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  3. Education / Pedagogy

absence ponctuelle

English translation: short (1-3hr) absence

14:51 May 18, 2011
French to English translations [PRO]
Education / Pedagogy
French term or phrase: absence ponctuelle
At the bottom of a report card, below the notes for different subjects:

Nombre de 1/2 journee(s) d'absence
Heure(s) d'absence(s) ponctuelle(s)
Nombre de retard(s)

What is the difference between the two - does the first signify that the student did not come to the class in the middle of the school day? What would be the correct translation?
Kinia
Local time: 09:32
English translation:short (1-3hr) absence
Explanation:
I know that isn't exactly what the French says, but I do believe it's what it means. Half a day is 4 hours maximum. My son's experience was that a pupil who only had one hour of study from 11-12 could arrive at 11 am. But if they had lessons from 8-9 and 11-12 then they didn't have the right to disappear between 9 and 11. The same applied in the afternoon. These are the absences referred to here, IMO.

Anything that says "number of absences lasting less than half a day" works. The problem is how to say all that in a few words.
Selected response from:

Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 08:32
Grading comment
Actually, I chose this one as more universal. Thanks a lot!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +2Sporadic hourly absences
Lara Barnett
3 +1short (1-3hr) absence
Sheila Wilson
3 -1periodic absence
Estelle Demontrond-Box
3 -1Number of hours of absence
Catharine Cellier-Smart


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): -1
periodic absence


Explanation:
I think that it can be more than a half-day whereas the other only looks at half-day absences

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Note added at 8 mins (2011-05-18 14:59:29 GMT)
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The contrary would be a prolonged absence (absence prolongée).
So here a day or two I would suspect as opposed to a half-day absence (1/2 journée d'absence)

Estelle Demontrond-Box
Australia
Local time: 17:32
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: French
PRO pts in category: 28

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  philgoddard: It could be less than half a day.
57 mins
neutral  Catharine Cellier-Smart: periodic tends to imply something regular which is not necessarily the case here
9 hrs
disagree  cchat: No, absence is counted in half days, because schooling in France may include a half-day (Wednesday and/or Saturday). So a regular school week could be 8 or 9 or 10 half-days. Generally no school on Wednesday afternoons.
16 hrs
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37 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): -1
Number of hours of absence


Explanation:
I would do away the "ponctuelle" completely; not sure it's necessary to translate into English.

Catharine Cellier-Smart
Reunion
Local time: 11:32
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 54

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  philgoddard: "Ponctuelle" is important - it means "one-off" or "occasional". It's not the total hours of absence.
25 mins
  -> thank you. I know what "ponctuelle" means.
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Sporadic hourly absences


Explanation:
This is an idea based on discussion box.

"sporadic"
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sporadic

Lara Barnett
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:32
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 36

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  amanda solymosi
16 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Isabelle Barth-O'Neill:
17 hrs
  -> Thank you Isabelle.
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
short (1-3hr) absence


Explanation:
I know that isn't exactly what the French says, but I do believe it's what it means. Half a day is 4 hours maximum. My son's experience was that a pupil who only had one hour of study from 11-12 could arrive at 11 am. But if they had lessons from 8-9 and 11-12 then they didn't have the right to disappear between 9 and 11. The same applied in the afternoon. These are the absences referred to here, IMO.

Anything that says "number of absences lasting less than half a day" works. The problem is how to say all that in a few words.

Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 08:32
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 107
Grading comment
Actually, I chose this one as more universal. Thanks a lot!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Yolanda Broad
4 hrs
  -> Thanks
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