AP Spanish Language and Culture – Laura Zinke

This session: AP Spanish Language and Culture with Laura Zinke is offered ONLINE during Week 1: June 15-18, 2026.

Meet your College Board Endorsed Consultant 

Laura Zinke, a native of Arizona, has been an AP Spanish teacher for over 30 years, and has been the department chair of the Foreign Language Department for 14 years.   

Laura has been actively involved in AATSP for the past 25 years, serving as Vice President of the Arizona Chapter of AATSP for three years, a member of the Executive Council for three years; serving as the High School Representative, and as a sponsor of a chapter of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica for 20 years.    

Laura has a Bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University and a Masters from Middlebury College and is a Gifted Endorsed teacher in the State of Arizona.  She has served as a Reader, a Table Leader and a Question Leader at the AP Spanish Reading and currently serves as an Exam Leader.  

Laura was a member of the AP Spanish Language Curriculum Development and Assessment Committee and currently serves as the high school cochair of the AP Spanish Language and Culture Committee.  Laura has been an Advanced Placement Faculty Consultant since 1994 presenting both weekend workshops and summer institutes; she has been a presenter at various regional and national Foreign Language and AP conferences and is a former Fulbright Teacher exchange participant to Córdoba, Argentina.

APSI Session Description

This APSI is intended for both new and experienced teachers of AP Spanish Language and Culture, as well as for teachers in levels prior to AP, working on vertical alignment and wishing support students’ preparation for the AP year. Using the AP Spanish CED as a guide, we will work together to examine and reflect on core elements of the AP Spanish Language and Culture course and exam, putting it all into practice throughout the week. Key focus areas and learning outcomes:

• Course and Exam Description (CED) and Course Planning

• AP Course Introduction (and instructional design): Themes • Contexts • Culture • Authentic Resources • Modes of communication • Scaffolding the Skills • AP Skill Categories, Skills, Objectives

• Teaching content vs teaching skill

• Strategies and Instructional Tools (in CED)

• Difference between formative vs. summative assessment

• AP exam structure, task models, and requirements

• The role of Culture

• Strategies and Pedagogical Tools – Deep dive throughout the week

• Expanding AP Opportunities

•  Assess and Reflect

In depth look at each task and how to prepare for Sections I (Interpretive MCQ) and Section II (FRQ’s 1-4): ¿Qué podemos aprender de los exámenes del pasado para mejor preparar a los estudiantes para mayo?

Providing meaningful feedback: ¿Cómo debemos reaccionar y comentar para ayudar al estudiante a reflexionar y establecer metas para mejorar su comunicación, tanto para el contenido como para el lenguaje?

Instructional Planning Reports (IPRs): ¿Cuál es la importancia de la reflexión para los profesores? ¿Cómo usamos la información de los IPR?

Vertical Alignment: ¿Por qué es importante integrar los elementos del curso de AP desde el primer nivel de español? ¿Cómo beneficia a los estudiantes?

*AP Classroom, Personal Progress Checks (PPCs), AP Question Bank, Features of Performance Dashboard.

*AP Daily Course audit requirements for 2024-25 school year and beyond.

Participants will collaborate to develop integrated thematic scaffolded lessons that will be shared to a Google Drive, ready to use during the 2026-27 school year.

All teachers are encouraged to contribute examples of their best practices for sharing that focus on Interpretive, Interpersonal, and Presentational skills while using authentic materials.

To see complete description, please go to https://www.waltonapsi.org

2026 WaltonAPSI / AP Spanish Language and Culture / Laura Zinke