pisar el terreno

English translation: hands-on experience

19:29 Oct 21, 2023

Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Education / Pedagogy / University degree course / Internships

Spanish term or phrase: pisar el terreno

SPAIN. Another query from this paper about Spanish students on Human Resources and Labour Relations degree courses, concerning work placement/internships. I understand the meaning, but so far I'm only coming up with things like 'tread the boards' (too theatrical) or 'getting their sea legs' (too nautical). All suggestions welcome.

"El supuesto final en empresa permitía poner en práctica por parte del alumnado -de manera consciente o inconsciente-, una serie de competencias como: capacidad de adaptación, capacidad de negociación y uso de las habilidades sociales, necesidad de pisar el terreno y contacto con la realidad, superación de adversidades y situaciones no deseadas..."

neilmac KudoZ activity Questions: 1872 (2 open) (106 closed without grading) Answers: 6252 Spain
Local time: 11:45

English translation:hands-on experience

Explanation:
I'm pretty sure that's the general meaning.

Selected response from:

pawlik
Spain
Local time: 11:45

Grading comment

Kudoz to pawlik for getting the most agrees and suggesting something I had already considered. I really appreciate all the help and comments here and am using versions of other suggestions as well. Thanks again everybody :-)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +5

hands-on experience

pawlik

4 +1

field experience

Mariana Berberian

keep (their) feet on the ground

Jennifer Levey

3 +1

get one's feet wet, get real-world experience

Darius Saczuk

3 +1

on the ground

Lindsey Sidebottom

Get to grips with the lie of the land

Andrew Bramhall

Discussion entries: 4

Answers

6 mins confidence:

keep (their) feet on the ground

Explanation:
For example ... ?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 mins (2023-10-21 19:37:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Definition of 'keep/have your feet on the ground'
If you say that someone has their feet on the ground, you approve of the fact that they have a sensible and practical attitude towards life, and do not have unrealistic ideas.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/keep-ha...

Jennifer Levey
Chile
Local time: 05:45
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 116

Notes to answerer

Asker: The idea is not so much about being grounded, but of gaining practical (hands-on) experience in real life (in-company) situations rather than classroom scenarios.

12 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

get one's feet wet, get real-world experience

Explanation:
My take on it

Darius Saczuk
United States
Local time: 05:45
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

Polish,

English
PRO pts in category: 525

Notes to answerer

Asker: Neat suggestions, keep'em coming, folks!

15 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +5

hands-on experience

Explanation:
I'm pretty sure that's the general meaning.

pawlik
Spain
Local time: 11:45
Native speaker of:

English,

Polish
PRO pts in category: 8

Grading comment

Notes to answerer

Asker: "Hands-on" is what occurred to me as well, cheers. I will definitely use a version with that.

2 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

on the ground

Explanation:
definition from Oxford Languages Dictionary

"in a place where real, practical work is done", i.e. getting practical experience.

Lindsey Sidebottom
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:45
Native speaker of:

English

Notes to answerer

Asker: I'd considered "boots on the ground", but it felt a bit military... Still a contender though :-)

9 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

field experience

Explanation:
I suggest field experience. I understand that you are referring to the internships that students do as part of their university training where they acquire certain competencies as indicated in the text.

The references below also mention phrases like hands-on and real life experience.

---
Field experiences are structured learning opportunities that a student can engage in outside of the classroom. Field experiences are intended to help students develop skills related to their major, as well as competencies that will serve them in a variety of professional settings.
source: https://www.umass.edu/careers/field-experience-definitions#:...

Example sentence(s):

https://www.umass.edu/careers/internships-co-ops-and-other-field-experiences
https://www.cedu.niu.edu/etra/resources/field-experience/index.shtml

Mariana Berberian
Argentina
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Spanish

Notes to answerer

Asker: Interesting,thanks :-)

Asker: I'm using: la pandemia impidió que el alumnado pisara el terreno -> the pandemic prevented students from setting foot in the field.

14 hrs confidence:

Get to grips with the lie of the land

Explanation:
in a metaphorical sense ; get to grips/ come to terms with the lie of the land/ landscape;

Andrew Bramhall
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:45
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 24

Notes to answerer

Asker: Nice, but maybe a bit long... :-)

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English translation: hands-on experience

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