BILINGUAL TRAINING IN ENGLISH LEVEL 3

NGO HANNA JOELLE

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PROGRESSION OF LECTURES
UNITS THEMES
- PARTS OF A FORMAL LETTER
LESSON 1: LETTER WRITING
- FORMAT OF A FORMAL LETTER
- TAKE HOME ASSIGNMENT
- PARTS OF A CV AND COVER LETTER
LESSON 2: CV AND COVER
- FORMAT OF A CV AND COVER LETTER
LETTER WRITING
- TAKE HOME ASSIGNMENT
LESSON 2: REPORT WRITING - TYPES OF REPORTS
and choice of a project - PARTS and FORMAT OF A RESEARCH REPORT
- TAKE HOME ASSIGNMENT
- WHAT IS AN ESSAY?
- PLANNING AN ESSAY
LESSON 3: ESSAY WRITING - THE INTRODUCTION
- THE BODY
- THE CONCLUSION
- TAKE HOME ASSIGNMENT
LESSON 4: PRESENTATION OF - EXPOSES
THE PROJECT - TAKE HOME ASSIGNMENT
- EXPOSE
- EXPOSE

SELECTED READING BOOKS

- Eastwood John. 2003. Oxford English Grammar. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Eastwood John. 2002. Oxford Guide To English Grammar. Oxford: Oxford University Press
- Hewings Martin. 1999. Advanced Grammar in Use. Cambridge University Press.
- Hathorn B., Hoepner L., Jeffery B., Steynberg M., Linnegar J. 2015. Oxford English Grammar
Advanced. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Fontem A. N., Tabah E. N. 2012. An English Grammar and Writing Course. UGELER
- Thomson A. J. , Martinet A. V. 1986. A Practical English Grammar. Oxford University Press.

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INTRODUCTION GENERALE

The English language is a systematic account of grammatical forms and the way they are used in
English today. The emphasis is on meanings and how they govern the choice of grammatical pattern.
The course pays most attention to points that are of importance to intermediate and advanced learners
of English. Language changes all the time. There are sometimes disagreements about what is correct in
English and what is incorrect. The use of a correct form in an unsuitable context, however, can interfere
with understanding just as much as a mistake.

GENERAL OBJECTIVES
This course is designed to help learners to use language which is appropriate for a given occasion; to
frequently mark usages as formal, informal, literary and so on; to build their English language skills so
as to cope with academic materials by integrating the development of the following skills: listing,
speaking, reading and writing.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
- To train learners to develop a wide and varied vocabulary in the English language.
- Improve on their fluency and skills in grammar, spelling and to write comprehensible
sentences using conventionalized formats.
- Have a good understanding of the mechanics of writing and the ability to read and
analyse assigned materials.
- To get students acquainted with the rules of grammar, spelling convention, and the
mechanics of writing;
- To use the rules of grammar in the development of skills in reading, speaking, listening
and writing;

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LESSON 1: LETTER WRITING

A. FORMAL /BUSINESS LETTER

Formal /business writing is done for official purposes. When we write to people because of the
position they hold, and for official purpose, then the letter is formal. When we write to people because
of our relationship with them or for personal matters, then the letter is informal.
The following are some of the characteristics of formal letters:
- They are written following clearly defined formats
- They are written clearly with careful attention to all the rules of grammar.
- Contracted forms, and colloquial expressions are generally avoided.
- Only standard abbreviations are used.
- The tone of formal letters is generally polite, even when they express dissatisfaction.
I. Parts in a Formal Letter
The elements that make up formal letters do not vary, so it is important here to identify them.
a. The sender’s address
Includes the full mailing address to which a reply can be sent. It appears at the top right (semi block or
indented format) or left (block format) of a page.
b. The date
It is generally placed one space below the sender’s address.
c. The recipient’s address
It contains the full mailing address of the official who would receive or treat the letter. You could use
the recipient’s name or the position.
Example: the Personal Manager…, the Managing Director…, etc.
d. The salutation
It begins with ‘dear’ followed by the recipient’s name. If you don’t know the recipient’s name, use
‘Dear Sir or Madam’. Use “Dear Sir /Madam, if the recipient’s sex is not known.
e. The body
It comprises the introduction, body, and the conclusion.
f. The complimentary close
This refers to the words of courtesy that are used at the end of a letter. The closing appears at the end of
the letter, just before the signature. It is always aligned with the heading (writer’s address), in the
indented format. In block and semi block formats, it is aligned with the recipient’s address.
- Capitalize the first word in the closing and end it with coma.
- The closing is determined by the salutation. If you salute by title only, then close with”yours
faithfully”, but if you use the recipient’s name in the salutation, close with” yours sincerely”.
g. The signature
It is always placed below the complementary close.
h. The sender’s name
It is written below the signature. It is important to leave enough space for the signature if the letter is
typed.
i. Attachment/enclosures (optional)
Any supporting documents that are enclosed with a letter
j. Copy (CC)
If you copy any person(s), include the list of persons copied.

