I almost cried while writing this recommendation letter for my client.
What do you do when you’re asked to write a recommendation letter for someone?
You go to Google, download a template and start working with it.
That was my immediate reaction when I was asked to write a letter for Lucas who was applying for a teaching job abroad.
But then I thought…
Do I need a template to write about Lucas?
Is there a template out there any close to the journey we’ve been on together with Lucas, our marathon coaching conversations, his achievements, his attitude to life, the dreams and the vision he has for himself and the world?
Why another letter with the usual “I strongly recommend Lucas for this position without any reservation” BS?
I’ll write a few words from my heart, I thought.
But … is it worth it? Most likely they will not read my letter with the same attention and care that I’m planning to write it.
You don’t know… They may pay attention, they may not, but…
Lucas will certainly read my letter carefully. Isn’t that enough for me?
I’m writing this letter for Lucas!
And I did.
And writing this letter was one of the most heartfelt things I’ve done in my life.
It wasn’t another transactional document that would soon get lost in an email server somewhere.
For Lucas, this letter was one of those old ink-and-paper letters that one keeps in a safe drawer for life.
I treated this letter as some more work with Lucas, a form of encouragement for him to keep creating for himself and others.
Isn’t it fascinating when you see everything you do as a gift to someone, an opportunity to be of service to someone?
And then, an “admin” black-and-white task, such as that of writing another recommendation letter, becomes work of art, a gift of appreciation, an inner introspection, a joyful and healing activity for yourself.
Let’s write a few words for Lucas then!
File → New → Document.
My Letter for Lucas
Dear Ms. Smith,
This will probably not look like the typical recommendation letter.
My name is Angelos and I’ve worked with Lucas as his life and career coach for the last year.
I’ll tell you why I would hire Lucas based on my own criteria (not necessarily the right ones) of who is a good teacher or who could be a great teacher.
Having worked with professional teachers, three things stand out to me when it comes to a teacher’s success.
#1: Being a teacher but also a student. How can you teach someone anything when you’re not a student yourself? When I say student, I mean, a lifelong student.
How can a teacher understand a student’s struggles with learning a foreign language if the teacher hasn’t learned a foreign language himself or herself?
Lucas speaks Russian very well and I can confirm that because I am fluent in Russian. If I were to learn English, I would have more respect for a native English teacher who speaks other foreign languages. This is definitely not a rule, but this shows something, don’t you think?
Lucas’s decision to hire a coach like me shows his commitment to self-growth. He’s invested in his own personal and professional development. I’d definitely trust a teacher who goes to seminars, classes and engages in relationships in which they are the students, wouldn’t you?
#2: Teach, teach, teach! No one can become a great teacher by reading books and attending a course on how to teach. A teacher gets better by teaching people.
Throughout this year, I’ve challenged Lucas to teach as much as possible. He got creative, he joined websites and communities where English learners hang out, he offered his time to students, he made mistakes, he went through all the “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do here”, he found ways to motivate his students, he gathered interesting materials, he worked with students of different age, background and needs and … became a great teacher.
#3: Love for your students. In my humble opinion, this is the element that makes a teacher stand out and … not only a teacher. I should have probably started with this point. This is what makes the students gather around a teacher when the class has finished because they just can’t get enough of the teacher’s love. This is what makes the students dream. This is what makes the students want to pass that love on to their work and others.
Lucas has an immense love for his students. Teaching for him is an act of love. That love goes further than teaching the conditionals or the passive voice to his students. He’s not just a teacher; he’s another coach for his students! He’s there to inspire them, to motivate them, to fight against their fears and limiting beliefs. He’s there to love them enough so they may learn and grow!
Because think about it… Today all the information is there available for free for those who want to learn English or anything. What a student needs in our days is inspiration, motivation, and … love.
Lucas has inspired me in our coaching relationship. He inspires me every day by showing how much he cares about his students. He inspires me when he goes deep into the “why” of his students, i.e. “Why learning English is that important to you?” He’s not there only to correct their grammar mistakes. He’s there to hold their vision, as the English language is a tool that opens new horizons for his students.
The person that is writing this letter used to work as a foreign language teacher in Russia. He speaks four languages and has a passion for language learning. He happens to come from a family of teachers and has so much love for this profession. While I’m writing these words, Ms. Smith, honestly, I’m getting emotional.
For me, it’s been a privilege to work with Lucas and help him on his journey of becoming a better teacher but also a better person.
Forgive me if I sounded any didactic in this letter. It was not my intention. You could be a mentor for me. I just shared my little experience with you and why I would hire Lucas if I were you. It’s the deep respect I have for this man and what he wants to create for himself and his students.
Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions.
With love for the teaching profession,
Angelos Georgakis
