English: Citizenship Test

English: Citizenship Test

Unit #1 Citizenship Application Process
In this unit of the course, you will:
o Take a quiz to see how much you already know
o Learn more about the application process
o Watch students answer N-400 questions
First click on the quiz below to test yourself on how much you already know about the citizenship application process. When you finish that, click on the lesson to view a PowerPoint and video about the citizenship process.

1. Who can apply for citizenship? Your answer :
" Someone who is over 18 years old, has had their green card and lived in the U.S. for 5 years.
Correct, but if you are married to a U.S. citizen, all the rest applies, but you only have to wait 3 years."

2. How much does it cost to send in a citizenship application (form N-400)? Your answer :
$675
correct
3. After the N-400 Application is sent in, how long does it take to get an interview? Your answer :
6 months
Correct. the actual time varies from person to person, but typically it takes around 6-8 months.
4.What language skills do you need to study for this interview? Your answer :
Primarily listening and speaking skills and some dictation skills.
Correct, reading and writing skills can help you prepare, but the actual interview is primarily oral questions, with little reading involved.
5. Are you a citizen after your interview is completed successfully? Your answer :
No
Correct. About 2-3 months after the interview an applicant attends a swearing in ceremony and gets a certificate of citizenship.

CP part 2
All citizenship applicants must complete a complex application and interview process. Understanding that process and the key event - the interview - will help you better prepare your students for success in passing the test.
Click on the PowerPoint below to recap the application process. What new information, if any, do you learn?
The powerpoint will open in a new window. Use the arrow buttons on your keyboard to move from page to page in the powerpoint. When you have completed the powerpoint, come back to this page to move on.
Citizenship Process PowerPoint Show
Now click on continue to watch a mock interview.

CP part 3
This five minute video shows mock interviews of 3 citizenship students answering "introductory" and "yes/no" questions from the N-400 application form.
Before you watch the video, you can click on the links to print out the following forms and handouts for comparison with interview questions.
* N-400 Introductory questions - student practice handout (2 pages)
* N-400 Yes/No questions - student practice handout (4 pages)
* N-400 application form - from INS website (10 pages)

While watching the video notice the following:
* How complex is the language students need to learn?
* Will memorizing answers be enough to pass this interview?
* What interview skills do students need to learn?

Click here to watch video Mock Interview Video
After you watch the video, return to this window and click on "Continue".

Lesson One
CP part 4
Summary of Citizenship Process
Following is a summary of key information about the citizenship process to keep in mind.
Print copy, click here
Eligibility – who can apply?
* 18 years old or more
* Had green card for 5 years
* Had green card for 3 years if married to a citizen
How long does it take? It can differ from person to person. Approximate times are as follows:
Application Process
Send in your N-400
Begin
First letter from INS says application received
1st or 2nd month
Get fingerprint letter
3rd or 4th month
Receive letter of invitation for interview
5th or 6th month
Go in for interview
6th or 8th month
Got to swearing in ceremony, you are now a citizen
9th or 12 month
How much does it cost? $675 total ($595 application form, $80 fingerprint fee)
Now click on continue, to go on to unit 2.

Unit #2

Teaching Citizenship - Basics
In this unit of the course, you will:
o Identify which students should attend citizenship class
o Watch students answering history and government questions
o Take a quick quiz to review citizenship basics
Click on "Lesson Two" below to begin.

CB1
Who should take citizenship classes?
Students who ...
* Have had their green card (resident alien card) for at least 4 years.
* Are at least high beginning English language learners.
Click here to see a PowerPoint with details on which students should attend citizenship classes.
Now click on "Continue" to find out more about resources and materials.

The naturalization (citizenship) interview typically lasts for about 15 or 20 minutes. Following is a three minute video of students answering history and government questions during a mock interview with an instructor.
While watching the video, think about the following:
* What do students do when they don't understand a question?
* Is incorrect grammar or an accent an impediment to answering the questions or communicating during the interview?
* What does the reading/dictation process involve?
Before watching the video, print out the 96 history and government questions.
After watching the video, close the window to return to this lesson.
Click here to watch the video Student Interview and Dictation
Click on "Continue" to take a quick quiz on this lesson.

Quiz

1. Who should take citizenship classes?
Your answer :
Students who have had their green cards for 4 years or more.
Correct.

2. What are students tested for in the Citizenship interview? Your answer :
An understanding of U.S. history and law.
They must understand U.S. history and basic English speaking, reading and writing skill

3. What interview skills should students learn to pass their interview? Your answer : They need to learn how to ask for repetition and clarification. Correct. Phrases such as "Please repeat" or "Excuse me" are helpful.

Unit 3

Teaching Strategies
In this unit of the course, you will:
o Identify materials and classroom activities
o Watch a video on citizenship classroom instruction
o Review activities to include in lesson plans
Click on "Lesson Three" below to begin.

