northeast able resource center helping students pass the naturalization interview gloria w....

Northeast ABLE Resource Center

Helping Students Pass the Naturalization

Interview

Gloria W. Gillette, DirectorNortheast ABLE Resource Center

March 22, 2007TESOL Convention

Seattle, WA

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The test has not changed substantially The way the test is administered has

though (good news) Materials, questions and civics content

aligned to NRS high beginning level Content, instruments, protocols and

scoring will be standardized

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84 percent of applicants pass the test on the first try

95 percent pass on the final try. The pass rate for is Civics (93 percent) Pass rate for English (87 percent)Pass rate for English (87 percent)

Age was a significant factor:Age was a significant factor: 18-24 had 99% pass rate in English and civics 50-64 75% pass rate with 75% English and 87%

on civics

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Know the test Know the process Know your programs goals Know your students Teach to the parts and vocabulary

of the test

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Deciding to apply Completion of the N-400 and

appropriate paperwork Preparing for the interview and test Getting fingerprinted USCIS Interview Taking the oath

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Some exemptions and waivers are available.

Due consideration will remain in effect for age and limited education

www.uscis.gov

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Establish the goals of your program: Who will you serve? (consider language

levels, literacy levels, length of time available, instructors)

Class Design Pre-Citizenship Citizenship Preparation with English Language Citizenship Preparation/Review Interview Preparation Workshop

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English Speaking test begins immediately with the interview. Questions are drawn from N-400

Reading test - reading a sentence

Writing test - writing a dictated sentence

Civics test - 6/10 question answered correctly

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NRS High Beginning level (see attachment)

Individual expresses basic survival needs and participates in some routine social conversations, although with some difficulty. Understands simple learned phrases easily and some new phrases containing familiar vocabulary spoken slowly with repetition. Asks and responds to questions in familiar contexts. Individual has some control of basic grammar.

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Tests are available to measure NRS language levels: BEST Plus (oral), BEST Literacy, CASAS-(written and listening)

Informal and authentic tests can also give insight Know their abilities for reading and writing, but

most importantly listening and speaking. Levels may vary with the 4 skills Interview your students to find out where they are

in the process, their experience with tests, their fears and weak points.

Develop a plan and a realistic timeframe for the student-both academic and personal

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Teach Listening Teach Speaking Teach Reading Teach Writing Teach Test Taking Teach Social Skills

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The N-400 interview is the basis The N-400 interview is the basis of the Speaking test!of the Speaking test!

LISTENINGLISTENING

Listening precedes speaking.Listening precedes speaking.

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Strategies Teach Listening Skills:

Selective Listening For Gist For Specific information For Detail

Teach Speaking Skills: Asking for Clarification Self-Monitoring Asking for repetition

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Make sure students understand the questions (may be out of order)

Highlight important words (EVER) Teach them to listen for key words

(spouse) Teach them red flag words (when) Teach words of association (bear

arms) Grammar function (Have you ever…) If any questions need explanation,

practice them explicitly (34-39)

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Pair activities good for mock interviews, some adjudicators are not native-speakers

Ask and respond to questions Use the negative Practice interview skills Accent reduction, if necessary - targeted sounds or w

ords View videos on mock interviews Videotape/Audiotape Practice Vocabulary in a variety of formats Practice small talk Teach the students “zero”

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Rephrasing Circumlocution Asking for clarification Pictures Games Music Personal Vocabulary Diary KWL Information Grid Grammar Fill-in Role Play

Mock Interviews Circles Flashcards Dictation Cloze Word Scramble Substitution drill Word association Repetition Matching Reduction

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Three chances to read a passage correctly

Scored with a rubric Passages not public Vocabulary

is located on the USCIS website and the CD-Rom

Read words (receptive) Write words (productive)

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Reading Comprehension Proofreading Pronunciation Flashcards Cloze Word Scramble Substitution drill Matching KWL Fill-in

Information Grid Personal Vocabulary

Diary Copying Sentence construction Rewording sentences Anticipating sentences Games 20 Questions/Who am I? Deletion

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Practice vocabulary explicitly Pronunciation: target difficult sounds and

words Pay attention to rhythm and intonation Pair activities: reading to a partner and

evaluating speech effectiveness Develop practice sentences—by students

and teacher (use to practice writing test) Understand meaning of the vocabulary in

isolation and then in sentences in context Know grammar (Washington WAS, Bush IS)

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Three chances to produce a dictation

Graded with a rubric Dictations are not public

knowledge, but Vocabulary list is located on the

USCIS website and on the CD-Rom

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Flashcards Dictation-Peer, Running, Teacher lead Audiotape Spelling practice Cloze Explicit vocabulary practice Classify terms Self-editing

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Practice listening with computers, tapes Audiotape the student Develop practice sentences—by students

and teacher (use to practice reading test)

Peer edits Spelling correction Legible handwriting

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Answer 6 out of 10 oral questions Background knowledge is

important Listening skills are critical Questions are in the public

domain

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Flashcards Pair activities Interviews Information Grid Jigsaw Drama—historical plays Compare/contrast (US/Native country) Games Music Field trip

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Mock interviews with native/non-native speakers

Games Use highlighters to focus on key vocabulary Listen for key words for meaning, for

numbers (Name ONE problem.)

Question words – who, what, why, when, if, how many, whose

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Visit the center Teach students basic social skills - Shake hands/eye

contact/small talk Relaxation Discuss feelings, experiences and urban myths Peppermint Applicant not supplicant Expose students to a variety of situations Self-Confidence Comfortable with the interview questions Hygiene

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Available on the CD-Rom Flashcards from USCIS (old

questions) Vocabulary for Reading and Writing New Questions Websites Resources

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Gloria W. Gillette, Gloria W. Gillette, DirectorDirector

Northeast ABLE ResourceNortheast ABLE Resourcewww.neable.org

(800) 361-7076(800) 361-7076