AP® Summer Institutes: Your 2026–27 World Languages Playbook

AP® World Languages and Cultures courses are getting a major refresh in 2026–27, making this summer an important time to attend an AP® Summer Institute (APSI). If you’ve been asking, Do I really need to go? What will I walk away with? Is it worth the time?, you’re not alone. As teachers prepare for the new AP® World Language 2026 Curriculum and Exam Description (CED) and the brand-new Course Project shared across all six AP® World Languages and Cultures courses, an APSI can help turn uncertainty into a clear, practical plan.

Although I serve as an AP® Spanish Language and Culture Consultant, this message is for all AP® World Languages and Cultures teachers. Every College Board–endorsed AP® World Language consultant is trained to lead an APSI that combines big-picture guidance with classroom-ready strategies, especially in light of the 2026–27 course and exam updates.

Every AP® teacher benefits from attending an APSI periodically, and this year that professional learning is especially valuable. The revised courses and exams will affect course planning, pacing, and exam preparation.

While many core elements remain familiar, teachers will need time and support to plan for major changes, including the new Course Project. The Project Manual sets aside the equivalent of fifteen 45-minute class periods to help students prepare for the Project Presentation and Project Q&A, the new speaking tasks beginning with the May 2027 exam.

APSI consultants are ready to help teachers understand and lead the project with confidence. They will also address the new dimensional scoring guidelines for the three free-response tasks: the Project Presentation, Project Q&A, and argumentative essay.

AP® Summer Institutes are also valuable for teachers of pre-AP® levels who want to support students before the AP® year. APSIs help teachers understand the Course Framework, introduce AP® themes, contexts, and skills, and scaffold AP® tasks to strengthen access and readiness.

This summer, APSIs for AP® World Languages and Cultures—Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese, German, and Japanese—will cover key topics over 30 hours of instruction, whether in person or through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous virtual sessions:

                                Topic 1: CED and Course Planning

                                Topic 2: Expanding AP Opportunities

                                Topic 3: Strategies and Pedagogical Tools

                                Topic 4: AP Classroom

                                Topic 5: Assess and Reflect

To make the most of your AP® Summer Institute, come prepared to participate, ask questions, and leave with practical tools for the year ahead:

1. Watch for an email from your APSI consultant before the institute. They may share questions, instructions, and important links to help you prepare. Be sure to respond so they can plan effectively.
2. You may be asked to download the 2026 Curriculum and Exam Description for your course from a link or attached PDF. Have it ready for Day 1.
3. For new AP® teachers teaching the course for the first time: To access AP® Classroom during the institute, begin the AP® Course Audit process ahead of time.

   1. a. Set up your College Board professional account, carefully following the instructions here. Remember to use your school email address; you will also need your school CEEB code.

      b. If you already have an account, but have changed schools, edit your information by following these instructions. If you cannot sign in, access this Help menu.

      c. Ask your principal or AP® Coordinator to watch for your Course Audit Form. Your APSI consultant will help you complete it and review the curricular requirements for the syllabus during the institute.

      d. If you cannot complete the audit during the institute, your consultant can still demonstrate AP® Classroom and its navigation. You may also observe alongside another teacher who has access.

4. Bring your laptop and any files, activities, or resources from your own practice that you are willing to share.
5. Expect most materials to be shared digitally. Some consultants use Google Drive, while others may share files by jump drive, so consider bringing one.
6. Plan to participate in speaking and writing activities that may also be useful with your own students, including activities connected to the new Course Project.
7. Ask questions. This is your time to strengthen your understanding of the course and leave with clearer next steps.
8. Expect a mix of new and experienced AP® teachers. Experienced teachers can support colleagues who are new to the course, while new teachers can learn from those who have already built successful AP® programs. This year, everyone will also be learning new course and exam components together.
9. Prepare for a new AP® syllabus due January 31, 2027, for all teachers because the course curricular requirements have changed. Your consultant will guide you through writing a new syllabus, adopting a sample syllabus, or using an approved colleague’s syllabus through the “claim identical” option.
10. Complete the APSI evaluation form near the end of the 30 hours. You will receive a link, and the form is required to receive your APSI certificate. Certificates may also be delayed if the APSI institution has not received full payment.

By Parthena Draggett

AP® is a trademark registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this blog.