After you have discussed why we write letters with your students, it's necessary for them to know that informal letters are letters to friends and relatives. For those students who have been involved in writing some personal letters, this will not be totally new, however, for the benefits of those who have never written or read an informal letter, it's important to itemise types of informal letters as follows:
Types of Informal Letters
1. Letters to close friends who are not your relatives but who are in your age group
2. Letters to pen-friends or pen-pals
3. Letters to close relatives of the same age group
4. Letters to older relatives of the same age group
After you have listed the four types on the board, discuss each type with your students. You can ask your students the following questions
i. Who are your close friends?
ii. Do you have pen-friends? What are their names?
iii. What are your close relatives of the same age-group?
iv. Who are your older relatives? Mention their names.
Parts of an Informal letter
The informal letter has five very important parts they are
a. The heading or address of the writer including date
b. The greeting or salutation
c. The body of the letter
d. The complimentary close or conclusion
e. The name.
Samples of Informal letter explained
a. The Heading or Address and Date
In writing an informal or personal letter only one address is needed and that is the address of the writer. This address must be clearly stated. There are two conventional ways of writing the address of your letter. The address could be presented in either indented or block form, the address must also include the name of the writer.
b. Greeting or Salutation
The greeting is usually placed at the left hand side of the paper- a line below the end of the heading or address. The way you greet the receiver of your letter shows the relationship between both of you, the way you greet your close friend is not the same way you'll greet your parents.
c. Body of the Letter
When you have seen the students through writing their addresses and salutations properly, the next important point to consider is the body of the letter. There must always be a focus or reason for writing. The body of the letter must be divided into meaningful paragraphs, each linking one idea to the other. Always start a new paragraph for a new idea you want to include in your letter. Guide them to understand that the content and tone are very important points to consider when writing.
d. Expression
The language and tone we use will help to make the letter acheive its purpose. The expression in an informal letter usually shows the letter is a personal or private one. The way you will talk to a friend or a relative of your age group is quite different from the way you'll talk or write to your mother, father, uncle etc. The words you choose should be simple and precise, the sentence structure should not be complex. Contracted forms such I'll, shouldn't, don't, isn't, won't etc, are allowed in a personal letter. Some slangs or collequial expressions can be used as well. Be sure that the words you use are appropriate for the idea you want to express so that the recipient will get your message clearly. Every point must be well put so that your reader will enjoy reading your letter. As teachers, you must make your students understand that if they write good letters, their friends and relatives will enjoy it.
e. Content
This refers to what the letter contains. Remember to break your letter into meaningful parts or paragraphs. The fact that you're writing a personal letter does not mean it should be carelessy written. Your letter must be well planned so that it can achieve the purpose it sets out to achieve. Because of the level of your students, it's necessary to provide a guideline for them to follow so that when they are actually writing, they will have a sequential order of presenting ideas.
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