Course Overview
AP German Language and Culture is equivalent to an intermediate level college course in German. Students cultivate their understanding of German language and culture by applying interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of communication in real-life situations as they explore concepts related to family and communities, personal and public identities, beauty and aesthetics, science and technology, contemporary life, and global challenges.
Course and Exam Description
Course Resources
Course Content
To provide context and content for students to develop their skills in the modes of communication, AP German Language and Culture takes a thematic approach. This framework provides a clear and detailed description of the course requirements necessary for student success. The framework specifies what students must know, be able to do, and understand to qualify for college credit or placement. There are also many suggested authentic resources to support instruction throughout.
The AP German Language and Culture framework is made up of six units. As always, you have the flexibility to organize the course content as you like.
Unit |
Unit 1: Families in Different Societies |
Unit 2: The Influence of Language and Culture on Identity |
Unit 3: Influences of Beauty and Art |
Unit 4: How Science and Technology Affect Our Lives |
Unit 5: Factors That Impact the Quality of Life |
Unit 6: Environmental, Political, and Societal Challenges |
Course Skills
The AP German Language and Culture framework included in the course and exam description outlines distinct skills that students should practice throughout the year—skills that will help them learn to think and act like speakers of German.
Skill |
Description |
1. Comprehend Text | Comprehend written, audio, audiovisual, and visual text (text, pictures, and numbers). |
2. Make Connections | Make interdisciplinary and cultural connections. |
3. Interpret Text | Interpret the content of written or audio text (words). |
4. Make Meanings | Make meanings from words and expressions. |
5. Speak to Others | Communicate interpersonally by speaking with others. |
6. Write to Others | Communicate interpersonally by writing to others. |
7. Present Orally | Communicate through spoken presentations. |
8. Present in Writing | Communicate through written presentations. |
AP and Higher Education
Higher education professionals play a key role in developing AP courses and exams, setting credit and placement policies, and scoring student work. The AP Higher Education section features information on recruitment and admission, advising and placement, and more.
This chart shows recommended scores for granting credit, and how much credit should be awarded, for each AP course. Your students can look up credit and placement policies for colleges and universities on the AP Credit Policy Search.
Meet the Development Committee for AP German Language and Culture
The AP Program is unique in its reliance on Development Committees. These committees, made up of an equal number of college faculty and experienced secondary AP teachers from across the country, are essential to the preparation of AP course curricula and exams.