Submitted by kquon on Tue, 2010-11-02 12:58

AP Latin

2012–13

Revisions to AP Latin promote reading Latin poetry and prose with historical and literary sensitivity. Students develop linguistic skills by engaging in multiple activities, including translating poetry and prose from the required reading list, precisely and literally; reading passages of poetry and prose with comprehension; and analyzing literary texts in clear, coherent written arguments, supported by textual examples. AP Latin is roughly equivalent to an upper-intermediate college or university course.

Course Revisions at a Glance

The revisions are designed to achieve the following objectives:
  • Offer poetry and prose readings.
    Required readings are included in the AP Latin Reading List. In addition, the curriculum framework features a list of common terminology, which can help facilitate discussions of Latin grammar, syntax, and literary style.
  • Expose students to characteristic methods of classical philology.
    Students pay rigorous attention to linguistic detail, critical interpretation, and analysis.
  • Develop students’ ability to read Latin at sight.
    The AP Latin Reading List recommends several texts for this purpose.
  • Articulate achievement-level descriptions.
    Teachers are enabled to set expectations for student progress and to differentiate instruction, as students relate Latin texts to Roman historical, cultural, and literary contexts.
  • Incorporate learning objectives.
    Teachers learn what skills students need to succeed on the AP Latin Exam in terms of reading and comprehension, translation, contextualization, and analysis of texts.

The Reading List

The AP Latin Reading List outlines the minimum of Vergil’s Aeneid and Caesar’s Gallic War that students must master, in Latin and English, to perform well on the exam. The length of the Latin readings in the current AP Latin: Vergil required syllabus has been reduced. The required prose readings from Caesar’s Gallic War are complete episodes, which include the work’s important passages.

Course Audit Information

AP Latin teachers must submit a syllabus for authorization in the 2012–13 academic year. The AP Course Audit website now features resources that support syllabus development, including a syllabus development guide and several annotated sample syllabi. Visit AP Course Audit Calendar for more details.

Exam Information

In May 2013, the AP Latin Exam will assess the college-level content and skills articulated in the AP Latin Course and Exam Description, which contains the curriculum framework and sample exam questions.

Professional Development

AP offers a wide range of professional development options to ensure that teachers have access to the training they need to implement course revisions. These options include face-to-face workshops and Summer Institutes, as well as online workshops and events, where participants learn practical ways to design rigorous curriculum and prepare students for success in the revised course.

Our new AP Latin Course Planning and Pacing Guides demonstrate various approaches to planning and pacing curriculum across a school year. They can also help inform syllabus development, when used in conjunction with key Course Audit resources. Guide 1 is available now. Look for guides 2, 3, and 4 on this site soon.

NOW! Join the AP Latin Teacher Community. Your participation and contributions will help grow this space into a valuable online collaborative forum for sharing instructional strategies, resources, and insights with colleagues.

Recommended Action Plan