Sending the first E-mail message

When you send e-mail to someone for the first time, you want to make a good first impression. Here are some things you can do.

  1. Start with a greeting. For example:
    • Hello!
    • Dear Mike,
    • Hi Stephanie,

    If you are writing to an American penpal, it is probably fine to use the first name: 'Dear Vicky' or 'Hi Jenny!'. E-mail is rather casual, so if you are not sure what to do, it's O.K. to just write 'hello.'

  2. Give your name and explain how you got your penpal's e-mail address. For example:
    • My name is Vicky Muehleisen. My English teacher gave me your name and address.
    • I'm Victoria Muehleisen. I found your name and address on the Penpal Exchange web page.

  3. Tell a little about yourself. You might want to write your nickname, age, hobbies, what you study, where you live, and so on. For example:

    • My first name is 'Victoria', but my friends call me 'Vicky'.
      (Note: a person living outside of Japan may not know which name is your 'first' name and which name is your family name.)

    • I am a 33 year old woman.
      (Note: The person you are writing to might not be able to tell if you are a man or a woman from your name alone. Also, remember that we say 'I am 33 years old' but 'I am a 33 year old woman.')

    • I've been living and working in Tokyo for three and a half years.

  4. Ask your penpal some questions so that he or she will want to answer you. You can ask about the same kinds of things that your wrote about, for example:
    • What is your major?
    • Where is your hometown?
    • What is your year in school?
    • Do you like sports?
    • What languages do you study?

  5. Your first message does not have to be very long. You will have plenty of chances to write long messages later on.

  6. You can send a copy or your message to yourself by typing your address in section CC or BCC at the top. (If you choose CC, your penpal will see that you sent a copy to yourself; if you choose BCC, your penpal will not know.)