Many of our students who are about to embark on the adventure of living with a host family abroad ask us the same question: How do i write my cover letter?
In this post we are going to share with you some tips that will surely help you to focus on writing with more confidence.
1. What am I talking about in my letter?
It is not necessary to follow a particularly rigid theme. You really should talk about what you want to convey about yourself. Some ideas that we think will help you provide useful and relevant information about your profile can be:
Talk about your home:
Who do you live with at home, what is your town or neighborhood like, what province is it in …
Your hobbies:
What do you like to do when you have free time, if you practice sports, after-school activities, how do you spend your free time with your family, etc.
How is your day:
Explain above what a normal week is like in your routine; from when you start school until you go to bed. And what do you normally do on weekends, holidays …
Your motivations for participating in the program:
Explain why you want to have this immersion experience in a new culture and with a family different from yours. What would you like to do with them …
Affinity with pets:
Have pets? you like them? Many of the host families, especially in the US and Canada, have pets at home and if you already have one or you like a lot of dogs, cats, hamsters, horses …you already have a point in common!
Favorite food:
What food you love and what food you don’t like at all (or you can’t eat because of some kind of allergy or intolerance!)
What music do you listen to
Some specific musical style, artist, group …
Favorite series or movies
What series are you currently watching, what has been your favorite series or movie …
2. What structure do I follow?
Introduction:
Starting with a “dear family” is a classic that never fails. Continue entering your name, where you are from, your age …
Body of the letter
Talk about the topics you want to share with them. Don’t forget to use punctuation marks and structure the text in paragraphs.
Farewell:
Always end by thanking the family for their interest in welcoming you and add a phrase with which you show the desire you have to meet them and live the immersion experience with them. Something that works great can be «can´t wait to meet you in person and be part of your family«
3. How long should it be?
We recommend writing a letter with a minimum length of 500 words (or a full face) and not exceed both sides of a page.
4. Some final tips
Positive approach… but realistic
It is fair and necessary to talk about our strengths and weaknesses in the letter, however, it is important to find a balance in one direction and another. It is not worth “selling” ourselves as someone who does everything wonderful and does not make mistakes of any kind. Otherwise, we should not focus on each and every one of our defects as it will be difficult for our “potential family” to really want to stay in their home.
Explain what are the defects and virtues that define you based on what you think about yourself and what your parents, friends, teachers tell you more often. “Sell” your strengths and explain what resources you have to work on your weaknesses.
Write the letter yourself, without anyone’s help
Another problem we usually face is when we receive a cover letter that it is obvious that it has not been written entirely by a child or adolescent. Not only because the level of English may be suspiciously impeccable but because of the language itself and its structure. The family who is going to read your cover letter has the right to actually read something written in your handwriting.
Even if the level of English is not the most appropriate or the expressions you use may be confusing, write it yourself and do not let your parents or someone you know with a good level of English “complete” it.
It would be rare for a family to read a letter from a student with an exceptional level of English and upon arrival home would have serious problems spinning two sentences in a row, don’t you think? It is better that they have a realistic and accurate idea of your level of English before you arrive.
Thank in your letter what that family is doing for you
Okay, you don’t know them yet, but regardless of who the family is that has decided to host you in their home, they are doing an extraordinary act of generosity by opening the doors of their home. We recommend that you begin and end the letter by thanking them for allowing you to be part of their life during the time you are with them and let them know that you are very excited about it.
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