Mastering Business Email Openings and Closings in English

Mastering Business Email Openings and Closings in English

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to confidently open and close a business email in English.

Make sure to emphasize the importance of proper email etiquette in the professional world.

What do you already know about writing a professional email in English?

Importance of Professional Email

Professional emails are an essential part of communication in the business world. They need to be clear, concise, and professional.

Ask students to share examples of when they have had to write a business email.

Salutations

Always address the recipient by their name in the salutation. Use 'Dear' for a formal tone and 'Hi' for a less formal tone.

Encourage students to practice writing different salutations for different situations.

Subject Lines

The subject line should be short and specific to the content of the email. It should also be written in title case.

Provide examples of good and bad subject lines and have students identify the differences.

Opening Paragraph

The opening paragraph should set the tone for the email and briefly state the purpose of the message.

Have students practice writing different opening paragraphs for different scenarios.

Body Paragraphs

The body of the email should provide more detail about the purpose of the message, but still be concise and easy to read.

Provide a sample email and have students identify the main points of the message.

Closing Paragraph

The closing paragraph should restate the purpose of the message and provide any necessary follow-up or action items.

Have students practice writing different closing paragraphs for different scenarios.

Closing Salutations

Use 'Sincerely' for a formal tone and 'Best regards' for a less formal tone. Always include your name and contact information.

Encourage students to practice writing different closing salutations for different situations.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.