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E9 M - Write a job application and CV package

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E9 M - Write a job application and CV package

Einleitung

Your mission: Read a fictional job ad. Then write a short, coherent application email or letter and create a matching one-page fictional CV.

Level: English as first foreign language, Klasse 9, Baden-Württemberg, M-Niveau, B1-orientiert.

Learning route: English first → understand → respond → ask → hint → improve → use again.

Media warm-up: Look at the picture for 20 seconds. What is the person doing? Which parts of professional communication have changed since the 1990s, and which parts are still important?

Deutsch-Hilfe: Du arbeitest zuerst mit dem englischen Material. Nutze die deutsche Hilfe erst, wenn Du sie wirklich brauchst. Es gibt bewusst keine Vollübersetzung.

Mini description

You create a short application email or letter for a fictional job ad and a matching fictional CV. You use suitable register, clear structure and relevant details. For this school task, all names, addresses, schools, companies and contact details are fictional.

I can goals

I can find key information in a short job ad.
I can explain why a person fits a job.
I can write a polite and coherent application email or letter.
I can organise a short CV with relevant headings.
I can use present and past forms to describe skills and experience.
I can ask and answer simple job-related questions.
I can improve my text after feedback.
I can protect personal data in a school practice task.

Before you start: quick self-check

Can you open and close a formal email?
Can you name three personal strengths in English?
Can you describe one school activity in the past?
Can you explain the difference between a job ad and a CV?
Can you ask one polite question about working hours?

If three answers are yes, start with the job ad. If not, use the vocabulary and hint sections first.

Fictional job ad

Bright Pages Bookshop – Saturday Assistant	Fictional training scenario
Place	Bristol
Hours	Saturdays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Tasks	Welcome customers, help them find books, tidy displays, support simple stock work
We are looking for	A friendly, reliable and organised person who enjoys teamwork and can communicate clearly in English
Experience	Helpful, but not required
Apply with	A short application email and a one-page CV
Contact	Hiring Team, Bright Pages Bookshop

First read: Do not translate every word. Find five facts that matter for an applicant.

Second read: Match the job requirements with evidence a student could realistically give: school library, sports team, class project, club, volunteering or helping at an event.

Deutsch-Hilfe: Suche zuerst nur nach Arbeitszeit, Aufgaben, Eigenschaften, Erfahrung und Bewerbungsform. Unbekannte Wörter erschließt Du möglichst aus dem Kontext.

Listening and viewing: job interview language

Watch 1 – gist: Who is applying for a job? What is the situation?

Watch 2 – detail: Note three useful ways to support an answer with an example.

Watch 3 – response: Pause before an answer. Say your own short answer, then continue the video.

Important: You do not need to copy the speaker's accent. Aim for clear words, useful stress and understandable rhythm.

Listening and viewing: respond and improve

Listen for how a speaker can recover when an answer is difficult. Then practise this sequence:

Answer the question.
Give one example.
Add one reason.
Ask for clarification if necessary.

Useful rescue phrases: Could you repeat the question, please? / Do you mean …? / Let me think for a moment.

Register: formal enough, not robotic

Viewing task: Find two differences between informal and more formal English. Then improve these lines:

Hi! I want the job.
I’m really good with people lol.
Send me more info.

A professional school-level version can be polite and simple. Long, complicated language is not automatically better.

Reading the shape of a CV

Datei:Resume.pdf

This public-domain example is for structure spotting, not for copying. Find headings, short entries and the order of information.

Language note: In British English, CV is common. In North America, résumé is common. Conventions vary by country and context, so always check the real job requirements.

Context vocabulary

Word or chunk	Meaning in this task	Example
vacancy	an open job	I am applying for the vacancy.
applicant	a person who applies	The applicant sends a CV.
reliable	someone others can depend on	I am reliable and punctual.
organised	able to plan and keep things in order	I am organised in group projects.
experience	things you have done and learned from	I have experience helping at school events.
skills	abilities you can use	My communication skills are improving.
available	free and able to work	I am available on Saturdays.
attached	sent as a file with an email	Please find my CV attached.
reference	a person or document that can support information	A reference is not needed for this task.

