AP SPANISH LANGUAGE

Preparing our students for challenging expectations in

Spanish communication

WHAT SHOULD OUR STUDENTS KNOW AND BE ABLE TO DO?

Let’s look at the claims and evidence (from AP Central)!

EXPECTATIONS CLAIMS about students who score a 3, 4, 5 (As

stated on the AP Central Web site): The student has strong communicative ability in

Spanish in the Interpersonal, Interpretive, and Presentational modes.

The student has a strong command of Spanish linguistic skills (including accuracy and fluency) that support communicative ability.

The student comprehends Spanish intended for native speakers in a variety of settings, types of discourse, topics, styles, registers, and broad regional variations.

EXPECTATIONSClaims (continued)

The student produces Spanish comprehensible to native speakers in a variety of settings, types of discourse, topics, and registers.

The student acquires information from authentic sources in Spanish.

The student is aware of some cultural perspectives of Spanish-speaking peoples.

EXPECTATIONS EVIDENCE shown by students who score a 3,

4, 5 (As stated on the AP Central Web site): Identify and summarize the main points and

significant details and make appropriate inferences and predictions from a spoken source, such as a broadcast news report or a lecture on an academic or cultural topic related to the Spanish-speaking world.

Identify and summarize the main points and significant details and predict outcomes from an everyday conversation on a familiar topic, a dialogue from a film or other broadcast media, or an interview on a social or cultural topic related to the Spanish-speaking world.

EXPECTATIONSEvidence (continued)

Identify and summarize main points and important details and make appropriate inferences and predictions from a written text such as a newspaper or magazine article or contemporary literary excerpt.

Write a cohesive and coherent analytical or persuasive essay in reaction to a text or on a personal, academic, cultural, or social issue, with control of grammar and syntax.

Describe, narrate, and present information or persuasive arguments on general topics with grammatical control and good pronunciation in an oral presentation of two or three minutes.

Use information from sources provided to present a synthesis and express an opinion.

EXPECTATIONSEvidence (continued)

Recognize cultural elements implicit in oral and written texts.

Interpret linguistic cues to infer social relationships.

Communicate via Interpersonal and Presentational written correspondence.

Initiate, maintain, and close a conversation on a familiar topic.

Formulate questions to seek clarification or additional information.

Use language that is semantically and grammatically accurate according to a given context.

SPECIAL CHALLENGES

They need it all!

STUDENTS NEED

Rich, varied vocabulary, vocabulary, vocabulary!!!! Command of elementary structures and the ability to

communicate in various tenses in both moods. The ability to synthesize and develop cohesive

writing and speech. The ability to comprehend different genres of written

and spoken language with a variety of dialects and accents.

The desire to challenge themselves and raise the bar personally to be the best they can be!

BENEFITS OF THE NEWER EXAM☺I can see these now!

More global, holistic exam/rubrics The rubrics are more forgiving than before with

the focus being grammar. Higher order thinking skills More real world skills with focus on world issues

and culture Synthesis is cross-curricular…same

expectations in other higher level courses. Integration of skills is vital to everyday

communication.

THE AP SPANISH LANGUAGE EXAM

Now let’s take a look at the exam!

2009 AP SPANISH LANGUAGE EXAM

Handout Section I: Multiple Choice (50% score)

Listening (20%) and Reading (30%) Section II: Free Response (50% score)

Writing (30%) and Speaking (20%)

SECTION I: MULTIPLE CHOICE

Listening: Short dialogues and

narratives without questions written out

Variety of contexts Variety of accents and

registers Usually in order Noise and natural

atmosphere

Strategies: Train students to listen for

setting. Train students to read over

options for short selections first.

Can be tricky…words used may lead students to wrong choice.

LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN (See handout of authentic resources.)

Sharing

SECTION I: MULTIPLE CHOICE (continued)

Listening: Long dialogues and

narratives with questions (not spoken aloud)

2 minutes to read over Listen 2 minutes to complete Some students complete

as they go, others take notes and complete later.

Can be very long…5-8 minutes!

Strategies: Read, listen for any

sources, setting, general information…helps with context.

Some students complete as they go, others listen intently and take notes, completing the multiple choice in the 2 minutes later.

Students need to discover what works best for them.

LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN!!! Sharing

SECTION I: MULTIPLE CHOICE(continued)

Reading Comprehension:

Journalistic and/or literary selections followed by multiple-choice questions.

Strategies: Note source for more

contextual information. Quickly scan

questions/options. Note any visual components. Underline, circle, anything to

help focus on what you may need later.

May need to “insert” an additional sentence.

Need to make cultural inferences.

READ, READ, READ (See handout.)

Sharing

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ALL MULTIPLE CHOICE

Tell students to concentrate on what they KNOW not on what they don’t know. Don’t get “hung up” on unknown vocabulary…they will not know it all!

Word root and word family strategies (handout)

Don’t be tricked! Guess if you can eliminate 2 answers.

