By Francesca Biundo
Whether you are new to teaching AP Italian or have years of experience, the College Board AP Summer Institutes are a wonderful opportunity to refresh your knowledge. They offer a space for learning, collaboration, networking, professional growth, and, for me, a chance to reorganize my ideas before a new school year.
Although I regularly participate in webinars and workshops, I was particularly interested in attending an APSI this summer because of the upcoming changes to the AP World Language exams and curriculum.
Thanks to the generous support of the Italian Language Foundation (ILF), which covered half of my registration, and the Italian Cultural Center of San Diego (ICC), I was able to attend the online APSI this past June.
Over four days, I learned a lot from one of the most creative, patient, and inspiring AP Italian teachers and consultants I have ever met, as well as 25 colleagues from across the United States. It was wonderful to exchange ideas, hear about different teaching realities, and learn from one another.
The biggest takeaway for me was a deeper understanding of the changes to the Free Response section, including the rubrics. While the changes are significant, they don’t feel overwhelming. In fact, I feel reassured that teachers will adapt to them without much difficulty, and I’m excited to guide my students through the upcoming school year with greater confidence.
I am sincerely grateful to the ILF and ICC for supporting teachers’ professional development and making opportunities like this possible.
Francesca Biundo has 20 years of experience teaching Italian and Spanish at both the K–12 and university levels in the United States and Puerto Rico. Raised in Italy and now living in Puerto Rico, she is fluent in Italian, English, and Spanish. Her goal is to make language learning meaningful and accessible for every student.