Use again: Choose five items and make one sentence that fits the fictional job.

Pronunciation and fluency

Speak in short meaning groups, not word by word:

I am writing / to apply for / the Saturday Assistant position.

I am reliable / and I enjoy / working with people.

Please find / my CV attached.

Practise twice: first slowly, then at a natural moderate pace. Record only if you want to. Keep any recording private unless you actively choose to share it.

Deutsch-Hilfe: Verständlichkeit ist wichtiger als Akzentfreiheit. Betone wichtige Inhaltswörter und mache kurze Sinnpausen.

Speaking: mini interview

Work in pairs. One person is the interviewer, one is the applicant.

Why are you interested in this job?
What skills can you offer?
Can you give an example of teamwork?
When are you available?
Do you have a question for us?

M-level target: Give two or three connected sentences per answer and react spontaneously to one follow-up question.

Switch roles and use a different example the second time.

Deutsch-Hilfe: Wenn Du stockst: Nenne zuerst eine Stärke, dann ein Beispiel, dann den Bezug zur Stelle.

Writing model: short application email

Subject: Application for Saturday Assistant

Dear Hiring Team,

I am writing to apply for the Saturday Assistant position at Bright Pages Bookshop. I am a Year 9 student and I enjoy working with people and books.

At school, I help in the library once a week. I am reliable, organised and used to working in a team. I can communicate clearly in English, and I am available on Saturdays.

Please find my CV attached. I would be happy to answer any questions.

Kind regards,
Alex Morgan

Training note: Alex Morgan and the company are fictional.

Writing model: matching fictional CV

Alex Morgan – fictional training profile
Contact	alex.morgan@example.com – fictional practice address
Profile	Year 9 student; friendly, reliable and interested in books and customer service
Education	Greenfield Secondary School, Year 9
School experience	Helps in the school library once a week; sorts books and supports younger pupils
Project experience	Helped organise a class charity sale; worked in a small team and spoke to visitors
Skills	Teamwork, clear communication, basic digital skills, organisation
Languages	German; English at school
Interests	Reading, cycling, school media club

Check the match: Which three details in the CV support the application email?

Your writing task

Write your own fictional application package.

Write a subject line.
Write 90–130 words for the application email or letter.
State the job you are applying for.
Give two relevant strengths.
Give at least one concrete example.
State availability.
End politely.
Add a one-page CV with 5–7 useful headings.
Make sure email and CV do not contradict each other.

Do not add information just to make the CV look full. Relevance is more important than length.

Functional grammar

Use grammar because it helps you do a job in the text.

Function	Useful form	Example
Current qualities	Present simple	I work well in a team.
Past experience	Past simple	I helped at our school event.
Experience with a link to now	Present perfect	I have worked on several class projects.
Ability	can + infinitive	I can communicate clearly.
Polite interest	would	I would be happy to answer questions.
Reason	because	I am interested because I enjoy working with people.
Connection	and, but, so, which	I help in the library, so I know how to organise books.

Accuracy focus: After can, use the infinitive without to: I can help, not I can to help.

Mediation

A German-speaking classmate has understood only part of the English job ad.

Task A: Explain in German the four most important requirements without translating every sentence.

Task B: Your classmate asks: „Muss ich schon Arbeitserfahrung haben?“ Give the answer in English based on the ad.

Task C: Explain in English that your classmate has helped at a school event and wants to know whether this counts as useful experience.

Hint ladder

Try independently first. Open only the help you need.

Hint 1 – useful chunks
I am writing to apply for …
I am interested in … because …
I am reliable and …
A good example is …
I am available …
Please find my CV attached.
Kind regards,

Hint 2 – paragraph plan
Paragraph 1: job + reason.
Paragraph 2: strengths + evidence.
Paragraph 3: availability + polite close.

Hint 3 – Deutsch
Absatz 1: Auf welche Stelle bewirbst Du Dich und warum?
Absatz 2: Welche zwei Stärken passen zur Anzeige? Belege mindestens eine mit einem Beispiel.
Absatz 3: Wann kannst Du arbeiten? Verweise auf den CV und schließe höflich.

