Writing Practice A1- Write A Short Letter To A Pen Pal

Goals for this lesson

• Use the simple present to talk about yourself and your hobbies.
• Ask simple questions to learn about your pen pal.
• Write a short, friendly letter (5–7 sentences) with a clear beginning and end.

Key words & sentence frames

Useful phrases: Dear …, Hi! / Hello!, My name is …, I am … years old., I live in …, I like …, What do you … ?, Do you … ?, Write soon!, Best wishes / Your friend, …

Topics: name, age, country/city, family, school/grade, hobbies (reading, drawing, playing football), pets, favourite food/music/sport

Letter frames (copy & complete):

• Greeting: Dear [Name],
• Introduction: My name is […]. I am […] years old. I am from […].
• Facts about me: I like […] and […]. I have [a pet / a brother / a sister].
• Questions: What do you like to do? Do you have any pets?
• Closing: Best wishes / Your friend, [Your name]

Tips: Use the simple present for facts and routines (I like…, I live…, We play…). Keep sentences short and clear at A1 level. Capitalize the first word in each sentence and names (countries, people).

Part 1 — Building sentences step by step

Each sentence should have a subject + verb + details.

• My name is Lina. (subject + verb)
• I am nine years old. (fact)
• I live in Morocco with my family. (place + detail)
• I like drawing and reading. (hobbies)
• What do you like to do? (question to your pen pal)
• Your friend, Lina (polite closing with your name)

Part 2 — Model letter

Example (Lina → Sara):

Dear Sara,

Hi! My name is Lina. I am nine years old and I live in Morocco with my family. I like playing football, drawing pictures, and reading short stories. Do you have any pets? What do you like to do at the weekend?

Write soon!

Your friend,
Lina

Why this is good: It follows a clear order (greeting → about me → questions → closing), uses the simple present, and asks friendly questions.

Part 3 — Guided writing

1. Plan: Write 3 facts about you (age, city/country, 2 hobbies) and 2 questions for your pen pal.
2. Draft: Use the frames above for greeting, introduction, facts, questions, and closing.
3. Check: Use the A1 checklist below.

Self-check (A1 writing checklist)

• Did I include a greeting, introduction, questions, and closing?
• Did I use the simple present (am, live, like, have, do)?
• Are my sentences short, with capital letters and periods/question marks?
• Do I have at least 5–7 sentences?

Part 4 — Practice activities

Activity 1 — Fill in the blanks

Word bank: Dear • years old • from • like • Best wishes

1. _______ Amina,
2. My name is Omar. I am ten _______.
3. I am _______ Rabat, Morocco.
4. I _______ football and music.
5. _______, Omar

Activity 2 — Choose the correct word

1. My name (is / are) Youssef.
2. I (like / likes) drawing and reading.
3. We (play / plays) football after school.
4. Do you (have / has) any pets?
5. Write (soon / soonly), please!

Activity 3 — Put the parts in order

Number the lines from 1 (first) to 5 (last).

• ___ I like swimming and reading comics.
• ___ Dear Rania,
• ___ What do you like to do?
• ___ My name is Karim. I am eleven years old.
• ___ Your friend, Karim

Activity 4 — Correct the mistakes

Rewrite the sentences.

1. dear sofia my name is adam.
2. I am ten year old.
3. I likes play football and read books.
4. your friend adam

Activity 5 — Mini reading (True/False)

Text: Dear Omar, My name is Salma and I live in Casablanca. I am twelve years old. I like music and I play the guitar. Do you like music too? Write soon! Your friend, Salma.

1. Salma lives in Casablanca. (T/F)
2. Salma is eleven years old. (T/F)
3. Salma asks a question about music. (T/F)

Part 5 — Your letter

Write 5–7 sentences to your pen pal. Include: greeting, your name/age/city, two hobbies, two questions, and a polite closing.

Sample answer:

Dear Alex,

Hi! My name is Sara and I am ten years old. I live in Agadir with my parents and my little brother. I like drawing and riding my bike after school. Do you have any pets? What do you like to do at the weekend? Write soon!

Best wishes,
Sara

Review & reflection

• Did I include all parts (greeting, introduction, facts, questions, closing)?
• Did I use the simple present (am, live, like, have, do)?
• Are my sentences short and clear, with correct punctuation?