DELAY
You have been invited to attend an interview for a place studying a course in a college. Unfortunately because of a previous appointment you cannot come at the time they wish.
Write a letter to the admissions tutor and explain your position. Apologise and offer to come on another day or later the same day. Ask also how long the interview will be and whether there will be any tests during it.
Dear Sir,
Thank you very much for your letter dated 15th May inviting me for an interview at your college on Wednesday 2nd June at 10am. I am extremely sorry but I am unable to come to an interview at that time because I have a maths exam that morning. It really cannot I miss this exam but of course I really wish to attend the interview with you. Is it possible that I could come to the interview the same day but in the afternoon? Failing that, I would be able to come the next day or any day after.
I would also like to ask some things about the interview. I would like to know how long it will last and also whether I will be required to do any tests during it.
Once again I apologise for not being able to attend the interview at the time that you wanted and I hope I will be able to meet with you at another time.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
James Walker
(179 words)
A friend has asked you to babysit on Saturday and wants to know how much you charge per hour for this. Unfortunately, you already have a commitment this weekend and cannot help. However, you free the following weekend.
Write a letter to your friend exlaining that you are not able to help this time, but could help later. Explain also what your fee for the service is.
Dear XX (name of colleague)
Thank you for asking me to babysit for you. As you know I enjoy looking after Anthony and would be happy to help you out. However, this weekend I have a commitment which I cannot break.
My parents are coming to visit and I am going to take them down to the coast as I have always promised to do. They are getting older so I like to spend as much time with them as possible. Also, it is my father’s birthday and I want to celebrate with them. I am really sorry that I am not able to help this time, but I am free next weekend and I would be glad to babysit for you then, if you should choose to go out for the evening.
My charge is fifteen dollars per hour until midnight and twenty dollars per hour after that. You would need to give me any special instructions you might have and, of course, leave a phone number in case of emergency.
Yours sincerely
You have been offered a job, asking you to start next week. You want the job very much but, because of a previous commitment, you want to delay the start for another two weeks.
Write to the Manager, accepting the job, but explaining your situation and asking for the change to
your start date.
Dear Sir or Madam
I am writing to request putting off the job which you have offered. I really want the job but I have a important previous commitment. So, I cannot start to work next week.
I was offered the job yesterday, which wanted me to start next week. Thank you so much for offering the job. I really want to work at your company. However, I cannot start next week because I have a previous commitment which is my sister’s wedding. It is next weekend, besides. She lives in Korea and she want me to prepare her wedding with my parents. So I have to go to Korea next Monday. After the wedding I will travel a few days with my parents who wanted me to travel because I have lived for 4 years far from home. That is why I cannot start the work next week. I will come back to Sydney two weeks later. I would like to delay the start for another two weeks. Could you delay the start date for me?
Once again, thank you very much for offering it. I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.
Yours faithfully
You successfully passed a job interview. You are expected to start on November 15, but you will not be available on that date. Task: Write a letter to your new boss, explaining your situation, expressing your concern and suggesting solution.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am Leonardo Gomes and I have recently passed a job interview for the Software Engineer position at the Software Infrastructure group. I was expected to start on November 15, as agreed, and am writing because unfortunately I will not be able to present myself on that date.
During the interview I estimated fifteen days as the amount of time needed for me to finish my activities at my current job and start at your company, but due to fact that I got sick for the last whole week and was not able to work, I could not finish my tasks and will need another week to do so. If necessary, I can give you a copy of a letter from my doctor informing that I had to stay at home and under medical care during that week.
I really apologize for the inconvenience and expect it not to affect our relationship. Should I present any other form of proof or talk to someone else at the company, please let me know.
Faithfully yours,
Leonardo
One of your pen pals will shortly be visiting your city. For some reasons, you can not manage to meet him at the airport on time.
Write a letter asking him to wait for you at the airport and tell him how to identify you.
Dear Mary,
I am very much looking forward to your visit to my city. Just think: after all these years to writing to each other, we will finally have the chance to meet! However, I regret to inform you that I will not be able to meet you at the airport as soon as you arrive.
The reason is that your flight will arrive early in the morning, and the quickest time I can get to the airport will be about an hour after you land. Please wait for me in the arrival lounge. You should be able to have breakfast there while you wait.
By the way, as we have never met I must tell you how to recognize me: I am of medium height and have a small mustache. In addition, I will be carrying a copy of the morning newspaper tucked under my left arm.
Looking forward to our first meeting.
Yours sincerely,
Harry