The 25–35 Word Host-Family Message
A third-year student, Mika, must write a short English message to her host family, the Browns. The task says: 'Write 25–35 words in English. Include (1) the date of your school festival, (2) one activity you want to do with the Browns, and (3) a question. Use because once.' Mika's draft is: 'Dear Mrs. Brown, Our school festival is October 12. Please come. I want to eat yakisoba with you. Do you like it? Mika.' The draft has 23 words including the greeting and name. It contains a date, an activity, and a question, but it does not use because. Mika thinks the message is fine because the meaning is clear. Her teacher says it is too direct and too short.
1. Identify two reasons Mika's draft does not fully meet the task. Use the word count.
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First, the draft is 23 words, but the task requires 25–35 words, so it is below the minimum. Second, it does not use 'because,' which is a required word. The content is partly there: it gives October 12, yakisoba, and a question. But 'Please come' is a direct command, and the question 'Do you like it?' asks about yakisoba, not clearly about coming to the festival. To meet the task, Mika needs to add a reason with 'because' and make the invitation softer, while staying within 35 words. Adding words just to reach 25 is not enough; the added words must do a job.
2. Write a revised version of 25–35 words that meets all requirements. Mark the word count.
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One possible version: 'Dear Mrs. Brown, Our school festival is on October 12. I want to eat yakisoba with you because you like Japanese food. Would you like to come? Mika.' Count: Dear(1) Mrs.(2) Brown(3) Our(4) school(5) festival(6) is(7) on(8) October(9) 12(10) I(11) want(12) to(13) eat(14) yakisoba(15) with(16) you(17) because(18) you(19) like(20) Japanese(21) food(22) Would(23) you(24) like(25) to(26) come(27) Mika(28). It is 28 words. It includes the date, an activity, a question, and 'because,' and it is within the range. The reason is personal to Mrs. Brown, so the invitation sounds thoughtful rather than like an order.
3. Explain why 'Please come' may sound too strong, and suggest a softer question.
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'Please come' is an imperative. In English, imperatives can sound like commands, especially when a young person writes to an adult host parent. The meaning is polite in Japanese-style logic, but in English the force is direct. A softer version makes the invitation a question or a hope: 'Would you like to come?' or 'I hope you can come.' These give Mrs. Brown a choice. The question also satisfies the task's requirement for a question more clearly than 'Do you like it?' because it asks about her attendance, not only about food. The revision should keep the friendly opening and the concrete activity, but change the force of the invitation.