Korean Pen Pal Letter:

7th Grade Computer Elective Class

For your information the English teacher, Mr. Young-Hun SHIN, English Chairperson in Kwangju district in Seoul, Korea has contacted me about exchanging Pen Pal letters between our students. The goal of this activity is make good friends and thus promote friendships all over the world. Mr. SHIN reported to me that their students are "eager to correspond with our students." In the past, my students have written to students in the Micronesia Islands in the Pacific Ocean and the hurricane victims in the Hawaiian Islands. For three trimesters, my classes have also corresponded with high school students at the P.E. International School in Tokyo, Japan.

I am giving you a 300-point assignment to write a letter to a student in Seoul, Korea. It is to be two page, double spaced type-written letter. This final copy of the penpal letter will be due on Friday, March 6, 2009. Students can write it in class and augment the paper at home if necessary. Each student is to write their own letter, even if they have a partner. The finished product will be printed on ClarisWorks or your word processor or typewriter at home. I would appreciate it if you would take interest in this letter and share a part of your life that encourages a pen pal to correspond with you.

Bonus Points: 40 Any student that receives a Pen Pal letter from the Kwangju district in Seoul, Korea because of their letter, will be awarded 40 bonus points. So, write a good detailed letter and hopefully you may earn additional bonus points if they answer you. In order to finish the letter by a deadline of Friday, March 6, 2009, you might also try to type a draft copy at home, so that class time is used more effectively by typing from your notes done at home.

1. Introduce yourself, your family, etc. in the first paragraph.

2. Inquire about the interests of your Pen Pal.
   
   
3. Give insight about your interests, hobbies, music preferences, favorite movies, sports, etc.
4. Tell about what it is like to live in Colorado (winter, spring, summer and fall). Korea is very different than Colorado, weather as well as culture.
5. Give insight about the foods that you like and dislike. Share your holiday traditions with your Pen Pal. Ask them if there are any special holiday traditions in Korea.
6. Explain what it is like to attend school at Carmody Middle School. How large the classes are, the classes that you like, the teacher that most motivates you, etc.
7. Ask them what it is like living in Korea, what places you should visit in Korea if you were ever able to travel to Korea, etc.
8. Ask them if they ever traveled to the mainland of the United States and what places there they like best. Perhaps, you might want to tell what places in the mainland of the United States that you have traveled to and like best.
9. What's your favorite holiday? Provide information about why it is so interesting to you.
10. If you have ever traveled to Korea, tell them what places and things you like best about Korea.
11. Tell your Pen Pal what you would like to be when you grow up. What professions are you considering?
12. Tell them about what things you might be doing over summer vacation.
13. Enclose some personal things that make the letter more personal, such as a photo, American stamps, some coins, baseball cards, Disney characters, etc.
14. Be sure to sign your letter.
15. Be sure to put the date on your letter and include a closing, "Sincerely."
16. Include your address and phone number at the end of the letter.
17. Be sure to check for correct grammar, spelling (use a dictionary) and typos. With a word processor, the final copy of the letter should look neat and well written.
18. Remember, your enthusiasm is contagious. Make your Pen Pal feel important and the Pen Pal and their family will be uplifted by your letter.
19. Recommendation: when a partner is using the computer, the other partner could be writing his letter by hand to get better organized. Time is limited, so use it wisely.
20. Describe your family's favorite activity.

Good Luck! Thank you for participating in this philanthropic writing assignment with students in Seoul, Korea.

P.S. Remember, the letter to be considered for an "A" grade should be two pages long, double spaced with appropriate one inch margins and paragraph organization, so that the letter is not cluttered. In addition, the content needs to be well thought out. Deadline for submitting the final copy of the Pen Pal letter is Friday, March 6, 2009. On Friday, February 27, 2009, there will also be a preliminary draft copy worth 100 points due to me so that I can better evaluate your work before the final manuscript is submitted on Friday, March 6, 2009. Please share this letter with your parents as you need to obtain some photos to enclosed with your final copy. Remember to enclose the letter and supporting materials in a self-address #10 envelope so everything can be sent to Korea together.