Archive for the ‘Immigration’ Category

Why Immigrants Fail the New Citizenship Interview

The way they study is good for the WRITTEN test, but bad for the ORAL test.

If English is your mother tongue, then how your learn may not matter. However, for ESL students, the way they learn does affect the result. When they learn from books or a DVD, they are more likely to succeed in written tests. However, the citizenship interview is an oral test, conducted face-to-face, meaning that the students don’t see the questions at all. The ability to listen to a question, understand it, and answer it correctly — all without looking at the printed questions — is crucial. Citizenship Coach says being not ready for an oral test is the #1 reason why immigrants fail their citizenship interviews.

So, what to avoid? Which is the right way to learn?

You must avoid studying for the citizenship interview from just books or DVDs… or other ways in which you can see the questions and answers. Of course, you must see the questions first. But after that, you should study one-on-one with a friend or a teacher, or online classes with video from SurePass Citizenship Test Online (if you can afford it – $9 to 20/month – then this is the best way. See why below.)

Here are some great methods:

  • Study with a friend: Ask you friend who speaks English well to ask you the questions, one by one, randomly, and you try to answer without looking at the questions. The goal is to put mind in that interview environment as much as possible so you can get ready mentally.
  • Study in Class with a teacher: If you can drive to a local class, your teacher will train you to listen and answer the questions.
SurePass_screenshot

Study in the comfort of your home, online. SurePass helps immigrants get ready for the citizenship interview via the internet.

  • Study online with SurePass Citizenship Test Online: This is the better option since it combines the 2 method I’ve just mentioned above. Created by Citizenship Teachers for ESL citizenship students like you. You can study at home or anywhere with internet access. Everybody is busy. Study with SurePass, you don’t have to drive to a class every week, or ask for help from your friends.

SurePass has one video for each question. So, if you don’t have a friend to ask you the questions, you can play the question videos and learn to listen to the interviewer, just like a real interview with a USCIS officer. If you don’t know how to answer, or want to know how a word is pronounced, you can play the answer video and it will show you exactly word by word.

Join the best citizenship test online class today at www.CitizenshipCoach.com

6 Best Benefits of Being a United States Citizen!

You just passed your citizenship test! You are now officially a United State citizen. Congratulations! Now what? The election season (with some of the most important elections) has just passed by without your votes. What’s next? What’s in it for you? See 6 top benefits of being a US citizen below.

More and more Citizenship classes are using SurePass Citizenship Test Online in class.

More and more Citizenship classes are using SurePass Citizenship Test Online. High-tech citizenship classes like this have become more popular thanks to Citizenship Coach's effort to empower citizenship teachers nationwide.

The right to vote is one of the most important right to every citizen. Those immigrants who had lived under opressive regimes can fully understand the right – not privilege - to have your votes counted. Casting your first vote as a United State citizen must be a great experience. Well, you will have more chances to vote in the future. As long as you remain a US citizen, your right to vote is not taken away.


Learn more about SurePass.


Voting right is not the only benefit of being a US citizen. Frankly speaking, if voting right is the only benefit, then most immigrants would not pay hundreds of dollars to apply and spend countless hours studying the citizenship questions, which have just been changed. And some of us who are US citizens don’t even bother to vote! So, with everything considered, what are the stronger motives for immigrants to become naturalized citizens? Below are a few:

  1. The right to petition family members to the United States: Almost all newly naturalized citizens that have relatives out of the states plan to bring them over: children, parents, or family members.
  2. Pride: New citizens are proud of their accomplishment. A citizen status means that they have been in the United States for awhile, that they have passed the citizenship test, and that they are now a legitimate member of the most powerful group of people on earth.
  3. Travel with ease: If you travel a whole lot outside of the country, you should be a citizen. It’s just easier traveling with a US Passport. More than that, if you get in trouble oversea, you can ask for help, and help will come!
  4. Work for the Government: This economy doesn’t spare anyone, even Government workers. But the Government does have great jobs, and these jobs do come to citizens only!
  5. Receive Social Security Benefits: The Social Security Benefit system is having trouble right now and talks of reformation still remain talks. But it it works out, you can receive benefits, of course, when you meet the age requirement.

There are so many other benefits, but those are the major ones. So, if you are a US citizen, congratulations! If you are not but studying for the citizenship test, keep on going! Get help with your test at Citizenship Coach. They’re there to help you pass your citizenship test with ease!