Letters of Recommendation from non-Native English Speakers

[linden]

Hello. I will be applying to public policy programs this fall. One of my recommenders, my current supervisor, is a non-native English speaker. I am familiar with his level of English. Although I am confident that the letter will be clear and mostly free of grammatical and spelling mistakes, I anticipate the letter will be peppered with non-idiomatic expressions.

Should I ask a native English speaker to proofread the letter for the recommender? Or I should not be concerned about her level of English expression?

Thank you for your feedback.

Linden

[rising_star]

Don't even worry about it. Admissions committees see this kind of thing. You definitely cannot and should not ask anyone to proofread her letter, particularly since there's usually a confidentiality waiver. Just offer her the same materials you're offering your other letter writers.

[purplepepper]

I too am submitting a letter from a non-native English speaker, but my recommender can't speak any English at all (he was my advisor for a time in Japan). I asked around to some grad programs and potential advisers who overwhelmingly said that the letter should be professionally translated. So after he sends it to me, I'll forward it to a translator...

It may be easier for your recommender to write in her native language, and even though it will cost a bit more, you could have it professionally translated into English. That is, if you are really worried about the content. If though, she won't be your main recommender it may be alright if it's not perfect!

[studyordie]

I am in the same boat. A proff. I have had a good many classes with and teaches within the field I am going into will be one of my LORs. Right now I'm preparing for one of his exams and the study guide has at least three or four typos. I'm friends with his TA who I know checks his stuff for publications and what not. So I'm going to ask him if there's anyway he thinks he could check my letter. It's enough to make me consider picking another writer even though I like this guy and he knows me well. The translator thing would not work because the guy is fluent in English, he would be insulted if I asked him to write it in a different language. I don't think there is an easy way around this one.