E6 E - A message to a friend
aiMOOCE6 E - A message to a friend
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E6 E - A message to a friend
Mini-Beschreibung: Write a short personal message to a friend about a problem, an apology or an invitation. Then read the reply and answer it.
Level: English as a first foreign language, Klasse 6, E-Niveau, Baden-Württemberg.
Learning path: Notice → understand → practise → use → feedback → use again.
Quick start: Look at the message icon. What do you usually write to a friend: a question, news, an invitation, an apology or a problem?
Einleitung
In this aiMOOC, you learn how to write a short, friendly message in English. Your message can have a clear purpose: you can explain a small problem, say sorry or invite a friend. You also learn how to react when your friend answers.
Try English first. If you need help, use the steps: Hint → German help → example → solution. The German help gives only key support, not a full translation.
Use only fictional names and details in your tasks. Recordings are voluntary and should stay private unless your teacher gives a safe class option. Do not upload personal messages, photos or voice recordings without permission.
I can ...
- Writing: I can write a short friendly message with a greeting, a reason and a closing.
- Apology: I can say sorry and give a simple reason.
- Invitation: I can invite a friend and give time and place.
- Reading: I can understand the main idea of a short reply.
- Speaking: I can read my message aloud so that other people can understand me.
- Feedback: I can improve my message after simple feedback.
Vorwissen-Check
Answer in English if you can.
- What can you write at the start of a message to a friend?
- How can you say sorry?
- How can you invite someone?
- What information does a friend need for an invitation?
- How can you end a friendly message?
Hint: Think of words such as Hi, sorry, come, Saturday, See you.
Deutsch-Hilfe: Denke an Begrüßung, Grund der Nachricht, wichtige Details und einen freundlichen Schluss.
Media start
Look at the picture. A message is short, but it still needs a clear purpose.
Think: Which message needs a quick answer?
- “Sorry, I broke your pencil.”
- “Would you like to come to my party on Saturday?”
- “I have a problem with our homework. Can you help me?”
Listen: message and sorry
Listen to the two short pronunciation files.
Listen and repeat: message – I’m sorry.
Pronunciation goal: Be clear. You do not need to sound like a native speaker.
Video: an informal message
The video is about informal email writing. You do not need every detail. Listen for three ideas: opening, main message, closing.
While watching: Write down one useful opening and one useful closing.
Notice: three message types
Read the three short messages. The names and details are fictional.
Problem
Hi Leo,
I can’t find my English workbook. We need it for tomorrow. Can I look at your page 42 after school?
Thanks!
Mia
Apology
Hi Sam,
I’m really sorry. I forgot to bring your game back today. I can bring it tomorrow morning.
Sorry again!
Noah
Invitation
Hi Aisha,
Would you like to come to my birthday picnic on Saturday? We can meet at 3 pm in the park near the library. Please tell me if you can come.
See you,
Ella
Notice: All three messages have a greeting, a clear reason and a friendly ending.
What changes?
The middle part changes with your purpose.
- Problem: Say what is wrong and ask for help.
- Apology: Say sorry, name the problem and offer a next step.
- Invitation: Say what the event is, give important details and ask for an answer.
Understand: useful language
Openings
- Hi Ben,
- Hello Maya,
- Hey Alex,
For school writing, Hi + first name is simple and safe.
Problems
- I have a problem.
- I can’t find my ...
- I forgot my ...
- Can you help me?
- Could you send me the homework task?
Hint: Keep the problem short.
Deutsch-Hilfe: Sage kurz, was nicht klappt, und formuliere dann eine Bitte.
Apologies
- I’m sorry.
- I’m really sorry.
- I forgot ...
- I was late because ...
- I can bring it tomorrow.
- I hope that’s OK.
Listen again:
Invitations
- Would you like to come ...?
- Do you want to join us?
- It’s on Saturday.
- We can meet at 3 pm.
- Please tell me if you can come.
Important: An invitation usually needs enough information for the other person to decide.
Friendly endings
- See you!
- Take care!
- Write back soon!
- Hope you can come!
- Thanks!
- Bye for now!
Practise: read and understand
Read this reply.
Reply from Sam
Hi Noah,
No problem! I don’t need the game tonight. Tomorrow morning is fine. Can you bring it before our first lesson?
See you,
Sam
Answer these questions in short English.
