Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[ClarissaMach]

Dear teachers, could you revise the compostion below? This time I was asked to "write a reference for a friend of mine who has applied for a job as a receptionist in an English college. The person apointed will be good at dealing wiht a range of different people and will have excellent administrative skills". I should "include information about your friend's character and personal qualities and skills, their previous relevant experience and reasons why they should be considered for this job".




To whom it may concern,

This reference letter concerns Ms Aline Abreu, a friend of mine and also a co-worker who is looking forward to working as a receptionist in an English Institution. Here follows the reasons why I believe she is prepared to do so.

Ms Abreu has worked as an administrative assistant for the communication department of an important Brazilian oil company for the past two years, where she was able to get useful work experience. She has had to manage lots of different administrative issues, what certainly improved her administrative skills.

She also has had to organize some events, occasions in which she has had to deal with a range of different people, including foreigners. Fortunately, she is highly skilled at languages: besides her native language, Portuguese, she has a really good command of Spanish, French and English.

As a co-worker who has shared with her the same workplace for the last two years, I can say that Ms Abreu has always managed to achieve her objectives maintaining an ethical conduct. She is a very dynamic and optimistic person, usually cheerful and at all times ready to help or be useful.

For all these reasons, I believe she is qualified for this opportunity. I feel sorry to see her go, but as a friend, I also know how much important it is to her career working at an Institution like yours.

If you need more information about her, please get in contact.
_________________
Stormy Weather.

[Bob S.]

Items in olive should be deleted, replaced by items in bold.
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She has had to manage lots of different administrative issues, what that certainly improved her administrative skills.

She also has had to organize some events, occasions in which she has had to deal with a range of different people, including foreigners foreign nationals.

...she has a really very good command of Spanish, French and English.

Ms Abreu has always managed to achieve her objectives while maintaining a high ethical conduct standard.

If you need more information about her, please get in feel free to contact me.

[ClarissaMach]

Thanks a lot, Bob! I've pushing myself into writing a composition in English every week, in order to improve my writing.

I'd like to make a few questions:

1) Using "foreigners" instead of "foreing nationals" sounds strange or impolite?

2) Using "really" instead of "very" is incorrect or sounds strange?

Thanks once more.
_________________
Stormy Weather.

[Bob S.]

[ClarissaMach]

Thanks once more, Bob! This is exactly the kind of instruction I need!
_________________
Stormy Weather.