TC 1

This unit provides you with a set of citizenship teaching handouts, a textbook bibliography and basic teaching techniques to use in your citizenship class. First go to this website and download the following four student handouts: http://www.themlc.org/teachcitizenship
* Early History
* Constitution
* 96 questions
* Dictation sentences
Then click on the following PowerPoint for details on how to use these materials. Classroom Materials and Activities
After watching the PowerPoint close the window to return to this page and click on "Continue" to go to the next page and watch a video on classroom instruction.

TC 2

This five minute video shows scenes from a two hour citizenship class. During the first hour the teacher reviews the N-400 appplication and interview process and has students do pair practice with handouts. During the second hour the teacher has students read and discuss a unit on the U.S. Constitution from the textbook, "Passing the Test" by Lynne Weintraub.
Class outline:
* First hour: Review of N-400 Questions, pair practice
* Second hour: Study the constitution, pair practice, game, dictation
As you are watching the video, consider the following questions:
1. How does the instructor use the N-400 form and class handouts?
2. What purpose does the white board topic outline provide?
3. How does the teacher involve students in the learning process?

Citizenship Class Video : 5 minutes

After watching the video, close the window to return to this page and click on "Continue".

TC3
Pronunciation and vocabulary exercises for up to 3-5 words can be informally integrated into each lesson. At the end of each pair practice session or after each textbook page ask students, "What questions do you have about pronunciation or meaning?"
Write words on the board as students bring them up. For example:
Con/sti/tu/tion - laws of the U.S. (freedom of speech)
Draw lines to help students understand the number of syllables. Clap or tap out the syllables as students repeat the word. Use backward build-up techniques (video segment ) to help students master pronunciation. Elicit a simple definition from students and then discuss the word by using additional concrete examples of what this really means.
Graphics: Refer back to pictures in the textbook when possible to illustrate meaning, or bring pictures that illustrate definitions of words not covered in the textbook and that you have found are difficult for students to understand.

Dictation practice is a nice way to wrap up each class. Have students take out their sheet of dictation sentences (see resources). Indicate which sentence you plan to dictate. Have students read the sentence and then write it as you dictate it. Initially students can read while writing the sentence, but as their spelling proficiency increases, encourage them to write it without looking at the sentence.
Before you give the dictation, write "Please Repeat" on the board. Then tell students to ask you to repeat during the dictation. Guessing is an important skill to encourage. Students can pass the dictation portion if their sentence is readable and 70% correct.
To print out a complete list of Interview tips and dictation strategies click on this link Interview Tips. To review the dictation portion of the class video, click on this link: Dictation Video Segment .
To go to lesson four, click on "Continue".

Unit 4

Online Resources
In this unit of the course, you will:
o Review online MLC citizenship websites
o Visit online interview practice websites to use with students
o Visit government websites useful for helping students with the citizenship application process
Click on "Lesson Four" to begin.

The Minnesota Literacy Council has a number of good citizenship resources that can be accessed from their website. Direct links are listed below:
* Teaching handouts: http://www.theMLC.org/teachcitizenship
* Issues and updates: http://www.themlc.org/citizenshipissues
* Links to USCIS websites and upcoming citizenship in-service information: http://www.theMLC.org/citizenshipresources
* Citizenship Process information: http://www.themlc.org/citizenshipprocess.html
To be added to the MLC citizenship email update list, you can contact Ron Mazurowski at ronm@theMLC.org

Citizenship Interview practicewebsites can be used to reinforce classroom lessons and provide additional opportunities for students who want more repetitive question and answer practice right before their interview.
http://www.themlc.org/citizenwebsites.html
Click on the handout to print out the password to use the Metro North online practice website.
Metro North Website directions
Click "Continue" to learn more about resources available on the USCIS website.

The USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) website has numerous resources to help immigrants with the citizenship application process. http://www.uscis.gov
The N-400 form can be filled out online and then printed and mailed in, or simply printed by educators to copy and distribute among their students. Students will need to send in:
* Completed N-400 application form
* 2 passport pictures
* $675 for the application and fingerprint fee
* Photocopy of their Green card
Complete directions and the form can be printed out from this website. http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/N-400.pdf

CF4
Infopass: Appointments to consult with an INS officer about one's citizenship status in Bloomington or another local INS office must be made using the online appointment website http://infopass.uscis.gov . Appointments may not be made by phone or by visiting INS offices.
Selective Service Registration: Male citizenship applicants who became permanent residents (Green card holders) between the ages of 18 and 26 are required to register with the military. If you find out that your student falls in this category and hasn't yet registered, you can help them register at the following government website http://www.sss.gov . If they have already registered but have forgotten their registration number, this website can help them find that too.
For additional online citizenship resources, click on this link.
Now click on "continue" to move on to Unit 5 and take a quick survey.

