English Writing: Letter of Complaint

, No comments
NATALIA

135 Richwood Ave
Morgantown, WV 26505

May 8, 2013

Mr. John Smith
Director
Housetrust
50 High Street
Morgantown, WV 26505 

Dear Mr. Smith:
I’m writing to inform you about a claim concerning the refusal about the repair of the roof of our house which happened after the windstorm of the last April.
Precisely, on 28 April 2013, due to a strong wind and rain, a branch’s tree fell over our home and destroyed a part of the roof. After a short observation of the destruction the insurance expert of the company sent us a letter telling us that the home insurance policy didn’t pay the cost of the repairs.
However, with accordance with the stipulations of the articles of the insurance contract the rebuild of the roof can’t be denied because that day the wind exceeded the speed of 90km per hour. For the verification of the facts I add, enclosed, the weather report from the Meteorological Agency of the local zone and the exact date when the wind storm occurred.      
To ensure that such errors don’t happen again and that the experts provide correct information I ask you to proceed with the mend of the damages, otherwise I would have to announce the dissolution of my home insurance contract. Thank you in advance and I look forward to hearing from you. 

Yours sincerely,

Natalia 

JOSE D.
Monforte de Lemos 63 
Madrid 28029 

Mr. Jose Mourinho 
Portuguese Restaurant
Calle Padre Damian 23
Madrid 28026

Dear Mr. Mourinho:

 I´m writing to apply for refund of my last meal in your restaurant. The last friday I invited my parents for their anniversary, I saw an advertisement of your restaurant on TV. 
I thought It was a good idea. I called to the restaurant and booked a table. When we arrived to the restaurant a rude waiter asked us if we had a reservation, he was searching
in his computer a lot of time, after We waited about one hour to eat, We booked a table at 9.00 and We began to eat at 10.30. My parents are older and when We could 
eat I noticed that in the restaurant there was so much noise that It was impossible to eat calmly. But the worst was when We were eating, the table was dirty, the food was
so bad that We didn´t eat almost nothing. 

 It was a special day, I spent a lot of money, You need to refund me for this meal. Thank you very much for your consideration, and I look foward to hearing from you. 

Cordially


ELENA
2101 Barker St.

Littledale 13456


                                                                                                                        May 7, 2013


Mr. Amancio Ortega
President, Zara Inditex
4200 California Road
Metropolis City 10012

Dear Mr. Ortega:

I went to your department store ZARA located in Garden Street, California, two days ago. I bought a black dress which cost 19 dollars. The top of the dress had a small picture with two flowers and a few words around them. I decided to wash it before I put on and what a surprise. When I took it out from the washing machine, the flowers were almost gone and some of the words weren’t able to be read. Also I had problems with the zipper and there were two buttons which were broken. I am still having my ticket so I would like to return the dress and refund my money.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Shirley Green.


HECTOR
For the attention for Mr. Pérez, CEO Tecnology Enterprises,
 
Dear Mr. Pérez, 
 
The reason of this letter is to recognize my disappointment with your products and service to customer. I´m going tell you my history because i´m sure that you will be convenced i have the reason after to read it. 
 
The last week i bought a dvd player made by your factory. After two days, the player started to do extrange sounds when i putted on it a dvd. I thouhgt maybe it would be a dvd´s problem, so i tried to prove with another dvd but with the same result. The player didn´t read the dvd and did a strange sound, as a dvd was got blocked. I returned to the shop, explained to manager the problem, he was very comprensive and gave me another player with his apology.
 
The problem is that, in this case, the new machine did the same that its fellow. It was impossible to watch a dvd because the machine didn`t work. I returned to shop and i asked for apology and refund money. But the manager told me these time it was not a problem of him, it was impossible two players failed and, the most important, he had instructions to remite any complain about Tecnology Enterprises's products to its CEO, you, Mr. Pérez.
 
After to write a complain letter agains the shop´s manager, i talked with some of my friends and told me that they had the same problem with diferentes productos done by your company, and although they wrote you, never obtained neither apology or refund money. 
 
But i don´t surrender. First, i write you this letter to ask for an apology; and then i will to turn to Customers Association for to explain them this case because i don´t want some people suffer like me in the future. Also, i would like company refunds money and send me an apology letter, and the promise that you will change the way to treat customers.
 
Thanking for your time, i wish you have a nice day.
 