Feedback and improvement

Exchange texts without real personal data. Give feedback on these five points:

Match: Does the text answer the fictional job ad?
Evidence: Is at least one strength supported by an example?
Register: Is the language polite and suitable?
Coherence: Can the reader follow the ideas easily?
Accuracy: Are verbs, spelling and punctuation clear enough?

Then revise your own text. Keep your first draft so you can see what improved.

Feedback language: This works well because … / One place to improve is … / You could make this clearer by …

Error analysis

First version	Better version	Why?
I apply for the Saturday job.	I am writing to apply for the Saturday job.	clearer formal purpose
I can to help customers.	I can help customers.	modal + infinitive
I am good in teamwork.	I work well in a team.	more natural phrase
I helped in library since two years.	I have helped in the school library for two years.	unfinished time period
Thanks!!!	Kind regards,	suitable closing

Your turn: Find one real error from your own draft, correct it and explain the rule in one sentence.

Privacy and responsible tool use

For this school practice task, use fictional data only. Names, home addresses, personal phone numbers, private email addresses, photos, dates of birth and private social-media accounts are not needed.

Personal data can include information such as a person's name, home address or personal email address. For learning tasks, data minimisation is a useful principle: use only what is necessary.

Do not upload a real CV or recording without a clear reason and permission.
Keep recordings private by default; recording is voluntary.
Do not paste real personal data into external AI tools.
If you use AI suggestions, check facts, sources, language and feedback yourself.
Keep your own draft and decide which suggestions you accept.
Do not let a tool replace your authorship.

Media literacy: one image is not a rule

A handshake can appear in some professional contexts, but it is not a universal requirement. Greetings, clothing and interview conventions vary by country, organisation, situation and individual needs.

Think: Which behaviour is more transferable across contexts: one fixed greeting, or respectful communication and attention to the situation?

Transfer: new job ad

Use your improved package again for a different fictional role: Junior Event Helper at City Arts Day.

Change only what should change:

motivation,
relevant strengths,
evidence,
availability,
selected CV emphasis.

Do not simply replace the company name. A strong application is adapted to the new purpose.

Can-do check

Choose Not yet – Almost – Yes for each statement.

I can identify the most important requirements in a job ad.
I can write a clear subject line and opening.
I can support a strength with evidence.
I can organise a short CV.
I can use polite professional language without making it unnecessarily complex.
I can respond to a follow-up question.
I can mediate key information without translating everything.
I can revise my writing after feedback.
I can protect personal data in practice tasks.

If you choose Not yet twice or more, return to the hint ladder and improve one part before continuing.

Follow-up course

Continue with E9 M - Prepare for a job interview. Reuse the same fictional profile and turn your written evidence into spoken answers.

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

What should the first sentence of an application email usually make clear? (The job you are applying for) (!Your favourite school subject) (!Your full life story) (!Your private social media account)

Which detail is strongest evidence for teamwork? (I helped organise a school event with three classmates) (!I think teamwork is nice) (!My friend likes teams) (!Teamwork is a popular word)

Which sentence uses can correctly? (I can help customers) (!I can to help customers) (!I can helping customers) (!I can helped customers)

Which closing is suitable for a short professional email? (Kind regards) (!Bye bye) (!See ya) (!Later)

What is the main purpose of a CV in this task? (To give a clear overview of relevant education experience and skills) (!To repeat the email word for word) (!To include every detail about your private life) (!To replace the job ad)

Which information is best left out of this fictional school practice CV? (Real private social media details) (!Relevant school experience) (!Useful skills) (!A fictional training email address)

What makes an application more convincing? (A relevant strength plus a concrete example) (!Very long sentences) (!Many difficult words) (!Repeating the job title ten times)

Which tense is useful for a finished school event last month? (Past simple) (!Future only) (!Present continuous only) (!Imperative only)

What should you do after receiving feedback? (Check it and revise your own text) (!Accept every suggestion automatically) (!Delete your first draft immediately) (!Add private data to make the text realistic)

What is a good mediation strategy? (Transfer the key meaning for the listener) (!Translate every word) (!Ignore the situation) (!Add facts that are not in the source)

Memory

job ad	information about an open position
application email	short formal message to an employer
CV	structured overview of education experience and skills
reliable	someone others can depend on
available	free and able to work
attachment	file sent with an email

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
Subject line	Names the job clearly
Opening	States the purpose
Evidence	Supports a strength with an example
Availability	Shows when the applicant can work
Closing	Ends the message politely

Kreuzworträtsel

reliable	Which adjective means that other people can depend on you?
subject	What is the line at the top of an email that names its topic?
skills	Which word means abilities you can use?
attached	Which word can describe a CV sent with an email?
available	Which word means free and able to work?
education	Which CV section shows your school background?

