<p>It's not worth self-studying. I studied abroad in Chile with Rotary International as an exchange student, spent 6+ plus reading novels in Spanish, and dedicated a whole year ENTIRELY to the Spanish language (I'm Italian). I questioned if I got a 5 on that exam.</p>
<p>I ended up getting a 5. I recommend using the 5 step book. It's really difficult.
Don't self-study for this exam. A 5 isn't going to happen.</p>
<p>I got a 5 on it, and I'm non-native. I'm a little bit of a different case though, since I was Spanish immersion in elementary school. I took math+science in Spanish up until 6th grade, then language classes after that. It helps a lot with grammar sometimes, since I can tell when words are conjugated incorrectly if they don't sound right. I don't have any trouble with pronunciation either. </p>
<p>If you're looking for things to listen to, see if you can find a Spanish language radio program in your area. If you live somewhere with a decent-sized Hispanic population, you may have a radio station. Listening to that will help you a lot. If not, see what you can find on the web. BBC may have news clips or videos recorded in Spanish. You could look. If not, poke around for streaming content, which you might be able to find somewhere. The more exposure you have to different accents, the better. </p>
<p>Our local station, 99.1, has some podcasts available on their website. It's not the best listening exercise ever (and I don't listen to the station much) but you will get listening experience. If they didn't clean it up for the podcasts, you should also get that lovely radio-caller distortion when people call in. The AP exam often has distortions in its listening sections that make listening harder. </p>
<p>Also, for the listening passages, they do interviews a lot. Often when they do, one person will speak at a moderate pace, and the other person will speak very quickly. The contrast can throw you if you haven't had experience with it. I would find and listen to at least one recording with this sort of contrast in it sometime before the exam. </p>
<p>Speaking of experience, listen to some speakers with accents from Spain as well. Depending on the accent, it can be difficult to understand if you've only heard Latin-American style Spanish. A movie might be good for that. La Lengua de las Mariposas is pretty good, as is Mar Adentro. I know you can get them from Netflix, but you might be able to find one or the other at your local bookstore. In its American release, La Lengua de las Mariposas is titled "Butterfly" and Mar Adentro is "Sea Inside", if I'm not mistaken. Both are pretty good films, but depending on your level you might need subtitles to understand everything.</p>
<p>As for whether or not the it's "worth it" for the OP to self-study: My impression is that OP is self-studying because she's interested in the subject, in which case it's worth it because it's something OP will enjoy and gain knowledge from, whether or not he/she gets a 5. </p>
<p>I have a number of other suggestions for listening, but I've already written a book in this post, so I won't put them up. Shoot me a PM if you want them.</p>
<p>ok,
I took the AP test last year and got a 5. Im a native speaker so it might kill my advice, but whatever. Make sure you converse in spanish because essentially that is a good chunk of the test. In the recording part they speak pretty slow, but when it came to the listening that person was speaking so freaking fast. So make sure you practice with that. Also just go on a website and find fill in the blank worksheets. Our teacher always gave us those and the helped. Build the vocabulary. In the essay I just wrote simple sentences because I know if I wrote long sentences my grammar might come out wrong. in the reading I cant really give advice because it was a breeze for me and flew threw it. Also practice with a recorder because they might come put tricky. If you have any questions about anything feel free to pm me.</p>
<p>i agree with alejis. They had some one with an accent and it kind of threw me off. Also in the recording section the mentioned Shakira so that was fun.</p>
<p>I was becoming a little discouraged after I posted again and no one responded in a few days, but I'm glad to see several new posts!</p>
<p>¡Gracias a todos por sus consejos!</p>
<p>
[quote]
I would especially recommend talking with people who have different accents, if that's at all possible.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This is really good advice and I'm glad to say that I'm familiar with Peninsular Spanish and "standard" Latin American Spanish. I've listened to Spanish music constantly for the past year or so, and because of this I've become familiar with the "ceceo" of Spain. I find it fascinating and fun to hear the different accents of the Hispanic world...I have to stop and catch myself from speaking with the "ceceo" in class and substituting a "jah" sound for the Spanish "y" and "ll"...it's happened a few times and my teacher just laughs...my other classmates really don't have the same passion that I do and just think I'm weird.</p>
<p>ELorax hit the nail on the head. While my physical goal would be pass this test, as it would be a reflection of all the time I've spent and will spend in the next few months on Spanish, I truly enjoy learning more and more. I would LOVE to improve my listening comprehension, especially, as well as just build my vocabulary, especially more idioms and definition changes from region to region. I've taken online placement tests from a few colleges (amazingly they were available and open if you put in a fake name...=D) and according to them I would be placed in a 300 level + course. Hopefully this is in indication that I'm on in the right track, here.</p>
<p>I hope I'll be able to practice with the actual recorder that will be used for the exam...I'm the first person from my school to ever take the AP Spanish Language exam so I can't exactly got to my Spanish teacher and have her show me the exact one....I guess I'll check with my school counselor and she'll contact the AP Administrator for the county.</p>
<p>I've set my homepage to ELPAÍS.com:</a> el periódico global de noticias en español and I read through the headlines when I get online, usually, and recently I've taken an article every few days and read through it, adding to my vocabulary, hopefully.</p>
<p>Also I've pre-ordered the Barron's 2008 AP Spanish Language preparation book, which comes with 3 CD's which will hopefully REALLY help with listening practice.</p>
<p>And I'm doing practice sections from the 5 Steps to a 5 book I mentioned earlier. My teacher has volunteered to go over them from grammar / technical problems as well as simply have conversations with me throughout the school week.</p>
<p>¡Otra vez muchísimas gracias a todos!</p>
<p>(ay...he escrito un montón...)</p>
<p>Ah, Shakira. I remember that. At least they're trying to keep it modern(ish?)</p>
<p>you are so dedidated, it seriously blows my mind haha.</p>
<p>yeah yeah, the Shakira thing was interesting, but the questions they asked you led to people saying really funny things (like, no I don't want to go with you because I don't like your friends) and I cracked up in the middle of my recording.
