You have seen an advertisement from a couple, who live in Australia, for someone to teach their two children your language for a year. Write a letter to the couple. In your letter: - explain why you think you would be suitable for the job - say what else you could do for the family - give your reasons for wanting the job
Sample Response
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Thompson,
I recently came across your advertisement seeking a tutor to teach your two children my native language - Spanish, and I would love to apply for the position.
As a qualified Spanish language teacher with five years of experience, I have taught children of various ages and proficiency levels. I focus on interactive and engaging lessons that make learning enjoyable, incorporating games, storytelling, and cultural activities to keep young learners motivated. My approach ensures that children not only learn the language but also develop confidence in using it in daily conversations.
In addition to teaching, I would be happy to assist your family in other ways. I can help with homework, organise educational activities, or even introduce your children to traditional songs and stories from my culture. If needed, I am also willing to assist with light household tasks or meal preparation.
I am particularly interested in this role because I have always wanted to experience life in Australia while sharing my language and culture with others. I believe this opportunity would be mutually enriching, and I am eager to contribute to your children’s learning journey.
Please let me know if you would like to discuss this further. I would be happy to arrange a call at your convenience.
Yours sincerely,
Lucía Gómez
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use professional wording Original: love Suggested revision: like Why it matters: Would like is slightly more professional while retaining the letter's warm tone.
- 2. Punctuate the apposition Original: my native language - Spanish Suggested revision: my native language, Spanish Why it matters: A comma naturally introduces Spanish as the name of the native language.
- 3. Use concise title Original: Spanish language teacher Suggested revision: Spanish teacher Why it matters: Spanish teacher expresses the qualification more concisely without changing the meaning.
- 4. Use a direct verb Original: focus on interactive and engaging lessons Suggested revision: use interactive, engaging lessons Why it matters: The direct verb makes the description of the teaching method more concise.
- 5. Personalise the application Original: children not only learn the language Suggested revision: your children not only learn Spanish Why it matters: Naming the recipients' children and the target language makes the application more specific.
- 6. Keep conditional form Original: If needed, I am also willing Suggested revision: If needed, I would also be willing Why it matters: Would matches the hypothetical offer introduced by if more consistently.
- 7. Name the learning goal Original: children’s learning journey Suggested revision: children's Spanish learning Why it matters: The revision is more specific about the contribution being offered.
- 8. Sentence rewrite Original: Please let me know if you would like to discuss this further. I would be happy to arrange a call at your convenience. Suggested revision: Please let me know if you would like to discuss the role further; I would be happy to arrange a call at your convenience. Why it matters: Combining the closely related closing ideas removes the vague reference to this.
- 9. Confirm full-year availability Suggested revision: Add a brief confirmation that you are available to live in Australia and teach for the full year. Why it matters: The application implies availability, but the advertisement specifically requires a one-year commitment.
Suggested Rewrites
- love like
- my native language - Spanish my native language, Spanish
- Spanish language teacher Spanish teacher
- focus on interactive and engaging lessons use interactive, engaging lessons
- children not only learn the language your children not only learn Spanish
- If needed, I am also willing If needed, I would also be willing
Why this response received Band 8.5
The letter fully satisfies the application task, with convincing qualifications, useful additional help, clear motivation, and an appropriately professional yet warm tone. Its organisation and language are highly controlled; the main limitations are minor stylistic points, including the spaced hyphen before 'Spanish' and a few slightly generic phrases. The best refinement is to make the motivation even more specific to the one-year role while tightening those small punctuation and wording choices.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose is immediately clear, all three bullet points are fully developed, and the professional tone is consistently appropriate for prospective employers.
Confirm explicit availability for the full year to make the application completely aligned with the advertised commitment.
Coherence and Cohesion
Each paragraph has a distinct communicative function, and ideas progress naturally through qualifications, additional help, motivation, and follow-up.
Tighten the final two paragraphs slightly so the motivation and call to action form an even more concise close.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is flexible, precise, and natural, with strong role-specific phrases such as 'proficiency levels', 'cultural activities', and 'mutually enriching'.
Replace the few generic expressions such as 'assist your family in other ways' with equally concise but more specific wording.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is used accurately and naturally, with only negligible punctuation and stylistic lapses.
Use a colon or commas rather than a spaced hyphen before 'Spanish' and retain the same high level of control elsewhere.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You have seen an advertisement from a couple, who live in Australia, for someone to teach their two children your language for a year. Write a letter to the couple. In your letter:
- explain why you think you would be suitable for the job
- say what else you could do for the family
- give your reasons for wanting the job
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.