
AP® Spanish Language and Culture with Sandra Franco of Tucson, Arizona
Ms. Franco is a retired Spanish teacher, formerly at University High School in Tucson, Arizona. She taught for more than 30 years at the elementary, high school, and college levels. She taught AP® Spanish Language for 21 years and AP® Spanish Literature for 18 years and is currently a consultant for the College Board; a pursuit that she enjoys greatly. She has earned several awards including the National Society of High School Scholars’ Outstanding Achievement and Excellence in Teaching Award in 2004 and the College Board’s Exemplary AP® Teacher Award in 2006. She authored the College Board’s 2007 Tips for Teachers guide for AP® Spanish Language Teachers. Participants in this workshop will leave with a full understanding of the learning necessary for success on the AP® exam, as well as ways to prepare students to use the Spanish language in the real world.
AP® Spanish Language and Culture Tentative Syllabus
This workshop will cover the structure of the AP® Spanish Language and Culture course and exam including culture, authentic materials, theme-based instruction, and the three modes of communication: interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational. We will discuss the curriculum and successful strategies to teach classes of all sizes, as well as native and non-native speakers. Teachers are expected to actively participate in the workshop and share best practices with the entire group.
Topics include:
Ms. Franco is a retired Spanish teacher, formerly at University High School in Tucson, Arizona. She taught for more than 30 years at the elementary, high school, and college levels. She taught AP® Spanish Language for 21 years and AP® Spanish Literature for 18 years and is currently a consultant for the College Board; a pursuit that she enjoys greatly. She has earned several awards including the National Society of High School Scholars’ Outstanding Achievement and Excellence in Teaching Award in 2004 and the College Board’s Exemplary AP® Teacher Award in 2006. She authored the College Board’s 2007 Tips for Teachers guide for AP® Spanish Language Teachers. Participants in this workshop will leave with a full understanding of the learning necessary for success on the AP® exam, as well as ways to prepare students to use the Spanish language in the real world.
AP® Spanish Language and Culture Tentative Syllabus
This workshop will cover the structure of the AP® Spanish Language and Culture course and exam including culture, authentic materials, theme-based instruction, and the three modes of communication: interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational. We will discuss the curriculum and successful strategies to teach classes of all sizes, as well as native and non-native speakers. Teachers are expected to actively participate in the workshop and share best practices with the entire group.
Topics include:
- Creative strategies and techniques.
- Review of textbooks, the Internet, and authentic materials.
- Student skills that need to be reinforced on a regular basis.
- Analyzing and reviewing sample tests.
- Description of the AP® Spanish Language and Culture Exam, changes, and the course audit.
- Syllabus for AP® Spanish Language and Culture.
- Teacher Strategies for Teaching AP® Spanish Language and Culture.
- Interpretive communication, print texts (reading, vocabulary, graphs), ideas, and strategies.
- How to teach reading and vocabulary.
- Print texts strategies, continued.
- How to use the Internet for reading comprehension.
- The use of music and videos in the classroom.
- Interpretive communication: audio texts (listening) comprehension strategies.
- How to make the most of Internet sites for listening comprehension.
- Interpersonal and presentational writing ideas and strategies.
- Interpersonal and presentational writing strategies, continued.
- Interactive writing activities.
- Ideas for writing an excellent composition.
- Interpersonal and presentational speaking ideas and strategies.
- Using technology for speaking practice.
- How to incorporate grammar into assignments.
- Interpersonal and presentational speaking strategies, continued.
- Review and discussion of test samples.
- Sharing of methods, strategies, and techniques.
- If you’ve completed the AP® audit, sign up for the online discussion group, the AP® Teacher Community for AP® Spanish Language & Culture.
- Paper and pencils.
- A language lesson of any level, but preferably third year or above, that has worked well for you.
- The titles of current AP® textbooks and supplementary materials that you are using and/or with which you are familiar.

2018 Montana APSI flyer.pdf |