AP German Language and Culture

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About the Course

Develop your German language skills and learn about the cultures in German-speaking parts of the world. You'll practice communicating in German and study real-life materials such as newspaper articles, films, music, and books.

Skills You'll Learn

  • Understanding German when you hear it and read it

  • Holding conversations in real-life situations

  • Writing stories, letters, emails, essays, and other texts

Equivalency and Prerequisites

College Course Equivalent

An intermediate level (typically third- or fourth-semester) college course in German language

Recommended Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites, but students are typically in their fourth year of high-school-level study. In the case of native or heritage speakers, there may be a different pathway of study leading to this course.

Exam Date

Fri, May 17, 2024

8 AM Local

AP German Language and Culture Exam

This is the regularly scheduled date for the AP German Language and Culture Exam.

About the Units

The course content outlined below is organized into commonly taught units of study that provide one possible sequence for the course. Your teacher may choose to organize the course content differently based on local priorities and preferences.

Course Content

Unit 1: Families in Different Societies

You’ll learn German language skills in the context of studying family life and values in German-speaking societies and explore contemporary beliefs and challenges that families face.

Skills you will practice may include:

  • Interpreting promotional materials
  • Understanding the elements of a formal letter
  • Describing data from a table, chart, graph, map, or infographic
  • Interpreting the context of a conversation and participating in it
  • Crafting an email reply
  • Giving a presentation on the nature of family and society

Unit 2: The Influence of Language and Culture on Identity

You'll build your vocabulary and learn about how language and culture shape and reflect evolving ideas about identity in German-speaking societies.

Skills you will practice may include:

  • Identifying the main idea and summarizing poetry and literary texts
  • Interpreting audio recordings and movies
  • Comprehending articles and charts
  • Drawing connections between texts and their larger cultural context
  • Justifying ideas and opinions in writing
  • Giving a presentation comparing German cultural concepts to familiar ones

Unit 3: Influences of Beauty and Art

You'll explore how ideas of beauty and art influence and reflect culture in German-speaking communities.

Skills you will practice may include:

  • Analyzing articles and advertisements about health and beauty
  • Interpreting fables and children’s stories
  • Understanding what is included in the format of typical letters and interpreting their meaning
  • Practicing conversational skills
  • Analyzing cartoons and infographics
  • Replying to emails
  • Giving a presentation on beauty and German-speaking culture

Unit 4: How Science and Technology Affect Our Lives

You'll examine how developments in science and technology affect daily life in German-speaking communities and use your growing language skills to help you interpret unfamiliar words and engage in more complicated texts.

Skills you will practice may include:

  • Interpreting charts, tables, and infographics in context
  • Reading articles about technological trends
  • Understanding interviews
  • Following verbal instructions
  • Comprehending oral presentations
  • Writing essays and citing sources
  • Giving a presentation on the impacts of scientific and technological developments

Unit 5: Factors That Impact the Quality of Life

You'll learn more about contemporary life in German-Speaking communities and how social status, cultural perspectives, and access to jobs and resources can make an impact on the quality of life.

Skills you will practice may include:

  • Connecting literary texts to larger cultural topics
  • Interpreting charts and articles
  • Identifying perspective, tone, and attitude in a podcast
  • Interpreting audio and video recordings
  • Understanding instructions
  • Crafting an email reply using idioms and expressions
  • Participating in conversations
  • Giving a presentation comparing cultures and quality of life

Unit 6: Environmental, Political, and Societal Challenges

You'll explore how complex global issues affect people’s lives in German-speaking communities and engage in deeper discussions to suggest possible solutions.

Skills you will practice may include:

  • Analyzing articles and charts on social issues
  • Listening for connections and meaning in audio reports
  • Making cultural connections among presentations
  • Writing essays to address global issues and suggest solutions
  • Giving a presentation on global challenges

Credit and Placement

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Course Resources

See Where AP Can Take You

AP German Language and Culture can lead to a wide range of careers and college majors

Career Areas 45
Majors 11