Themes, Contexts, & No Grammar Teaching to the New AP French Exam

1. Themes, Contexts, & No GrammarTeaching to the New AP French Exam N. Koleva Mountain View High School 2012 -2013

2. Why do I like the new format? • AP French Language and Culture course revisions reflect best practices in language education. They are designed to promote fluency and accuracy in the use of language and to enable students to explore culture in contemporary and historical contexts.

3. With what premises are we working? The three modes of communication (Interpersonal, Interpretive, and Presentational) defined in the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century are foundational to the AP French Language and Culture course. The AP course provides students with opportunities to demonstrate their proficiency in each of the three modes in the Intermediate to Pre-Advanced range as described in the ACTFL Performance Guidelines for K–12 Learners. (AP Course Description 2011)

4. What are the three Modes of Communication? They provide a redefining organizing principle, and an enriched view of language that reflects real communication. The Interpersonal Mode is characterized by the active negotiation of meaning among individuals. Participants observe and monitor one another to see how their meanings and intentions are being communicated. Adjustments and clarifications can be made accordingly. The Interpretive Mode focuses on the appropriate cultural interpretation of meanings that occur in written and spoken form where there is no recourse to the active negotiation of meaning with the writer or the speaker. The Presentational Mode refers to the creation of oral and written messages in a manner that facilitates interpretation by members of the other culture where no direct opportunity for the active negotiation of meaning between members of the two cultures exists. (ACTFL website)

5. What are we teaching/evaluating? COMPREHENSIBILITY: How well are they understood? COMPREHENSION: How well do they understand? LANGUAGE CONTROL: How accurate is their language? VOCABULARY USE: How extensive and applicable is their vocabulary? COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES: How do they maintain communication? CULTURAL AWARENESS: How is their cultural awareness reflected in their communication? (ACTFL Performance Guidelines)

6. The new French AP exam

7. Interpretive Communication= 50% • Reading: 4 sets • Reading & Listening: 2 sets • Listening: 3 sets

8. Interpersonal & Presentational Communication = 50% • Interpersonal Writing: reply to a message • Interpersonal Speaking: simulated conversation • Presentational Writing: persuasive essay • Presentational Speaking: cultural contrast

9. Activities • 1. Interpretive • Read • Listen • 2. Interpersonal • Speak/Listen/Respond • Write/Read/Respond • 3. Presentational • Speak • Write

10. Here are the 6 themes….