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KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL ADVANCE PLACEMENT SPANISH CLASS 

1. Let’s begin with hiring a well-educated Spanish teacher, preferably with an M.A.T. or an M.A. in Spanish, Spanish literature, or Spanish linguistics. 
2. The teacher must have a broad knowledge of a variety of teaching techniques, methodologies, and tools.
3. The teacher must have an in-depth understanding of the Spanish AP test that will be administered to his/her students.
4. If possible, it would help if the AP teacher has had some experience in grading AP tests.
5. The AP Spanish curriculum should be “backloaded”.  This means that all courses leading up to the actual AP class, and the AP class itself, should contain the necessary skill-building practice so that once the students arrive to their first AP class session, they will be prepared to take on the AP curriculum in all its complexities of scope and depth.  Each AP and pre-AP course should have daily practice activities that reflect the actual test.  The students must be educated and trained in the subject matter and in the test format simultaneously.
6. The students and the teacher must never lose sight of the “prize”.  The high AP test score is that prize.  The teacher must remind himself/herself and the students continually to stay on target and to stay focused.  Sometimes practice and intense study become tedious, however, once students obtain a certain level of expertise in the language, the tedium seems to disappear, because they can now begin to see the results of their hard work.  Hard work does pay its dividends.  Nothing will motivate them better than success.
7. Each class session must contain a generous dose of material review.  I recommend that each lesson start with a few minutes of “review”, followed by a “view” of the new material, and then “preview” the material that will be coming next, maybe even tomorrow’s.  I have always believed that there is a logical order in which material should be presented and if that order is followed, the students understand easier and can see the overall picture of the language and the program of studies you are following.  That’s why I think that a well-educated and well-prepared teacher with at least an M.A. is the logical way to start down the road to success in the AP program.
8. The classroom session must be well designed and implemented.  A high level of student discipline and seriousness is necessary.  Once the classroom door closes, education becomes serious business and nothing from outside should be allowed to affect it in a negative fashion. 
9. Experiencing a successful class session on a daily basis is a two-way street.  The teacher must come prepared with an affective lesson, and equally prepared to implement it fully for the entire duration of the class.  Conversely, the student must come well prepared with the day’s lessons assigned, and equally prepared to participate fully in all class activities.  I always have told my students that it is unacceptable for the teacher or the students to come unprepared to class.  It is an affront to themselves, to each other, to their parents, and to their community to not give their best effort at all times.
10. The teacher must be prepared to provide as much extra help as possible to the student, before and after school.  This just comes with the “turf”, no matter what the class is.
11. All testing format sections must be practiced in one way or another as much as possible throughout the duration of the course.  In the final weeks before the AP test, students must spend more time practicing the format in and outside of class.  Sample tests are always available from the testing service.  Sample sections of the test can be given at any time leading up to the test.  This, of course, reduces the anxiety on the testing day.  By that time, the students should have a pretty good idea of what the test will be like, at least in its format.  This will leave their brains and their emotions free to concentrate on the material presented.
12. If all the above is done, it is my belief that several things can be accomplished at once.  The student will be well prepared in the subject area, which is the main goal.  Secondly, they will perform well on the AP test and be eligible for advance college credit.  Thirdly, they will enter into a higher level of university study in Spanish, important for them if they choose to continue their studies.  Furthermore, they will satisfy their high school requirements and their university requirements, both, when they complete the course successfully.  The university credit that is granted will allow them to register earlier for classes there, save money for courses they didn’t have to take, and to graduate earlier with the head start they received from the high AP test score.
13. Success in AP courses requires a commitment from the individual high school.  The high school must protect the AP class from interruptions.  The more the AP class is interrupted or disrupted, no matter for what reason, the more the detrimental effect will be on a successful end result:  the prize, the high AP test score.  Students MUST be in attendance for each class session.  It is naïve to think that an AP class session, once it is missed, can be made up through homework assignments and outside readings.  If that were the case, we wouldn’t need teachers.
14. In the end, a successful AP course and AP test is a collaborative effort for everyone involved.  Being an AP teacher is not for everybody, and neither is being an AP student.  Having said that, it is certainly within the reach of any academically-oriented student and any well-prepared teacher who are willing to work hard.
15. ¡Manos a la obra!