Letter of Rec in French

[Happensinvegas]

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One of the Doctors I worked with for 6 months at an internship in France wrote me a letter of rec that happens to be in French. Knowing the relationship I had with the doctor, and previous evaluations he had written for me during the internship, I know this letter is absolutely stellar. I was wondering if AdComs will immediately disregard the letter for being in French, or if they'll bother to ask if anyone speaks French on the board or google translate it.

I figure French is not an obscure language by any means, and back in the 60's/70's/80's more people studied French in school than Spanish, so someone in the office has to have some sort of working knowledge in French.

Do I ask the letter writer to quickly rewrite it in his honestly, not-very-good english?

 

[libertyyne]

Why don't you hire a professional service to translate it, or write it yourself. Physican letters usually don't account for much weight. The odds of every adcom having a member fluent in French are very small. As is the letter will bring no value and will waste a precious letter spot.

 

[Lawpy]

You should get the letter in English. Use a professional translating service or some similar feature to get that letter translated confidentially.

Why don't you hire a professional service to translate it, or write it yourself. Physican letters usually don't account for much weight. The odds of every adcom having a member fluent in French are very small. As is the letter will bring no value and will waste a precious letter spot.

I don't know whether the internship is just shadowing. I was thinking something like a research internship under a physician PI which definitely holds a lot more weight than a shadowing letter.

 

[DrHart]

A professional in France would surely have a colleague that knows English and could translate. Or you could get a professional translator. Or you could translate yourself if you know French? I wouldn't recommend submitting the letter unless it's in English.

 

[libertyyne]

You should get the letter in English. Use a professional translating service or some similar feature to get that letter translated confidentially.



I don't know whether the internship is just shadowing. I was thinking something like a research internship under a physician PI which definitely holds a lot more weight than a shadowing letter.

Lors in general are low yield. But you are correct.

 

[Happensinvegas]

A professional in France would surely have a colleague that knows English and could translate. Or you could get a professional translator. Or you could translate yourself if you know French? I wouldn't recommend submitting the letter unless it's in English.

How would I go about getting a translation if the letter is confidential. I could translate it, but I can't see the letter as it is confidential. I suppose I could ask for a copy and translate myself, but I don't know how AAMC would feel about me translating my own letter.

 

[DrHart]

Has your writer already submitted it? If so, you could ask him to resubmit an english translation. I would ask him politely if he could translate... and offer to help with grammar, assuming you are a native English speaker. It's not like you aren't allowed to see or help with your own letter. God knows the plethora of PIs that ask their undergrads to just write the letter and they'll sign it.

 

[Goro]

One of the Doctors I worked with for 6 months at an internship in France wrote me a letter of rec that happens to be in French. Knowing the relationship I had with the doctor, and previous evaluations he had written for me during the internship, I know this letter is absolutely stellar. I was wondering if AdComs will immediately disregard the letter for being in French, or if they'll bother to ask if anyone speaks French on the board or google translate it.

I figure French is not an obscure language by any means, and back in the 60's/70's/80's more people studied French in school than Spanish, so someone in the office has to have some sort of working knowledge in French.

Do I ask the letter writer to quickly rewrite it in his honestly, not-very-good english?

IF somehow such a LOR came my way, naturally, I'd discount it, because I don't speak French, and I'm NOT going to go down the hall and pester my good friend Dr OH, who does.

Then, I'd question your judgment for including such a letter.

 

[Happensinvegas]

IF somehow such a LOR came my way, naturally, I'd discount it, because I don't speak French, and I'm NOT going to go down the hall and pester my good friend Dr OH, who does.

Then, I'd question your judgment for including such a letter.

Thank you for the response Goro!

I do have a question then - Do you recommend getting it professionally translated either by a service or a faculty in the French department at my university to accompany the letter? I feel the contents of the letter could be critical to my dossier. The letter comes from a professional in the field that knows me best and witnessed me work through difficult situations weekly. He also watched hundreds of hours worth of patient interaction, as well as being my professor for a class and knowing me academically. Unfortunately he is right that his English is not good enough to write the letter - his English is hardly at a working proficiency, and dozens of times during the internship I had to translate for him.

 

[Goro]

Yes, get it translated.

Thank you for the response Goro!

I do have a question then - Do you recommend getting it professionally translated either by a service or a faculty in the French department at my university to accompany the letter? I feel the contents of the letter could be critical to my dossier. The letter comes from a professional in the field that knows me best and witnessed me work through difficult situations weekly. He also watched hundreds of hours worth of patient interaction, as well as being my professor for a class and knowing me academically. Unfortunately he is right that his English is not good enough to write the letter - his English is hardly at a working proficiency, and dozens of times during the internship I had to translate for him.

 

[The Walking Debt]

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[kraskadva]

Option 3: To your letter writer, offer to pay for him to have it translated. This will be easier for him to do in France, where translators are plentiful, easy to find (typically through language schools), and fairly cheap. Then he can also check the meaning with the translator and make sure it says what he wants it to say. Then he doesn't have to run it by you, if he'd rather keep the letter confidential, and can just upload the translation when it's done.