走入主流：美國大學先修（AP）中文考試2007－2010結果分析

Going Mainstream: An Analysis of 2007-2010 AP Chinese Exam Results

隨著中國經濟、政治、軍事勢力的崛起，全球掀起了一股中文熱。在此潮流下，美國大學理事會設置大學先修（AP）中文課程、考試更帶動了高中生學習中文的熱潮，也同時提升了中文在美國主流社會的重要性。自2006年秋季AP課程開始設置、2007年春季年第一次AP考試至今已五年，有關AP 中文課程、考試及其影響力的討論仍在持續中。本文將從大學理事會公布的考生人數、考生成分、考試成績來分析四年來AP 中文考試的結果2，此結果也將與AP 考試其他AP 外語考試（法文、德文、意大利文、日文、西班牙文）、尤其是與AP中文同時設立的AP日文及與中文同樣有眾多傳承語學習者的西班牙文做比較。最後筆者也探討AP 中文考試對美國中文教育正面及反面的影響。

As China has gained prominence in the global arena as an economic, political, and military power, the study of Chinese has become increasingly popular. In response, the College Board of the United States launched the Advanced Placement ( AP) Chinese Language and Culture Course and Exam, further driving high school students' interest in learning Chinese and raising the status of Chinese in mainstream American society. It has been more than four years since the implementation of the first AP Chinese courses in fall 2006 and the AP Chinese Exam in spring 2007, but discussion about the AP Chinese Language and Culture Course and Exam and its influence is still taking place. This paper will analyze data released by the College Board regarding the number, demographics, and scores of the AP Chinese examinees over the last four years, and compare the results from the AP Chinese Exam and AP exams in other world languages (French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish), focusing in particular on the AP Japanese Exam and AP Spanish Exam. Finally the author will explore the positive and negative impacts the AP Chinese Exam has had on Chinese language education in the United States.