Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
Sincerely Yours

Sincerely Yours

Date: Aug 17 2007

Themes: Friend, Hobbies

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

When is the last time you sat down and wrote a letter by hand? If it’s been a while, you should try it. There’s something nice about putting ink to paper. You can do it outside or in an easy chair without the glow of the computer.

It’s also much more personal to open an envelope and unfold a letter. When Kevin left the country for a while, he found the best way to stay connected to his friends was to write letters and send them snail mail.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

Log in to Listen

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Kevin

Kevin

Mason

Mason

Kevin:  So you know I know that everyone uses email and that’s all people want to do…

Mason:  I, like, don’t even use paper anymore.

Kevin:  ...and text messages. I was definitely going down that path for a number of years and then about two years ago when I was working in Japan, I just…I was really far from all my close friends, so I started to send them letters…

Mason:  From Japan?

Kevin:  Yeah.

Mason:  Wow.

Kevin:  Just, like, it was nice to send one and get one and one of my best friends loves to write letters so he was really excited that I loved to write him letters so I’d send him a letter every week and he’d send me one, and it was awesome.

Mason:  That’s so classical. I like the [def ]romantic[/def] idea of it, but I don’t know if I’d be patient enough to wait for the interchange of an overseas letter.

Kevin:  But if you know that it will come like every week, like you send one and get one back that same week, it’s fine, you know. And it’s kind of exciting. It just means a lot more than an email.

Mason:  I completely agree with that, but I gotta say my handwriting is terrible.

 

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz Go Super!

 

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3 Go Super!

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Discussion

People usually communicate electronically now that most everyone has an email address and mobile phone. Mason says he hardly uses paper anymore. Perhaps that’s what makes him so surprised when Kevin says he likes to write letters. In this day and age, writing letters is a rare thing to do.

Kevin started writing letters when he was in Japan. One of his good friends was really into it and the two of them exchanged letters every week. This regularity made up for how long it takes to send a letter overseas. Mason’s not sure if writing letters sounds like fun to him. He agrees it’s a significant gesture, but complains that his writing is bad.

When is the last time you wrote a letter? Can you think of anyone who would like to receive one?

 

Comments

Log in to Comment

Sally Turquoise

United Kingdom

Few days ago, I shared a post on my FB timeline, I was talking about handwritten letters .. I asked my friends to write me a letter , but most of them didn’t support the idea and have said that it’s too classic., and such letters are not used anymore//  

01:33 PM Feb 12 2014 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

Learner of life-    I agree, now people skyped. twitter, facebook ,Email, this is the era of instant communication. The only letters are likely to come  from the bank, utilities companies :if you don´t pay within 7 days, we´ll cut the power off.   Cry  

04:08 PM Jan 17 2012 |

Learner of Life

Indonesia

The last time I wrote a letter is around 7 years ago. It was sent to my parents.


Now, as it’s so rare people send letter to each other, I myself really appreciate those who send me a letter and I get surprise anytime receive it.  :)

01:41 PM Jan 17 2012 |

spacedragon

Brazil

i think the idea of writing letters interesting ,it's also more romantic for couples but i really prefer emails,sms,messages,etc…

03:04 PM Dec 25 2010 |

Jodikl

France

Writing a letter is old-fashion. If you want to send a letter for your family or your close friends it's longer. But send an email is the faster and the easier way. You have an answer right now. I prefer taking my pen to write and to send postcast only.

09:13 AM Aug 20 2010 |

sofyh

Morocco

Hey .. I did never wrote a letter for someone maybe cuz my writing is bad .. But i received one by friend which she is closed of me none in another country ..but it seems cool to send and receive letters ^^!

12:33 PM Dec 02 2009 |

Snu

Russian Federation

I have never written letters by handCry because our country (Russia) is so big that it takes a lot of time to get letter grom the other part of country. 

But sometimes I sent postcards th the nearest town. It was so interesting! 

09:53 AM Sep 29 2007 |

vivi bulat

Romania

Thank you

 

08:23 PM Sep 13 2007 |

KiRtAsH

KiRtAsH

Spain

a

09:14 AM Sep 07 2007 |

vivi bulat

Romania

Yes I agree with you..You are right…Keep on so in your thinking Honey

04:32 AM Sep 05 2007 |

cathy316

cathy316

China

i cant remember the last time i wrote letters.maybe a long time ago.i like writing letters in my high school.it was so great to write and receive letters.i think we should write again,to find the lost feelings.

08:07 AM Sep 01 2007 |

imindas

imindas

Turkey

To communicate with handwriting is not necessary since the faster communication the better relationship.However,the best communication is face to face. Sometimes,writing or taking letters and keeping them in a safe place is a really fantastic since I made my little nephews to write me letters. Eventhough I forced them to do that they had wirtten me a letter by their handwriting. They are just kids and learned writing very soon so made too many mistakes. But all the mistakes or meaningless words with their handwritings makes me smile. Sometimes go beyond your boundaries and write your best a letter or a piece of lovely word:)

09:39 PM Aug 25 2007 |

mary wang

mary wang

China

write to sb with pen and ink,it is not important what you write sometimes,but the way you use show your heart, i had ever write to my parents with ink and pen ,and my mother felt happy ,she thought  i had grown up and knew to care about others . so when you have time, remember to write to your firends and your family,send your care and your warmth to others!!

03:42 AM Aug 24 2007 |

karmin

karmin

Romania

I can not remember when I wrote leter by hand

02:25 PM Aug 23 2007 |

karmin

karmin

Romania

I can not remember when I wrote leter by hand

02:25 PM Aug 23 2007 |

mary wang

mary wang

China

i haven't  use ink and pen  for a long time,

but i miss the time we use pen and paper.

now i always use internet -email to write to my firends ,try to write to your firends ,you may give them a surprise ,and you will get a surprise !

09:49 AM Aug 23 2007 |

vivi bulat

Romania

Hi I think that tlh letters hand are more romantic than messages on computers…but when you are in harry and it is a nonromantic letter you can use the computer..it is fast and cheap

01:56 AM Aug 23 2007 |

Rogerx

Rogerx

United States

The last time that I wrote a letter don't remember exactly but was many years ago. I forgot the paper now all is with the computer and the internet. I like to send e-mails to my friends, family and to receive too. I feel well when I got some email in the box.

10:51 PM Aug 20 2007 |

abdooo101

Oman

hi

 u are good handwriting

08:48 PM Aug 20 2007 |

sojel143

sojel143

Pakistan

hello nice friend i want to lern english any body teach me please im very thankful to all

11:31 AM Aug 20 2007 |

Likes (143):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast