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AP ® Spanish Language and Culture: An Overview of Course Revisions
AP® Spanish Language and Culture: An Overview of Course Revisions
Why Change?
Reflect current pedagogy More fully align with national standards Ensure ongoing alignment with parallel
college courses Standardize all AP® world language courses
and exams
Focus of Revised Course
Integration of language, content, and culture
Practical language usage Communication is priority
What Has Changed?
Focus on the three modes of communication– Interpersonal– Interpretive– Presentational
Thematic approach Cultural emphasis
Performance Guidelines
AP® COURSE
NOVICE INTERMEDIATE PRE-ADVANCED
A Thematic Approach
Global Challenges /Los desafíos
mundiales
Beauty and Aesthetics /
La belleza y la estética
Families and Communities /
Las familias y las comunidades
Personal and Public Identities /
Las identidades personales y públicas
Contemporary Life /La vida contemporánea
Science and Technology /
La ciencia y la tecnología
A Thematic ApproachRecommended Contexts
Tema: Los desafíos mundiales
Los temas económicos
Los temas del medio ambiente
El pensamiento filosófico ya la religión
La población y la demografía
El bienestar social
La conciencia social
Ask yourself: “What do I really want students to know? What can they use in real life?”
An Essential Question:– is a provocative question designed to engage student
interest and guide inquiry into the important ideas in a field of study.
– does not have one “right” answer– is intended to stimulate discussion and rethinking
over time– raises other important questions– When using more than one, essential questions can
be differentiated to meet student needs
Essential Questions
make comparisons between the native language and the target language and between cultures (Comparisons),
AP® Spanish Language and Culture students demonstrate an understanding of the culture(s),
Focus on Communication
The course is designed around an overarching premise:
When communicating,
incorporate interdisciplinary topics (Connections),
and use the target language in real-life settings (Communities).
Three Modes of Communication
Interpersonal CommunicationActive negotiation of meaning among individuals through conversation (face-to-face or telephonic); or through reading and writing (e.g., exchange of personal letters, notes, or email or participation in written online discussions)
Interpersonal CommunicationActive negotiation of meaning among individuals through conversation (face-to-face or telephonic); or through reading and writing (e.g., exchange of personal letters, notes, or email or participation in written online discussions)
Presentational CommunicationCreation of spoken or written communication prepared for an audience and rehearsed, revised or edited before presentation; one-way communication that requires interpretation by others without negotiation of meaning
Presentational CommunicationCreation of spoken or written communication prepared for an audience and rehearsed, revised or edited before presentation; one-way communication that requires interpretation by others without negotiation of meaning
Interpretive CommunicationNo active negotiation of meaning with another individual, although there is an active negotiation of meaning construction; includes the cultural interpretation of text, movies, radio, television, and speeches
Interpretive CommunicationNo active negotiation of meaning with another individual, although there is an active negotiation of meaning construction; includes the cultural interpretation of text, movies, radio, television, and speeches
Six Primary Learning Objective Areas Spoken Interpersonal Communication Written Interpersonal Communication Audio, Visual, and Audiovisual Interpretive
Communication Written and Print Interpretive
Communication Spoken Presentational Communication Written Presentational Communication
Achievement Level Descriptions
Represent a student’s progression along the second language learning trajectory
Provide explicit descriptions of student performance at 5, 4, 3, and 2
Allow for detailed and meaningful reporting of student performance
Achievement Level Descriptions Categories
Spoken Interpersonal Communication
Interaction Strategies Opinions Language structures Vocabulary Register Pronunciation Cultures, connections and comparisons
Cultures, Connections and ComparisonsSpoken Interpersonal Communication
Interaction Strategies Opinions Language
structures Vocabulary Register Pronunciation Cultures,
connections, and comparisons
Spoken Interpersonal Communication
Interaction Strategies Opinions Language
structures Vocabulary Register Pronunciation Cultures,
connections, and comparisons
Audio, Visual and AudiovisualInterpretiveCommunication
Comprehension of content
Critical viewing and listening
Vocabulary Cultures,
connections, and comparisons
Audio, Visual and AudiovisualInterpretiveCommunication
Comprehension of content
Critical viewing and listening
Vocabulary Cultures,
connections, and comparisons
Written Presentational
Communication
Discourse and development
Strategies Language
structures Vocabulary Writing
conventions Register Cultures,
connections, and comparisons
Written Presentational
Communication
Discourse and development
Strategies Language
structures Vocabulary Writing
conventions Register Cultures,
connections, and comparisons
Focus on Culture
Products, Practices, and Perspectives– Products refer to both those products that are
tangible (e.g., tools, books) and intangible (e.g., laws, conventions, institutions);
– Practices refer to patterns of social interactions within a culture; and
– Perspectives refer to the values, attitudes, and assumptions that underlie both practices and products.
How to Integrate Culture?
Authentic Materials such as (but not limited to)– newspaper/magazine articles, features, editorials,
ads– maps– charts and graphics– letters– radio segments– podcasts– films– music– visual art– opinion polls
Broader Application of the Curriculum Framework The Curriculum
Framework can be used to inform the entire program of instruction from beginning to AP.
It can also help unify instruction in classes that have students with combined levels.
AP Exam Format
SectionNumber of Questions
Percent of Final Score Time
Section I: Multiple ChoiceApprox. 95
minutes
Part AInterpretive Communication: Print Texts
30 questions
50%
Approx. 40 minutes
Part B
Interpretive Communication: Print and Audio Texts (combined) 35 questions Approx. 55 minutes
Interpretive Communication: Audio Texts
Section II: Free ResponseApprox. 85
minutes
Interpersonal Writing: Email Reply 1 prompt
50%
15 minutes
Presentational Writing: Persuasive Essay 1 promptApprox.
55 minutes
Interpersonal Speaking: Conversation 5 prompts20 seconds for each
response
Presentational Speaking: Cultural Comparison
1 prompt 2 minutes to respond
Multiple-Choice Items
Mix of comprehension and interpretive questions
Vocabulary in context
Purpose of the text, point of view of speaker/writer
Audience of the text
Inferences and conclusions
Questions of “cultural” or “interdisciplinary” nature that ask students to show understanding of information contained in the text
Free-Response Questions
Interpersonal and Presentational Communication
Written and spoken responses– Directions in both
English and Spanish
Free-Response Questions
Item Types:– Email reply (interpersonal writing)– Persuasive essay (presentational writing)– Conversation (interpersonal speaking)– Cultural comparison (presentational speaking)
Advance Organizers
Tasks and source materials come with advance organizers and time for previewing.
SAMPLE: Print Source
IntroducciónTema curricular: Los desafíos mundiales
Este texto trata del envejecimiento de la población europea. El artículo original fue publicado el 25 de febrero de 2008 en Inglaterra por el periodista Inder Bugarin.
SAMPLE: Print Source
IntroducciónTema curricular: Los desafíos mundiales
Este texto trata del envejecimiento de la población europea. El artículo original fue publicado el 25 de febrero de 2008 en Inglaterra por el periodista Inder Bugarin.
Advance Organizers
SAMPLE: Audio Source
IntroducciónTema curricular: La ciencia y la tecnología
Esta grabación trata del Primer Simposio de Bioluminiscencia en Vieques. El reportaje fue publicado el 20 de enero de 2011 en Puerto Rico por el programa Sea Grant. Son entrevistadas Lirio Márquez, la coordinadora del simposio, la senadora Norma Burgos, la senadora Marita Santiago y Ruperto Chaparro, el director de Sea Grant. La grabación dura aproximadamente tres minutos.
SAMPLE: Audio Source
IntroducciónTema curricular: La ciencia y la tecnología
Esta grabación trata del Primer Simposio de Bioluminiscencia en Vieques. El reportaje fue publicado el 20 de enero de 2011 en Puerto Rico por el programa Sea Grant. Son entrevistadas Lirio Márquez, la coordinadora del simposio, la senadora Norma Burgos, la senadora Marita Santiago y Ruperto Chaparro, el director de Sea Grant. La grabación dura aproximadamente tres minutos.
Features of the AP® Exam
Authentic materials reflect the linguistic and cultural diversity of the Spanish-speaking world.
Criteria for selection are comprehensibility and relevance.
Materials will be reasonably chosen and also reflect a range of cultural perspectives and linguistic features.
Audio sources are played twice. Most sources last from 1 minute 30 seconds to 2 minutes 30 seconds (no longer than 3 minutes).
Preparing for the New Course
For new teacher support resources and professional development opportunities visit:
– advancesinap.collegeboard.org
– apcentral.collegeboard.com
Date Activity
October 2011 Official announcement of new AP Spanish Language and Culture course to take effect in 2013-14 academic year
October 2011 Publication of AP Spanish Language and Culture Curriculum Framework including sample items
Summer 2012 AP Summer Institutes with main focus on the current course, but also with information on the new course
February 2013 Publication of AP Spanish Language and Culture Course and Exam Description and Publication of Course Audit materials
March 2013 Course Audit begins; course syllabi to be submitted by 1/31/14
June 2013 Publication of a complete Practice Exam
Summer and Fall 2013
AP Summer Institutes and one-day Workshops will focus on the new course
May 2014 First administration of new AP Spanish Language and Culture exam
Timeline
Thank you!
On behalf of the Advanced Placement Program®, thank you very much for taking the time to learn more about the AP® Spanish Language and Culture course.
We look forward to partnering with you as you build students’ success in your classroom and for the future!
