AP®/DSD Preparation
The DSD preparation classes are intended to prepare students who intend to study in Germany for the DSD (Deutsches Sprachdiplom), a globally administered test by the German government's Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen. This exam is offered at two levels: DSD I is required for admission to Studienkollegs (1-year college prep institutions) in Germany. DSD II may serve as a proof of the German language proficiency required for admission to many post-secondary institutions such as universities in Germany. (Your student will still need to satisfy the academic requirements for admission to a German university, e.g. excellent high school diploma, AP classes, etc.) Certain age requirements for exam admission apply.
The AP® German exam is administered in May each year (next test date: May 11, 2012). The course follows the Collegeboard guidelines for the AP® curriculum. AP courses are considered college-level courses, and after passing the exam with a score of at least 3, the students may receive college credit (disclaimer: rules vary among state and private colleges, however, and there is no guarantee that they will receive credit from a specific college).
Both the DSD and the AP courses develops four core skills that will be tested in both exams: Listening comprehension, reading comprehension, written expression, and oral expression. The course curriculum comprises a thorough grammar and vocabulary review, practice exams, as well as classroom study with printed and audio-visual materials and textbooks as well as online study.
Parental Advisory: These are some of the most rigorous courses the GSEB offers, but they will provide successful students with distinct rewards for their post-high school options. Parents can support your student by following up on class topics and assignments, by encouraging them to do their homework (AP classes are usually 5 hours/week at high schools; we compensate for that with targeted homework assignments), and by speaking as much German as possible (if applicable) at home. In a school setting, this would be a daily one-hour class plus at least 5 hours of weekly homework. In the past, our students have done well with three hours of Saturday instruction plus about three hours of homework, but it is essential that they miss as few classes as possible, and complete their GSEB homework diligently.
Please see this page for more information about the benefits of AP testing.