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Step 1：提出請求

我認為最好當面提出，這樣可以得到老師最直接的答復。如果沒有機會，發郵件也可以。后者的好處是自己可以深思熟慮，組織好語言，避免與教授面對面的緊張和尷尬；壞處是可能許久得不到回復。我的翻譯課老師是個有郵件必及時回復的人，所以我用了第二種方式。

郵件標題：Reference Request

會不會太直白了？不，不要不好意思在標題里“挑明”自己的目的，“開門見山”在此時其實是明智的做法。而且這一原則在正文部分要繼續堅持。

正文：

我最初的思路是：

1. 先感謝老師在課堂上付出的時間，表示自己收獲很大；

2. 然后寫想申請某某大學的研究生項目；

3. 最后表示希望教授能為自己寫一份推薦信。

后來我突然意識到這是一個完全錯誤的順序。有人玩笑說，西方人讀東方人的信函要從下往上讀，不然完全不知所云，因為來信真正的目的往往出現在最末尾。這樣說不是毫無道理。東方人重含蓄，西方人喜直接，這是東西方思維慣上的迥異。所以尊重西方人的慣，最終成文的順序正好相反，顛倒成3.2.1。字體可用Arial，5號。

這是我給老師的第一封郵件：

Dear Dr. [Surname or full name],

【說明來函目的】

My name is Yi Fan and I have taken part in your course “Translation I” (Group J). I am writing to ask if you would be willing to write a letter of recommendation for me.

【解釋需要推薦信的原因】

I would like to further my study in the field of translation and am planning to apply for the graduate program MA in Translating and InterPting in Great Britain after returning to China. So it would be of great help if I could receive a letter of recommendation from you in support of the application. I would really apPciate it. Herewith I also send the writing by myself and my résumé with more detailed information. [注]

【寫明deadline and how you will follow up】

I am going back to China at the end of this week. Please let me know if you are willing to write me a recommendation letter and I'd be glad to come to your office.

【表示感謝】

Now the time as an exchange student here is about to over. Thank you for the time and assistance you offered us. It was a great pleasure to take part in this translation course and it was one of my favourite among all the courses I have attended at Ruhr-University.

Best regards,

Yi Fan

【注】解釋兩件事：

1. 我在郵件里附上了自己寫好的草稿和個人簡歷。原則上說，推薦信應該完全由教授寫，但是我相信大學教授們公務已經很繁忙，不會閑到有時間為我們斟詞酌句，從空白的紙上寫出費時又費力得推薦信。但如果是在現有的草稿上修改就不一樣了，這不僅會為他們減輕很多工作量，而且能讓他們知道你想在推薦信里強調自己哪方面的能力，從而最終的結果也更能meet your expectations. 即使不寫完整的草稿，也要在郵件中提供詳細的信息和材料。附上最基本的簡歷能為教授提供被推薦人的經歷的大致輪廓，畢竟他們沒有理由為一個自己根本不了解的學生寫推薦。

2. 那么這些文件是以附件形式還是正文形式發送呢？這是申請中的老問題。有一個基本的原則是：如果收件人用的是hotmail、gmail之類的郵箱，則可用附件形式發送；如果是公司、學校的郵箱則在正文部分粘貼為佳，以避免這類郵箱不支持附件。

Step 2: 等待回復

當天下午，我收到了老師回復如下：（我真欣賞這老師的效率！）

Dear Ms Fan,

Thank you for your e-mail. Sure, I can write the letter of recommendation for you; however, as I am at the moment hard-Pssed for time, I cannot promise to have the piece ready by the end of the week. Please let me know quickly whether it is alright if I send you the document after my return from my holidays at the beginning of August. Are there any deadlines?

Best

M. Goth

Step 3: 繼續交涉和溝通

后來的回復中我給了老師郵寄地址，說了申請學校對推薦信的具體要求。然而第二天一早我就收到了下面這封郵件：

Dear Ms Fan,

I am happy to inform you that I have by now written your recommendation. I shall be at the university tomorrow; you can reach me between 9.15 and 10 in the morning, and between 2 and 4 in the afternoon. I have attached my text to your e-mail. Please let me know if you are able to pick it up tomorrow.

Best regards

M. Goth

回復老師自己大概什么時間去辦公室，想一想感謝的話，一切OK！

Step 4: 感謝推薦人

最后別忘記再次發郵件感謝，這不僅僅是一種good manners, 更重要的是在未來的學術領域我們很可能還會需要他們的幫助。保持聯系，告訴推薦人申請的進展；如果最終獲得admission，更應和自己的推薦人分享這份欣喜。

我的感謝信是這樣寫的：

Dear Dr. Goth,

I would like to thank you for taking the time and effort to write the letter of recommendation for me. I am truly thankful for your support.

Translating gives me great pleasure and so did your translation course. I apPciate the way you teach and enjoyed the discussions in the class. Every time we finished translating a text, I felt a great sense of achievement. After this summer term, I become even more determined to further my study in this field.

I want to let you know how much your recommendation letter means to me. It will open doors and provide opportunities as I start this next stage of my life. I will keep you updated about my progress in applying to graduate school. Thanks again.

Best regards,

Yi Fan

寫出來發現整個過程其實并不難，可能說的是成功的例子。也談談另外兩次不夠成功的嘗試：

實踐課Campus TV的老師其實也欣然應允了，答應郵寄給我。但是我一個多星期后仍未收到，于是打電話詢問。同事告知這位老師正在休假，但答應幫我轉達。后來回復郵件已寄出，但我至今未收到，從此也沒有下文。

經濟英語的老師我也是當面提出的，當時的回答是 I need to ask if I’m allowed to write you a recommendation.讓隔天再去。隔日，他將推薦信給我，但遺憾的是沒有用校方公函信紙打印，只有簽字和系里的公章，因而顯得很粗糙，也不符合所申學校的要求。因此，關于推薦信的細節一定要事先明確向老師說明，不能不好意思提這些要求，因為如果這時不提，等老師把細節上不符合要求的推薦信交到你手上時，就更加不好意思開口說了。