Jul 6, 2014 23:28
9 yrs ago
Spanish term

segundo de comercio

Spanish to English Law/Patents General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters narrative
This is from a handwritten narrative by a woman from Honduras. From the context, I am assuming it means off work or unemployed but am not familiar with the term and am not having any luck finding an explanation. It is possible the narrator something out in the phrase. If anyone can shed some light on this, I would appreciate it!

This is quoted as is from the narrative:

"deje de trabajar cuando nacio mi hija tambien de estudiar me quede en segundo de comercio luego mi esposo empeso a beber y no me dava dinero entonses empese a buscar trabajo entontre en una libreria XXX"

Discussion

Chris Neill Jul 7, 2014:
@phil This is of course based on my own experience of the spanish education system.
I feel business studies better covers the grado de ADE (administracion y direccion de empresas) here's alink http://www.uam.es/cs/ContentServer/Economicas/es/12426547243...

a grado in "comercio" is different and appears here http://pendientedemigracion.ucm.es/?a=estudios&d=muestragrad...

I agree that commercial studies does sound a bit clumbsy and with hindsight maybe "commerce" would actually be a better discription according to the study plan
Helena Chavarria Jul 7, 2014:
One type of 'Comercio' studies I know a person who studied a 'Ciclo de Grado Medio de Comercio' in Spain, not Honduras. Judging by what this person's mother told me, it was a course that taught people how to stack shelves, be shop assistants, etc. In many of the supermarkets where I live, there are cashiers who wear badges informing customers that they are doing the practical part of their training.
lorenab23 Jul 7, 2014:
Comercio escuela de comercio business school, business academy

http://www.wordreference.com/es/en/translation.asp?spen=come...

Proposed translations

1 hr
Spanish term (edited): Me quede en segundo de comercio.
Selected

I was in my second year of study toward a vocational degree.

Or, perhaps, "business studies" (if she was attending a traditional university). There is no such thing as "commercial studies" in US English--and, as far as I know, not in any other variant of the language either.

The quality of the Spanish evident in the various postings from this text suggests that *university studies* are NOT being referenced here.

The general sense here is that she was in her second year of work toward her training/degree when she had to leave school to give birth to her daughter.

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Note added at 1 hr (2014-07-07 01:07:07 GMT)
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If the individual was enrolled in some kind of educational program within a correctional facility, then perhaps:

I was in my second year of study in a vocational program.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "I think this is the most likely option here as well. "
+2
8 mins

second year of commercial studies

I'm sure that 'segundo' means the second year of the woman's studies, but I'm not sure how to translate 'comercio'. I'll see if I can find out.

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Note added at 41 mins (2014-07-07 00:09:09 GMT)
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http://www.studylands.com/study-abroad/universities2-HN-en-c...

http://www.unitec.edu/academicos/licenciaturas/mercadotecnia...

I can't find anything related to trade and I have the feeling the woman might be referring to business studies, but you can't use that because that's not what she narrates.

I think it's probably safer to use 'commercial studies', which is the translation of 'comercio'.

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Note added at 57 mins (2014-07-07 00:25:27 GMT)
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I don't know if I've made myself clear. The woman stopped studying when she was in her second year.
Peer comment(s):

agree Juan Jacob : Sí, aunque "segundo" podría ser semestre.
1 hr
Gracias, Juan :)
agree Chris Neill : This sounds familiar as my daughter is in "segundo de comercio" one of the new "grados" in the Spanish education system. Segundo refers to second course/ year/ phil, yes on hindsight it just sounds wrong.. see dscussion
10 hrs
Thanks, Chris :)
neutral philgoddard : "Commercial" doesn't convey a clear meaning to me. Perhaps Chris could explain exactly what it entails.
10 hrs
I don't like it either, alhough I've seen that 'Commercial Studies' are offered in some countries.
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4 hrs

I was in my second year of business studies

I would say ...
Something went wrong...
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