A good luck message

A good luck message
 

Hello to all

Could anybody help me with an e mail i am writing to a spanish friend. He is preparing to do a speech on teaching practices, in Granada next week ,and I helped him with the pronunciation of the transcript in English.
I am not familiar with the greetings of writing in Spanish, I would like to wish him good luck with the presentation and remind him not to be too nervous and to be himself. I am not sure how to start the e mail, other than hola mi amigo (i think this is too informal as we have only just met) and i don't know wether Abrazo would be too formal, as an older gentleman i don't want to come across over friendly but warm.

an ever hopeful Ruby:confused:

In Spanish estimado is a common and normal salutation in a letter.
It can be used in place of dear in the opening of a letter whether or not the person is very esteemed or dear:rolleyes:
You could say : que tenga(s) buena suerte en su (tu) presentación.
Espero que quedes (quede) calmado y natural.

Poli's options are good

Estimado Poli /Querido Poli
Te deseo mucha suerte con la presentación que vas a realizar.
Si no te pones nervioso y eres tú mismo seguro que te sale bien.

Muchos recuerdos
Ruby

Would it be OK to say: que ten coraje, or does that sound funny.
I know that among some Latin Americans tener coraje means audacity or
more commonly the nerve or even more commonly but vulgarly the balls.

Your usage of coraje is good, but is more used in difficult situation, I don't know if a normal presentation is so "hard". When it's the first one, or in a very important meeting, then yes.
"espero que tenga coraje como para someterse a una operación"
"espero que tenga coraje suficiente como para hablar ante tanto público"
"espero que tenga coraje como para enfrentarse a su familia"
saludos :D

Could she also use `Saludos´ en vez de `Muchos recuerdos´ or is it too formal?
:hmm:
Forgive the spanglish.:D

"Saludos" is also OK, but I prefer "muchos recuerdos" for friends.
I use saludos (like "greetings") for commercial friends.
I don't "remember" or "pienso en " commercial friends.

Saludos :D

meany!:d

I know my forum mates and bussiness partners (this one's for you Sosia :D) have already helped, but I would like to add my :twocents:.
The truth is I'm exam-correcting and answering students' mails and text messages and although I love talking to them I need a break. And this sounds like fun.
Having what you said in you post in mind,I would write something like:
Hola (Name):
Espero que estés bien. Estoy seguro de que la conferencia va a salir muy bien. Ten en cuenta que las personas que acuden a esos eventos tienen mucho interés y seguro que les enseñas algo nuevo.
No te pongas nervioso aunque estés hablando inglés, simplemente intenta ser tu mismo y olvidar que estás usando una lengua que te resulta un poco más difícil que la tuya.
Te deseo mucha suerte.
Un saludo,
(Your real name)
Hope it helps.

Hola (Hello)

many thanks for the help and advice. You all gave me the confidence to write in Spanish and I know that the message was gratefully received. Although I have lived in Spain for 6 months now I still lack confidence in speaking the language but all of you are helping me in many ways - once again many thanks ruby

You're welcome. Just keep on practising and you'll get there. Learning a language requires time, motivation and dedication. But it's also great fun.:)
Sigue intentando y cada día hablarás un poco mejor. Y ten confianza en que puedes hacerlo, como le decías tú a tu amigo. Que se de bien.(No estoy segura de si me falta algún acento en esta última frase).

de - preposición
dé - conjugación de dar
:)

Thanks, sometimes I'm not sure because some of the spelling rules have changed since I left school in the 20th century.:D

Then the word De with accent is correct?

Yes, when it means "dar", like David says
¡que no te dé corte!
ponte la rebeca para que no te dé frío.
Espero que no te dé pena dejarnos.
Cuida tu salud, para que no te dé un infarto.
Que no te dé pena empezar una nueva vida.
Saludos :D

Thanks. Good examples, BTW.:D

You should say:

David, I believe you are mistaken about ...

to be mistaken = estar equivocado / estar en un error

:)