Course Overview The Pre AP Spanish Language and Culture course is a fast paced, intense – rigorous course taught exclusively in Spanish that requires students to improve their proficiency across the three modes of communication - interpretive, interpersonal and presentational. Students’ are expected to use exclusively Spanish in class. The course focuses on the integration of authentic resources including online print, audio, and audiovisual resources, as well as traditional print resources that include literature, essays, and magazine and newspaper articles, and a combination of visual/print resources such as charts, tables, and graphs, all with the goal of providing a rich, diverse learning experience. Students communicate using rich, advanced vocabulary and linguistic structures as they build proficiency in all modes of communication toward the pre-advanced level. Central to communication is the following premise from the College Board’s Curriculum Framework: “When communicating, students in the AP Spanish Language and Culture course demonstrate an understanding of the culture(s), incorporate interdisciplinary topics (Connections), make comparisons between the native language and the target language and between cultures (Comparisons), and use the target language in real-life settings (Communities). Due to the interactive nature of a language class, active participation in class activities and good study habits are essential to success.
Organization The course is divided into thematic units which are further based on recommended contexts (or sub-themes) and guided by essential questions. Corresponding cultural elements are integrated into the study of the units, and activities are directed with those cultural connections in mind. Students will be exposed to advanced language structures leading up to the AP Spanish Language and Culture course; however, review of the mechanics is done within the contextual framework of each unit as needed.
Thematic Units, Communication and Culture These units are organized based on the themes, recommended contexts, and essential questions of the Curriculum Framework. I also focus on integrating the six primary learning objectives of effective communication as I prepare students for the AP® Spanish Language and Culture Exam in May of next year. In addition, culture is central to content as we explore products, practices, and perspectives of the Spanish-speaking world. Students are guided to develop a deeper understanding of what the people of a particular culture believe and how they view the world. They also make constant comparisons between Spanish-speaking communities of the world and their own home culture in preparation for the presentational speaking exam task.
Major Topics Six Interconnected Themes (we will be connecting EVERYTHING we do to these themes) 1. Las familias y las comunidades, 2. La ciencia y la tecnología, 3. La belleza y la estética, 4. La vida contemporánea, 5. Los desafíos mundiales, 6. Las identidades personales y públicas