Sincerely,

Maria Jose
May 14, 2013
Mr. Pedro García
Customer Service
El Corte Inglés
Paseo de la Castellana, 53
28046 Madrid

Dear Mr. García,
On 10th of May I bought a Teddy bear for my little daughter at El Corte Ingles from Paseo de la Castellana, 53.
At the time of purchase I didn't realize that your Teddy bear doesn't carry the CE mark and later surprisingly I couldn’t find information about the manufacturer's name and address neither. Unfortunately, your Teddy bear is not a product made in the respect of the safety standards of the European community and consequently I consider that it is not a safe product for my daughter.
To solve this problem I would appreciate a money refund or another Teddy bear with de CE mark. Please find attached the receipt of the purchase.
I look forward to your positive reply and a resolution to my problem as soon as possible.
Please contact me at the above address or phone any time between 9.00 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Cordially,


Maria Jose
Share This:    Twitter  Google+

Asking for Permission in English

, No comments
Share This:    Twitter  Google+

Telecommunications Vocabulary

, , No comments




 allowed
(ADJ) all right for them to do it
answer a phone
(V) to accept an incoming call
banned
(ADJ) officially prevented from doing it
be on the phone
(V) the state of being in the middle of a conversation with someone on the phone
call back
(V) to contact someone through phone after they unsuccessfully tried to call you
check your messages
(V) to call your voicemail and listen to recorded messages that were left when you missed phone calls
delete
(V) remove
get a call
(V) when someone tries to reach you through the phone
get a message
(V) to receive a oral note from someone when you missed their phone call
hang up the phone
(V) to end a phone conversation by setting the phone down
ignore
(V) pay no attention
leave a message
(V) to record a message on someone's answering machine
lower your voice
(V) to soften your speech to decrease its volume
make a call
(V) to dial a number on a phone in order to talk to someone else
polite
(ADJ) has good manners and is not rude to other people
respond
(V) react to something
rude
(ADJ) impolite
screen your calls
(V) to not answer calls because you are avoiding someone or many people
selfish
(N) care only about themselves and not about other people
send a text
(V) to type a short message to another person with your cell phone
take a message
(V) to hear a message that's for meant for someone else with the intent of telling them at a later time
thoughtful
(ADJ) quiet and serious because you are thinking about something
turn off your phone
(V) to shut down your cellular device
turn up
(V) increase the amount
Share This:    Twitter  Google+

English Writing-Cell Phones

, 1 comment

Anais
I have a cell phone. I think it is very useful because you can use it for many things, make a call, send emails, searching in internet... But the most important is "Communicate".
You must use your cell phone politely, and never talk and drive!!!
For me, one problem is choose the right plan. More companies raise prices execissively, and you can pay less and do the same things with your cell phone.

Cristina

ANDROID OR APPLE?

I choose Apple. I have had an Iphone for the last two years. It´s a Iphone 4, it´s a good cell phone. You can use either Iphone or Android to call, answer the phone, send a text message, take photographs, etc… But the differences between one and the other are a lot. Iphones are more thin and light, it has a bigger touchscreen and the quality of its photos is better. In conclusion Iphones are smarter. By this reasons and similar reasons, millions of persons in the world have a Iphone. Apple sold five millions of Iphone 5 in the last year. When my Iphone will be broken, I´ll buy another again.

Aida
In my opinion the cell phones are very useful because in this moment the communication with our friends and familiars are constant. 
I have a cell phone and I need to use all the time, its a illness because I can´t be without my cell phone. It´s a new complement more in my accessories that my handbag 

Forever they need to  know that happened in all time, You can to upload a photo in your profile´s  Facebook  if you have a cell phone last generation and  in this moment all your friends can add a comment , it´s incredible the speed that I have in our days. 

In addition the cell phones to use for emergency in any time, if you need to call at 3 o ´ clock and you stand in a beach you can to call if you have a cell phone´s and you don´t need to look for a phone.

But the cell phone´s can be hazardous if you don´t use correctly, for example , if you go in your car and you receive a call you can to choose in answer the phone and to be in dangerous situation or you ignore this call and call back when you don´t to stay in your car. All information of your life that bank code, photos, contacts are in your cell phones  and if you lost it you lost secret information too.

Zulema
I think that the cell phones are the invention of this century. Today the cell phones afford it to communicate all day and all sites. Now  you don’t need to be in house or in the office for to call by phone. You can call in the street, in one airport, in the sea…;when you have a problem in the car, in the street in the night…you ever can to call. When you work out the office you can solve the problems by phone. The same with the children, you can know  your children where are!.

But the cell phone are very cheap. The Telephone Companies charge much. To have a cell phone is not expensive.

