ap german language and culture what to expect and what to do
TRANSCRIPT
AP German Language and Culture
What to expect and what to do
the class - 2015 / 16
42 students enrolled in AP 2 students in German 41 student in German 5 Honors
I plan to have 2 classes,mixed AP and German 4 students, with about 22 students each.
This is a teacher’s dream!!!
the AP class - general stuff
The AP German class is a fun, board-approved, college level course.
It is conducted almost entirely in German - but that is ok!
It feels very challenging (especially at first), but every student is successful!
the AP class - how it worksWeekly topics, posted on my website
Weekly homework packets (1 hour, due at the end of the semester)
Participation is super important!
Weekly quizzes, 1st semester project
Lots of culture and yes, more soccer!
examples for weekly topics
politics and politicians
the German economy - characteristics and top 30 companies
working in Germany - professions, jobs, and how to get them
the new German identity - 25 years after the fall of the Wall
what Germans do for fun - beyond soccer
inventions and inventors - the idea behind German engineering
the environment - renewable energies and why the Germans love them
German city life versus life in the country side - both fun
art, film, and music - important figures and concepts
the AP test - what to knowone of the toughest AP tests
at YLHS: 78% passing rate! Yeah!
Above OC, CA, and National Level!!!
Only 25% of AP students take the test
Test is at the level of a native speaker
reading, listening, writing, speaking
what? Only 20% take the test?
Yes, that’s right.
Normal for World Languages
Don’t forget: the test is very difficult!
It is ok to just take the class, not the test.
We take practice tests with lots of feedback, so students know by February where they stand.
so, why should I take the class?Taking the German AP class
looks great on transcripts - hello college application
This class counts - hello GPA
Passing the AP test gives major college credit - hello early graduation
Taking the class lets you pass college entrance exams - hello internal credit
what is taught in the class?
Understanding native speakers
reading and listening
Expressing yourself entirely in German
speaking / pronunciation
writing/spelling, conventions, grammar
Understanding (!) the culture
My goalsStudents explore topics that matter to them through the German language.
Students understand German and European culture and thinking.
Students are able to pass important tests
Students see German as an opportunity!
What to do - starting tomorrowSorry, no official summer
homework.
Check out my website for a list of links
reading, videos, podcasts, culture
magazines, online courses, public TV
Try to speak as much as possible.
what students are saying91% rank the class between somewhat easy and somewhat difficult (nobody called it very difficult!)
50% say this class causes them no stress. That’s good!
57% say this class made a substantial difference in making them a better student (96% say it made a difference)
60% felt well or very well prepared to take the class
100% say the content learned is valuable (40%), very valuable (40%) or extremely valuable (20%)
100% highly or very highly recommend the class. Wow!
Quote of the Day
“German changed my life!”
Are you ready for it?