10 Business Email Writing Exercises for ESL Students

Writing effective business emails is an essential skill for ESL students aiming to succeed in professional environments. These exercises are designed to be both fun and informative, helping you practice various aspects of business email writing. Let’s get started!

Exercise 1: Subject Line Challenge

Objective: Create clear and concise subject lines.

Instructions: Given the email content below, write an appropriate subject line.

Email Content:

• You need to request a meeting to discuss the upcoming project deadline.
• You are informing your team about the successful completion of the project.
• You need to apologize for a mistake in the recent report.

Example:

1. “Request for Meeting: Project Deadline Discussion”
2. “Project Completion: Great Job, Team!”
3. “Apology for Error in Recent Report”

Exercise 2: Salutation Switch-Up

Objective: Practice using different greetings based on formality.

Instructions: Match the following scenarios with the appropriate greeting.

Scenarios:

1. Writing to your boss.
2. Writing to a colleague you know well.
3. Writing to a new client.

Greetings:

• “Dear Mr. Johnson,”
• “Hi Sarah,”
• “Hello,”

Example:

1. “Dear Mr. Johnson,”
2. “Hi Sarah,”
3. “Hello,”

Exercise 3: Opening Sentences

Objective: Craft effective opening sentences.

Instructions: Write an opening sentence for the following scenarios:

1. Introducing yourself to a potential business partner.
2. Following up on a previous conversation.
3. Providing feedback on a completed task.

Example:

1. “My name is Jane Doe, and I am the project manager at XYZ Company.”
2. “I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to follow up on our discussion from last week.”
3. “I wanted to provide some feedback on the recent task you completed.”

Exercise 4: Email Body Organization

Objective: Organize email content logically.

Instructions: Rearrange the sentences below into a well-structured email body.

Sentences:

• “I would appreciate it if you could send me the report by the end of the week.”
• “Thank you for your assistance.”
• “Could you please provide an update on the project status?”

Example:

1. “Could you please provide an update on the project status?”
2. “I would appreciate it if you could send me the report by the end of the week.”
3. “Thank you for your assistance.”

Exercise 5: Closing Statements

Objective: Write effective closing statements.

Instructions: Write a closing statement for the following scenarios:

1. Requesting a meeting.
2. Thanking someone for their help.
3. Informing someone about the next steps.

Example:

1. “I look forward to meeting with you soon. Please let me know your availability.”
2. “Thank you again for your help. It is greatly appreciated.”
3. “We will proceed with the plan as discussed. Please let me know if you have any questions.”

Exercise 6: Sign-off Selection

Objective: Choose appropriate sign-offs.

Instructions: Match the following scenarios with the appropriate sign-off.

Scenarios:

1. Writing to a senior executive.
2. Writing to a colleague.
3. Writing to a client.

Sign-offs:

• “Best regards,”
• “Thanks,”
• “Sincerely,”

Example:

1. “Sincerely,”
2. “Thanks,”
3. “Best regards,”

Exercise 7: Proofreading Practice

Objective: Improve proofreading skills.

Instructions: Identify and correct the errors in the email below.

Email Content: “I hope this email finds you well I am writing to request a update on the project status. Thank you for youre assistance.”

Example: “I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to request an update on the project status. Thank you for your assistance.”

Exercise 8: Politeness and Tone Adjustment

Objective: Adjust the tone for politeness and professionalism.

Instructions: Rewrite the following sentences to make them more polite and professional.

1. “Send me the report by Friday.”
2. “I need this done ASAP.”
3. “Can you fix this mistake?”

Example:

1. “Could you please send me the report by Friday?”
2. “I would appreciate it if you could complete this as soon as possible.”
3. “Could you please correct this mistake?”

Exercise 9: Email Etiquette Scenarios

Objective: Apply email etiquette rules.

Instructions: Write a short email for the following scenarios, applying proper etiquette.

1. You need to remind a colleague about an upcoming deadline.
2. You need to inform a client about a delay in their order.
3. You need to thank your team for their hard work.

Example:

1. “Hi John, Just a friendly reminder about the upcoming deadline for the project. Please ensure all tasks are completed by the end of the week. Thanks!”
2. “Dear Ms. Smith, I regret to inform you that there will be a delay in your order. We are working hard to resolve this and will keep you updated on the progress. Thank you for your understanding.”
3. “Hi Team, I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your hard work on the recent project. Your dedication and efforts are truly appreciated. Best regards, Jane”

Exercise 10: Using Email Writing Tools

Objective: Familiarize with email writing tools.

Instructions: Use a tool like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor to write and improve the following email. Identify the improvements suggested by the tool.

Email Content: “Hi Team, I wanted to let you know about the new project that we will be starting next week. I need everyone to be prepared for the kickoff meeting on Monday. Thanks.”

Example Improvements: Grammarly might suggest adding a comma after “Hi Team,” and rephrasing “I need everyone to be prepared” to “Please ensure everyone is prepared.”

These exercises will help you practice and improve your business email writing skills, making your communication more effective and professional. For more tips on mastering Business English, check out our other posts:

• Business English 101: A Guide for ESL Students
• 30 Must-Know Business English Phrases for Success
• 60 Essential Business Idioms: Sound Fluent at Work
• Best Business English Courses to Improve Your Fluency
• Small Talk Questions for the Workplace
• Business English Vocabulary: 100 Essential Words for Work

To further enhance your English skills, sign up for our free mini-course How to Learn English Faster and subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more practical tips and lessons.