The College Board’s Advanced Placement World Languages and Cultures classes are underrated educational and personal enrichment opportunities with a variety of benefits for high school students. These include becoming proficient in a foreign language; gaining knowledge of history, literature and culture; earning college credit in a foreign language; and preparing for international education programs.
Students can take AP courses in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin and Spanish, including Spanish literature and culture. Many high schools do not offer every AP foreign language course, so students will need to speak to their guidance counselor about availability.
For those who enroll in one of these classes, here are three of the many benefits they can expect to reap.
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1. Gain comprehensive understanding of language and culture: The pace and rigor of AP World Languages and Cultures courses typically necessitate a student’s immersion in the language.
AP foreign language classes submerge students in extensive vocabulary, complex grammatical forms and new modes of expression. Students are generally asked to speak only the foreign language in class, and some prior language proficiency is expected. Students can also plan on reading and writing regularly in the language.
While the workload of such an AP course can seem daunting, students have much to gain from the continual practice of a foreign language. For instance, students can expect to feel more comfortable communicating in that language. They can also expect to become well-versed on cultural themes, including art and literature, and historical turning points within the language.
As a result, it is common for students to cultivate a passion for the foreign language, which they may continue to study and practice in college and beyond. Students may also view an AP class as an ideal opportunity to test out a college concentration in the language before they matriculate.
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2. Earn college credit: For many students, the most immediate advantage of completing an AP World Languages and Cultures class is that it potentially allows them to meet college degree requirements.
A sufficient score on the year-end exam can be of assistance even if students don’t declare a foreign language concentration. Many colleges and universities require some degree of foreign language instruction, regardless of students’ intended majors, so earning a 3, 4 or 5 on the AP test could save them one or more semesters of foreign language study.
AP-level foreign language courses are also relevant to such majors as education, international business and linguistics.
For students who decide to major or minor in a foreign language, an appropriate score on the AP exam for that particular language can place them out of 100-level classes required for the concentration.
Placement in a more advanced level can save students money on tuition. It can also free them to pursue other endeavors, such as studying additional subjects, landing an internship or working a part-time job.
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3. Prepare for study abroad or an overseas degree: Study abroad is an experience that students can benefit from on many levels. Studying in a foreign country opens students’ minds to new locations, cuisines and forms of entertainment, while it also educates them about the country’s culture and history.
Many students return from study abroad as more educated, understanding and well-rounded individuals. Some companies view them as more desirable employees.
One ideal way to prepare for a successful study abroad experience — or even for earning a full degree overseas — is by taking an AP World Languages and Cultures class. Such a course can prime students both linguistically and culturally for the international experience, which many students may initially find overwhelming.
The advantages associated with taking an AP language course stretch beyond these three. Students may anticipate the more obvious benefits, such as earning college credit, but may be surprised by their increased cultural awareness and newfound or rekindled interest in the foreign language.
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Reap the Benefits of AP Language Courses originally appeared on usnews.com