- Is Sam angry?
- When does Sam want the game?
- What does Sam ask Noah to do?
- What could Noah answer?
Hint: Look for No problem, tomorrow morning and the question.
Deutsch-Hilfe: Suche zuerst nach Signalwörtern und Zeitangaben.
Example answer: “Yes, I can bring it before our first lesson.”
Practise: vocabulary in context
Match each phrase with its job.
- I’m really sorry. → apology
- Would you like to come? → invitation
- Can you help me? → request
- Saturday at 3 pm → time
- See you! → closing
Now change one phrase in each line and make a new message idea.
Pronunciation and speaking
Say these lines slowly first, then naturally.
- I’m really sorry.
- Can you help me?
- Would you like to come?
- Please tell me if you can come.
- See you tomorrow!
Speaking tip: Stress the important words: sorry, help, come, Saturday, tomorrow.
Pair task: Student A reads a message. Student B answers in one or two sentences. Then swap roles.
Private option: You may record yourself only for your own practice. Delete the recording when you no longer need it.
Video: saying sorry
Watch only as much as you need. Listen for useful ways to say sorry.
After watching, choose one short phrase that fits a message between friends.
Use: write your own short message
Choose one situation.
- You have a problem with homework and need help.
- You forgot to return something and want to apologise.
- You want to invite a friend to a picnic, game afternoon or film night.
Write about 45–70 words.
Your message should include:
- a greeting
- the reason for writing
- one or two important details
- a question or next step
- a friendly ending
Hint: Use short sentences first. Then connect two ideas with and, but, because or so.
Deutsch-Hilfe: Plane erst den Zweck der Nachricht. Danach ergänze nur die Informationen, die Dein Freund wirklich braucht.
Example
Hi Jamie,
I’m sorry I didn’t answer your message yesterday. I had football practice and then I had lots of homework. Are you free this afternoon? I can call you at 5 pm.
See you,
Robin
React to a reply
Your fictional friend answers:
Hi Robin,
No worries. I’m free at 5 pm. Can we talk for about ten minutes? I have to eat dinner after that.
Jamie
Write a short answer of 20–40 words.
Hint: React to the time and the ten-minute limit.
Example: “Hi Jamie, yes, 5 pm is great. Ten minutes is fine. I’ll call you then. See you!”
Feedback
Use this checklist for your own text or a partner’s text.
- Is the purpose clear?
- Is the greeting friendly?
- Are the important details easy to find?
- Is there a question or clear next step?
- Does the message have a friendly ending?
- Are the sentences understandable?
- Can one spelling or grammar point be improved?
Feedback language
- I understand ...
- I like ...
- One detail is missing: ...
- Maybe change ... to ...
- Your message is clear because ...
Rule: Give useful feedback, not a score for accent. Verständlichkeit ist wichtiger als Akzentfreiheit.
Use again
Improve your message after feedback. Change at least two things.
Possible changes:
- add a missing detail
- make the question clearer
- correct a spelling mistake
- add a useful linking word
- make the ending friendlier
Then read the new version once more.
Can-do check
Choose: Yes – almost – not yet.
- I can write a short message to a friend.
- I can explain a simple problem.
- I can apologise and offer a next step.
- I can write a simple invitation with useful details.
- I can understand and answer a short reply.
- I can improve my text after feedback.
If you choose almost or not yet, go back to the section you need and try one more short message.
Interaktive Aufgaben
Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen
Which opening fits a short message to a friend? (Hi Mia,) (!Dear Sir or Madam,) (!To whom it may concern,) (!Dear Customer Service,)
Which sentence is an apology? (I’m really sorry I forgot your book.) (!Would you like to come on Saturday?) (!Can you help me with task three?) (!See you after school!)
Which sentence is an invitation? (Would you like to come to my picnic?) (!I can’t find my workbook.) (!I’m sorry I was late.) (!Thanks for your help.)
What is important in an invitation? (Time and place) (!A long story) (!A formal address) (!A difficult grammar rule)
Which question asks for help? (Can you help me with the homework?) (!See you tomorrow!) (!I’m really sorry.) (!The picnic is on Saturday.)
Which ending is friendly? (See you!) (!Yours faithfully,) (!Respectfully submitted,) (!Dear Headteacher,)
Your friend writes “No problem.” What does it usually show here? (The apology is accepted.) (!The invitation is cancelled.) (!The message is formal.) (!The place is unknown.)
