AP® Spanish Language and Culture Self-Paced
Syllabus
Course Essential Questions:
- How has the role of families evolved in contemporary societies?
- How have developments in science and technology impacted language and the ways we communicate and, ultimately, how we see ourselves?
- How does art both challenge and reflect cultural perspectives?
- What are the social consequences of scientific or technological advancements?
- What influences one’s interpretation and perceptions of the quality of life?
- How do environmental, political, and societal challenges positively and negatively impact communities?
Course Learning Objectives:
- Comprehend written, audio, audiovisual, and visual text through the ability to describe the literal meaning of the text.
- Make interdisciplinary and cultural connections through data and connections among cultural topics.
- Interpret the content of written or audio text by identifying the point of view, rhetorical structures, tone, or other distinguishing features of a text.
- Determine the meaning of familiar and unfamiliar words through the use of idiomatic and culturally authentic expressions.
- Communicate interpersonally by speaking with others through understanding and applying appropriate communication strategies and varied syntactical expressions in interpersonal speaking.
- Communicate interpersonally by writing to others through understanding and applying appropriate communication strategies and varied syntactical expressions in interpersonal writing.
- Communicate through spoken presentations by using appropriate vocal and visual strategies to communicate an idea for the intended audience in presentational speaking.
- Communicate through written presentations by planning and researching an issue or topic using appropriate writing strategies to communicate with varied syntactical expressions or ideas in presentational writing.
Topic 1: Introduction to AP Spanish Language and Culture
- What are the rules and policies of the course?
- What course tools are available for navigating in and around the learning management system?
Unit 1: Families in Different Societies (Topics 2-6)
Essential Questions:
- How is the family defined in different societies?
- How do individuals contribute to the well-being of communities?
- What are the differences in the roles that communities and families assume in different societies around the world?
Topic 2: Education Communities / Las comunidades educativas
Topic 3: Social Networking / Las redes sociales
Topic 4: Human Geography / La geografía humana
Topic 5: Customs and Values / Las tradiciones y los valores
Topic 6: Family Structure / Las familias y las comunidades en resumen
Unit 2: The Influence of Language and Culture on Identity (Topics 7-11)
Tema: Science and Technology / La ciencia y la tecnología
Essential Questions:
- What impact does scientific and technological development have on our lives?
- What factors have driven development and innovation in science and technology?
- What role does ethics play in scientific advances?
Topic 7: Effects of Technology on Self and Society / Los efectos de la tecnología en el individuo y en la sociedad
Topic 8: Health Care and Medicine / El cuidado de la salud y la medicina
Topic 9: Science and Ethics / La ciencia y la ética
Topic 10: Natural Phenomena / Los fenómenos naturales
Topic 11: Science and Technology Wrap-up / La ciencia y la tecnología en resumen
Unit 3: Influences of Beauty and Art (Topics 12-17)
Tema: Beauty and Aesthetics / La belleza y la estética
Essential Questions:
- How are perceptions of beauty and creativity established?
- How do the ideals of beauty and aesthetics influence everyday life?
- How do the arts challenge and reflect cultural perspectives?
Topic 12: Defining Beauty / Definiciones de la belleza
Topic 13: Fashion and Design / La moda y el diseño
Topic 14: Language and Literature / El lenguaje y la literatura
Topic 15: Visual and Performing Arts / Las artes visuales y escénicas
Topic 16: Beauty and aesthetics Wrap-up / La belleza y la estética en resumen
Topic 17: Units 1-3 Exam
Unit 4: How Science and Technology Affect Our Lives (Topics 18-22)
Tema: Contemporary Life / La vida contemporánea
Essential Questions:
- How do individuals and societies define their own quality of life?
- How do cultural products, practices, and people's perspectives influence contemporary life?
- What are the challenges of contemporary life?
Topic 18: Education and Careers / La educación y las carreras profesionales
Topic 19: Entertainment / El entretenimiento y la diversión
Topic 20: Travel and Leisure / Los viajes y el ocio
Topic 21: Relationships / Las relaciones personales
Topic 22: Contemporary Life Wrap-up/La vida contemporánea en resumen
Unit 5: Factors That Impact the Quality of Life (Topics 23-27)
Tema: Global Challenges / Los desafíos mundiales
Essential Questions:
- What are the social, political and environmental challenges facing the world's societies?
- What are the origins of those challenges?
- What are some possible solutions to those challenges?
Topic 23: Economic Issues / Los temas económicos
Topic 24: Environmental Issues / Los temas del medio ambiente
Topic 25: Population and Demographics / La población y la demografía
Topic 26: Social Welfare / El bienestar social
Topic 27: Global Changes Wrap-up/Los desafíos mundiales en resumen
Unit 6: Environmental, Political, and Societal Challenges / AP Exam Review (Topics 28-33)
Tema: Personal and Public Identities / Las identidades personales y públicas
Essential Questions:
- How are different aspects of identity expressed in various situations?
- How does a person's identity develop over time?
- How do language and culture influence the identity of the person?
Topic 28: Alienation and Assimilation / La enajenación y la asimilación
Topic 29: Self-Image / La autoestima
Topic 30: AP Exam Review
Topic 31: National and Ethnic Identities / La identidad nacional y la identidad étnica
Topic 32: Personal Interests / Los intereses personales
Topic 33: Reflections and Final Thoughts