AP Spanish Language and Culture

Course Catalog ID:

4540

Subject Categories:

AP Course, Global Language, New and Improved

Description

This course emphasizes communication (understanding and being understood by others) by applying the interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of communication in real-life situations. This includes vocabulary usage, language control, communication strategies, and cultural awareness. The course engages students in an exploration of culture in both contemporary and historical contexts. It develops students’ awareness and appreciation of cultural products (e.g., tools, books, music, laws, conventions, institutions); practices (patterns of social interactions within a culture); and perspectives (values, attitudes, and assumptions). A primary purpose of this class is to prepare students for the AP exam. The exam includes reading and understanding original sources, with written exam and audio interview. Class time will include learning exam materials and practicing exam techniques, with significant attention to comprehension and discussion of articles in Spanish newspapers, journals, and interviews. Our goal will be to think, argue, and communicate in Spanish at real speed about current issues.

Prerequisites

Grade Levels*:

11, 12

* Enrollment restricted based on Date of Birth and Grad Year (whichever is more limiting). Enrollment outside these levels requires written concurrence from TPS Support.

Readiness

• Successful completion (80% or higher) of TPS Spanish 4 Language and Culture

━ OR ━

• Successful completion (90% or higher) of TPS Spanish 3 Language and Culture

━ OR ━

• Successful completion of Readiness Test

Notes and Conditions

Suggested Preparation: AP Spanish may be taken after Spanish 3 or Spanish 4. The AP Spanish exam covers not only language but also culture and current cultural issues. Students will be better prepared for both language and culture and earn higher scores if AP Spanish is taken after Spanish 4, preferably during the student’s last year in high school.

Attendance Required: Because this is a spoken language mastery course, regular active participation is required and is factored into the course grade. This course is unable to offer the flexible scheduling you may expect from TPS AP and college dual credit courses.

AP® Certified: Learn more about TPS AP courses and exam results. (AP® is a trademark owned by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this course.)

California A-G: This course has CA A-G approval.

“When it comes to immersive high school Spanish courses, it doesn’t get much better than TPS Spanish. This last step in the TPS Spanish experience goes above and beyond just preparing you for the AP exam; it also further develops your speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills and helps you bring your Spanish to the next level.”

Hudson B

Student

“Many students in this class earn 5s on the AP exam, and it’s easy to see why. Students practice listening for comprehension and responding, and they research and discuss modern issues to prepare for the reading and writing sections of the test. This class also prepares students to go out and put their Spanish skills into practice. This class has grown me (in Spanish and in other ways!) whereas before I didn’t even realize I had more to learn. I highly recommend!”

Emma M

Student

“I felt very well prepared for the exam after taking this course, and loved learning more about the Spanish culture.”

Alison G

Student

“AP Spanish Language and Culture has prepared me extremely well to take the AP exam! Through discussions on controversial topics, preparation activities including live conversations, essays, emails, and reading and listening comprehension, the teacher helped us improve our Spanish skills in a fun, engaging manner.”

Della B

Student