2022年 09月 21日

英文推薦信範本和撰寫技巧

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申請國外研究所時,通常會被要求提供兩至三封的推薦信,許多人不知道該找誰當推薦人較為適合。本篇說明該找誰當推薦人、推薦信應包含內容,並提供推薦信範例供參考。同時文末提供15個推薦信(Letter of recommendation)精選句子給大家參考。

推薦函的意義

推薦函的意義是-透過第三人的角度去驗證申請者的表現是好是壞,是否真如申請者的essay/SOP/CV裡寫得那麼好。換句話說,推薦信的目的不僅止於「評價」,它同時擔負了客觀檢視申請者是否「誠實」的功能。

應該找誰寫推薦函

推薦者最重要的考量是對申請者的了解,而不僅是推薦者本身的名氣,推薦人最好了解申請者的優點且需熟悉申請者學習情況、學習目的是否明確、適應能力、創造能力、品性和特長等。
– 工作上找了解申請者的直屬上司、客戶、主管等或曾經監督管理過申請者的人
– 學校方面找系上老師

千萬不要找親戚家屬、名聲響亮的名人、CEO等對自己不了解的人寫推薦信

推薦函內容重點及方向

  • 推薦者的全名與申請人的基本情況介紹
  • 交待推薦人與申請者的關係(認識期間、認識程度、關係)
  • 對申請者的基本評價(如:專業基礎、個性、品性、特點、工作態度、前途估計和實例)
    (學校著重學業潛能;公司則強調實務應變能力)
  • 推薦人介紹申請人曾獲得獎勵、發表的論文、參加過重要學術會議,以及曾在學生組織或學術團中的任職來支持自己的評價
  • 推薦人必須清楚地表明被推薦人留學的身分是研究生還是訪問學者,專業領試域及研究方向
  • 必須表明推薦人的態度是極力推薦還是保留推薦
  • 將一些申請表上無法呈現的東西轉由推薦信來呈現。例如人格特質,甚至你如何克服某某挫折或壓力
  • 量化表現。提供資料給推薦者時,盡量以「他的成績排在全系的10%-15%」,或「他在哪些課程裡表現很好,而這個課程需要良好的C++程式設計能力以及Matlab的某某應用」。換言之,讓你的表現是具有參考指標的

※結論:若推薦者不是太清楚申請者時,準備好推薦信的重點和方向,能利於推薦者擬推薦信草稿時,較能抓住要點

在寫推薦信時,必然会提及被推薦人的個性特質,介绍每個人獨特的個性用詞也十分講究,下列提供相當好用的形容詞。

1. Scholastic aptitude(學習方面的才能

  • Native intellectual ability(天賦)
  • Imagination(想像力)
  • Creativity(創造力)
  • Capacity for analytical thinking(分析思考能力)
  • Intellectual curiosity; spirit of inquiry(好奇心)
  • Ability to work independently(獨立學習工作的能力)
  • Memory(記憶力)
  • Accuracy(準確性)
  • Methodology(研究方法)
  • Capability for abstract reasoning(抽象推理的能力)
  • Potential as a researcher(研究的潛力)
  • Potential as a teacher(教學的潛力)
  • Ability to express his ideas orally and in writing(口頭或文字的表達能力)
  • Capacity, desire and determination for good quality graduate work(獲得學業成功的能力、願望與決心)
  • Probable success as a graduate student(做為研究生成功的可能性)

2. Academic performance(學業上的表現

  • Breadth of general knowledge(知識豐富)
  • Knowledge of literature in his field(本專業領域知識)
  • Grade or achievement(成績或成就)
  • Industry, diligence(勤勉)
  • Participation in discussion(積極討論)
  • Academic maturity(學業上的成熟)

3. Languages(語言能力)

  • Ability to speak, understand, read and write the English language(聽說讀寫英文的能力)
  • Ability to read significant literature in other languages than English(英文以外的閱讀能力)

4. Character(品行

  • Honesty;integrity(誠實)
  • Sincerity(誠懇)
  • Sense of responsibility(責任感)
  • Cooperation(合作)
  • Enthusiasm(熱誠)
  • Conscientiousness(自覺性)
  • Ethical and moral standards(倫理與道德標準)
  • Reliability;dependability(可靠性)

英文推薦信撰寫技巧

基本上在找推薦人的時候要記住一個準則,推薦者最重要的考量是對申請者的了解,而不僅是推薦者本身的名氣,推薦人最好了解申請者的優點且需熟悉申請者學習情況、學習目的是否明確、適應能力、創造能力、品性和特長等。

  • 工作上找了解申請者的直屬上司、客戶、主管等或曾經監督管理過申請者的人
  • 學校方面找系上老師

(千萬不要找親戚家屬、名聲響亮的名人、CEO等對自己不了解的人寫推薦信) 
另外,請推薦人在寫推薦信時,包含以下幾個重點和方向:

