The first task you have to do is an essay describing yourselves.  The title has to be “Describing myself” and must have between 200 and 250 words.

 Here you have some suggestions for your essays:

 Taboo words: hate, normal, attractive, handsome, pretty

Avoid: repetition (use synonyms), intimate details (piercings, boyfriends and girlfriends, how good looking you are), radical opinions on certain issues such as smoking (they don’t know where are they going and their host family habits and routines), long sentences

Try to keep the balance between being sincere and making a good impression (the reader can think you are troublesome)

Info missing in most writings: my motivation to take part in this exchange. Please think we are using English as lingua franca but we go to a non-English-speaking country

Pay attention to closing: combine politeness with a welcome message to your partner.

Make use of the resources you have in Topmarks regarding vocabulary, collocations, phrasal verbs, connectors.

 The deadline for the revision of your essays is Monday, March 10th.