If an individual isn't proficient in English, is it best not to ask them for a LoR?

[Ihave Nonamè]

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Say they make frequent errors in English writing and speaking (for it is not their primary language)...would readers perhaps put two and two together, choose to ignore those errors and instead focus on the content? Or would this hurt the credibility of the writer?

A lot of top, quality professors and employers come from other countries to carry out their research and they learn the language as they go. Adcoms do take this into account, right?

 

[KnightDoc]

Say they make frequent errors in English writing and speaking (for it is not their primary language)...would readers perhaps put two and two together, choose to ignore those errors and instead focus on the content? Or would this hurt the credibility of the writer?

A lot of top, quality professors and employers come from other countries to carry out their research and they learn the language as they go. Adcoms do take this into account, right?

I sure hope so, otherwise I'm going to be screwed!!

 

[vrazzles]

One of my letter writers was a native swahili speaker who wrote/spoke broken English.

No problems getting into good schools.

 

[Blueprint Med School]

This is a hard area to traverse. If you have someone whose experiences mean a lot to you, you want a solid letter from them. Most people who have English as a second language know their proficiency in English grammar. My best advice would be to have an honest conversation with that person if they are willing to write you a letter. Perhaps suggest a department secretary, coordinator, or someone you both know and respect to serve as a copywriter for the professor. In that instance, the integrity of the process is intact, and you can be confident that you are not unnecessarily penalized.

David D, MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

 

[Ihave Nonamè]

Seems like it might be a risk...

 

[deleted972488]

This is absolutely not an issue. If they are in the best position to write you a letter, ask them for one.

 

[Moko]

What is their proficiency? Will others have trouble understanding their evaluation of you? If so, then having someone confidentially help edit the letter would be the best course of action, eg someone from the prehealth department, etc. Letter writers don't need to have perfect grammar, but the letter and its contents need to be readable to prevent the content from being overlooked.

 

[LizzyM]

My concern would not be their proficiency in English language but their understanding of American understanding of what a LOR should do. Although AMCAS et al will tell you that we want to know the strengths and weaknesses of the applicant, in truth, we can't handle the truth. There should be nothing negative in the letter, not even a statement that you had a deficit early on that was corrected with time and experience. If a letter writer doesn't know that "walks on water" is the expectation these days, you'd be better off with someone who knows how to lay it on thick and skips over even the hint of an honest appraisal.

I wish I were kidding.

 

[NickNaylor]

When I have seen poorly written LORs, I do my best to be gracious to the letter writer. As long as I can understand what they're saying and they communicate their points in a minimally understandable way, it's not a big deal for me. The only time it can harm you, as an applicant, is if their writing abilities are so poor as to not be able to effectively communicate in written English. I would also echo @LizzyM's comments, though, in that a letter writer unfamiliar with the game that is medical admissions may inadvertently be unhelpful to you even if that's not their intention.