How to Study for the AP Spanish Exam

     Ahora, no puedo decir: "obtendrás un cinco en el examen de Español". Pero, puedo dar algunas recursos que me estan ayudando.  Posible, puedan ayudarte tambien.  ¡ Buenas suerte!

     For those of you scratching your heads right now, this roughly translates to:
   
     Now, I can't say: "you will obtain a 5 on the AP Spanish Exam."  But, I can give some resources that are helping me.  Possibly, they can help you also.  Good luck!


Yes-- for me, it's only 6 days away, and I am officially in panic-study mode.  Granted, the most important things on this exam are things I have learned all year, but I feel the urge to make sure I get as much in my head as possible before Tuesday morning.  The past few weeks, there are a few tools that have been especially helpful.  If you are prepping for the test, are a Spanish student, or just happen to be curious about my blog, I encourage you to take a look at what all is out there.  I guarantee that at least one of these study tools will mesh with your style, and help you in the coming week.

1. Spanish Radio
According to my Spanish teacher, this is one of the easiest ways to study-- and it truly is!  While it's good to listen to the words and try to translate, it's also fine to just listen.  It's amazing what your brain picks up through passive listening.  It also helps to get used to the normal speed of speech in Spanish.  I've been turning on the Spanish talk radio on the way home from school the past few days, and am already coming to enjoy it!

2. Spanish Books
For this year's test takers, it might be a little late for this one.  However, you can always start a book and continue it until you finish.  I have been asking for a Spanish Bible forever, and I finally just purchased one myself off of Amazon a few weeks ago.  It was only like $2.70 (and we have free AmazonPrime shipping), and it has mixed up my normal Bible reading routine.  No, you won't understand all the words in whatever book you choose to read, but there is such value in learning to decipher words from their context.  This will help you immensely on the exam as well.  I would suggest you try to do some Spanish reading at least once a day for 10-15 minutes.  Not only will it be fun if you love Spanish like me, but it will also be a fun way of  studying!

3, Spanish News

Photo credit: logos.wikia.com

This is pretty similar to the suggestion above, except it is accessible on your smartphone or iPod.  I have the Univision app, as well as a Spanish news app.  Now I can read quick articles about what's going on in Spanish speaking countries, as well as get a feel for the context and culture that will be presented on parts of the exam.

4. AP Website
The AP website has plenty of tools available for review, including exam preparation and key concepts to know.  I've yet to actually use this one, because frankly: its the most boring!  However, come this weekend: I'll be doing a few practice tests on there (and on our school's resources and class webpage with listening activities) to make sure I'm as test hardened as I can be.  I want to know exactly what to expect on exam day, and this is a great way to ensure that.

5. A Study Group
This is a great way to study, as long as you stay focused and have a clear objective.  Beforehand, set an agenda for what concepts you all would like to review and need help with.  Keep it short, so you are able to stay on task and work diligently.

6.Spanish Restaurants
Whether you do so with your family, on your own, or with your class: head to a Spanish restaurant and try out your speaking skills in a real life situation.  Most likely, they will be gracious if you are a little slow to order and respond.  Work on trying to speak in a consistent flow though.  This quick thinking, conjugating, ect.., will help you on the speaking conversation part of the exam especially.

7. Google!
Never underestimate the power of Google.  While there are many uncredible websites out there that have no clue how to teach you Spanish, there are also some great review games that can help you have some fun while studying.  Sites like Quizlet and Quia are great.  My Spanish classes for years have used both.  Be careful to evaluate the credibility of such sites however.  If it is a standalone site, make sure it is an education establishment or actual test preparation site, to avoid learning wrong information right before the exam!

What I'm Grateful for on April 29, 2013

     I've had an amazingly hard day to be honest.  My knee pain that started last week has now grown to full fledged tendonitis-- or runner's knee- on my right leg.  It had hurt very badly during my meet Friday night, and my coach said some people said it looked like I was limping.  While it was "supposed" to heal up over the weekend while I cross-trained and rested, it instead stayed about the same.  After I'd taken a day to cross-train last week, it had gotten a lot better.  However, after two days off this past weekend, it hurt just as badly.  All the ice in the world hadn't made a difference, and it seemed: all the prayer hadn't either.
     After another hard workout on the bike, I am really struggling with my plan vs. God's plan right now.  If I truly believe the promise he has given me for this season, then I shouldn't be in such despair.  If I fully trusted my heavenly father, I wouldn't be trying to solve everything on my own.

