MARINA DILLINGHAM
Originally from Argentina, I immigrated to the United States in 1979 as a high school sophomore.  I attended UCLA and majored in English, World Literature, with the intention of becoming a writer or journalist.  While at UCLA, I participated in their Education Abroad Program and spent a year in France, studying at the Université Paul Valéry in Montpellier.  This experience changed my life.  I have been teaching French ever since, first as a private tutor upon my return from France, and in high school since 1988.  I have taught in a variety of settings: year-round schools, 4x4, block schedule, combo classes, etc.  Teaching has allowed me to give free rein to my passion for languages, travel and other cultures.  I am fluent in  

four languages, and for the past 30 years I have traveled extensively through France, Italy, and Spain learning and studying about their culture.  I’ve also led a variety of student travel groups and managed several cultural/ linguistic exchanges with high schools in Italy and France.  Today, I teach AP French Language, IB French, and IB Spanish at Bonita Vista High School in Chula Vista, CA. I currently manage my high school’s linguistic exchange with the Lycée de Briacé near Nantes, France.   I am also an AP Reader in French and have been a College Board Consultant since 2005. ​

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Day 1

• AP philosophy
• Course and exam overview
• Sample course: My AP French Language and Culture course

Day 2

• Building an AP Program
  • AP Themes
  • Products, practices, and perspectives
  • Selecting and incorporating authentic materials
  • Vertical connections
  • Managing schedule challenges
  • Sharing best practices

Day 3

• AP Unit and lesson development
  • Sample lessons
  • Strategies and activities
  • Instruction delivery for different learning modes
  • Sharing of practices and ideas
• Syllabus development / review

​Day 4

• Focus on
  • Individual exam task analysis
  • Evaluation criteria
• Mock AP Reading