COU

English translation: COU (equivalent to A-level)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

Spanish term or phrase:	COU
English translation:	COU (equivalent to A-level)
Entered by:	Cecilia Gowar

18:21 Mar 26, 2016

Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Education / Pedagogy / CV

Spanish term or phrase: COU

COU stands for "Curso de Orientación Universitaria". This is the definition: "El Curso de Orientación Universitaria (COU) era una enseñanza no obligatoria en España perteneciente al sistema educativo diseñado en Ley General de Educación de 1970 y constaba de un solo curso, equivalente al último de bachillerato de la LOGSE."
Does anybody know how to translate it into (UK) English?
It is part of a CV.
TIA!!

Cecilia Gowar
United Kingdom

A-level

Explanation:
If you're asking specifically for UK English, although of course, this is indeed pre-university, this term is used quite often in the UK.
" A-level: Pre-University qualification in the UK, ideal for students who know what they want to study at University" - Cambridge Education Group

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Note added at 1 hora (2016-03-26 19:45:01 GMT)
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The difference between (what used to be known as) COU and A-level is that while COU was a 1-year pre-university course, the UK's A-levels are generally spread over 2 years, but they are both pre-university courses.

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Note added at 1 hora (2016-03-26 19:54:40 GMT)
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curso_de_Orientación_Universit... The University Orientation Course (Spanish: Curso de Orientación Universitaria) or COU was an academic level taught in Spain, its curriculum set by the Education Act 1970. It consisted of one single annual course, equivalent to the second year of the current bachillerato system

Selected response from:

Kenneth Shockley
Spain
Local time: 02:20

Grading comment

I used the word in Spanish, which was my original idea, and explained in brackets that it was "equivalent to A levels". The short explanation fitted the context in my case. Thanks to everybody!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

A-level

Kenneth Shockley

Discussion entries: 7

Kenneth Shockley

Spain

From ProZ - 2011

11:53 Mar 27, 2016

For years now in Spain, finishing what used to be COU is now the same as finishing "Bachillerato", which ends at 2nd Bachillerato. This was discussed in March 2011 in ProZ and the conclusion then was: "Keep name in SP and explain that it is equivalent to UK A levels": http://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish_to_english/education_pedag...

Cecilia Gowar

United Kingdom

ASKER

23:20 Mar 26, 2016

Sorry Kenneth... I had not realised it was you that had posted "A Level", which I had also thought about.... I am not decided yet but thanks everybody for your help so far.

Kenneth Shockley

Spain

22:41 Mar 26, 2016

Yes, it's the highest level of secondary education, and as Charles said, it's "post-compulsory" secondary education. It is not mandatory. I only said "A-level" because you seemed to be asking for UK English and although it's not the equivalent of COU in terms of length, it ends at the same point: once you've done your A-levels, the next step is university.

Cecilia Gowar

United Kingdom

ASKER

@ Kenneth

22:29 Mar 26, 2016

Thanks for your input. My problem is that there is no equivalent in the UK (not even in Spain now since it does not exist anymore). So I would put an explanation between brackets as I had thought and others suggested, but I do not even now WHAT to say.... would "highest level of secondary education" be right?

Kenneth Shockley

Spain

@Charles

21:54 Mar 26, 2016

COU means "Curso de Orientación Universitaria". If it wasn't a preparation for university study, then they certainly made a mistake in giving it that name. "Selectividad" is the Spanish University access test, so if they pass that, the next logical step is university study. I taught at a school for 13 years that only went up to 3rd BUP and didn't add COU until the last few years I was there - although it is true that most schools had COU included. A-levels is not the exact equivalent of COU in terms of when it begins, but it does end at the same point COU did and COU did (at least in theory) take the student to the point where they were "ready" for university - once they've passed selectividad.

Charles Davis

Spain

20:17 Mar 26, 2016

After completing EGB at 14, some people left school, some went on to FP (vocational training) and many went on to BUP. Those who started BUP and couldn't cope sometimes stopped after 1º de BUP, but it was very rare to complete BUP and not go on to COU. It was certainly seen as part of the same package.

Charles Davis

Spain

20:12 Mar 26, 2016

Personally I don't see any point in translating it at all. A literal translation of the words doesn't really convey an accurate idea of what it was. It was a continuation of BUP, preparing people for selectividad. It wasn't really a preparation for university study as such, except in the sense that secondary education is inherently a preparation for university study. I would simply put the Spanish term with something like "final year of post-compulsory secondary education" in parentheses.

Answers

1 hr confidence:

A-level

Kenneth Shockley
Spain
Local time: 02:20
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

I used the word in Spanish, which was my original idea, and explained in brackets that it was "equivalent to A levels". The short explanation fitted the context in my case. Thanks to everybody!

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