     While I understand that running isn't my life, I do believe it is a very important passion and ministry that God has given me.  I have such joy when I run for him, and he has worked so much in my heart this year in growing my desire to run for him, and not the glory-- though I still struggle like any runner would!  Much like Eric Liddell said, "God made me for a purpose but he also made me fast, and when I run I feel His pleasure."  This pleasure God has given me in running is something I am so grateful for.  Regardless of how this season-- HIS season-- goes, I know that I will keep running for him.  I don't say that out of arrogance, but because I have been so low as a runner this year, that I know I will continue to cling to God.  I have been to that hard place, and I have held to him.  I know I will because I have grasped more of who he is through times like these.  I also know that until he changes me heart, I will continue my ministry as a runner.  Until God moves me elsewhere, I will bloom where I'm planted.
     So basically, this is a long-winded way of saying that I'm not sure where I am right now.  I know I'm frustrated to the core of my being.  I know I'm less than 6 weeks out from the state meet.  I know I have shown extremely poor times so far.  But I know that Jesus loves me and I know he has good plans for me.  I know he sees my faithfulness, and seeks to bless that.
     Just yesterday, my dad shared with me a visual using children's play blocks.  There were five of them, each with something different written on the front, and they were placed at different distances from me, much like targets.  Taking me down to the basement where they were, he asked me to only focus on the farthest one away.  "I can't see it," I said when he asked what it said.  "Can you read the next one?"  "No," I shook my head.  "How about that one?"  "No," I answered, "Should I be able to?"  He said no, and then moved on to the next closest one.  "Can you read that one," he said, pointing to it.  I nodded.  It said: Jesus is able to fulfill His word to you (The Promise)  (All of these did say my name, but I'm replacing that with "you.")  I picked it up, and as I went, my dad said to pick up the closer one which I could also read.  It said: Jesus loves you (The Promise).  Then I picked up the one I'd originally read, which said: Jesus only wants good for you (The Promise).  From there, my dad asked me again, "Now can you see the next one?"  From this position, I could read it.  It said: Jesus is willing to fulfill His word to you (The Promise).  So I went and picked up that one, now carrying a nice load of promises in my arms.  "Now can you read the next one?" my dad asked.  Again, I said yes and read it to myself: Jesus made a Promise to you and Jesus never breaks His Promises. (The Promise).  When I finally picked that one up, I could see the final box.  While is was originally way to far to read, I could now clearly make out the text, and as I did, I smiled.  It was the promise: the promise I believe God gave me last year regarding this season.
     That illustration made such an impact on me, because it showed me that there are times-- like right now-- when I can't see the final promise.  It looks impossible and I struggle to have faith in it.  Yet, if I can grasp the promises in his word, his promises to love me and to use me and to be with me, then I can keep moving toward the promises ahead of those, the ones specifically named for me.  Above all, the foundational promise is Christ's love, and that is the number one thing to hold on to in life.  Without that, the other boxes would have been hard to understand when life threw fatigue my way....and a heel strain...and Tendonitis in my  ankle...and sickness...and Tendonitis in my knee.  While I feel like its been one crazy thing after another, I know that God already has it all planned out.  Whether or not it goes the way I want it will and believe it will, he is in control.  Come victory or defeat, I know who my God is, and that is because he has made himself known to me.  Even though I can't see it right now, I know his promises and I can rest on those that are closest to me and keep moving forward. What amazes me is that He went through the trials of life, so he knew I would need promises and encouragement.  He knew that I would fall and fail and need forgiveness.  He knew that I needed him to make himself known in order to keep on going and not quit.  For that, and for blessing me for the ability to even run at all Lord, thank you.

Bible Translation Hopping

     Let's just get this out of the way: I know you do it.  I know because I do it too.  In fact, I've seen it from some pretty notable people in the Christian faith, so it can't be that bad...right?  I'm talking about "translation hopping."
     Here's what we do: we hear or read a verse and therefore, look that one up to memorize.  The only problem is, we take to Bible gateway.  Innocently searching for the passage we heard at Bible study or a verse on hope, we begin to see the Promise Land of possibilities.  You may be a die-hard New Century Version lover or a lifelong International Reader's Version fanatic, but when it comes to scripture memorization, you Google and Bible Gateway search just like the rest of us.
  How could you not?  After all, there's NIV, NKJV, NLT, ESV, NIRV, NCV, the IRV and any other V or T you can think of.  We like how the NIV says "mercy" within a certain verse, but it says "great" instead of "abundant" like the NIRV does.  But then, the NIRV doesn't say "mercy," it says "love."  The KJV says both "mercy" and "abundant," but it uses really old fashioned language you can't understand.  So what do you do?  Memorize every verse in whichever version sounds the coolest or most holy, of course!
     Except, you never know which version you've memorized a verse in.  Even worse, you begin reciting the ICVV-- the I Combined Versions Version-- which I'm pretty sure is the sin of all sins.  Although its not quite at the level of adding or subtracting from the Bible, manipulating your own wording is coming dangerously close if you ask me.  The last time I caught myself doing this, I sat right down where I was and I made sure I knew the passage in one solid version before I was allowed to get up and continue with life.  In all honesty though, it's my favorite passage in the Bible, and when I recite specific verses, I still do so in different versions...but at least I'm not mixing versions within the verse, right?

     The worst part is, now that I've admitted this little sin to the worldwide web, I have now blown my "innocent mistake" excuse, and opened myself up for condemnation across seven continents!  Go ahead though, because I can recite Romans 8:1 in a solid NKJV-- although I might slip in and out of ICVV.

