- 相關(guān)推薦
如何請教授幫你寫推薦信
無論是申加拿大還是美英澳院校,留學(xué)文書最重要的部分都包括PS (PersonalStatement) 個人陳述和RL (Reference Letter)推薦信。PS當(dāng)然是自己寫,RL通常需要大學(xué)教授出具。能為自己爭取一份言辭懇切、內(nèi)容詳實的推薦信無疑可以為自己的申請加分。
下面先以最終成功的來自德英翻譯課老師的推薦信為例,一步步講講從提出請求到獲得推薦信的過程;然后我也會總結(jié)一下另兩次嘗試不夠成功的原因。
Step 1:提出請求
我認(rèn)為最好當(dāng)面提出,這樣可以得到老師最直接的答復(fù)。如果沒有機會,發(fā)郵件也可以。后者的好處是自己可以深思熟慮,組織好語言,避免與教授面對面的緊張和尷尬;壞處是可能許久得不到回復(fù)。我的翻譯課老師是個有郵件必及時回復(fù)的人,所以我用了第二種方式。
郵件標(biāo)題:Recommendationfor [Your Name]
會不會太直白了?不,不要不好意思在標(biāo)題里“挑明”自己的目的,“開門見山”在此時其實是明智的做法。而且這一原則在正文部分要繼續(xù)堅持。
正文:
我最初的思路是:
1.先感謝老師在課堂上付出的時間,表示自己收獲很大;
2.然后寫想申請某某大學(xué)的研究生項目;
3.最后表示希望教授能為自己寫一份推薦信。
后來我突然意識到這是一個完全錯誤的順序。有人玩笑說,西方人讀東方人的信函要從下往上讀,不然完全不知所云,因為來信真正的目的往往出現(xiàn)在最末尾。這樣說不是毫無道理。東方人重含蓄,西方人喜直接,這是東西方思維習(xí)慣上的迥異。所以尊重西方人的習(xí)慣,最終成文的順序正好相反,顛倒成3.2.1。字體可用Arial,5號。
這是我給老師的第一封郵件:
Dear Dr.[Surname or full name],
【說明來函目的】
My name is Yi Fan and I have taken partin your course “Translation I” (Group J). I am writing to ask if you would bewilling to write a letter of recommendation for me.
【解釋需要推薦信的原因】
I would like to further my study in thefield of translation and am planning to apply for the graduate program MA inTranslating and Interpreting in Great Britain after returning to China. So itwould be of great help if I could receive a letter of recommendation from youin support of the application. I would really appreciate it. Herewith I alsosend the writing by myself and my résumé with more detailed information[注]
【寫明deadline and howyou will follow up】
I am going back to China at the end ofthis week. Please let me know if you are willing to write me a recommendationletter and I'd be glad to come to your office.
【表示感謝】
Now the time as an exchange student hereis about to over. Thank you for the time and assistance you offered us. It wasa great pleasure to take part in this translation course and it was one of myfavourite among all the courses I have attended at Ruhr-University.
Best regards,
Yi Fan
【注】解釋兩件事:
1.我在郵件里附上了自己寫好的草稿和個人簡歷。原則上說,推薦信應(yīng)該完全由教授寫,但是我相信大學(xué)教授們公務(wù)已經(jīng)很繁忙,不會閑到有時間為我們斟詞酌句,從空白的紙上寫出費時又費力得推薦信。但如果是在現(xiàn)有的草稿上修改就不一樣了,這不僅會為他們減輕很多工作量,而且能讓他們知道你想在推薦信里強調(diào)自己哪方面的能力,從而最終的結(jié)果也更能meet yourexpectations. 即使不寫完整的草稿,也要在郵件中提供詳細(xì)的信息和材料。附上最基本的簡歷能為教授提供被推薦人的經(jīng)歷的大致輪廓,畢竟他們沒有理由為一個自己根本不了解的學(xué)生寫推薦。
2.那么這些文件是以附件形式還是正文形式發(fā)送呢?這是申請中的老問題。有一個基本的原則是:如果收件人用的是hotmail、gmail之類的郵箱,則可用附件形式發(fā)送;如果是公司、學(xué)校的郵箱則在正文部分粘貼為佳,以避免這類郵箱不支持附件。
Step 2:等待回復(fù)
當(dāng)天下午,我收到了老師回復(fù)如下:(我真欣賞這老師的效率!)
