Lynn, S., Salas-Isnardi, F., & Santos, G. (2011). Future U.S. citizens. White Plains, NY: Pearson Education.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security reports that 710,544 people applied for citizenship in the United States in 2010. About 8 percent of those were denied. There are a variety of reasons why a person may be denied; however, the most preventable one is failure to pass the naturalization exam. This exam can be a frightening experience, especially when the applicants are English language learners who may not have confidence in their own ability to understand and speak English. Future U.S. Citizens is geared toward students with high-beginning/low-intermediate language abilities and aims to provide them with the communication skills and basic knowledge of U.S. history and civics that they need to pass the exam.

Future U.S. Citizens is divided into three parts: civics test prep, speaking test prep, and reading and writing test prep. The text is accompanied by a DVD-ROM that contains the entire text as well as additional resources. The civics prep is the most extensive. It is divided into 12 units, which are organized based on the 100 possible questions an immigration officer may ask in the interview. The questions are grouped according to topic and divided into chunks of related information. Students must first try to answer the lesson’s questions on their own and then read on to find the answers they do not know. The information is presented in short, manageable readings that have been adapted for second language learners. The concepts and vocabulary are reinforced with cloze, multiple choice, ordering, and matching exercises. Each lesson also has a Civics in Action section that asks students to connect the history and civics information to their own lives. Discussion topics include current events and holiday celebrations in students’ communities. There are also connections to the reading and writing test prep sections, in which students practice reading aloud and writing related sentences. All 100 possible questions with their answers are included in the back of the book so that students working independently may check their answers as they go along. In addition, on the DVD-ROM, students have access to flash cards that quiz them on the individual questions.

The civics section does an excellent job grouping related topics logically and presenting the information simply and clearly. Having students consider what they already know about a topic before they read activates schema, and the information is contextualized by having students apply the lessons to their current lives. By breaking down test questions into small related chunks of information, students will avoid feeling overwhelmed. In addition, the pages are laid out very clearly and are accompanied by photographs that assist visual learners and make the information more meaningful. Finally, the addition of the flash cards on the computer component adds an extra boost for those students who may have to study in short bursts of time.

The second part of the text aims to prepare students for the speaking portion of the test. In each lesson, students are asked to view the videos on the DVD-ROM and analyze the speech and body language presented in the mock interviews. There are then opportunities for both controlled and free practice in the form of repetition and role plays. Lessons cover such topics as tag questions, small talk, register, greetings, and asking for repetition. There is also a unit on the N-400 application, which all candidates must fill out and discuss at the time of their interview. The complete N-400 form with a glossary of terms is located in the back of the text. The vocabulary words are highlighted on an image of the form, allowing for easy reference to the student’s own document.

Part two will undoubtedly be more effective in a classroom setting where students can have ample time to role play; however, the video component and the highlighting of various aspects of communication in focused lessons offer valuable information and practice for students working at home as well. Once again the lessons presented are targeted, useful, and logical. While the videos are not always entirely believable, they are very similar to what the Department of Homeland Security provides on its Web site to assist applicants in their preparation. Overall, the section provides valuable tips on speech and customs that will remove some of the mystery surrounding the interview and exam process.

The final section of the reading and writing test prep is meant to be used in conjunction with the civics prep portion but can also serve applicants who would like to do practice drills. There are 64 sentences for both reading and writing practice as well as extra practice on the DVD-ROM. The DVD-ROM also allows students to record their voices as they read aloud and listen to dictation as they write practice sentences. The text does not include lists of common vocabulary found on the reading and writing tests; however, this vocabulary is integrated throughout the civics section, which makes additional lists unnecessary.

Future U.S. Citizens is an excellent text selection for any instructor teaching a prep course or any student studying on his or her own. It is simple yet informative, and students of all English abilities can benefit from its clear, concise approach and step-by-step examination of what one can expect during the naturalization exam.

REFERENCES

U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Yearbook of immigration statistics: 2010. Retrieved from www.dhs.gov/files/statistics/publications/YrBk10Na.shtm

Erin Thompson Berriel has been teaching English language learners for 7 years in Mexico and the United States. She currently works as the ESL program coordinator at Felician College in Rutherford, New Jersey.