AP French Language & Culture – Tracy Rucker

This session AP French Language and Culture – with Tracy Rucker is offered ONLINE during Week 1: June 15-18, 2026 and again ONLINE during Week 2: June 22-25, 2026.

Meet your APSI Consultant for AP French Language and Culture

Tracy Rucker 

Highlights: 2021 KWLA French Teacher of the Year; 2021 KWLA World Language Teacher of the Year; AATF Vice President; DEI Commission Director; College Board Consultant; College Board Advanced Placement French Exam Scorer; Bureau of Education and Research Consultant, and Teacher Leader.  

More is caught than taught! A native of Royston, Georgia, Tracy Rucker is an outstanding leader and award-winning teacher who completed undergraduate studies at The University of the South. He graduated with a B.A. in French in 1994, and later matriculated at Middlebury College where he also participated in theater and specialized in studies of the Francophone world. An award-winning world language teacher with more than 25 years of teaching experience, Mr. Rucker has led student trips to France and Quebec, organized French Exchange programs, and organized multicultural celebrations to recognize the vivacity of cultures in school communities. In 2014, Mr. Rucker received the prestigious Dorothy S. Ludwig Award, an award sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French. In 2016, Mr. Rucker completed coursework to attain certification through Actfl (American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages) to become an OPI certified tester of French.  

 ”When we build trust and empathy, we co-construct experiences for learners; and as buy-in emerges, meaningful communications are made.”- Tracy E. Rucker 

 A frequent regional and state presenter, Mr. Rucker is known for helping language teachers enhance their existing programs by incorporating many strategies that incorporate interpersonal communication and global awareness techniques into the classroom. Mr. Rucker combines authentic resources with technology to engage learners. He focuses on effective communication tools that motivate students to use the target language to communicate about cultures. Rucker creates meaning for 21st century learners by discussing real-life topics, like body positivity, harassment in schools, identity, and global awareness. His aim is to shift thinking to include active participation and deepening enthusiastic approaches with humor and an appreciation for quotidian values. Songs, films, video clips, pictures, and reading passages make up this master teacher’s repertoire, and he is always eager to share ideas on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as his approaches reflect diverse perspectives and 21st century skill-building.  

APSI Session Description: 

Conducted primarily in French, participants learn how to navigate the newly designed AP French Language and Culture course and exam with specificity and organization. This four day, online seminar offers participants the opportunity to interact with six overarching themes. We approach course planning, diversity and belonging, and pedagogical tools with intentionality. The consultant will also share practical strategies to build community, leverage technology and diversify resources. 

Designed for new and experienced teachers, the AP French Language and Culture Summer institute is designed to provide teachers with practical strategies and meaningful resources to build the AP French course. In addition to providing an overview of the structure and content of the course, the consultant will demonstrate instructional techniques for presenting this curriculum using authentic materials. Of equal importance, we will discuss the challenges of vertical articulation and pre-AP language strategies that help learners develop skills across multiple levels of language instruction and in diverse classroom environments. Participants will work collaboratively to create their own lesson plans based on pacing and instructional approaches. 

Participants will gain:

• Proven strategies for enhancing students’ communicative proficiency through different modes of communication.

• Classroom-proven techniques that include lively paired and mixer activities, ways to use impactful manipulatives, and learning apps that engage learners. 

• A comprehensive overview of the revised course goals, objectives, structure, suggested pacing, and exam content.

• Extensive data about the revised exam, course pacing, and tasks.

• Detailed understanding of the Course Exam Description.

  • Overview of Skill Categories as they align to units, instructional practices, and assessment. 

  • Understanding of course themes: Families and Communities, Language and Culture, Art and Creativity, Science and Technology, Contemporary Life, and Global Contexts. 

  • Access to content framework and authentic resources for interconnected units.

  • Overview of the Project Manual and other framework components. 

• Guidance on navigating AP Classroom and other College Board resources to inform student progress, application, and cultural literacy.

• Tools to create rich, effective student-centered projects and formative and summative assessments. 

• Approaches to develop a strong course outline and unit template.

• Insights into scoring practices, student preparation, and differentiated assessments.

2026 WaltonAPSI / AP French Language and Culture / Tracy Rucker