Composition 3: write an email to your classmate Emily to recommend a book to read

To: emilycarter3@hotmail.com

From: maru85@gmail.com

Subject: About the book for the 1^st English book.

Dear Emily:

I have a great book to recommend reading: “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio. It isn’t a graduated book for English learners but I assure you that you’ll find no difficulty in understanding it and you’ll really enjoy it.

I chose this book because a friend who works in a bookstore recommended it and told me its English version had been sold quite well among English students.

The novel tells the story of August, a boy with a terrible facial abnormality who is sent for the first time to a real school at the age of ten. He only wants to be accepted as the ordinary boy he thinks he is, but the outside world can be very cruel for a kid like him. This novel is told in first person from different points of view: August; Via, his sister, some of his classmates (Summer, Jack, Julian) and other people who are connected with August.

It’s been written by R.J. Palacio, an American designer of book covers who had always wanted to write her own book. This has been her first novel, and, curiously, its cover hasn’t been designed by her, but she thinks it’s lovely.

I strongly recommend “Wonder” because it has some important lessons that we should always think about: we have to accept ourselves just as we are; we have to smile even on bad days and, the most important part, we should know that in the end, we’ll always find a helping hand.

I hope you’ll make a good choice and read this book. You won’t regret it.

Kindly yours,

Mariana.

(265 words)

Composition 2: an article expressing my opinion about taking a child to an all-English school

Learning a language is always an enriching experience for all ages, but children have more abilities because their brains assimilate the knowledge much more easily than an adult.

Nevertheless, taking a child to an all-English school is not a good idea because our children will not receive the required education to learn their mother tongue properly. They could be confused when they tried to speak in Spanish and even, it would be more likely that they had learning difficulties in writing or speaking their own language. For that reason, I think it would be better to take our children to a bilingual school instead of an all-English one. Moreover, some experts say that a bilingual education has several advantages. Children who go to these schools are more creative and have better facility for solving problems. In addition, they would also have more skills for learning other language and communication strategies.

However, this kind of education cannot be affordable for everybody. Besides, some of the bilingual schools are a bit snobbish and it is necessary to consider if that environment will be the most suitable for raising our children. Due to this, I think we should choose our sons’ school carefully and think not only about what is the best option for their education, but also about what is the best way for becoming a person with good values and feelings.

230 words.

Composition 1: The best time of my life

There have been some happy moments in my life that I could mention, but I think the especial one was definitely my days as a student. 

I remember how much I enjoyed going to choose my new backpack or my new notebooks and coloured markers. I used to want to start school because, as I was an only child, I used to get really bored during the summer holidays. I had loads of fun at school when I was a child. 

Moreover, I was very lucky because I had very good teachers. The best teacher I have ever had was Nancy, my first grade teacher. I loved her as if she were my second mother. She taught me not only to read and write, but also to be a family with my schoolmates. 

Then, when I started secondary school, I remember that I was only worried about getting good marks and knowing everything about a boy band that I was crazy about. I had no responsibilities, I enjoyed studying and I have always been a diligent student. 

My school days were a fantastic experience because I met a lot of friends who are very good friends of mine at present. I also met my first love and I can still remember how wonderful was being in love at the age of fifteen.

For that reason, when I look back on my years at school, I can only smile and sigh for being young again.

245 words.