Sometime talk on the cell phone no polite, because a Think wold be banned to talk in the train, plane, cinema. I think turn off the cell phone in all places with people dreams.  
Share This:    Twitter  Google+

English Writing: My Most Memorable Trip

, , No comments
ELENA

If I have to point out a memorable trip it would be the one I made to New York City. It was the first time I took a plane and the experience was awesome but a little bit long. During a week I saw lots of things but one of the most remarkable was when I went up to The World Trade Center. I had never been in a building so high and the views were absolutely breathtaking.

Also I visited The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was enormous, so I had to choose what period of art I was going to see. Finally, I chose the Ancient Egypt. The masterpieces were fantastic, all of them: statues, coffins and temples were magnificent. Another day, I decided to see the famous musical “Cats” which was overrun with tourists every night. I really enjoyed the show even I couldn’t understand it very well.

In hindsight, I blew a lot of money on this trip but it was beautiful. I visited the most popular places like Central Park, Empire State building or Times Square, but if I come back again, I would like to wander off the beaten and look for unknown places.

BEGOÑA

When I was young I used to rough it in each travel I did. That's way the trip to the Riviera Maya, in Mexico, was one of the best I've taken, as we were lodged in a 5 stars beach resort, and that was completely new for me at that time.
We took a nonstop flight, from Madrid to Cancun. When we arrived to the hotel I went directly to the beach. The sightseeing over the turquoise sea was magnificent. We could dive several times during the week and see so many different multi-coloured aquatic species. It was really incredible.
We also visited several Maya archaeological sites, so we learned a lot about this culture. Some of the sites were in the middle of the jungle, hence we had also some of adventure in our trip : we passed a valley by a cord (tirolina) and we could swim inside a cenote. It was really great.
We had also time to visit some cities, as Merida and Valladolid, and shopping the autochthonous crafts.

HECTOR
My favourite travel (paradoxically) was in september 2001 (tragic date). Three friends and me traveled round Europe in 21 days in my first (and only until now) Interrail experience, and were a memorable days. We started on Switzerland, and visited Austria, Hungary, German, Czech Republic and Dennmark later. I think it´s the best way to know Europe if you are a student, don´t want blow money on and don´t care rough it. We booked one month before to start, but decided in each case how time we were in countries choosen.

Obviously, the biggest moment was when we knew what happened something terrific in New York. We were on Switzerland, near to come Zurich, and our cellular phones started to shine with sms. Nobody in Spain knew what was there, so we tried to take it easy (we were in the best country in the world to place if a war started). My friends and me were in these times seasoned traveler, and loved rough it and bum around, so we decided to go on and to see how different people faced up to something that nobody lived before.

Maybe some people think that this kind of to visit remote places is to blow money on, but to life a turbulent experience has some of adventure; you have fend for oneself because you can´t to phone a agency travel if there are some kind of difficults; and, like is not a organized trip, you don´t need to go to overrum places, where everybody knows.

DAVID
It was a weekend that my friends and I went to practice risky sports. We exit from Madrid on Friday afternoon to a remote town in Pirineos, near river Noguera-Pallaresa. We had planned to practice rafting, canyoning and riding horses, all in one day! After eight hours driving our cars we arrived al that place. As it was a dark night, we felt that we were wandering off the beaten path. The next morning we realized that it was overrun with people expecting to do the same as us.

First stage, rafting. We were excited for sailing the turbulent waters of the river. It was breathtaking when we passed through some dangerous rapids without falling off the boat. It was a very good start for the weekend. After a quick lunch, we went to our next challenge, canyoning. It seemed to be a run-of-the mill activity. But we didn´t take into account the weather factor. We started walking by the river. It wasn´t very deep. But, suddenly, a turbulent storm began to fall over us when we were at the middle of the activity. The water raised and we were trapped in a whirlpool. Our monitors tried to be cool. They began to take us out of the river and when all of us were out they told us we had been in trouble deep.

In hindsight, I would never repeat a plan like this. A lot of hours driving, a lot of activities in a day,... From this time on, we planned our trips better. We didn’t rough it anymore, and we book comfortable hotels even we have to blow our money on it. Despite of all, I think this was one of the most memorable trip I have ever had.

JOSE
This memorable travel was in 2007, it was an american west tour. I visited many cities, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco and the Grand Canyon in Arizona. 
This travel didn´t begin good, I had my passport in order, but It wasn´t an electronic passport, when I tried to enter the airplane, They said me that I must changed my 
passport, I had to return to the police station in the airport and pay the urgency passport. I think I haven´t run more in my life. 
 
