Courses

French Language & Culture

The four-day French Advanced Placement Summer Institute is a dynamic, collegial experience designed to fully prepare and energize French teachers. Our new course and exam design encourages creative teaching that engages students in language. My goal is to provide a vast array of materials, strategies and online resources not only for the AP level, but for the entire range of a French program. I want my participants to leave the workshop with all the tools necessary for success along with complete insight into our course and exam and most importantly, a renewed enthusiasm for teaching French.

AGENDA

Day One
  • Introduction to the presenter and overview of the week’s work
  • Get to know each other activity
  • Podcast that explains the new course and exam format
  • Participants will learn the necessary vocabulary for success (includes the 3 modes of communication, the 3 facets of culture and the 6 themes of language learning)
  • Participants will play “AP Jeopardy” to learn about course expectations
  • We begin looking at the new exam by examining the first half, multiple choice section – this includes a presentation on the Interpretive mode in that this entire section of the exam is based on reading and listening skills
  • The group will participate in a number of activities from the College Board APSI guide
  • Strategies for teaching interpretive skills throughout the curriculum will be shared
  • The initial tour of Ed’s website will include the reading and listening pages, with demonstrations of how to use these resources in class

Day Two
  • Review of the assignment that participants prepared for today’s session
  • Continuation of review of the sample exam – the free response section
  • We will begin with the two writing-based tasks (the email and the essay)
  • Participants will themselves write a response to the email question then we will look at sample student responses to set the bar for AP expectations as we use the College Board scoring guidelines
  • Analysis of the challenging essay task (our second Presentational mode activity) along with current student examples – participants will start to see how reading, listening and writing skills must be combined for student success
  • The final two parts of the exam are studied – the two speaking portions (conversation and cultural comparison that make up the interpersonal mode tasks) where participants will hear actual student performance to understand AP expectations
  • Continued use of the CB guide including several activities
  • Ed’s presentation on Authentic Materials Integration
  • Assignment dealing with integrating authentic materials into the current curriculum of the participants

Day Three
  • Review of previous day’s assignment
  • Curriculum building activities both from the CB guide and Ed’s website
  • Vertical view of a French program that stresses a structured articulation of skills from year one through AP level
  • Demonstration of an entire thematic unit on Ed’s website that contains the full range of possible materials and assessments
  • Discussion of formative and summative assessment
  • Overview of the six themes of curricular emphasis along with activities that foster comprehension of course structure
  • Website building activities along with technology tools that will enhance French instruction at all levels
  • Demonstration of materials on Ed’s site not only for the AP course but also for all other levels of French instruction
  • Discussion and demonstration of how to integrate music, literature, advertisements, and assorted realia into the French curriculum – a sharing session

Day Four
  • Sharing of web building assignments as our group website comes together
  • Practice scoring student examples from this year’s exam
  • Complete a vertically aligned French curriculum model
  • Analyze the CB course audit and learn how to prepare an audit for submission
  • Share ideas on materials – texts, readers, films, supplemental guides
  • Discuss pacing for the AP course
  • Create a model for a typical day / week of AP French
  • Complete guided tour of Ed’s website including videos, documents and themed resources
  • Discuss scaffolding activities throughout the French curriculum
  • Overview of the week’s activities
  • Q & A along with final thoughts

  • Overview of the AP program and exam
  • Review of the contents of the AP packet
  • Summary of planned activities
  • Participants will fill out cards requesting points/issues/concerns to be discussed

The French Language AP Language Exam

  • Analyze the packet content including student essays (grading rubric), and course guide and Acorn book
  • Recent changes to the exam
  • AP course design and curriculum
  • Various strategies and activities useful in teaching AP French

Group Sessions

  • Development of essay topics for AP classes
  • Practice and create multiple choice sections

Discussion of requested topics from info cards

Essay Grading and Familiarization with Rubric

  • Distribute and read sample essays
  • Work with and collaborative discussion of rubric
  • Grading practice followed by discussion

Teaching Strategies

  • Sample assignments
  • Suggested support materials including computer software
  • Internet, audio, video, and relia
  • Time management, traditional vs. block scheduling
  • Identification and teaching of problem areas

Strategies for Test Preparation

Exchange of ‘Best Practices”


“[The] materials were excellent and the
instructor was the best.”

–Past Client

Instructor:
Edward weiss

Edward Weiss is the curriculum specialist of the World Language Department at Haverford Township School District in suburban Philadelphia. He has been a reader, table leader and exam leader at the AP reading for the past twenty years. Ed is also a consultant for College Board in French language. He has presented French language workshops and summer institutes in fourteen different states He is a recipient of the Rockefeller Foundation Grant and a three-time recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Ed has presented at The ACTFL national conference, at the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, at the Advanced Placement National Conference and has been named teacher of the year in his home district. Ed is the co-author of the current Barron’s guide to AP French Language and Culture and the College Board APSI guide for the AP French.

Email Instructor >

 

Institute Faculty

The faculty have been selected for their teaching expertise, creativity, innovations in teaching and experience with the AP* Program curriculum. All faculty members are endorsed and certified by the Middle Atlantic Regional Office of The College Board and have demonstrated a commitment to excellence that is second to none.

Daily Schedule

Classes are scheduled from Tuesday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Class check-in begins at 7 a.m. with as brief orientation at 7:20 a.m.

Participants receive a catered lunch at a waterfront restaurant each day.

Morning and afternoon coffee/snack breaks are provided each day.

An Opportunity for Learning and Interacting

Instructors encourage sharing among participants that will enhance the knowledgeand skills of all participants for effective teaching. The opportunity to exchange and communicate with instructors and colleagues within the Middle Atlantic Region and beyond is a valued support resource for the entire school year.

Course Questions?

Questions/concerns about your particular course can be addressed by going to course description and clicking on the instructor’s name. You will then be able to e-mail the instructor. Any problems call the Lewes Summer Institute office at 302-644-0277.