Dear Ms Fan,
Thank you for your e-mail. Sure, I canwrite the letter of recommendation for you; however, as I am at the momenthard-pressed for time, I cannot promise to have the piece ready by the end ofthe week. Please let me know quickly whether it is alright if I send you thedocument after my return from my holidays at the beginning of August. Are thereany deadlines?
Best
M. Goth
Step 3: 繼續(xù)交涉和溝通
后來的回復(fù)中我給了老師郵寄地址,說了申請學(xué)校對推薦信的具體要求。然而第二天一早我就收到了下面這封郵件:
Dear Ms Fan,
I am happy to inform you that I have bynow written your recommendation. I shall be at the university tomorrow; you canreach me between 9.15 and 10 in the morning, and between 2 and 4 in theafternoon. I have attached my text to your e-mail. Please let me know if youare able to pick it up tomorrow.
Best regards
M. Goth
回復(fù)老師自己大概什么時間去辦公室,想一想感謝的話,一切OK!
Step 4: 感謝推薦人
最后別忘記再次發(fā)郵件感謝,這不僅僅是一種good manners, 更重要的是在未來的學(xué)術(shù)領(lǐng)域我們很可能還會需要他們的幫助。保持聯(lián)系,告訴推薦人申請的進展;如果最終獲得admission,更應(yīng)和自己的推薦人分享這份欣喜。
我的感謝信是這樣寫的:
Dear Dr. Goth,
I would like to thank you for taking thetime and effort to write the letter of recommendation for me. I am trulythankful for your support.
Translating gives me great pleasure andso did your translation course. I appreciate the way you teach and enjoyed thediscussions in the class. Every time we finished translating a text, I felt agreat sense of achievement. After this summer term, I become even moredetermined to further my study in this field.
I want to let you know how much yourrecommendation letter means to me. It will open doors and provide opportunitiesas I start this next stage of my life. I will keep you updated about myprogress in applying to graduate school. Thanks again.
Best regards,
Yi Fan
寫出來發(fā)現(xiàn)整個過程其實并不難,可能說的是成功的例子。也談?wù)劻硗鈨纱尾粔虺晒Φ膰L試:
實踐課Campus TV的老師其實也欣然應(yīng)允了,答應(yīng)郵寄給我。但是我一個多星期后仍未收到,于是打電話詢問。同事告知這位老師正在休假,但答應(yīng)幫我轉(zhuǎn)達(dá)。后來回復(fù)郵件已寄出,但我至今未收到,從此也沒有下文。
經(jīng)濟英語的老師我也是當(dāng)面提出的,當(dāng)時的回答是 I need to askif I’m allowed to write you a recommendation.讓隔天再去。隔日,他將推薦信給我,但遺憾的是沒有用校方公函信紙打印,只有簽字和系里的公章,因而顯得很粗糙,也不符合所申學(xué)校的要求。因此,關(guān)于推薦信的細(xì)節(jié)一定要事先明確向老師說明,不能不好意思提這些要求,因為如果這時不提,等老師把細(xì)節(jié)上不符合要求的推薦信交到你手上時,就更加不好意思開口說了。
我知道,申請留學(xué)是一項多么漫長艱巨的工程。從考雅思、G/T開始,到留學(xué)文書的準(zhǔn)備,四年不懈怠的努力才能換來一個滿意的GPA。然而這一路走來,相信我們都會經(jīng)歷很多、成長很多。謹(jǐn)以此文與一同奮斗的朋友們共勉,祝我們都能走進自己心儀的大學(xué)。
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