I have to deliver a five-minute speech at a farewell party organized for the the American students who partecipate in the school-exchange programme. Can you please help me organize my ideas or suggest a site where I could look for information? I really hope you can help me choose the most appropriate expressions.

1) I just wanted to have your attention before you start having dinner.
2) I really hope you enjoyed your stay with the Italian host (?) families.
3) I'm sure you have had the chance to get to know (?) (nearer??) our culture and traditions. I also hope you will be willing to participate in next year's student exchange.
4) I think school exchanges are extremely useful not only to improve the knowledge of the foreign language but also to make new friends (to strike up new friendship).
5) We'll be visiting your school at the end of August for three weeks.
I'm pleased to see that that your teachers have recovered from flu and are doing (?) fine now.
6) I'll be accompanying the Italian students on their exchange programme (??) to America.
We are all looking forward to our journey to America.
7) I seize the opportunity to wish you a good journey (flight?) back home
The dinner has been offered by the committee of the exchange programme (As our town is twinned with this American city).

1) I attended (followed?) a lesson on English literature.

1 answer

1) May I have your attention before we start having dinner?

2) I really hope you enjoyed your stay with your host families.

3) I'm sure you have had the chance to get to know our culture and traditions. I also hope you will be willing to participate in next year's student exchange.

4) I think school exchanges are extremely useful, not only to improve our knowledge of another language, but also to strike up new friendships.

5) We'll be visiting your school at the end of August for three weeks.

I'm pleased to see that that your teachers have recovered from flu and are doing fine now.

6) I'll be accompanying the Italian students on their exchange program to America.

We are all looking forward to our trip.

7) I hope you all have a good flight back home.

Tonight's dinner has been provided by the committee of the exchange program because our town is a sister-city to this American city.

1) I attended a lecture on English literature.

or

I followed the lesson on English literature.