     Ha! I caught you: this isn't even NKJV.  I have a rousing suspicion that you do some translation hopping too....which is far worse than the alternative that you just don't know your versions of the Bible.  If that's the case: your not so bad.  At least you're not a heathen like the rest of us.

Random (and useless) Facts/Things I've Learned This Week

It's been a strange week..err...a regular week.  But to spice things up, I'll let you know how suburbanly-interesting my life really is, with a list of some things I have actually learned this past week:

1. My high school has a new mascot: a wild turkey that enjoys strolling the parking lot and perching on the roof.
2. My right leg is evil, and enjoys receiving 99.6% of my tweaks/injuries (already up to 3 strange ones this season)

3. The West African Ostrich likes to live in arid desert landscapes and can go days without water (RELATED: Ostriches).
4. Santiago is Spanish for James (my Spanish Bible finally came!)
5. All things in Pre-Calculus this week.....(can you tell I hate math?)
6. Yesterday (April 26) was Hug an Australian Day

A loy (photo credit: Wikipedia)

7. It is quite embarrassing to run a race with your spandex shorts inside out, but not many people actually notice the tag or the white fabric at the bottom...
8. Matching the color of a prom dress with a paint swatch is a great way to ensure your date has a matching tux color when your dress is in alterations.
9. A loy is an "early Irish spade with a long heavy handle made of ash."  This is courtesy of Wikipedia and a rousing game of "How many words can we make out of the word Brooklyn" with my older brother.
10. My life is so terrifyingly average and I am so forgetful, that I can't even think of 10 interesting things from this week!  I have got to write stuff down more often!

What I'm Grateful for on April 24

     With a slight knee injury (should only be a day or two), AP exams rapidly approaching, a research paper to write, and relationships to mend: I am not exactly feeling grateful today.  I want to be able to blog, spend time with my family, run with freedom, and, oh ya: relax!  Yet, I know that all things work together for good for those who love God.  I am following him and doing my best to keep my head above water lately, and he has been rewarding me with his peace.
     In the midst of my struggles lately, I have seen such a growth in my patience. This is something I am absolutely grateful for, because I know it is by God alone that this is happening.  He is using my circumstance to draw near to me as I wait.  As he draws near to me, I am learning to better trust my heavenly father and lean on him alone-- not circumstance.  I won't pretend that I don't doubt him just about every half hour, but I am better dealing with these doubts.

-Corrie ten Boom

     The temptation is to be proud of myself, and yet: I know that it is by God's grace alone that I am growing closer to him.  I look forward to the day when I can laugh at all these current struggles.  But until then, I can hope in his everlasting love and promises.  I can wait upon the Lord and trust that he has great plans for my life.

Psalm 46:5

     This is a verse that happens to be in my Psalm of 2013 (read every couple of days all year).  How great is God that he is within me, despite all I do wrong.  That amazes me more than the scope of all my sin.  On an awful Monday, I really needed that.  Thank you Jesus.  Thank you for changing me from the inside out and giving me strength to grow and impact the world for you.

God is my warrior

     

The reason I've been scarcely blogging the past week or so is because I've felt awful.  Monday was a simple "sniffly nose," Tuesday was a full-blown sinus attack, and by Wednesday I was exhausted and coughing like crazy.  My Thursday headache carried over to Friday-- despite getting nine hours of sleep-- and after 9th period at school, I was ready to call it quits.  We had a meet yesterday night, so my plan was to go home and rest and then hopefully feel good enough to run.  Once my mom had picked me up, I was feeling even worse.  While I was sleeping at home, she talked to my coach who needed to give my replacement time to get her uniform and what not.  So she put another girl in my races.  I was really upset when I woke up, because I felt like there was still a chance I could run.  But my headache wasn't gone, and I'd been fighting a gag reflex all day.  Sure enough, while my mom drove us to my dad's, I promptly threw-up the oyster crackers I'd managed to stomach earlier.  She graciously lathered on the hand sanitizer and ignore the awful smell coming from the plastic bag I was holding...and puking into every time I coughed.

     When I got to my dad's, I slept another hour or so after praying with him for healing.  Keeping my eyes open for two long made the headache return, so I would nap during House Hunters International commercial breaks.  I recalled the phrase I repeat to people just about every time I come down with a cold: "my immune system is a warrior!"  So much for that...
     Around 6:30 though, I finally had an appetite.  After I had some soup, I was feeling amazingly better.  By 8:30, I was able to get up without feeling dizzy, and made my way downstairs to watch a movie with my family.  "How is it that I feel so much better so soon," I asked my dad incredulously.  "We prayed," he answered.
     How true is that?  I realize how stupid I have been in claiming that my immune system is a warrior.  Granted, it is able to protect me from countless viruses and illnesses, but that's only by God's power!  My immune system, then, is not the warrior.  God is.
     He fights for me.  He heals me.  He knows that resting rather than racing was exactly what would help me .  He nourished my body and healed me in basically a day!  Then I realize that this is the same God whose promises I am holding on to, whose glory I am running for.  He is able to do great things, and there is nothing that is going to stop him!  He fights for me.