 The first city that we visited was Los Angeles, the first day I was very tired, I remember I felt the jet lag, this was not my first travel to USA but I visited the east of 
America and It was different for me. In Las Vegas We knew the casinos, the attractions, I didn´t play but I enjoyed a lot with this visit. In Las Vegas the last day my 
mother and my sister went shopping, my father and me tried to find a comic shops, we finished this search in a remote place, and when We found the shop it was 
closed, my father wanted to kill me, but I think it was like an adventure. For the next cities we chartered a funny person, he was a seasoned traveler, the sightseeing 
with this man was very good. In the Grand Canyon we hired the helicopter visit but my sister forgot to recharge the camera, the view was breathtaking. The last city 
was San Francisco, I think It is a good city but for me I think It´s a little sad. 

 In hindsight I had to know better the new conditions of travel for America, because my mother suffered a lot the first day, but I remember this travel how a great 
experience, I knew a lot of places, people. The only bad experience that I suffered was a robbery in my room of a hotel in Santa Maria , they stole me a mp3 player. 
The only thing that I couldn´t do was wath a Nba match.   

NATALIA
The best travel I had ever taken and which will be always memorable happened when I had the opportunity to accompany the Spanish National Youth Orchestra in a fifteen day musical tour across Spain. This trip was not a run-of-the mill experience but an extraordinary and special one considering that I followed the Spanish National Youth Orchestra, with its current artistic director and composer José Luis Turina and all the crew working in the musical archives of the National Auditorium, and that was the celebration of the twenty five anniversary of the constitution of this young orchestra which includes the most brilliant Spanish musicians. Besides for this unique commemoration many music teachers, musicians and composers, who belonged in the past to that orchestra, and who work now in prestigious national and international musical orchestras, were also invited in conferences and meetings during the trip. The travel was booked and was planned that I assisted in the musical proofs of the younger composers, that I was in close participation with the musical archive team and I attended the final fantastical musical performances in the diverse Auditorium of Oviedo, León, Asturias, El Escorial and Madrid.   

Moreover we passed through breathtaking landscapes and had the sightseeing experience to contemplate cathedrals and monuments, even if was summer and was overrun with tourists, we stayed not in remote places, neither we roughed it, as the hotels were very nice and comfortable. I had not in mind blowing a lot of money, because the travel and food costs were included in it. This didn’t a not stop travel, as we stayed a few days in each city. That trip was full of many surprises, as when they put me in charge of taking pictures of the young musicians during the musical proofs in the auditoriums and of the Spanish conductor’s orchestra Pablo González, also I was delighted with the conversations with other composers as Juan José Colomer and it was a real privilege to be present in all the ovations the orchestra received. It was also unforgettable, when the musicians played in the hotel rooms until midnight, when they participated in a costume night party creating original clothes of la fabada, or when in a whirlwind afternoon in front of La Catedral de Segovia, a very strong wind force us to find all round the city clothespins to grip the scores in the lecterns that the concert could take place full of enthusiastic public and didn’t transform into a desolated reception.

In hindsight, the travel was an exceptional chance not only to visit emblematic cultural and historical locations of the Spanish cities we saw but overall the experience to live close with the musicians and his way of learning music. I discovered different musical symphonies, the life and perspectives of renowned composers and the interaction between the musicians and the public in the astonishing performances in these magnificent auditoriums.  





Share This:    Twitter  Google+

English Writing: Should Elderly Children live with their parents?

, No comments
JOSE

I think it is a good idea that your parents live with you, whenever you don´t force them and they want to move. One of this reason is probably your parents could live better in your home than a nursing home. I remember when my grandparents went to a nursing home, and they said me that it was not a good experience, the came back after a month. Other reason is when you are kid, they took care of you, now when they are elderly you must take care of them, they probably paid your education, they saved some money for you. You are in debt to them. The last reason is selfish, if you have children they may help you with them. Now in Spain is very usually to see the grandparent play in the park with their grandchildren. 

 For these reason I think you must accept your parents in your home. But in the other hand there could be some problems. If your wife or husband has not a good relation with your parents, this reason make it more difficult the coexistence. Perhaps sometimes they feel like a nuisance, they don´t understand that now they must be cared.