SECTION ll: FREE RESPONSE

Interpersonal (Informal) Writing:

10 minutes, 60 words or more.

Context may be email, short note, business, etc.

Focus on task completion, topic development, and language use.

10% free response score

Strategies: Prep Book Excellent help

Register Salutation Address each bullet

point. Closing Tenses…attention to

bullets. Target 65 – 70 words

and leave time to edit.

SECTION ll: FREE RESPONSE(continued)

Presentational or Formal Writing:

55 minutes, 200 words or more.

Integrated skills (Listening, Reading, Writing)

3 fuentes (2 written, 1 oral) Synthesis, not summary! Cite sources throughout. Cohesive writing

Strategies: Underline and take notes while

reading and listening. CITE sources. Recognize, interpret, infer,

evaluate, and synthesize. CAUTION: Do not simply

summarize each source independently; synthesis is key!

Thesis (paragraph), development (2-3 paragraphs), conclusion (paragraph)

TRANSITIONS (handout) RICH vocabulary Goal: 230 words, allow edit

time.

SECTION ll: FREE RESPONSE(continued)

Interpersonal (Informal) Speaking:

Simulated interpersonal conversation

Interact/role play – 20 seconds per response.

5-6 opportunities to speak Focus on task

completion, topic development, and language use.

10% speaking score

Strategies: Read over outline (Twice: 30 secs.

& 1 minute) and jot down ideas. Attention to register (Don’t flip flop!) Listen for tenses! Address each bullet point. Use «muletillas». (Handout) Self-correct At about the penultimate time they

speak, there is a “curve” thrown! Cross off or check prompts

completed: Students can “get lost” or confused.

SECTION ll: FREE RESPONSE(continued)

Presentational or Formal Speaking:

2 fuentes (1 oral, I written)

Integrated skills (Listening, Reading, speaking)

5 minutes to read, then listen, 2 minutes to plan, 2 minutes to speak.

Synthesis, not summary! Cite sources throughout. Cohesive speaking 10% speaking score

Strategies: Underline and take notes

while reading and listening. CITE sources. Recognize, interpret, infer,

evaluate, and synthesize. CAUTION: Do not simply

summarize each source; synthesis is key!

Thesis, development, conclusion.

Compare and contrast! (Handout - organizers)

Goal: Fill 2 minutes. RICH vocabulary TRANSITIONS (handout)

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FREE RESPONSE

SECTIONS Teach students to use the rubrics:

ALWAYS FOCUS ON: Task completion, Topic development, Language Use

Consider having them evaluate themselves to check against your score.

Use Bloom’s verbs in Spanish for higher order thinking: http://d228.ubiobio.cl/nuevacarpeta/taxonomiabloom.html

Fill time in speaking sections! Be confident and say something when prompted! Don’t listen to those around you…keep speaking even if

they stop!

JURIED SCORES

Practice and Discussion

JURIED SCORES

Interpersonal and Presentational Writing Read and score in small groups.Share and discuss.

Interpersonal and Presentational Speaking Listen, take notes, score in small groups.Share and discuss.

SPECIAL TECHNIQUES

Let’s explore and share!

WHAT WORKS IN MY CLASSROOM

My Web site: I make a lot available to my students at all times…Connect them when I am not with them!

Summer Review: Focusing on the four domains – listening, speaking, reading and writing

Syllabus: Printable from my Web site News journals: 1 audio and 1 written per week or every two

weeks. Later…they can choose related news to analyze and compare.

Vocabulary: Triángulo workbook and the auto-pruebas

WHAT WORKS IN MY CLASSROOM (continued)

Extra speaking and listening Writing - Self-correction and reflection: Coding of first

drafts with rubric scores; revision; student scores self. Audacity: Get familiar with recording. Use graphic organizers for audio sources to help with

Comparing and Contrasting NO ENGLISH EVER, unless a grammar explanation

merits it!!! Consider the National Spanish Exam for extra practice

http://www.nationalspanishexam.org/prac_exam.htm

AUTHENTIC RESOURCES

Examples and Sharing

AUTHENTIC LISTENING AND READING NEWS RESOURCES

http://spanish.wn.com/ http://

libraries.mit.edu/guides/types/flnews/spanish.html

http://www.un.org/spanish/News/http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/news/http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/

pop_up.asp?fpVname=SPA_PAIS&ref_pge=map&tfp_map=Europe

http://www.formato21.com.mx/

LISTENING RESOURCES

http://notesinspanish.com (Conversaciones por tema/castellano)

http://www.palabravirtual.com/ (Una colección de poemas en varios formatos: audio, video y texto)

http://www.stereojoya.com.mx/ (Música en español)  http://www.los40.com.mx/player/Radio/40Principales/ http://www.los40.com.mx/radio.aspx http://www.laits.utexas.edu/spe/siteindex.php (Various

topics and countries/pronunciation) http://albalearning.com/ (Audio books, literature)

¡GRACIAS!

¡Buena suerte en el examen!