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Thank You Notes

Date: Nov 20 2020

Themes: Friend, How To

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Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

custom

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

In the US, many people write thank you notes when they receive a gift. It is considered the minimum courtesy toward the gift-giver to acknowledge the thoughtfulness and usefulness of the gift.

However, many Americans never write thank you notes, the younger generations especially. It seems that we may be losing this custom.

If you are in the States and someone gives you a gift to honor your arrival, your birthday, a holiday or any other occasion, it is best to write them a card thanking them for the gift. It is also nice to thank people who let you stay in their home or cook a meal for you.

A thank you note can be very brief. Here is an example:

Dear Mrs. Robinson,
Thank you so much for the bracelet you gave me for my birthday. It will always remind me of you and of my visit to your city. I appreciate your thinking of me.
Warm regards,
Kaya

After you write it, make sure you have the correct address, put a stamp on it and drop it in the mail.

Listen to Amanda and Kevin talk about thank you notes.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Amanda

Kevin

Amanda: Mm, salad.

Kevin: I’m feeling frustrated. So I gave a good friend of mine a gift two weeks ago.

Amanda: Uh huh.

Kevin: And I’ve yet to get… I sent her a gift two weeks ago and I have yet to get any notification of, of receipt of the gift.

Amanda: Um, that’s probably one of my biggest pet peeves right now. When I was a kid, my parents taught me to write a thank you card that moment.

Kevin: Immediately.

Amanda: Write the card. Put it in the mail.

Kevin: That’s right.

Amanda: Nobody does it anymore and it drives me crazy.

Kevin: It’s, it’s gone out of style, I guess. I think it’s incredibly rude.

Amanda: Do you think it’s inconvenient? Or people don’t know to do it? Because maybe they weren’t raised and taught to write a thank you card.

Kevin: I think it’s a combination of both. I think because the custom has kind of gone by the wayside. People aren’t doing it as much and… or they just never learned. Kind of like tipping. Some people just aren’t good tippers…

Amanda: That’s horrible.

Kevin: ‘Cause they didn’t learn from their parents.

Amanda: It’s absolutely horrible.

Kevin: Yeah.

Amanda: With wedding gifts, you know, that excuse, you have a year.

Kevin: That is BS.

Amanda: That’s, that’s BS.

Kevin: Yeah.

Amanda: Total BS.

Kevin: I agree.

Amanda: And people run with that year and they go into the next year and they say, “Well, I missed the deadline. Oops.”

Kevin: It’s ridiculous.

Amanda: Not OK. Not OK.

Kevin: Very rude.

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Discussion

Kevin sent a gift to his friend but hasn’t heard whether the friend received the gift.

Amanda thinks it is rude not to write a thank you note for a gift you receive. That’s what her parents taught her to do.

Kevin thinks the custom has faded. People don’t take the time to write a thank you note, or they just weren’t taught that it is the polite thing to do.

What do people do in your country when they receive a gift?

Do you write thank you notes?

Comments

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messi 19

United Arab Emirates

good to know

abdeeq

Somalia

said to politely accept or refuse something that has been offered to you:
“Would you like some more cake?” “Yes, I will have a small piece, thank you.”
“Do you need any help?” “No, thank you.”

s640663

China

In my country, people normally give out gifts by hand. So they receive immediate appreciations to them.

ayenk

Indonesia

I sent my sister in-law’s kids present for new year last December. She doesn’t write thank you note until now..that’s my biggest pet peeve too until now. I was thinking to write her email, but my husband said I don’t need to write her that. Now..I am thinking will not give any more gifts for next new year.