Anyone want to help me figure out this AP English Language Course?

[LisaKinVA]

Due to ever-changing circumstances, I need to completely alter plans for LEGOManiac's English course. It's no longer possible for him to take classes at the school next year, and my budget is way, way tight (our house hasn't sold, all of my school money is paying the mortgage until it either sells or is rented).

 

I really don't like either the Shmoop or the GA Virtual courses (really dislike the book selections they include), and the writing instruction/practice from what I've seen of the EDX course just seems better.  I never took AP English (not an available option to me), and I tested out of Freshman English. 

 

Mostly, I need someone to help bounce ideas/thoughts off of as I try to figure out how to best use it, or possibly another (free) alternative.

 

For example, the course is titled, "Preparing for the AP English Language and Composition Exam" -- by TN Board of Regents.  It reads like it's a supplement BUT, when you go into the course information, it says, it's a 35-week course, taking roughly 10-15 hours a week to complete!  That sounds more like a standard, full AP English course.  But, I have a set literature course of study we were going to do as well (which is easily 5-10 hours of work/week -- it includes 1 hour of lit & vocabulary, and an extra hour of reading a day).  So, this sounds like way, way too much at first blush.  The reviews are unhelpful -- as it appears the vast majority of people taking the class are trying to improve their ESL skills, not prep for the AP ELC exam.

 

But, I guess my question is, is the course (as written) REALLY that much work?  Is it an over-estimation?  I can't tell.  I know  a bit of it will be a review of sorts -- but I know consistent practice with the types of essays is also fairly important.  There is a lot of close reading practice in the course.  It is geared toward taking the AP English Language & Composition Test.  

 

Coursera also has a 4-course program (Transform your Writing Skills), by UC Irvine.  This has a basic grammar review, reviews essays, and also goes through how to write/research/produce the different academic essays. The course information sounds like it has more of what I was looking for as part of an English class -- 2-4 hours a week, plus my lit component would be a full Advanced English Course.  I know we could finish this up, and then have a solid month for more focused preparation.  It's 60 euro per course, which would make it affordable.  It's self-paced, which means we can work on it on our schedule.  And, he could work on it at either base library as well, if need-be.

 

Anyone with BTDT experience, and a kid who got a 4 or better on the AP English Language & Composition exam care to take a crack at this with me?  It is important to my son that he score well on this test.  I want to be thorough -- but I also don't need it to be unnecessarily difficult.  My resources are limited.