The
AP Spanish Language Exam is a 3-4 hour exam testing your abilities and
proficiency in Spanish. You are “on
stage” in Spanish for over 3 hours integrating all four of your skills in
listening, speaking, reading and writing.
The exam assumes and demands critical, integrated expression in
Spanish. You must maintain your focus
during these 3+ hours. The AP Spanish
Exam IS REQUIRED for all students enrolled in the class.
In
addition to the reading and writing on the AP Spanish Language exam, you must
record an improvised two-minute formal oral presentation. You will read a short selection; then,
you will listen to a different spoken selection. You are given 2 minutes to organize your
thoughts about these two selections.
Immediately afterwards, you speak for 2 minutes integrating the two selections
into your recorded monologue. You must
show a high level of analysis, synthesis and evaluation in this presentation to
receive a 4 or 5.
The
AP Spanish Language class is an intense, demanding course if you
want a 3, 4 or 5 on the AP test. At
this point in time, Mr. Oliver recommends that any student interested in taking
the AP Spanish course and AP Spanish exam at Grafton should maintain a 90+/B
average in his or her current Spanish 4 or AP SPANISH CLASS. Hopefully, this level of success will help
you obtain either a 3, 4 or 5 on the test in May. [Questions? You may reach me at boliver@ycsd.york.va.us
or call the school at 898-0530.]
Ready
to step up to the challenge? J
If
you are interested in taking the AP Spanish Exam next May, these are my recommendations
and requirements for the summer
and during the school year for preparation.
1.
Everyday, pick up a Spanish publication and read some of it. I suggest People Magazine en Español, Reader’s
Digest en Español or other such publications. You may buy these at Barnes and Noble or at
other book/magazine shops. Car
magazines, fashion magazines, etc. are all fine. Just do some reading and come in contact with Spanish publications. ALSO, purchase a Spanish/English dictionary
to help you.
2. You can also go on the internet and read articles in
Spanish such as on-line newspapers, magazines, web sites. Yahoo is also in Spanish. [If you are a member of a religious
community, you might seek out publications and sacred texts in Spanish to study
and compare with those you have in English.]
3. Have some daily or every
other daily contact with Univisión on the cable network. I suggest watching news programs such as
“Primer Impacto,” or “Noticiero.” You
will see and hear speakers from all of the Spanish-speaking countries. “Tu Desayuno Alegre,” is a morning talk show
with music videos. Also, there are soap
operas, “Telenovelas,” if that interests you, plus there are game shows as well. Somehow, work this into your busy schedule. You need frequent contact over the summer
with Spanish language and cultures.
4. Videos and DVDs are
excellent resources, too, for listening to Spanish. While watching your favorite
DVD this summer, select to hear or watch your DVD in the Spanish language. Either just watch the program and jot down
some words or things you don’t understand or want to learn then let the rest
flow over you….. or….. Tape a show, then pick a 3-5 minute segment
and keep rewinding it, working with it until you get most of what is going
on. You might like working with music
videos or commercials when you do this at first. Try to enjoy this, or work with a partner.
5. The speakers on Univisión
talk 10 times faster than the speakers on the AP Spanish Exam. Don’t become discouraged. The most important thing is maintaining your
motivation and maintaining your 90+ average next year en Español.
6. REQUIRED: Purchase
a three-ring binder or loose-leaf notebook.
In this binder/notebook, complete the required “Summer AP Spanish
Language Prep Packet.” Start with the
sections that you think are the easiest. Complete them. Build your confidence and then move into the
harder activities. Reassemble all of
your work plus the printed packet in your purchased binder/notebook for me to review
and grade. You may write your answers
on the photocopies when convenient to do so. Be sure
to pace yourself as you complete this work.
AP Spanish demands a commitment to and a talent for critical listening,
speaking, thinking, reading and writing.
Contact me if you have questions during the summer or beforehand. [boliver@ycsd.york.va.us]
J ¡Buena
suerte! J