HECTOR
Always come a moment in the live when is necessary to decide if elderly parents have to live with their children. To star with, there are so many questions to answer, as if they can look after themselves, because they could be ill or to have serious difficults to move. Furthermore, there is an ethical or biological responsability. The common sense point at obligation to take care of the elderly parents when their lives are on the last stage. But it´s possible that would be impossible because of space problems or others logistical difficults, in a spite of your wish be to stay with them. But can be parents didn´t want to be a burder and prefeer by this to live alone instead of plan differents solutions. A residential home should be the last resort. In additional, there is a big advantage to live with elderly parents, and it´s they look after the grandchildren if their parents have very busy employment. In conclusion, elderly parents have to live with their children, if it´s really possible, by a principal reason: an ethical obligation and natural order. 

BEGOñA
Old parents should live by their own while they can. Most ancient people prefer to live in their own house, having their things and items with them, and deciding what to do in any moment: watching TV, reading, having a coffee with a neighbor or simply looking by the window are things very important for them, since they are their own decisions. They like the company of their children but they want to take control of their own life.

If they need some help to live because they cannot move with agility, a household could be the solution to help them cooking, cleaning the house or shopping, always having regular contact with their families (children and grandchildren)

In case of they need real help because a disability or reduced mobility, they should move to live with their children having their care and love. They will lose independence and control of their life and they will not be happy for it, but it can be compensated with the company of their families and their love.

But some elderly people cannot stand the simply idea of being a burden. In these cases a nursing home could be the solution. They are usually very comfortable, having all medical cares elderly people need and they can find other people to share experiences and activities with.

I think it is very important to analyse each case, having in count the wishes of the ancient, his health and the circumstances of the family, to take the best decision. 

ELENA
I think parents should live by themselves if they can handle it. They have been living alone for many years and they are used to their own customs and start a new life sharing a house with their children’s family it is a huge change for both parts. For that reason, we need to think about different options which are going to depend on each situation.

For instance, if one of the members is healthy enough, he could take part of the responsibility and take care of the other one. That would be a perfect outcome, but unfortunately is not the most common. They usually have health problems or diseases which need a special attention. In this case, they should have someone who help them, like a nurse, or who stays at their children’s house, provided that the illness is in a low phase and parents don’t need hospital attention. Furthermore, we have to consider the situation of the children: if they have a job, have space at home and the most important thing, if they have enough time to look after them.

Finally, the last situation that could happen is taking your parents to a residence. It is always a hard solution, but at the same time is the best option. Professionals will be looking after them constantly and you can feel more relief knowing that there is always a doctor or a nurse for any problem that might happen. Moreover, they are more stimulated doing specific exercises and other activities, which main target is improve their disease. At this point, I would like to remember that having your parents in a residence doesn’t mean that you can forget about them. You can visit them whenever you want, and even if they couldn’t recognize you, I’m sure they will enjoy your company.

Natalia
Elderly parents should live with their children, because it’s often a benefit for the grandfathers, children and grandchildren. The elderly parents who live with their children receive a better take care and more attention from their children, who know them, than in a nursing home. They feel more independent and more active in that way than in a nursing home with norms and schedules. For most families nowadays living with the children it’s cheaper than having to pay for an expensive institution. Besides, elderly parents, if they have not a serious illness and have still all the capacities, can be a help for the parents in the household, for taking care of their grandchildren and a source of knowledge and mutual company. In conclusion, living together constitutes a practical way of living for the economic and affective support of all the members of the family.

Share This:    Twitter  Google+

Trips and Journeys Vocabulary

, , No comments


Terms
Definitions
blow money on
spend a lot of money on something (informal)
book
buy tickets, or to arrange to have or use something at a particular time in the future such as a table at a restaurant or a hotel room.
breathtaking
extremely exciting, beautiful or surprising
desolate
completely empty with no people or pleasant features in it
memorable
unforgettable
overrun
invade in great numbers
primitive
from earliest times; ancient
remote
located far away
rough it
travel in a simple and not comfortable way
run-of-the-mill
average, ordinary
seasoned traveler
one who has traveled much.
wander off the beaten path
go to unknown or different place where most tourists don't
in hindsight
the ability to understand something after it has happened
fend for oneself
take care of oneself without help from anyone else
whirlwind
a very strong wind that moves very fast in a spinning movement; a series of events where lots of things happen very quickly.
sightseeing
visiting interesting places while traveling
turbulent
disorderly, chaotic, violent; stormy
charter
contract or hire someone do to take you somewhere in a boat, bus, or plane.
bum around
be lazy or idle
constructively
in a constructive manner
putting off
procrastination
take it easy
relax and not worry about anything
take time off
stop work for a day or more for rest or any other personal activity
Share This:    Twitter  Google+
Alicia Vazquez 2018. Powered by Blogger.