I don't know how they do it at other schools, because there are SO many people at mine (probably more than 200) who take the spanish AP test, but the recording part can get really distracting when you're crammed in a room with so many people talking at the same time and you can hear what everyone else is saying. The proctors standing right next to you, listening to what you are recording was also awkward. I don't know, try not to be shy about it (I get really self-concious even though spanish is my first language, and I speak it better than english.)
Also, be ready for things going wrong with the recorders.. I know at my school some people got to record their speaking section like 3 times because for one reason or another it didn't record right the first times.
I don't know, the test was really really disorganized at my school, but I can't really blame them because there are so many of us that things were bound to go wrong at some point.</p>
<p>Thankfully I won't have that problem...it'll just be me taking the AP Spanish Language exam from my county...:)</p>
<p>¡Gracias Alejis!</p>
<p>¡Hola a todos otra vez!</p>
<p>¿Hay alguien más que ha estudiado por su mismo también este año escolar?</p>
<p>¡Me encantaría oír de usted(es)!</p>
<p>If you are mainly trying to get accepted by a UC, then take a 4th semester of college foreign language.</p>
<p>If not, self study the foreign language, but I recommend getting help from another teacher in another school in your school district, who teaches AP Spanish Language.</p>
<p>Would studying intensely for the next few weeks possibly get me a 4?</p>
<p>We listened to some speaking samples and they were ok. I thought I could defintely do it. Also, I think Barrons should come with a warning that it is very very very hard. I tried some of the multiple choice and I only got a few correct so ya be careful. But it's still a good book.</p>
<p>
[quote]
"If you are mainly trying to get accepted by a UC, then take a 4th semester of college foreign language.</p>
<p>If not, self study the foreign language, but I recommend getting help from another teacher in another school in your school district, who teaches AP Spanish Language."
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I've already been accepted into college that I think is a really good match for me, so that's not an issue.</p>
<p>In fact, I really just love this language so much...originally my intention in self-studying was to improve my Spanish and just to get more experience with college-level material. And that motivation has pretty stayed the same throughout the school year.</p>
<p>I lucked-out and was able to have our school's Academic Endowment Fund pay for my AP Spanish Language exam, so I really don't have anything to lose at this point.</p>
<p>Of course I would be thrilled to receive a 5 on this exam, for it would be a validation of all of the energy and effort I've placed into this language over the past two school years!!</p>
<p>However, I suppose my main goal is to be able to say that I passed the AP Spanish Exam. One day I might even be teaching an AP Spanish Language class, so it would be nice to be able to say that I have taken and passed the test. =)</p>
<p>Although the college I'm attending in the Fall offers a placement test, as well...so if I don't pass this test (for whatever reason....probably due to nerves...) then I will still be able to take a (much easier) placement test. From what I've been told, it's online with no speaking section!!! =)</p>
<p>ANYWAY I've rambled on way too long...OH the second part of your post:</p>
<p>I would LOVE to talk to a teacher in my area that teaches an AP Spanish Language class! The thing is that this class isn't offered at all in ANY school in my region...so...yeah.... I'm on my own with the help of my current Spanish IV teacher. =)</p>
<p>Thank you for replying! Maybe I'll get a few more before exam day? ;)</p>
<p>¡¡Les agradezco a todos!!</p>
<p>Unos abrazos muy fuertes. :D</p>
<p>¡Buena suerte a todos los que van a tomar este examen dificilísimo!</p>
<p>hi crealo...you seem very dedicated. im a nonnative speaker (in fact im asian) who is planning on taking the test on tuesday. good luck, and what college are u planning on attending?</p>
<p>Random question, but how do you say " have/has been -ing" in Spanish?
For example " I have been dancing" or " It has been breaking" etc..
I keep writing like " yo he estado bailando" in my practice essays, but I think that's the wrong construction. Help, anyone?</p>
<p>"I have been breaking"</p>
<p>He estado bailando. </p>
<p>"It has been breaking"</p>
<p>Se ha estado rompiendo.</p>
<p>¡Les agradezco a todos los que han respondido!</p>
<p>He estado bailando, sí.</p>
<p>Asistiré a la universidad de Gettysburg en el próximo año escolar.</p>
<p>Y ahora no quiero estudiar más. Estoy tan cansado.</p>
<p>Creo que lo que he estudiado va a ayudarme...el resto no puede. :P</p>
<p>Me he preocupado MUCHO en las secciones orales...pero ahora me siento que voy a hacer lo que voy a hacer.</p>
<p>Espero que no esté demasiado nervioso mañana!!</p>
<p>¡¡BUENA SUERTE!!</p>
<p>Esta examen me va a romper.</p>
<p>Pienso que todos vosotros vay</p>
<p>Oh! Tengo una pregunta.....antes el examen manana =_="</p>
<p>You're not supposed to use "voy a" when expressing the future right? Only the future verb conjugations?</p>
<p>And..</p>
<p>You can omit the questions and it won't count against you like other APs right?</p>
<p>Ay..muy triste :(</p>