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 II. Format
There are three main formats that are used in most formal correspondence: the full block, the semi
block, and the indented formats. Each of these is presented below.
1. Full block
Sender’s address, date, receiver’s address, salutation, complimentary close, signature, and name are
aligned to the left margin. This format is recommended for writing on headed paper

Sender’s Address

Date

Recipient’s Addressee

Salutation

Subject

Body
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------

Complimentary close

Signature

Name

Enclosure

2. Semi block
Sender’s address and date are aligned to the top right margin; recipient’s address and salutation are
aligned to the left; complimentary close, name, and signature are aligned to the left margin.
Se
nder’s Address

D
ate

Addressee

Salutation

Subject

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 Body
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
Complimenta
ry close

Signature
Name

Enclosure

3. Indented
Sender’s address and date are aligned to the top right margin; recipient’s address and salutation are
aligned to the left; complimentary close, name, and signature are aligned to the right margin.
Paragraphs are indented four spaces from the left margin. This format is recommended for hand written
correspondence.
Sender’s Address

Date

Recipient’s Address

Salutation

Subject

Body
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------

Complimentary close

Signature

Name

Enclosure

III. Expressions to note

1. In opening a letter, some of the following expressions may be used:
- I write to…/I am writing to…/I wish to…/In relation to…,I write to…/I am writing to draw
your attention/I am writing to express my disapproval/ approval of…/I write/ I am writing to
you in my capacity as…
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 2. In concluding a formal letter, some of these expressions could be used:
- I/we look forward to hearing/ receiving/ working…/I am/we are available on contact for…/I/we
would be grateful if I/we should…/I/we hope to/that/Thank you for…/I hope you will five this
matter your great urgent consideration/I hope that you will give this matter further attention,
further consideration
3. Crafting the subject: make subjects as precise as possible.
.1Vs

B. CURRICULUM VITAE
1. Relevance
Curriculum vitae (CV) means “story of your life”. However, with only one or two pages for your CV
you can’t afford to treat this literally. Be selective about what you include. Always ask yourself the
question “Is this going to be relevant to the employer who is reading this?” If it isn’t, then discard it.
2. Tailoring
Your CV needs to match the job you are applying for. For example, if the job requires skills in
teamwork and creativity, you need to ensure the employer can clearly see that you have gained these
skills somewhere in your life. Maybe you worked in a team on a course project or perhaps you had a
creative idea for an event which a society organized. The important thing is that the employer can see
that your CV is tailored to them and not a generic CV that is being sent to every employer.
 Academic CVs are different in several respects from other CVs. For example, they do not have
the same length restrictions and are expected to contain more details about academic
achievements, publications and teaching experience.
 A resume usually covers the same area as a CV, but with less space to go into detail. If you see
and advert asking for a resume it is likely that they have in mind a one-page document.
 In most cases you will use a chronological CV, which has standard sections such as education
and work experience. Your achievements in each section will be ordered in reverse chronology
(ie, most recent first). However, there may be occasions where you start off with a section on
the skills you have gained, with examples of where you gained them; this is a “skills based”
CV. It is most commonly used when you have significant relevant experience or an existing
career and are looking to change direction and need to emphasise transferable skills.
You should be willing to talk about anything on your CV at interview, even details in your interests and
extra-curricular activities sections. You don’t know what kinds of things your interviewer might also be
interested in/or have knowledge about so avoid exaggeration. Remember it is against the law to lie on
your CV.
Some organizations expect a one-page CV, but for most a two-page CV is acceptable unless otherwise
specified. In almost all cases your CV should be no longer than two sides of A4. A common exception
to this is an academic CV.