  • 推薦者的全名與申請人的基本情況介紹
  • 交待推薦人與申請者的關係(認識期間、認識程度、關係)
  • 對申請者的基本評價(如:專業基礎、個性、品性、特點、工作態度、前途估計和實例)(學校著重學業潛能;公司則強調實務應變能力)
  • 推薦人介紹申請人曾獲得獎勵、發表的論文、參加過重要學術會議,以及曾在學生組織或學術團中的任職來支持自己的評價
  • 推薦人必須清楚地表明被推薦人留學的身分是研究生還是訪問學者,專業領域及研究方向
  • 必須表明推薦人的態度是極力推薦還是保留推薦
  • 將一些申請表上無法呈現的東西轉由推薦信來呈現。例如人格特質,甚至如何克服某某挫折或壓力
  • 量化表現:提供資料給推薦者時,盡量以「他的成績排在全系的10%-15%」,或「他在哪些課程裡表現很好,而這個課程需要良好的C++程式設計能力以及Matlab的某某應用」。換言之,讓你的表現是具有參考指標的

英文推薦信範例

以下提供英文推薦信範例:
To the Graduate Admissions Department at [University/Program]: 
(第一段說明推薦者的職位、與申請者之間的關係,以及對申請者的整體評價)

It is my pleasure to recommend Jane Doe for admission to [Name of Program] at [University]. I am an associate professor of [Subject] at [University]. I came to know Jane while teaching her in [Course]. The course comprised [short description of course]. Jane distinguished herself by submitting an exceptionally well researched and interesting project on [project]. She is one of the very best students that I have taught in the past five years in respect of her writing ability and research skills. 

(第二段具體說明申請者的特質和技能,並提供具體事例證明申請者的能力)

Overall, Jane is highly intelligent and has good problem-solving skills. Her [project] demonstrated her ability to come a detailed understanding of [details about coursework] the lifestyles of pre-historic hominids, and to analyze the consequences of those practices on evolution. She gave a particularly interesting discussion of the difficult practice of tool-shaping and a profound engagement with the use and the implications of these tools. Her overall intelligence is also reflected in her grades for the course, which were among the highest in the class. 

(第三段說明更多的特質、技能以及事例說明)

Jane has excellent communication skills. Her written work is both clear and concise, as well as interesting to read. She demonstrated her oral articulateness in the discussion sections that were an integral part of the course. Each discussion section focused on a particular aspect of Olduvian Gorge hominids. Students were required analyze unsolved questions and to develop and defend their own theories. Jane was highly proficient in applying the course material in analyzing these “puzzles.” She always explained her views very concisely and gave supporting arguments that were both clear and persuasive. Jane also demonstrated good teamwork skills in group assignments. 

(第四段說明更多的特質、技能以及事例說明)

At a personal level, Jane is a well-disciplined, industrious student with a pleasant personality. Throughout the course, Jane demonstrated great perseverance and initiative. Not only was she interested in and motivated to learn the material, but she also put great work into assimilating it to her own experience and developing her own ideas about each topic that we discussed. 

(第五段說明為何推薦申請者,以及申請者為什麼適合該學程或學校)

Jane is unquestionably an exceptional candidate for graduate study in [Program applying for]. Jane’s work in [Academic Course/Department] suggests that she would greatly benefit from the opportunities for intellectual development provided by a sustained period of graduate study. She has proven herself to have the perseverance, initiative, and intellectual creativity necessary to complete an advanced graduate degree. I would therefore highly recommend Jane Doe. If her performance in my class is a good indication of how she would perform as a graduate student, she would be an extremely positive asset to your program. 

(第六段:禮貌性表示可以協助提供更多資訊)

If I can be of any further assistance, or provide you with any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Sincerely,
[sender’s signature]
[sender’s Name and Title]

推薦信(Letter of recommendation)精選15個句子

自我介紹

  1. My name is {Author}and I have been a Professor of Math at {University} since {date}.
  2. I write to you today to proudly express my support for {Student}in applying to your prestigious university.

介紹與申請者的關係

  1. I first came to know {Student}while teaching him/her in my {Course Name} course…
  2. I was{Student}’s thesis advisor during his/her senior year.
  3. I have known {Student}for several years now and can attest to his/her strengths and quality of character.

闡述申請者的優點

  1. {Student} has excellent communication skills and displays them regularly in class discussions.
  2. He/She is a highly intelligent and competent student who excels in many areas.
  3. Not only is {Student}hard-working and thoughtful, but he/she also demonstrates kindness and generosity towards his/her peers.

呈現與申請者個性和能力相關的例子

  1. She/he has shown herself/himself to be a true leader who is able to successfully develop plans and implement them in his/her work.
  2. {Student} demonstrated his/her independence daily, completing difficult lab exercises by researching outside of class.
  3. During his/her internship, {Student}consistently managed his/her work responsibilities diligently and learned quickly. For example…

談論申請者所申請的學校及申請項目

  1. As {University}is renowned for its {Program}, I believe this is an ideal place for {Student} to solidify his/her abilities and cement his/her knowledge of {area of study}.
  2. The learning environment that {University}is famous for creating excellent opportunities in which {Student} to apply his/her skills.

結語

  1. For the above reasons, I am confident that {Student}will make an excellent addition to your graduate program, and I wholeheartedly support him/her for admission to your program.
  2. Thank you for your time and attention in reading my endorsement.

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