Meeting! Come on! Staff meeting! Now! Yes,
Mr Toby what is it? We are getting big right? SMASH English! This is a Youtube revolution!
Yeah obviously. We're totally famous. So I think we need to expand! Uh, expand? Yeah! We
need another member of staff. Oh my god what? So you're like replacing us? No... not yet... but but
no no of course not! But more subscribers, more views, more videos, more work! We need another
member of the team to help us and it's your job to help me find someone so go! Goodbye! Okay then
Mr Toby. Okay then Toby I will check the pub! See you later. For part two of the B2 First
writing exam you might choose to write a formal letter or email of application. But how do you do
this? Is it difficult? Are we going to die? Well one day yes! But before then we are
going to write the perfect letter or email of application! My name is Toby, this
is SMASH English and here is everything you need to know about writing a formal letter or email
of application for the B2 First Cambridge exam. As always this piece of writing is between 140 and
190 words. If you write less than 140 words you will not include all of the information necessary
to complete the task. If you write more than 190 words you are probably including irrelevant
information and you will lose marks for this. Remember this is a formal piece of writing so no
contractions, no phrasal verbs and no idiomatic expressions. No. no. Oh and remember! A letter and
an email have exactly the same style and structure so do not worry about that. Hi! I'm Duke! I'm here
for the job? Bloody hell! Who is this? All right, Toby... Jesus! He is the best that we could
find! Um yeah. Toby hello! Nobody wants to work here. Right okay well has he written his letter of
application? Um my letter of what? Right okay well read this and then write your formal letter
of application please. I cannot give you a job without one. It's this the rule. Right, yeah sure
sure my letter of application. Perfect. Thank you. What? Don't look at me! I think he'll be perfect!
The first thing we need to do is plan and we cannot plan without seeing our questions so let's
have a look at it! The CEO of SMASH English passes you a very important document. SMASH English is a
Youtube channel aimed at helping English learners pass their B2 First Cambridge exam. We are
looking for a new member of the team to help us. To apply write a letter of application explaining
why you would like the position and what you think you could contribute to SMASH English. I've never
had a job before and I'm really desperate! Please! Please give me a job! Oh jesus.... Let's start by
underlining our tasks. These are the things that we need to do that are written in the question.
For a letter of application there are usually two or three of these. Okay so hereI need to explain
why I want the position and say what I can contribute yes? Yes exactly so let's plan! Every
letter of application usually follows the same basic structure and we need five paragraphs to
do this. First we must say hello in a formal way and this is not counted as a paragraph. Sorry. In
paragraph 1 we should state why we are writing and where we learned about the position we are
applying for. Did we find it in a magazine? Was it an advert at a bus stop? Or did the CEO of
SMASH English give you a very important document? Well write that here. In paragraph two we
should introduce ourselves. Who are we? What are our qualifications? How interesting!
In paragraph three you should complete the first task and in this question that is why we
want the job. That's an easy question! Everyone wants a job at SMASH English
because they want me to be their boss. In paragraph four we should complete the
next task. In this case that is what we could contribute to SMASH English. And in paragraph five
we should state when we are available to work. That's very important! And also ask some questions
about the job because remember this is a letter or an email! We want someone to read it and then
reply to it so let's ask some questions! Great idea! Oh and lastly we say goodbye this also
does not count as a paragraph sorry. So five paragraphs and that does not include hello and
goodbye. Okay so let's begin! We must say HELLO. Okay so HELLO TOBY! No because "Hello Toby!"
is informal especially with an exclamation mark. Instead we can say "Dear Toby" but this is
really simple and everyone will say "Dear Toby" so let's say "For the attention of Toby". Great!
