1. Northeast ABLE Resource Center Helping Students Pass the Naturalization Interview Gloria W. Gillette, Director Northeast ABLE Resource Center March 22, 2007 TESOL Convention Seattle, WA

2. Northeast ABLE Resource Center 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

3. Northeast ABLE Resource Center 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: 18-24 had 99% pass rate in English and civics 50-64 75% pass rate with 75% English and 87% on civics

4. Northeast ABLE Resource Center Know the test Know the process Know your programs goals Know your students Teach to the parts and vocabulary of the test

5. Northeast ABLE Resource Center Deciding to apply Completion of the N-400 and appropriate paperwork Preparing for the interview and test Getting fingerprinted USCIS Interview Taking the oath

6. Northeast ABLE Resource Center Some exemptions and waivers are available. Due consideration will remain in effect for age and limited education www.uscis.gov

7. Northeast ABLE Resource Center 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

8. Northeast ABLE Resource Center 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

9. Northeast ABLE Resource Center NRS High Beginning level (see attachment)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.

10. Northeast ABLE Resource Center 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

11. Northeast ABLE Resource Center Teach Listening Teach Speaking Teach Reading Teach Writing Teach Test Taking Teach Social Skills

12. Northeast ABLE Resource Center The N-400 interview is the basis of the Speaking test! The N-400 interview is the basis of the Speaking test!LISTENING Listening precedes speaking.

13. Northeast ABLE Resource Center Strategies Teach Listening Skills: Selective Listening For Gist For Specific information For Detail Teach Speaking Skills: Asking for Clarification Self-Monitoring Asking for repetition

14. Northeast ABLE Resource Center 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)

15. Northeast ABLE Resource Center 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 words View videos on mock interviews Videotape/Audiotape Practice Vocabulary in a variety of formats Practice small talk Teach the students “zero”

16. Northeast ABLE Resource Center 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

17. Northeast ABLE Resource Center 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 Vocabulary is located on the USCIS website and the CD-Rom Read words (receptive) Write words (productive)

18. Northeast ABLE Resource Center 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

19. Northeast ABLE Resource Center 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)

20. Northeast ABLE Resource Center 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 Vocabulary list is located on the USCIS website and on the CD-Rom

21. Northeast ABLE Resource Center Flashcards Dictation-Peer, Running, Teacher lead Audiotape Spelling practice Cloze Explicit vocabulary practice Classify terms Self-editing

22. Northeast ABLE Resource Center 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

23. Northeast ABLE Resource Center Answer 6 out of 10 oral questions Background knowledge is important Listening skills are critical Questions are in the public domain

24. Northeast ABLE Resource Center Flashcards Pair activities Interviews Information Grid Jigsaw Drama—historical plays Compare/contrast (US/Native country) Games Music Field trip

25. Northeast ABLE Resource Center 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

26. Northeast ABLE Resource Center 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

27. Northeast ABLE Resource Center Available on the CD-Rom Flashcards from USCIS (old questions) Vocabulary for Reading and Writing New Questions Websites Resources

28. Northeast ABLE Resource Center Gloria W. Gillette, Director Northeast ABLE Resource www.neable.org (800) 361-7076