"Technical" question regrading recommendations

[tolmar]

I have a small problem with a former boss of mine. I told me that he would gladly write me a recommendation but he can't write well in English. So he told me that he can email me the recommendation, that I would get it professionally translated into English, and then send it to him, and he will submit it to the school.

is this allowed? Can I submit the recommendation myself for him? again he is very thrill to help so there will be no problem for him with the translation of his original recommendation.
by the way, is there a recommended length for recommendations? that's in case the university doesn't introduce a limit.

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear tolmar,

I'm glad to hear your recommender is delighted to help you. It is important that you do not give the impression you had an opportunity to alter the recommendation in any way. Two options come to mind for your situation:

1) Your recommender can find a local translation service or trusted colleague on his own, thus keeping you out of the process and maintaining the integrity of the recommendation. Perhaps there is someone at his office that can help him? You can always reimburse him for any expense; it is just important that you not be involved in the actual translation.

2) You can send the recommendation in a sealed envelope, with the recommender signing his name over the seal, to a translation service in the US. You would then instruct the service to send the original letter with the translation directly to the school. Your recommender notes on the online application that a hard copy letter will be sent directly to the school. This process will also ensure the integrity of the recommendation. However, some schools force you to only submit letters online so just check the school's requirements.

Schools will specify a length requirement if they have one. Generally speaking, recommendation letters should be 1-3 pages.

Regards,
Lisa

[tolmar]

Lisa,

Thanks again for such an informative reply. you are such a life saver!

What I meant is that I would get it translated by a professional service, not by me. I think this what you have suggested in the first option, since mailing in the recommendations can take a considerable amount of time.

I didn't mean to change or alter the recommendations in any way, and I've insisted that my boss will submit the final translation himself, after he will read it. He can read and write English, he just doesn't think that his English is professional enough for the good recommendation like he would like to give.

Thanks again.