Okay then great! For the attention of Toby. Sometimes you might not know the name of the
person you are writing to but you might know the position they have. If that is the case you could
say "For the attention of the hiring manager" or "For the attention of the CEO of SMASH English" or
"For the attention of the Restaurant ma..." You, you get the idea. But here we know that we are
writing to Toby so "For the attention of Toby", easy! In paragraph one we need to state why we are
writing the letter. Often students will use the present continuous to do this: "I am writing this
letter in response to the very important document that was given to me by Toby" but NO. Instead
we can make things more complicated by using the present simple! But Toby! The present simple
is too simple. I am very intelligent! It is simple but by using the present simple in this context
you are demonstrating to the examiner that you know that you can use the present simple to
introduce formal emails and that knowledge is not simple! So: "I write this email in response
to the very important document given to me by Toby". And we've used the passive here
brilliant! Next we need to say why we are writing. Well, we are writing because we want to apply for
the position at SMASH English but we cannot say "I want" because that's rude. Instead keep
this simple: I would like to apply for the vacant position at SMASH English. VACANT is a
great word. Here it means "available or free". Not in the sense of you don't have to pay for
it but free in the sense of it isn't being used. For the attention of Toby, I write this letter in
response to the important documents given to me by Toby. I would like to apply for the
vacant position at SMASH English. Now we need to introduce ourselves so Duke um, who
are you exactly? Oh yes, I'm Duke! Yeah okay.... But how old are you? What do you do?
Where do you live? Tell me something. Um, I'm 25. I live with my mum and uh I speak English!
Jesus Christ, Duke is that all you can do? Toby, you teach your own language! You're not
exactly Einstein! Okay okay shut up! Duke, this is a job application this means that we must
lie! Obviously... You want me to lie? Yes! Lie! I always lie when I apply for jobs. And don't
tell me you live with your mum why do I need to know that? Okay so my name is Duke.
I am 25 and currently living in London. I have a PhD in media production and I'm fluent in
English with a C5 certification. C5? Yeah C5. It's the best one. Yeah sure, sure, C5. This is good!
Notice how Duke did not say "I live in London". Instead he said "I am currently living in London".
This shows that this is a temporary situation. It could change in the future demonstrating that
Duke could potentially move location for the job. Duke has also stated he has a PhD in media and
is fluent in English. He is giving qualifications that are relevant to the position. Make sure you
do this and yes you can lie. A PhD though? Duke, maybe that's a bit much? But you said I could
lie! I have a PhD from the university of my mum! Now for paragraph three we must complete our first
task and that is explain why we would like the position. So Duke, why do you want to work with us
at SMASH English? Because Monica works there yes? She is so beautiful! I want to
be near her! I want to smell her! Okay... oh my god Toby! Did he just
say he wanted to smell me? Oh god, Duke! You can't say that! That's weird and
probably illegal. Um no, it is definitely illegal! And Toby! No I am not working with
him! All right, all right. Duke! Just lie! Say you are passionate about certain aspects of
the job right? You have a PhD in media production. It's a youtube channel. The job is related to
media! So use the present perfect: "Ever since I was a child I have always been passionate about...
Monica! Oh my god Toby he is gross! No let's say "video production" right? Ever since I was a child
I have been passionate about video production! Okay... And let's say that you like helping
people! Yeah. So SMASH English combines your two passions: video production and helping
people pass their B2 First Cambridge exam. Ever since I was a child I have been passionate
about video production. I have worked on numerous projects in the past and feel SMASH English would
enable me to broaden my knowledge of the field. Furthermore I love smelling Monica! No! Sorry,
sorry, I love helping people and would therefore be eager to apply these skills in order to
support students with their B2 exam preparation. Notice here how Duke has often used the word
WOULD. This is because we are talking about an imaginary situation. Duke is talking about
an imaginary future in which he has the job. Duke has discussed his motivations for
applying related to the two aspects of the job: media production and B2 exam preparation. Make
sure you do this too. Also notice the formal linking expressions FURTHERMORE and IN ORDER TO.
So that's paragraphs one, two, and three finished. We have stated why we are writing and where we saw
the job advertised. We have introduced ourselves and included relevant qualifications. We have
explained why we want the job with reference to our passions and goals for the future. And now
for paragraph four which means that we need to complete task two. In this case task two is asking
us to explain what we could contribute to SMASH English. So then Duke, what do you think you could
contribute to us? Im I will be Monica's slave! Oh my god! Hey that actually sounds like a
good idea! Um no! Um I will make sure that the Monica smells right? No! Well I have no more
ideas! Lie again then, Duke! You have a PhD in media production so you could help us with
editing videos! Also you have a C5 certification in English so you could help with writing scripts
to help students study for the B2 First exam! Okay yeah sure! If I were given this opportunity
I am sure my expertise in video production would improve the quality of SMASH English videos.