Which reply reacts to an invitation? (Yes, I’d love to come.) (!I can’t find my pencil.) (!I forgot your book.) (!Can you send page 42?)
Which message is easiest to understand? (Hi Ben, I’m sorry I’m late. I’ll be there at 4 pm. See you!) (!Ben information late perhaps message.) (!Dear Ben formal request regarding lateness.) (!Late late late maybe four.)
What should you do after feedback? (Improve your message and use it again.) (!Delete every sentence.) (!Change the topic completely.) (!Add difficult grammar only.)
Memory
| Greeting | Hi Maya, |
| Apology | I’m really sorry. |
| Invitation | Would you like to come? |
| Request | Can you help me? |
| Time detail | Saturday at 3 pm |
| Closing | See you! |
Drag and Drop
| Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu. | Thema |
|---|---|
| Greeting | Hi Alex, |
| Problem | I can’t find my workbook. |
| Apology | I’m really sorry. |
| Invitation | Would you like to come? |
| Closing | See you! |
Kreuzworträtsel
| message | What short text can you send to a friend? |
| sorry | Which word can start a simple apology? |
| invite | Which verb means asking someone to come to an event? |
| friend | Who is the receiver in this lesson? |
| reply | What do you write back after you get a message? |
| greeting | What comes at the beginning of a friendly message? |
LearningApps
Lückentext
Offene Aufgaben
Leicht
- Message puzzle: Write five useful phrases for a message and sort them into opening, middle and ending.
- Picture prompt: Choose one image in this aiMOOC and write a two-sentence message that fits it.
- Apology card: Write a 30-word apology to a fictional friend and add one solution.
- Invitation card: Create a small invitation with event, day, time and one question.
Standard
- Problem message: Write a 50-word message about a school problem and ask a friend for help.
- Reply writing: Exchange fictional messages with a partner and write a clear reply.
- Dialogue: Turn one message and its reply into a short spoken dialogue.
- Mini presentation: Explain in English which parts make a friendly message clear.
Schwer
- Three purposes: Write three different messages about the same event: one problem, one apology and one invitation.
- Tone check: Rewrite a message that sounds too formal so that it sounds natural between friends.
- Mediation: A German classmate tells you key information about a fictional event. Write a short English message for an English-speaking friend without translating every word.
- Feedback revision: Write a first version, get peer feedback, revise it and explain two changes you made.
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Lernkontrolle
- Purpose and reader: You receive three short situations. Decide whether the best message purpose is problem, apology or invitation and explain your choice in English.
- Missing information: Read a fictional invitation with one important detail missing. Identify the missing information and improve the message.
- Reaction task: Read a friend’s reply and write an answer that reacts to both the content and one practical detail.
- Improve clarity: Rewrite a confusing message so that the purpose is clear and the order of information makes sense.
- Transfer: A plan changes at short notice. Write a new message that explains the change, apologises if needed and gives a new suggestion.
- Reflection: Compare your first and final version and explain which two changes make the final message easier to understand.
Lernnachweis
For a good Lernnachweis, you should be able to:
- write a short, connected personal message for a clear purpose
- use a suitable greeting and friendly closing
- give the important information without unnecessary details
- ask a clear question or suggest a next step
- understand the main points in a short reply
- react to the reply appropriately
- use simple linking words such as and, but, because and so
- improve your text after feedback
- speak clearly enough for others to understand you
- use fictional or protected data in practice tasks
OERs zum Thema
Media and safety note
The Wikimedia Commons media used in this aiMOOC are provided under the licence shown on each file page. The YouTube videos are embedded from their original platform. In class, use only media that are allowed by your school or learning environment.
Do not share private chats, real phone numbers, addresses, personal photos or voice recordings in public tasks. If you use AI support, check the result and write the final message yourself.
Wiederholung
Complete this 60-second challenge.
- Say one greeting.
- Say one apology.
- Say one invitation question.
- Say one useful time phrase.
- Say one friendly ending.
Then write a mini-message with all five parts.
Folgekurs
Next step: write a longer personal email with two short paragraphs, react to more than one question and give a short reason for your opinion.
Possible follow-up: E6 E - An email to a friend