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Ya que el modelaje es difícil, se aconseja a los estudiantes preparar un portafolio.

Ya que el modelaje es difícil, se aconseja a los estudiantes preparar un portafolio.
Since modeling is difficult, the students are advised to prepare a portfolio.
From Lesson 397:Impersonal "se" with people (se + a)·Spanish (Latin America)

Questions & Answers about Ya que el modelaje es difícil, se aconseja a los estudiantes preparar un portafolio.

Why is the verb singular (se aconseja) when the advice is for plural students (los estudiantes)?
Because of the a before los estudiantes. This a marks the students as the indirect object, not the subject. When using the impersonal se with a specific object marked by a, Spanish rules dictate that the verb must always remain in the third-person singular (aconseja).
Would it be wrong to leave out the a and say se aconsejan los estudiantes?
Yes, because it would change the meaning. Without the a, los estudiantes becomes the grammatical subject (using the passive se structure), which can confusingly sound like "the students advise each other." Keeping the a and keeping the verb singular cleanly forces the impersonal meaning: "one advises the students" or "the students are advised."
Why use ya que for "since" instead of desde?
Desde only means "since" when talking about a starting point in time or space (like "since yesterday"). When "since" means "because" or "given that," you must use phrases like ya que, como, or puesto que.
Could I use the subjunctive here and say se aconseja a los estudiantes que preparen...?
Absolutely. Verbs of influence like aconsejar (to advise) allow two structures: you can use que plus the subjunctive (que preparen), or simply attach the infinitive (preparar). The infinitive is very natural and concise here because the recipients of the advice (los estudiantes) are already clearly stated as the indirect object.
Why is there an el before modelaje if we don't say "the modeling" in English?
When talking about a subject, profession, or general concept in its entirety, Spanish requires a definite article (el or la). Since the sentence talks about modeling as a broad, general concept, el modelaje is required.

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