3. Parts of a CV
a. Personal details
 Write a large clear name. No need to write “curriculum vitae” anywhere.
 Provide up to date contact details
 Include your LinkedIn profile or any personal websites or blogs if they are relevant.
 A career profile or objective is a short statement, usually at the top of your CV, saying
something about you and your career aims. For new graduates or postgraduates, career profiles
are not necessary as this content is addressed in your cover letter. Profiles can be a useful
addition to a CV if you have very specific experience and you are clear about the particular
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 career area you are going for. If you are changing career they can help you to state briefly your
previous area of experience and what you are aiming for now. Profiles can also be useful if you
are asked to send a CV without a cover letter.
 You do not need to mention your nationality on a CV. You should not be asked for a photo. It is
illegal for employers to ask you to declare your age and gender.

b. Education
 You should give most prominence to the part of your education that is most relevant to the job
you are applying for. Usually, this is your most recent education but you can emphasize an
earlier qualification if it is more relevant, as well as specific modules or projects.
 Give expected results (grades, Honours)
 Unless the employer specifically ask you to, you don’t have to list everything but remember to
include all those that are relevant to the application you are making. Try to be selective.
 You can add the date you obtained the qualification, the city and the country if you feel the city
is not very well known.

c. Work experience
Work experience is everything from full-time positions and internships, voluntary/unpaid work, part-
time jobs, and entrepreneurial activities. All of these can be directly relevant to a role. Employers are
interested in the transferable skills you have developed and so it is your job to decide how relevant each
experience is to your application and to highlight this.
 Talk about skills, achievements, and results; Explain organization and role when necessary
 Volunteering is an opportunity to make an impact on society, develop new and existing skills,
meet new people, improve your confidence, give your CV a boost and more.
 Mentioning the city is enough. Add the country if you feel the city is not very well known.
 One option is to list the experience in reverse chronological order. However, it might be more
effective if you grouped or “themed” your experiences. So, instead of a general heading called
“Work Experience”, you could have two or more headings such as, “Legal Experience”,
“Banking Experience”; or alternatively “Relevant Experience” and “Additional Experience”.

d. Achievement, interests and additional skills

This is an important section where recruiters look for evidence of what you have achieved outside of
your studies and work experience. It enables you to identify things that really interest or motivate you.
It may also indicate what your values are, aspects of your personality and the transferable skills you
have developed. It is better to include one or two things which you are really involved with and can
describe fully, rather than to give a long list such as “reading, squash, cricket, dancing, music” with no
detail. You might also want to include team or group activities that show you can interact well with
other people. Treat this section in the same way as the rest of your CV using dates, divisions such as
“school” and “university” or grouping similar things like sports, as well as numbers to show your
achievements and enhance impact.
 You don’t have to include a section on extra-curricular activities or achievements, but
employers are often interested in what you do outside of work and academic studies. Think
widely about what you have done before you came to University. Activities like volunteering,
mentoring, being a course representative, organizing an event to raise money or the profile of a
particular cause are all relevant experience. It is never too late to get involved in something on
or off campus.

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  Language will depend on the position that you are applying for. If languages are one of the
requirements of the job it may be worth writing them in a short, specific personal profile at the
top of your CV or in a prominent position on the first page. You need to describe your level of
fluency using terms like “native”, “fluent”, “intermediate”, “basic” or “conversational”.
 For IT skills, towards the end of your CV, you can detail your familiarity with relevant
packages, programming languages, operating systems, web design software and anything else
listed on the job description and person specification.
 Platforms such as blogs, LinkedIn, and Twitter can portray you in a professional light.
Including them on your CV shows you have a grasp of new media, technological and
communications skills, a passion for certain subjects or writing, and possibly a network of
people who are interested in what you have to say.
 Personal social media accounts for private communication with friends are probably best hidden
from employers. Keep them off your CV and alter the privacy settings so that only your friends
can view them. It is also worth searching for your name online to see what kinds of things
employers can find out about you whilst they screen applications.

e. References
Before you apply for any job, think about who your referees might be. References are often requested
by an employer on an application form or when you secure a job offer, so you don’t need to mention
them on your CV.
In most cases an employer will request the names and contact details of two referees, preferably an
academic and a recent employer. This is to check that you have studied or worked where you say you
have and that you are a good candidate for the role.
Most employers are more interested in what the reference says rather than the referee so don’t worry if
your most recent employer is not relevant to the job you are applying for. If you don’t have a previous
employer you can use two academic references, or one academic and one extra-curricular one. Aim to
choose people that know you, your capabilities, and can vouch for your work ethic. Always ask
permission to use someone as a referee, and discuss the types of jobs you will be applying for and the
skills required with them.

