Ms Lee, I'm sorry, but I can't come to class on Friday. I have a doctor's appointment. Can I send my homework by email? Thanks a lot, Tom. 📝 NOTE (at home): Hi mum, I went to the gym. Dinner is in the fridge. Back at 8. Love, Lucy.

Question 1.What time is the cinema?

Question 2.Why can't Tom come?

Question 3.Where is dinner?

Answer all items, then check.
True / False
Is each sentence True or False?

Q1.The email uses 'Dear'.

Q2.The note has no close.

Answer all items, then check.

Listening · Step 6

10 min

Writing a quick text together

Listening audio

Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.

Lisa

Help me write a text to invite Marco for coffee.

Sam

Sure. Start with 'Hi Marco,'

Lisa

OK. Then what?

Sam

Body: 'Are you free for coffee tomorrow at 5?'

Lisa

Should I add 'Let me know'?

Sam

Yes! And close with 'Thanks!' or 'See you!'

Lisa

Perfect. Open, body, close. Sending it now.

Question 1.Who is the message for?

Question 2.What is the invitation for?

Question 3.What is the suggested close?

Answer all items, then check.
Tick what you hear
Tick what you hear.
Answer all items, then check.

Practice · Step 7

8 min

Choose the word

Question 1.___ Mr Smith, …

Question 2.___ regards, Sara.

Question 3.Are you ___ on Friday?

Question 4.Let me ___ .

Answer all items, then check.
Type a short answer
Write 1–3 words

Q1.Friendly open: ___ Anna,

Q2.Polite close: ___ regards

Answer all items, then check.

Survival English · Step 8

4 min

Writing — short message (40–60 words)

Task

Write a short email to a teacher OR a text to a friend (40–60 words). Use Open → Body → Close.

Strategy

1) Decide formal or friendly. 2) Open. 3) 2–3 short body sentences. 4) Close. Read it out loud before finishing.

Example

Hi Anna, I hope you're well. Are you free on Sunday afternoon? We could go for a walk in the park and then have a coffee. Let me know if it works for you. See you soon, Sara.

Writing · Step 9

5 min

Write a little

Your task

Write THREE messages (40–60 words each): 1 text to a friend, 1 email to a teacher, 1 note at home.

Show model answer

TEXT: Hey Sam! Movie on Friday at 8? Let me know. See you! LUCY. EMAIL: Dear Mr Lee, sorry, I can't attend Tuesday's class — I am ill. Can I send the homework on Wednesday? Thanks, Tom. NOTE: Hi mum, I went to the library. Back at 6. Love, Eva.

Speaking · Step 10

12 min

Talk together

Pairs: dictate a short message to your partner who writes it. Then swap.

Useful phrases

  • • Hi / Dear ___,
  • • Are you free…?
  • • Just a quick note…
  • • Let me know.
  • • Thanks / Best regards / See you!
Dialogue completion
Choose the natural reply.
  • A
    How should I start an email to my boss?
  • B
    _______________
  • A
    And to close?
  • B
    _______________
  • A
    Can I write 'Hey!' to my friend?
  • B
    _______________
Answer all items, then check.

Homework · Step 11

Take-home

Practice at home

writing

Write 3 messages (text, email, note).

speaking

Record yourself reading your messages aloud.

vocab

Learn 12 opens/closes by heart.

Recap · Step 12

3 min

What you learned

  • 📱 You can write a friendly text.
  • 📧 You can write a polite email.
  • 📝 You can leave a clear note.
  • 🧱 You always use Open → Body → Close.
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