This is an IELTS writing task 1 letter from the real general training exam on the topic of writing a letter about a part-time job while studying abroad.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Part-Time Job Letter
You are going to another country to study. You would like to do a part-time job while you are studying, so you want to ask a friend who lives there for some help.
Write a letter to this friend. In your letter
- Give details of your study plans
- Explain why you want to get a part-time job
- Suggest how your friend could help you find a job
Hi Sarah!
We just spoke on the phone but it totally slipped my mind to let you know that I got accepted to the University of Melbourne and I’ll be headed to your city soon! I’m going to be studying finance and I will arrive for induction in a few months (assuming the pandemic is under control by then).
I’m writing now because I was wondering if you could look into finding part-time work for me when I get there. I’ll be living off-campus and my parents aren’t going to be able to send me money consistently – that’s why I need some work in the 20-30 hour range monthly.
If you could ask around at your school, that would be a tremendous help. Also, if you see any help wanted ads around town, it’d be great if you could snap a picture so that I could email or call. Any other ideas you have are welcome!
Thanks for your help!
Huynh
Analysis
1. Hi Sarah!
2. We just spoke on the phone but it totally slipped my mind to let you know that I got accepted to the University of Melbourne and I’ll be headed to your city soon! 3. I’m going to be studying finance and I will arrive for induction in a few months (assuming the pandemic is under control by then).
- Address the letter to someone.
- You can begin with a greeting.
- Include the first bullet point.
- Add in some more detail if you want.
1. I’m writing now because I was wondering if you could look into finding part-time work for me when I get there. 2. I’ll be living off-campus and my parents aren’t going to be able to send me money consistently – that’s why I need some work in the 20-30 hour range monthly.
- Begin to develop the second point.
- Add more detail to it.
1. If you could ask around at your school, that would be a tremendous help. 2. Also, if you see any help wanted ads around town, it’d be great if you could snap a picture so that I could email or call. 3. Any other ideas you have are welcome!
4. Thanks for your help!
5. Huynh
- Develop the last point.
- Keep developing it.
- The more detail, the better!
- Add an ending sentence.
- Write your name at the end of the letter.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Take notes on a piece of paper to aid memory retention.
Hi Sarah!
We just spoke on the phone but it totally slipped my mind to let you know that I got accepted to the University of Melbourne and I’ll be headed to your city soon! I’m going to be studying finance and I will arrive for induction in a few months (assuming the pandemic is under control by then).
I’m writing now because I was wondering if you could look into finding part-time work for me when I get there. I’ll be living off-campus and my parents aren’t going to be able to send me money consistently – that’s why I need some work in the 20-30 hour range monthly.
If you could ask around at your school, that would be a tremendous help. Also, if you see any help wanted ads around town, it’d be great if you could snap a picture so that I could email or call. Any other ideas you have are welcome!
Thanks for your help!
Huynh
Answers
Practice writing sentences with the words below on a piece of paper:
just spoke talked recently
totally slipped my mind completely forgot about it
let you know inform you
accepted allowed into
headed going to
finance study of money
arrive get there
induction initial welcoming information/days
in a few months soon
assuming given that
pandemic worldwide problem
under control not a big problem anymore
by then at that time
wondering thinking
look into try to find
part-time work not full-time work
get there arrive
living off-campus not living in dorms
consistently all the time
range monthly around each month
ask around seek out
tremendous help big aid
help wanted ads around town advertisements for work around the city
snap take a picture
Any other ideas you have are welcome! Let me know if you’ve got other ideas!
Pronunciation
Practice with this tip using Google voice search to improve your pronunciation:
ʤʌst spəʊk
ˈtəʊtli slɪpt maɪ maɪnd
lɛt juː nəʊ
əkˈsɛptɪd
ˈhɛdɪd
faɪˈnæns
əˈraɪv
ɪnˈdʌkʃən
ɪn ə fjuː mʌnθs
əˈsjuːmɪŋ
pænˈdɛmɪk
ˈʌndə kənˈtrəʊl
baɪ ðɛn
ˈwʌndərɪŋ
lʊk ˈɪntuː
pɑːt-taɪm wɜːk
gɛt ðeə
ˈlɪvɪŋ ɒf-ˈkæmpəs
kənˈsɪstəntli
reɪnʤ ˈmʌnθli
ɑːsk əˈraʊnd
trɪˈmɛndəs hɛlp
hɛlp ˈwɒntɪd ædz əˈraʊnd taʊn
snæp
ˈɛni ˈʌðər aɪˈdɪəz juː hæv ɑː ˈwɛlkəm!
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Hi Sarah!
We j___________e on the phone but it t__________________________d to l_______________w that I got a___________d to the University of Melbourne and I’ll be h________d to your city soon! I’m going to be studying f__________e and I will a______e for i__________n i__________________s (a_____________g the p____________c is u______________l b__________n).
I’m writing now because I was w____________g if you could l__________o finding p_____________k for me when I g__________e. I’ll be l___________________s and my parents aren’t going to be able to send me money c____________y – that’s why I need some work in the 20-30 hour r__________________y.
If you could a_______________d at your school, that would be a t______________________p. Also, if you see any h______________________s a_____________n, it’d be great if you could s______p a picture so that I could email or call. A____________________________________e!
Thanks for your help!
Huynh
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1G5kTSGCTw
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Where you Live
My sample speaking for these questions is here.
- Where do you live at the moment?
- What do you like about your neighborhood?
- Are there any parks where you live?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:
Your friend is going to stay in your apartment while you are away. Write a letter to your friend and include:
- Where the key is
- Instructions to look after the apartment
- What should he/ she do on the day of your return
Dear John,
I am excited to inform you that my struggle to acquire higher education from international institute have become fruitful and I will be coming to live in your city next month.
I have been always interested in engineering field, owing to my fascination that engineers contribute to solve the problems faced by public on large scale level. I was trying round the clock to get admission in engineering field at multiple international institutes and have got admission for my bachelors at The Yale University. It will be a 4-Year, semester based, educational degree with majors in Power engineering, and we will have to study last two complete semesters on this subject.
While I will be studying, I am planning to afford my living and educational expenses. I have already submitted an application at university for scholarship, however, the allotment of scholarship will be decided in second semester and I think I must seek part-time job meanwhile.
As you have been living in that city for quite some time and also you have done part-time job there, I am hoping that you could help me for getting a decent job with reasonable salary.
Excited to see you soon.
Wajee
Great work, Wajee!
It is a little bit formal for a letter to a friend, though.
Thanks for review. I will consider your comment for improvement.
You’re welcome, Wajee!
Dear Aaron,
It’s been a long time since we have spoken. I hope you are doing well. I have met your family here a few days back and everything is hunky dory.
I am excited to tell you that I have got one scholarship to study in University of Toronto as a Bachelor of arts student starting this June in a four year long program. Good news is that all academic related fees is taken care with the scholarship except the accommodation part.
As you are well aware of my family financial condition, there won’t be any financial aid. Hence I need to take care of my own expenses here. I am planning to do a part-time job so that I can at least pay my bills. Since you are in Canada for past 5 years, could you please help me with some suggestion on which kind of part time jobs I can try here as I will be busy in my college till 0300PM.
It might be helpful if you can refer me to the restaurant where you have worked in the past or You can help me find website where I can take part time classes on modern arts in my past time.
See you soon in Canada.
Shaurabh Singh Roy