C. COVER LETTER

A cover letter is a one-page document, read in conjunction with your CV that highlights relevant skills,
experiences, and achievements. Employers recognize and reject generic cover letters so each one you
write should be tailored to a specific role and organization using the job description and person
specification.
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The CV and the cover letter, both are equally important as both are used to form an impression of you.
The cover letter is often the first thing the employer sees and it sets their expectations for what follows.
A good cover letter highlights your key strengths and motivations for wanting to work for an
organization and a CV goes into more detail about your achievements.
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In a cover letter, employers expect you to show your interest and motivation, demonstrate your
knowledge of the organization and why you want to work there, and show you are the best person for
the position through your qualifications and experience. As long as there is a clear structure, the order
of how you address these points is flexible. When focusing on the employer and why you’re applying
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for the job, include some interesting and relevant facts about the organization. Your qualifications and
experience can include relevant academic, extra-curricular, and work achievements as well as other
interesting aspects of your life. Show them you are capable of thinking clearly and that you are a
motivated, proactive learner.
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In general, cover letters are one side of typed A4 and are set out like a formal business letter. Your
name and address should be at the top, right-hand corner of the letter. Follow the employer’s
instructions and advice but if they don’t specify then something around 400 words or three to four
paragraphs is about right, and certainly not more than one page of A4 paper. Aim for short, sharp
sentences that make for concise, gripping paragraphs. Write in a clear and logical manner and
remember the way you write and present yourself says a lot about you. Have a look at the example
cover letter in this section

COVER LETTER TEMPLATE

Contact Information
The first section of your cover letter should include information on how the employer can contact you.
If you have contact information for the employer, include that. Otherwise, just list your information.

Your Name
Your Address
Your City, Province
Postal Code
Your Phone Number
Your Email Address

Date

Employer Contact Information

Name
Title
Company
Address City, Province
Postal Code

Salutation
Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:

Body of Cover Letter

The body of your cover letter lets the employer know what position you are applying for, why the
employer should select you for an interview, and how you will follow-up.

First Paragraph:
The first paragraph of your letter should include information on why you are writing. Mention the
position you are applying for and how you found out about the position (states clearly where the
position was advertised) . Include the name of a mutual contact, if you have one. Be clear and concise
regarding your request.
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Middle Paragraphs:
The next section of your cover letter should describe what you have to offer the employer. Convince
the reader that they should grant the interview or appointment you requested in the first paragraph.
Make strong connections between your abilities and their needs. Mention specifically how your skills
and experience match the job you are applying for (talks about education and work experience to
emphasise relevant skills and achievements). Look closely at the job advertisement to see what the
employer is looking for. Try to support each statement you make with a piece of evidence. Avoids
vague generalisations
Final Paragraph:
Conclude your cover letter by thanking the employer for considering you for the position. Include
information on how you will follow-up. State that you will do so and indicate when (one week's time is
typical). You may want to reduce the time between sending out your resume and follow up if you fax
or e-mail it.

Complimentary Close:
Respectfully yours,

Signature:
Handwritten Signature (for a mailed letter)

Typed Signature

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LESSON 2: WRITING REPORTS

Reports are written to supply specific information that would guide in decision making. A good report
must consider:
1. The audience for whom you are writing, and
2. The purpose of the report’s
A report differs from other forms of writing in that after presenting the relevant facts, the reporter
analyses the situation and makes proposals on a possible course of action.
I. Types of report
A wide variety of situation will call for reporting. Some of them have been presented below.
- Committee reports (written to report the activities of a committee)
- Feasibility study reports (carried written to establish the feasibility of a project)
- Financial reports (written by the financial secretary of an association, or by relevant finance
officers)
- Individual performance appraisal report (written by one’s immediate boss. This is used to
determine whether an employee is due promotion)
- Project reports (states the progress of a project, the possible date of completion, problems etc.).
- Research reports (presented by researchers on research studies)
- Visit reports (include reports on field trips etc.).
II. Format of a research report
The format of a report is different from the format of essays. As we have said, reports aim at supplying
specific information including an appraisal of a situation. This means that the report should be
structured to make the information as readily accessible to the reader as possible. This explains why a
report makes a use of sub-headings, graphs, and summaries. The format of a report is determined by the
answer to this question: Can the reader get the essential information from this list of figures? Report
within the shortest possible time?
Most reports therefore have the following format.
a. A title
b. A summary (or an executive summary) which states the major findings, and recommendations.
In a research report this is known as an abstract)
c. List of contents
d. List of figures, List of tables, lists of schemes (where applicable)
e. An introduction (which gives the background to the situation, and establishes the need for the
report. In research reports this includes reviews of literature, descriptions of theoretical
framework, presentation of methodology, etc)
f. The body ( present the relevant fats, and analysis of the facts)
g. Conclusion and recommendations suggest what do you think should be done, based on the
findings in your report.
h. Appendices (where applicable)
i. Bibliography (references i.e list of documents consulted).

