The Course

AP Japanese Language and Culture

Sign In to AP Classroom

Course Overview

AP Japanese Language and Culture is equivalent to an intermediate-level college course in Japanese. Students cultivate their understanding of Japanese language and culture by applying interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of communication in real-life situations as they explore concepts related to family and community, personal and public identity, beauty and aesthetics, science and technology, contemporary life, and global challenges.

Course and Exam Description

Course Resources

Article

AP Japanese Language and Culture Course Description Audio Files

Companion audio files to the course and exam description.

Course Content

To provide context and content for students to develop their skills in the modes of communication, AP Japanese Language and Culture takes a thematic approach. This framework provides a clear and detailed description of the course requirements necessary for student success. The framework specifies what students must know, be able to do, and understand to qualify for college credit or placement. There are also many suggested authentic resources to support instruction throughout.

The AP Japanese Language and Culture framework is made up of six units. As always, you have the flexibility to organize the course content as you like.

Unit

Unit 1: Families in Different Societies

Unit 2: The Influence of Language and Culture on Identity

Unit 3: Influences of Beauty and Art

Unit 4: How Science and Technology Affect Our Lives

Unit 5: Factors That Impact the Quality of Life

Unit 6: Environmental, Political, and Societal Challenges

Course Skills

The AP Japanese Language and Culture framework included in the course and exam description outlines distinct skills that students should practice throughout the year—skills that will help them learn to think and act like Japanese speakers.

Skill

Description

1. Comprehend Text

Comprehend written, audio, audiovisual, and visual text (text and pictures).

2. Make Connections

Make interdisciplinary and cultural connections.

3. Interpret Text

Interpret the content of written or audio text (words).

4. Make Meanings

Make meanings from words and expressions.

5. Speak to Others

Communicate interpersonally by speaking with others.

6. Write to Others

Communicate interpersonally by writing to others.

7. Present Orally

Communicate through spoken presentations.

8. Present in Writing

Communicate through written presentations.

AP and Higher Education

Higher education professionals play a key role in developing AP courses and exams, setting credit and placement policies, and scoring student work. The AP Higher Education section features information on recruitment and admission, advising and placement, and more.

This chart shows recommended scores for granting credit, and how much credit should be awarded, for each AP course. Your students can look up credit and placement policies for colleges and universities on the AP Credit Policy Search.

Meet the Development Committee for AP Japanese Language and Culture

The AP Program is unique in its reliance on Development Committees. These committees, made up of an equal number of college faculty and experienced secondary AP teachers from across the country, are essential to the preparation of AP course curricula and exams.