AP Spanish Language and Culture – Laura Zinke

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

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.

THIS APSI will focus on AP Spanish Language and Culture Course and Exam CHANGES, the NEW Course and Exam Description (CED), and strategies and best practices for teaching the course:   

APSI COURSE DESCRIPTION AND TOPICS: (Essential questions for teacher reflection accompany each topic.) 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 seeking to support students’ preparation for the AP year. Using the NEW, Revised AP Spanish Course and Exam Description as a guide, we will work together to examine and reflect on core elements of the AP Spanish Language and Culture course and exam, with special focus on the NEW Course Project and related two NEW speaking tasks, putting it all into practice throughout the week.

Key focus areas and learning outcomes: The NEW Course and Exam Description (CED) and Course Planning:  ¿Por qué es importante y cómo nos apoya en llevar a los estudiantes a desarrollar sus destrezas y prepararse eficazmente para el examen en mayo?

AP Course Introduction and; Instructional Design NEW Themes and Contexts, alongside the continued emphasis on culture, authentic resources, modes of communication, and scaffolding  ¿Cómo diseñamos e implementamos el curso y qué herramientas apoyan nuestra práctica docente?

NEW AP Skill Categories (Condensed to 3), Skills, and Learning Objectives  ¿Cómo se reflejan en la comunicación auténtica y en las tareas del examen?  ¿Qué queremos que los estudiantes puedan hacer? 

Instructional Strategies and Tools: ¿Cómo enseñamos el curso de manera efectiva para promover el desarrollo de la competencia lingüística? 

NEW AP Exam Structure, Task Models, and Requirements:  ¿Qué necesitan hacer los estudiantes y cómo los preparamos para alcanzar el éxito en el examen de AP Spanish Language and Culture? 

The NEW Course Project and Speaking Tasks Connected to the Project: ¿Cómo preparamos a los estudiantes desde el inicio del año, estableciendo rutinas, andamiajes y estrategias que apoyen este proceso?

The Role of Culture (Products, Practices, Perspectives): ¿Cómo interpretamos y enseñamos la cultura? ¿Cómo interpretamos y enseñamos los productos, las prácticas y las perspectivas?  ¿Cómo guiamos a los estudiantes a comprender las perspectivas de una comunidad?   ¿Cómo integramos la cultura de manera intencional y constante a lo largo de todo el curso?

Strategies and Pedagogical Tools – Deep Dive Throughout the Week:  Para cada tarea del examen, ¿qué herramientas, plataformas digitales, actividades y aplicaciones apoyan nuestra enseñanza del curso de AP?

Expanding AP Opportunities:  ¿Cuál es la importancia del curso AP para cada estudiante y para el programa en su totalidad?   ¿Cómo honramos la diversidad en el aula e involucramos a todos los estudiantes de manera equitativa?

Assess and Reflect 

An in-depth look at each exam task, including preparation for Section I (changes in Interpretive MCQs) and Section II (newly revised FRQs):  ¿Cómo preparamos a los estudiantes de manera intencional y estratégica para las tareas del examen en mayo?

Providing Meaningful Feedback:  ¿Cuál es el valor de la retroalimentación formativa?  ¿Cómo podemos ofrecer comentarios que impulsen la reflexión del estudiante y el establecimiento de metas para mejorar su comunicación, tanto en contenido como en uso del lenguaje? 

Vertical Alignment :  ¿Por qué es fundamental integrar los elementos del curso AP desde los niveles iniciales? ¿Cómo beneficia esto al desarrollo de la competencia lingüística a largo plazo? 

AP Classroom: ¿Cómo navegamos la plataforma y qué herramientas nos ofrece?  ¿Cómo utilizamos estos recursos para fortalecer el aprendizaje y la preparación de cada estudiante? 

• AP Classroom – Navigation and Organization 

• AP Classroom – AP Question Bank, Progress Checks, and other tools 

• AP Classroom – Features of Performance Dashboard 

• AP Daily:  ¿Cómo accedemos a y usamos estos videos para enfocarnos más en las tareas del examen? 

Course Audit Requirements – NEW Required Syllabus: ¿Cómo demostramos que enseñamos el curso alineado con las expectativas del College Board, integrando de manera intencional los elementos clave del CED? 

Alignment to the CED: Demonstrate clear integration of themes, contexts, AP skill categories, and learning objectives throughout the course.  Integration of the Three Modes of Communication.  Provide evidence of consistent opportunities for students to engage in Interpretive, Interpersonal, and Presentational communication.

Use of Authentic Resources:  Incorporate a wide range of authentic texts, audio, and visual materials that reflect diverse perspectives from the Spanish-speaking world.

Instructional Design and Scaffolding:  Show how learning experiences are sequenced and scaffolded to support students’ progression toward proficiency and success on AP tasks.

Assessment Practices:  Include both formative and summative assessments aligned to AP task models and skill development.

2026 WaltonAPSI / AP Spanish Language and Culture / Laura Zinke