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A short report will not necessarily have all the elements mentioned above. It could have a title,
summary, introduction, body and conclusion.
- A report should be consistent i.e. if you use numbering style, maintain it to the end.
- The margins should be wide enough and the spacing should equally be good to avoid a crowded
presentation.
- Use bullets and other forms of highlighting to make key points prominent.
- Make sure the report is clear and easy to read. If hand written, make the handwriting as legible
as possible. if it is typed, choose appropriate font size.
- Headings and sub-headings should be in bold.
III. Writing a Simple Report
The following steps will be useful in writing most simple reports. More complicated report like
research generally involves greater detail.
a. Define the purpose
b. Identify the target audience
c. Collect the information you need
d. Sort out the information: not all the information you collect will be relevant. Choose the
information that will be most useful in helping you reach the necessary conclusions. Sorting out
information also involves categorizing the material you collected.
e. Decide on the structure of the document: how many sections and subsections will the report
have? This is generally determined by the information you collected.
f. Write the document
g. Read over the report. If you typed it out, print a draft copy and read before effecting the final
corrections. It is also a good practice to give the report to a friend to proofread.
IV. Language and Style
Reports formal documents and should be written with careful consideration to language and style. The
following tips should be considered when writing or revising your report.
- Avoid first person pronoun forms like I, my, our etc.
- Be as short and concise as possible. Avoid long sentences. Shorter sentences convey your ideas
more easily then long ones. Avoid “big“words and use simple natural English.
- Leave out superfluous words and expressions.
- Avoid jargon or acronyms the reader may not understand. If you must use them make sure that
you provide explanatory notes.
- Watch the grammar of your sentences. Make sure that subject agree with their verbs and
pronouns with their antecedents. Avoid fragments.

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LESSON 3: ESSAY WRITING

I. What is an Essay?
An essay is test made up of more than one paragraph that handles one central idea. The idea that runs
through the essay is known as the thesis. Thus, a group of paragraphs that share nothing in common, or
that do not work together to develop one main idea will not be considered as an essay. The sentence
that states the thesis (the main idea in an essay) is known as the thesis sentence.
The ability to write an essay is one of the skills needed for students to participate actively and
productively in studies.
II. Planning an Essay
Every good essay begins with a good plan. A carefully thought-out plan saves from embarrassment of
discovering halfway through the writing process that there not enough facts to develop in the essay.
1. How to plan?
- Decide on a thesis and state it
- Write out the points that can be raised to support the thesis
- For each point, note important facts you will need to develop in the paragraph
- Decide on a strategy for introducing and concluding the essay.
The plan has to tell:
- The thesis (main idea)
- How many paragraphs will be there
- The points to discuss in each paragraph
- The facts needed to support each point
From the points above, the number of paragraphs a writer comes up with in an essay is not the product
of chance. They are decided ahead of time. Writing without a plan leads to repetition. Moreover, some
of the bright ideas and examples you had in mind might just vanish the moment you start writing. The
safest thing to do is to capture them before they disappear.
III.Parts of an Essay

Besides the title, an essay has three main parts: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion.
1. The introduction
It is the writer meet the reader. It presents the topic, states the thesis, and sets the tone of the essay. It
also ignites the reader’s attention. There are many strategies which writers employ to introduce.
Whichever you use, the introduction should clarify the subject, and get the reader know that your thesis
is, even if it is not stated. One way of doing this is to ensure that the thesis is stated overtly in the
introduction. As we noted earlier, the sentence which states the thesis is known as the thesis sentence.
Most writers find it convenient to present a topic and then proceed to state the thesis as the final
sentence in the introduction.

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  Strategies for introduction
a. Introduction by definition
This is very common in academic contexts. Definition may involve redefining concepts. Redefinition
involves using a concept or term in slightly different sense from its traditional meaning.
b. Introduction by historical account
It is very interesting to introduce a concept by tracing its history.
c. Introduction by anecdote
An anecdote is a short personal account of an event. One way authors introduce is by inventing an
anecdote that has a bearing on the thesis.
2. The body
It comprises all the paragraphs that develop the thesis. Each paragraph in the body treats some aspect of
the thesis. To ensure that the paragraph in the body do not stray from the thesis, it is important to use
transitional words and expressions to emphasize the link between the paragraphs.
3. The conclusion
This is the final paragraph in an essay. Whatever strategy the writer uses, the conclusion is supposed to
signal finality. Some of the strategies used. Concluding include restatement or summary, resolution,
and projection. The most frequently used strategy is summary, or restatement, in which writers restate
their main ideas followed especially by final word. Resolution involves providing the way forward
especially when dealing with a problem. Projection consists in imagining what the future will look like
given the terms discussed.

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