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Oh, I definitely would agree. Reading "The Stranger" is completely different than reading "L'Etranger" (same book... one's in French). You have to get to that point where you can think in the language, though. So you're not going "'Je crache sur tes yeux' Okay 'I spit on your eyes'.." It has to be the understanding of the language where you can't possibly translate it, because the meaning is so strong in the language.
You can sort of do that with reading translations, though, if you read enough of them. The authors repeat phrases that sound overly formal and awkward in English, but eventually you can recognize them for their true meaning, and "translate" them, I guess.
Good luck to your friend... fucking difficult language to learn.
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