Th e purpose of this article is to analyze the educational expectations of young people who dropped out of traditional school and enrolled in institutions off ering a "second chance". Th e study, of a descriptive, qualitative nature, probes into student experiences based on ethnographic analysis. Th e fi ndings reveal that students value a second opportunity in schooling because it allows them to acquire language and communications skills for their daily needs as they earn a certifi cation to enter the labor market. Th eir expectations show the predominance of pragmatic rationality, associated with instrumental inclusion in the world of employment. A few accounts point to expectations related to the development of "soft" skills and social skills, such as those mentioned in the teaching documents.