Writing: Unit 10

How to write a personal narrative. It is a big question. Watch this video, it will help you to improve your writing.

TASK 1

Read the letter.  

Hi Henry,

Thanks for your email. It was good to hear about your marriage to Tandi (although I'm not too surprised), and the birth of your son. It sounds like you've been busy since our days at Park View High. Cheers and congratulations!

I've been a little busy myself. After graduating from high school, I decided to do some traveling. First, I went to visit some family in Brazil. I only intended to stay there for two or three months. But I ended up staying for two years! And so, without really trying, I became fluent in Portuguese.

On the way back home, I stopped in the Dominican Republic. I wound up staying there for a few years. While I was there I learned Spanish. I seem to have a taste for adventure!

Finally, I came back to Park View in 2012. Last year I got a job in a law office as a legal assistant. Lately, I've been helping immigrants get their visas and become U.S. citizens. Learning Portuguese and Spanish really helped me a lot, since a lot of our clients are from the Caribbean and Latin America.

Next year, I think I'll be going to law school. I like my job so much, I might as well become a lawyer. I'll keep you filled in.

I'm glad that we caught up with each other, Henry. Let's stay in touch. I'd like to hear what you're up to.

Talk to you soon,

Gary

TASK 2

Write a similar email about your life to an old friend (in 120 words). Think about important events in your life, what you are doing now, and your plans for the future. For this consider the following ideas:

1. Mention events in past, present, and future.

2. Use zero and first conditionals.

3. Use present perfect with already and yet.

4. Use present perfect continuous.

5. Use comparatives and superlatives.

6. Use the vocabulary learned up to now.

You also use the following words and phrases where they are convenient: 

• after graduating
• last year
• next year
• recently
• lately
• next year

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