In addition to this, thanks to my knowledge of the English language I could assist with script
writing to aid students with exam preparation. Here Duke has used the second conditional
to talk about what he could do if he were given the job. This is imaginary remember, he
has not been given the job yet. Duke has also linked his two possible contributions to his
skills: media production and english fluency. Make sure your possible contributions are linked
with your skills. This ensures that there is a logical progression to your letter or email. Make
sure your paragraphs are connected. And now we are on to our final paragraph: paragraph five, where
we need to one give our availability to work. When are we free? When can we start working? And number
two: ask some questions. So Duke when are you available to work for us? Right now, Toby! Give me
the job now! Please! Oh welcome to the team, Duke! My name is Bruce! Nice to meet you... again.
Oh my god no! Toby, we're not actually gonna give this idiot a job are we!? No, no, no, no,
Duke! You are a very busy man! You have a PhD in media production! You have a C5 certification in
English remember? Yes yes! I am a professional! Exactly! We don't want to seem too keen. So
we are going to say "I am available to work from July onwards". This means right
now we are very very busy but in July we will be free and we will be available to work
for SMASH English. Now remember after this we need to ask some questions about the position so have
you got any questions for me, Duke? Do you want to know any more information about the position?
Yes uhhh can iI share my office with Monica? Oh my god! Do you you think that we have an office?
You have absolutely no idea! Oh shut up, Monica! You will get an office when you deserve one
yeah? And Duke no! We should ask two questions. Number one: what are the working hours? When will
we need to work if we are given a job? And number two: what is the salary? How much money will we
get? Money! Very very important... Obviously. I am available to work from July onwards.
Lastly might I ask what the salary would be? Also could you provide me with details regarding
the working hours? Here Duke has asked questions using the modal verbs MIGHT and COULD. This is
extremely polite so good job, Duke. Thanks Toby! Yeah, make sure you attempt to extend
the interaction in your last paragraph with some questions. Remember a letter or
email is written in order to get a response so give the reader something to respond to! This
is not an essay. Right then, Duke. We are done! We just need to add one more thing and this
will depend on whether you are writing a letter or an email so listen closely! If you are writing
a letter of application then please finish your letter with "Please see my CV enclosed. Thank you
for your time and I eagerly await your response". This means my CV is in the envelope with
this letter so read the CV, give me a job, goodbye, thanks! But if you are writing an
email then there is no envelope obviously so "Please see my CV attached. Thank you for
your time and I eagerly await your response". Simple. This is the only thing that should change
between a letter and an email and it's a really easy thing to change because it's one word!
Simple! But changing this one word at the end lets the examiner know that you read the
question and many students will think letter, email they're exactly the same! But if you just
change one word you're saying to the examiner "I'm prepared! I know how to apply for a job! If
I'm applying for a job by email I will attach my CV. If I'm applying for a job via letter I will
enclose it in the envelope with the letter. That's so obvious! But people forget so do this! Yes?
Yes! Oh and after that just write your name. You can write YOURS SINCERELY, DUKE. YOURS
FAITHFULLY, DUKE. BEST REGARDS, DUKE. REGARDS, DUKE. But seriously it doesn't matter! Just write
your name And that's also fine. DUKE. Brilliant! Finished! So here is our
completed letter of application! We address the recipient. We explain why we are
writing and how we heard about the position. We introduce ourselves and give our
qualifications. We explain why we want the job. We explain what contributions
we could make to the company. We give our availability and ask some
questions. And then we say goodbye. Fantastic! So.... Yes, what? Have I got the job? No! Of
course not! Duke, you lied in your application! C5 level of english!? PhD in media production!?
What are you talking about? Get out of my sight! Pathetic! But you said.... And you wanted to
smell me! Oh my God! You're so gross! Go away! Yeah, oh sorry mate. I did my best for you. I
still think you'd be great here to be honest. And with that we are finished. Now
you know everything you need to know about writing a formal letter or email of
application for the B2 First Cambridge exam! If you liked the video don't forget to SMASH that
like button, subscribe if you haven't already, leave a comment down below! My name
is Toby and this was SMASH English!
