discutidor de problemas

English translation: senior teaching assistant

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:discutidor de problemas
English translation:senior teaching assistant
Entered by: Evan Tomlinson

00:31 Jan 24, 2014
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Science - Physics
Spanish term or phrase: discutidor de problemas
This is a title of an official position, apparently given to university students in their first years of graduate study, in the Mexican academic system. The person in question is currently a physicist, and did his undergraduate and Master's at the UNAM in Mexico City. Prior to becoming a graduate instructor, he held this position of "discutidor de problemas", for which I have not found a satisfying equivalent in the Anglo-American academic world.

The text in question is a CV. No other context is immediatley applicable.
Evan Tomlinson
United States
Local time: 18:47
discutidor de problemas (senior teaching assistant)
Explanation:
The phrase "discutidor de problemas" appears nowhere, as far as I can see, but "discutidor" is a figure that exists specifically in Physics at UNAM, and it is a kind of graduate teaching assistant. The following document refers to this position and to the criteria for appointment:

"Requisitos y Criterios de Asignación de Profesores, Discutidores y Ayudantes de Profesor a los Grupos de las Asignaturas de la Licenciatura en Física [...]
3. Sobre la figura de “Discutidor”
3.1. En la Licenciatura en Física existe la figura de “Discutidor”, la cual comparte obligaciones académicas con la figura de “Profesor”, con la salvedad que es la figura de “Profesor” quien es responsable administrativamente del curso asignado."
http://fisica.fciencias.unam.mx/ACTAS/FISICA_CriteriosAsigna...

This position is listed after "Profesor" and before "Ayudante de Profesor", and this suggests that it ranks below the former and above the latter. "Ayudantes" only have to be undergraduate or graduate students, but "Discutidores" can be "Profesores o Investigadores de tiempo completo de la UNAM" or postdocs, though the position can also be held by a grad student or even an undergrad. So it seems that a "discutidor" is a higher position than an "ayudante".

But both, in American terms, seem to be teaching assistants, who are not solely responsible for a course, like an instructor, but teach on a course for which a "Profesor" is responsible. So I think that we are talking about a teaching assistant, and that "senior" could perhaps be added to distinguish it from an "ayudante", who would be more junior.

This fits with your statement that the person held this position before becoming a graduate instructor, so it looks like a lower position.

In any event, in cases like this where the equivalence is difficult to gauge exactly, I think it's very desirable to leave the original Spanish term and add a translation or explanation in parentheses, as suggested above.
Selected response from:

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 02:47
Grading comment
Excellent research! Thank you very much.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3discutidor de problemas (senior teaching assistant)
Charles Davis
3Mediator
Patricia Fierro, M. Sc.


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Mediator


Explanation:
This seems a good option, based on the lack of context.

Patricia Fierro, M. Sc.
Ecuador
Local time: 20:47
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
discutidor de problemas (senior teaching assistant)


Explanation:
The phrase "discutidor de problemas" appears nowhere, as far as I can see, but "discutidor" is a figure that exists specifically in Physics at UNAM, and it is a kind of graduate teaching assistant. The following document refers to this position and to the criteria for appointment:

"Requisitos y Criterios de Asignación de Profesores, Discutidores y Ayudantes de Profesor a los Grupos de las Asignaturas de la Licenciatura en Física [...]
3. Sobre la figura de “Discutidor”
3.1. En la Licenciatura en Física existe la figura de “Discutidor”, la cual comparte obligaciones académicas con la figura de “Profesor”, con la salvedad que es la figura de “Profesor” quien es responsable administrativamente del curso asignado."
http://fisica.fciencias.unam.mx/ACTAS/FISICA_CriteriosAsigna...

This position is listed after "Profesor" and before "Ayudante de Profesor", and this suggests that it ranks below the former and above the latter. "Ayudantes" only have to be undergraduate or graduate students, but "Discutidores" can be "Profesores o Investigadores de tiempo completo de la UNAM" or postdocs, though the position can also be held by a grad student or even an undergrad. So it seems that a "discutidor" is a higher position than an "ayudante".

But both, in American terms, seem to be teaching assistants, who are not solely responsible for a course, like an instructor, but teach on a course for which a "Profesor" is responsible. So I think that we are talking about a teaching assistant, and that "senior" could perhaps be added to distinguish it from an "ayudante", who would be more junior.

This fits with your statement that the person held this position before becoming a graduate instructor, so it looks like a lower position.

In any event, in cases like this where the equivalence is difficult to gauge exactly, I think it's very desirable to leave the original Spanish term and add a translation or explanation in parentheses, as suggested above.

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 02:47
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Excellent research! Thank you very much.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  lorenab23: This looks very good!
1 hr
  -> Many thanks, Lorena! Un abrazo :)

agree  Lydianette Soza: As usual, straight to the point! Attaboy!
1 hr
  -> Thanks very much, Lydianette :) ¡Saludos!

agree  philgoddard: "Supervisor" is another possibility - someone with whom you discuss academic issues connected with the work you're doing.
10 hrs
  -> Could be. "Discutidor" suggests someone students discuss things with. On the other hand, the document I've quoted (the only one I found which offered any kind of definition) doesn't specify, so maybe best to use something general. Thanks, Phil :)
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