Recommended Resources

Local-GoodnewsMorris

Books

Voice of Freedom-English & Civics for the U.S. Citizenship Exam, Second Edition by Bill Bliss w/ Steven J. Molinsky
amazon.com

State-GoodnewsMinnesota

  • Teach Citizenship, from the Minnesota Literacy Council
  • Nation-GoodnewsUSA

    Applying

    Applying for US Citizenship Part 1 of 4

    "Debby Alter from JFVS gives detailed instructions on how to apply for United States Citizenship. Part 1 of 4 "

    Green Card

  • Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Instructions

  • Green Card Lottery 2008 Green Card Lottery

  • " The United States Government issues 50,000 permanent Green Cards every year through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, the Green Card Lottery.
    Applicants are selected randomly by a computer generated drawing. If you are selected, you and your family will be authorized to live and work permanently in the United States."

    Miscellaneous

  • Study for the the U.S. Citizenship Test , from uscitizenship.org

  • *ask for our on-site classroom times, where we'll be able to share the username and password only through our local literacy (Morris Literacy Project-Morris, MN) program
  • U.S. Civics and Citizenship Online- Teaching Civics to Adult ESL Students, uscis.gov
  • United States nationality law From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  • "..Acquisition of citizenship
    There are various ways in which a person can acquire United States citizenship, either at birth or later on in life. ..
    Eligibility for naturalization
    To become a naturalized United States citizen, one must be at least eighteen years of age at the time of filing, a legal permanent resident of the United States, and have had a status of a legal permanent resident in the United States for five years less 90 days before they apply (this requirement is reduced to three years less 90 days if they (a) acquired legal permanent resident status, (b) have been married to and living with a citizen for the past three years and (c) the spouse has been a U.S. citizen for at least three years prior to the applicant applying for naturalization.) They must have been physically present for at least 30 months of 60 months prior to the date of filing their application. Also during those 60 months if the legal permanent resident was outside of the U.S. for a continuous period of 6 months or more they are disqualified from naturalizing (certain exceptions apply for those continuous periods of six months to 1 year). They must be a "person of good moral character", and must pass a test on United States history and government.[5][6] Most applicants must also have a working knowledge of the English language.[5] There are exceptions, introduced in 1990, for long-resident older applicants and those with mental or physical disabilities.[7][8] This requirement for an ability to read, write, and speak English is not regarded as too difficult, since the test requires that applicants read and write in English.
    [edit] Citizenship test
    Applicants for citizenship are asked ten questions, and must answer at least six correctly. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has published a list of 96 sample questions (with answers), from which the questions asked are normally drawn. The full list of questions can be found in the "A Guide to Naturalization" which is available for free from the USCIS.[9]
    [edit] New naturalization test
    There is a new naturalization test that is being utilized for all N-400 applications filed on or after October 1, 2008.[10] If the applicant filed the N-400 application before October 1, 2008 then the applicant may choose to take the new test or the old test. The new test examines the applicant's knowledge of American society and the English language. Sample questions and answers can be accessed on the Immigration Test website.[11] A creative way to assist the applicant with their studying for the new naturalization test is to try the New Naturalization Test Crossword Puzzle. [12] Besides passing citizenship tests, citizenship applicants must also satisfy other specific requirements of naturalization to successfully obtain U.S. citizenship.[13] ..

    Process

    United States Citizenship Process

    "Learn more at http://www.SaberHacer.com - Here is what you need to know about the citizenship process including a tour by experts at the U.S. Citizen & Immigration Department. "

    Resources

  • The US Citizenship Test

  • *IMPORTANT NOTICE
    RECENT NEWS - THE REDESIGNED NATURALIZATION EXAM
    In the interest of creating a more standardized, fair, and meaningful naturalization process, the USCIS recently completed a multi-year redesign of the U.S. citizenship exam. The revised naturalization exam, with an emphasis on the fundamental concepts of American democracy and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, will help encourage citizenship applicants to learn and identify with the basic values we all share as Americans.
    The new redesigned naturalization exam will take effect on October 1, 2008. After this date, all citizenship applicants must take the new test. Individuals that have submitted their citizenship application before October 1, 2008 but been scheduled to have the naturalization interview after October 1, 2008 can choose whether to take the current or redesigned naturalization exam. All applicants scheduled for the naturalization interview after October 1, 2009 must take the new test.
    The U.S. citizenship test study guide developed by U.S. Immigration Support covers both the current and redesigned test including the 100 civics questions and answers. Additional topics making up the naturalization exam include an English oral, reading and writing test in addition to 10 questions about the American government, integrated civics and the American history.
    Last Updated: October 4th, 2007"

    Global-Multicultural

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