Your views on these two translations.

[Kenny同志]

The original:

该生有扎实的专业知识，并能灵活运用所学的基本理论和基础知识。自学能力强，反应敏捷，善于接受新生事物，动手能力、实验技能都较强。我比较注重对学生运用基本理论和基础知识分析和思考问题的能力及操作能力的培养, 该生在学习期间表现比较突出，不仅上课认真听讲，能提出很有独创性的问题，而且能清楚地阐述自己的观点，思维活跃，思考问题全面客观，很能深入到问题的本质，具有较强的分析问题的能力；专业基础扎实，能灵活运用所学的基本理论和基础知识。

Notes:

The first and the last sentence are the same.

This part, "我比较注重对学生运用基本理论和基础知识分析和思考问题的能力及操作能力的培养," doesn't relate to the context closely.

An edited version of the original:

该生有扎实的专业知识，并能灵活运用所学的基本理论和基础知识。自学能力强，反应敏捷，善于接受新生事物，动手能力、实验技能都较强。学习期间表现比较突出，不仅上课认真听讲，能提出很有独创性的问题，而且能清楚地阐述自己的观点，思维活跃，思考问题全面客观，很能深入到问题的本质，具有较强的分析问题的能力.

The two translations:

VERSION ONE:

He had solid expertise which could be flexibly applied to practical problems. Self-motivated and a quick-study, he is quick to accept new things and has strong analytic and experimental skills, which well-adapted to my efforts to train students to apply the basic theories and knowledge to both analysis and operational situations. This student performed exceptionally well, not only listening earnestly to me as his teacher but also providing penetrating insights into problems presented. With strong analytical and solving problem skills, he could flexibly apply the basic theory and knowledge to his approach.

VERSION TWO:

Having a solid background in his field, Mr.xxx is able to use the fundamentals in a flexible way. He does well in independent study, is quickly-responsive, open-minded, and has great manual dexterity and experimental skills. He proved himself a good student during his study, not only because he was attentive in class, but more importantly, he was able to put forward views that were really original; his active mind, whole-mindedness, objectivity together with his excellent analytical skills always led him to the core of questions.

What's your view on these two translations? Or you may want to give your own version, so, why not give it a go?

[semantic nuance]

The original:

该生有扎实的专业知识，并能灵活运用所学的基本理论和基础知识。自学能力强，反应敏捷，善于接受新生事物，动手能力、实验技能都较强。我比较注重对学生运用基本理论和基础知识分析和思考问题的能力及操作能力的培养, 我比较注重对学生运用基本理论和基础知识分析和思考问题的能力及操作能力的培养,不仅上课认真听讲，能提出很有独创性的问题，而且能清楚地阐述自己的观点，思维活跃，思考问题全面客观，很能深入到问题的本质，具有较强的分析问题的能力；专业基础扎实，能灵活运用所学的基本理论和基础知识。

I have an issue with its original Chinese. First, as you've indicated, the first and the last are overlapping. Second, 我比较注重对学生运用基本理论和基础知识分析和思考问题的能力及操作能力的培养, here, 對 is redundant. I think it'll be smooth if it is written as 我比较注重学生运用基本理论和基础知识分析和思考问题的能力及其操作能力的培养, Third, 该生在学习期间表现比较突出，this one sounds odd to me. 比較 here sounds to be used to compare with other students. However, it's quite ambiguous that it also implies that the student recommened has a better performance during study but other than that s/he is as plain as others. I'll rewrite it as 該生在學習期間表現甚為突出(or 頗為突出). Moreover, 能提出很有独创性的问题，this sounds odd to my ear. 獨創性 is always connected to viewpoints 見解/觀點. Finally, 具有较强的分析问题的能力；again, 較, personally, I will change the whole sentence as 該生分析問題的能力相當出色. Or, 該生具有卓越的分析能力.

I haven't read the English versions yet as I think the original Chinese should be dealt with first.

[Kenny同志]

I didn't take the trouble to go into details as they didn't interfere with my understanding of the text. The original has holes, so does even the edited version for the reasons you've said. Excellent points indeed!

[doraemon]

My attempt at the edited original version ;) :

The student's solid expertise in his field enables him to flexibly apply his knowledge of the basics to practical situations. He is self-motivated, sharp, receptive and has demonstrated both strong operational and experimental skills. During his period of study, he has proved himself an outstanding pupil with his attentiveness and creativity but more notably, his eloquence, liberal mind, meticulousness, striking perceptibility and excellent analytical skills further testify to his exceptional performance.

Hope that helps!

[Kenny同志]

Well done, Doraemon. It's really great. 以后还要向你多多请教。

[natra]

The original has holes, so does even the edited version for the reasons you've said. Excellent points indeed!

Agreed. Semantic Nuance always makes very thoughtful and astute comments here.

[semantic nuance]

Thanks for kenny's and natra's comments.

[doraemon]

Well done, Doraemon.

Your welcome! Glad that I could be of some help.

以后还要向你多多请教

不敢当。 我想我的翻译水平肯定不如你，不过我觉得翻译这个东西还是挺有意思的。 B)

[Kenny同志]

呵呵，你过谦了。

You're too modest.