AP® Spanish Language and Culture
Syllabus
Organization:
The course is divided into Thematic Units which are further based on recommended contexts and guided by essential questions. Corresponding cultural elements are integrated into the study of the units, and activities are directed with those cultural connections in mind.
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?
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.
Week 1: Introduction to AP Spanish Language and Culture
- What are the rules and policies of the course, and expectations of a contributing member of the class?
- How do I contribute to building a classroom community with my teacher and classmates?
- What course tools are available for navigating in and around the learning management system?
Unit 1: Families in Different Societies (Weeks 2-6)
Tema: Las familias y las comunidades / Theme: Families and Communities
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?
Week 2: Education Communities / Las comunidades educativas
Week 3: Social Networking / Las redes sociales
Week 4: Human Geography / La geografía humana
Week 5: Customs and Values / Las tradiciones y los valores
Week 6: Family Structure / La estructura de la familia
Unit 2: The Influence of Language and Culture on Identity (Weeks 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?
Week 7: Effects of Technology on Self and Society / Los efectos de la tecnología en el individuo y en la sociedad
Week 8: Health Care and Medicine / El cuidado de la salud y la medicina
Week 9: Science and Ethics / La ciencia y la ética
Week 10: Natural Phenomena / Los fenómenos naturales
Week 11: Science and Technology Wrap-up / La ciencia y la tecnología en resumen
Unit 3: Influences of Beauty and Art (Weeks 12-16)
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?
Week 12: Defining Beauty / Definiciones de la belleza
Week 13: Fashion and Design / La moda y el diseño
Week 14: Language and Literature / El lenguaje y la literatura
Week 15: Visual and Performing Arts / Las artes visuales y escénicas
Week 16: Beauty and aesthetics Wrap-up / La belleza y la estética en resumen
Week 17: Midterm Exam
Unit 4: How Science and Technology Affect Our Lives (Weeks 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?
Week 18: Education and Careers / La educación y las carreras profesionales
Week 19: Entertainment / El entretenimiento y la diversión
Week 20: Travel and Leisure / Los viajes y el ocio
Week 21: Relationships / Las relaciones personales
Week 22: Contemporary Life Wrap-up/La vida contemporánea en resumen
Unit 5: Factors That Impact the Quality of Life (Weeks 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?
Week 23: Economic Issues / Los temas económicos
Week 24: Environmental Issues / Los temas del medio ambiente
Week 25: Population and Demographics / La población y la demografía
Week 26: Social Welfare / El bienestar social
Week 27: Global Changes Wrap-up/Los desafíos mundiales en resumen
Unit 6: Environmental, Political, and Societal Challenges (Weeks 28-31)
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?
Week 28: Alienation and Assimilation / La enajenación y la asimilación
Week 29: Self-Image / La autoestima
Week 30: National and Ethnic Identities / La identidad nacional y la identidad étnica
Week 31: Personal Interests / Los intereses personales
Final Unit: AP Exam Practice, Review and Reflections
Week 32: AP Exam Review
Week 33: Reflections and Final Thoughts