Teaching Citizenship

Agenda

• Citizenship process

• Logistics

• The old test versus the new test

• Strategies for teaching

• Time to work with materials

Why become a citizen?

• People’s lives are more secure here if they are citizens.• You can’t be deported.• You can vote.• It’s easier and faster to bring family members to the U.S.• You can work for the federal government.• You can obtain a U.S. passport.

Citizenship Process

• 18 years old or more• Has a green card• Lived in US for 5

years• Lived in US 3 years if

married to a citizen

Who is eligible to apply?

In addition…• Children under 18

– have a green card – become citizens the day the parent is sworn in– $460 fee– Form N-600 must be filed 

• shortcut for members of the military.

Who should take Citizenship classes?

A student who has had their resident alien card (green card) for at least 4 years.

Check their green card for the date

on the front or the back of the card.

Why begin class after 4 years?

• Applicants must have had their green card for 5 years before they can apply for citizenship.

• ESL students must memorize a lot of information for their interview.

If they learn it much earlier than a year before the interview, they tend to forget.

Who should attend citizenship classes in their native language?

• Beginning ESL students may not be able to understand or learn citizenship materials in English.

• These students should study general ESL classes and, if possible, take citizenship classes in their native language.

Classes in their native language will help them understand the complex ideas covered in English citizenship classes at the high beginning level.

Who may not need to attend citizenship classes?

• Advanced ESL students often don’t need much citizenship instruction.

• They can be given an

overview of the citizenship process and materials to study on their own.

They can benefit from being given at least one mock interview.

How long should students study citizenship?

Advanced ESL Students Independent study is enough

- 1 month

Intermediate ESL citizenship class

- 3-6 months.

High beginning ESL citizenship class for 6 months – 1 year

Beginning ESL Beginning ESL classes

Native language citizenship instruction, when possible

English language skills play an important role in determining length of time needed.

See the chart below.

Why should students attend citizenship class?

• Learn about the citizenship application and interview process

• Learn the English language skills necessary to pass their interview

ESL students attend citizenship class to:

• Applications cannot be submitted early! 3 months before the 5 years are up is the earliest possible date for submission.

• Tutors and teachers cannot assist applicants in completing the N-400, which is a legal document.

What Teachers can do:

• Provide information about the process and resources

• Provide copies of the N-400 and encourage applicant to fill out a rough draft. The final draft must be clear.

• If applicant doesn’t already have a file, insist they create one and make copies of everything submitted.

• Provide a checklist of what they need.

Did you know…?

• There is a fee waiver option.

• If you’ve been in the U.S. for 20 years and you’re at least 50 years old, OR in the U.S for 15 years and are 55 or older, you can have a translator and take the test in your native language.

Did you know…?

• Medical waiver -

• Form N648 must be signed by a doctor, saying that for psychological or physical reasons, the person is not able to take the regular test.

Red flags

• Complex legal problems?

3 misdemeanors = 1 felony

And it’s retroactive!

Go to an immigration lawyer to clarify problems.

How long does it take to become a citizen; from application form to

swearing in ceremony?

Guess …• 2 months• 5 months• 8 months• One year

Answer:• 6-8 months

What happened on October 1, 2008?

• All citizenship applicants who file their N-400 on or after October 1, 2008 will take the new test. 

But…

• Applicants who file before October 1, but have their interview after that date, will have a choice of taking either the old or new test. 

Tell them to

take the

old test!

And…

• Beginning on October 1, 2009, everyone will take the new test, regardless of when they filed. 

• However, for those who choose to take the old test before October 1, 2009, fail, and are re-tested after that date, the old test will be given.  (This is to ensure that applicants are given the same version of the test on each attempt.)

• Whew!

What Happens in the Interview?Current test

The USCIS officer …

1. asks applicant about information on the application form (N-400)

2. asks 10 questions about US history and government from the list of 96 questions

3. gives applicant a one sentence dictation Interview lasts about 15-20 minutes

What Happens in the Interview?

The USCIS officer …

1. asks applicant about information on the application form (N-400) – NO CHANGE

2. asks 10 questions about US history and government from the new set of 100 Q’s – 6 must be correct

New topic: geography

Questions with multiple answers

New Test

3. Reading Portion

Applicants given up to three ‘sentences’ – must read one ‘sentence’ correctly – ‘sentences’ are questions about U.S. history

and civics

– high beginning level – 30 questions to choose from – questions and answers are formed from the

lists of vocabulary words provided

NEW

4. Writing portion NEW (dictation)

• officer gives the answer to the question the applicant just read

For example

• Reading: “Who was the first President?”

• Dictation: “Washington was the first President.” 

When do you become a Citizen?

At the Swearing-in Ceremony

Usually 2-3 months after the citizenship interview

What Skills Should Students Learn?

Language skills• Listening• Speaking• Dictation writing• Guessing

Interview skills• Stalling for time• Requesting repetition• Hmming and tapping chin to buy time

In a typical class…

• The Teacher will teach 4-5 questions– Read question out loud and have students

repeat 4-5 times– Work on pronunciation of individual words and

intonation of phrase– Discuss the meaning and write definitions on

the board– Encourage students to write and translate– Work in pairs and practice.

practice, practice, practice

Student A: new student

•Responds to questions •Looks at both question and answer

Student B: studied 3 weeks

•Folds worksheet to cover answers•Listens & looks at question only•Responds w/o looking at answer

Pair Practice

More Pair Practice

• Switch pairs

• Listen to many voices

Teacher facilitates

• Checks pronunciation

• Answers questions

What Are Some Teaching Strategies?

Teach worksheets with a variety of exercises

• Comprehension• Pronunciation• Memorization• Games

General Strategies Video

Pronunciation Lesson

Strategies Specific to New Test

Questions with multiple answers

• teach one answer – the easiest one!

Reading and Writing

• Independent study: give students the lists of vocabulary words

• Student reads the question, then tutor dictates the answer for student to write.

Early History

Why did the Pilgrims come to America? For religious freedom.

What was the name of the Pilgrim’s ship?

The Mayflower.

Who helped the Pilgrims in America? Native Americans.

What holiday was celebrated for the first time by the American Colonists?

Thanksgiving Day.

Name the first 13 colonies. 1. New Hampshire 8. Pennsylvania

2. New York 9. Virginia

3. New Jersey 10. Georgia

4. Maryland 11. Connecticut

5. Massachusetts 12. Delaware

6. North Carolina 13. Rhode Island

7. South Carolina

What Does a One Hour Lesson Look Like?

10 minute warm up

review previous lessons + handouts

20 minute textbook reading + discussion

20 minute pair practice new worksheet

10 minute reading and dictation practice

Use games to make Q & A practice more fun.

You need

1. game board

2. dice

3. game pieces

Students roll dice, answer questions correctly, then move.

Online Practice

USCIS website