LearningApps

Lückentext

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

Job ad scan: Mark five pieces of information in the fictional job ad that an applicant needs.
Strength bank: Create six B1-level adjectives for useful strengths and add one school-based example for each.
Email makeover: Rewrite three too-informal application sentences in a polite but simple style.
CV headings: Design a one-page fictional CV skeleton with six useful headings and no real personal data.

Standard

Application email: Write a 90–130 word application email for Bright Pages Bookshop and use at least one concrete example.
CV package: Create a matching fictional CV and check that all dates, skills and experiences agree with the email.
Mini interview: Role-play a two-minute interview, answer one unexpected follow-up question and ask one question of your own.
Mediation task: Explain the English job ad to a German-speaking classmate and then pass one German question back into English.

Schwer

Compare applications: Write two different openings for the same vacancy and explain which register choices change the effect.
Tailor the package: Adapt your application and CV to the fictional Junior Event Helper role without merely changing the job title.
Feedback conference: Compare first and revised drafts, classify three changes as content, language or structure, and justify each change.
Media reflection: Use one image and one video from the course to create a short English presentation on what professional communication can and cannot be generalised across cultures.

Lernkontrolle

Requirement-to-evidence map: For a new fictional job ad, connect each requirement with suitable evidence from a student profile and justify your choices.
Register repair: Improve a mixed formal-informal application email, then explain three changes without making the text unnecessarily complex.
Consistency check: Compare a fictional email and CV that contain contradictions. Identify the problems and produce a consistent revision.
Mediation under pressure: A classmate asks in German about experience, hours and application documents. Give a concise English response for the employer without translating everything.
Transfer package: Create a new short application for a different fictional role and explain which parts of your first package you reused, changed or removed.
Feedback judgement: Evaluate three pieces of feedback on a fictional application. Decide which are useful, partly useful or not supported by the task, and revise accordingly.

Lernnachweis

For a successful learning record, show that you can:

understand the key requirements of a short fictional job ad,
write a coherent 90–130 word application email or letter,
use a clear subject, suitable opening and polite closing,
connect at least two strengths to the job,
support at least one strength with concrete evidence,
create a matching one-page fictional CV,
use relevant present, past and modal forms,
respond to a short follow-up question,
mediate key information between German and English without full translation,
use feedback to improve a first draft,
identify and correct at least one recurring language error,
protect personal data and keep practice profiles fictional.

OERs zum Thema

Weitere geprüfte Lernmedien und Quellen

Bildungsplan Baden-Württemberg – Englisch als erste Fremdsprache, Schreiben: Im M-Niveau wird berufsbezogene Korrespondenz mit Strukturierungshilfen genannt, darunter Bewerbung und Lebenslauf.
Wikipedia – Curriculum vitae: Überblick zu CV, résumé und länderspezifischen Konventionen.
European Commission – Data protection explained: Definition und Beispiele personenbezogener Daten.
European Commission – Principles of the GDPR: unter anderem Datenminimierung.
Wikimedia Commons – Woman at a computer intended for email: Public Domain.
Wikimedia Commons – Resume.pdf: Public Domain.
Wikimedia Commons – Mail symbol.svg: Public Domain.
Wikimedia Commons – Employees discuss in office.jpg: Public Domain.
Wikimedia Commons – Handshake symbol.svg: CC0.
BBC Learning English – How to prepare for an interview.
BBC Learning English – Answering interview questions.
BBC Learning English – Formal English and informal English.
Oxford Online English – Write a CV for an English-Speaking Job.

Optional CV viewing

Use the chapter structure rather than trying to understand every word. Focus on education, skills and relevance. Then improve one section of your fictional CV.

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