Write to a Friend You've Never Met!

Imagine opening your post box and finding a letter addressed to YOU — from someone your age, living in a completely different country. Inside, they've told you about their favourite food, their pet, and their biggest dream. How exciting would that be? A pen pal is a friend you write letters to, even if you have never met in real life. People have been making pen-pal friendships for hundreds of years — long before email or messaging apps existed. Your letter is your voice on paper. It's your chance to say: 'Hello, world — here I am!'

A pen-pal letter has five main parts. Think of them as building blocks — each one does a different job. **1. Your address and the date** Write your own address in the top-right corner. Below it, write the date. This tells your pen pal where you live and when you wrote the letter. **2. The greeting** Start with 'Dear [name],' on the left side. This is how you say hello in a letter. Always put a comma after the name. **3. The introduction** Tell your pen pal who you are. Share your name, age, where you live, and one or two things you enjoy. Keep each idea in its own sentence so the letter is easy to read. **4. The body** This is the biggest part. Ask your pen pal questions — people love to talk about themselves! Share something about your daily life, school, hobbies, or family. Try to write at least two or three sentences here. **5. The sign-off and your name** End with a warm closing phrase, then your name underneath. Common closings are: 'Best wishes,', 'Yours truly,', or 'Write back soon,' Always put a comma after the closing phrase, then sign your name on the next line. Remember: a friendly tone makes your pen pal smile. Use 'I' to share things, and 'you' to ask questions.