Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id i2RCRQm20883; Sat, 27 Mar 2004 07:27:26 -0500 (EST) Date: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 07:27:26 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <032720041224.25900.4065729A0009C3AF0000652C2200734840FF91908B9A9A888B@comcast.net> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: ttweeton@comcast.net To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:10110] Re: new citizenship test at TESOL X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: AT&T Message Center Version 1 (Mar 22 2004) Status: O Content-Length: 5464 Lines: 87 I am so jealous of those of you going to the TESOL conference!! I would like to leave you all with just a thought about the reasons for teaching English and WHY foreigners need to learn our language, (not just to come to live in our country, living here without it,) as you travel on your way. I have an older student in my class who can neither write her name correctly nor her address. She doesn't remember it, daily I ask....... She can't read period.... However I discovered this week that she has a driver's licence and is driving a car......... I am trying to discover where she drives exactly so I can head the other way!! Aren't you all glad you don't live in our county!! :) Tanya Tweeton ESOL and GED Programs Fort Lauderdale, Florida > For those of you are headed to the TESOL conference next week: > > If you are interested in/concerned about the new US citizenship test that > USCIS (formerly "INS") is putting together, there will be several > opportunities at TESOL to get a look at what they're working on and offer > your comments on the content, format, and other elements of the redesign > project. > > USCIS will be at booth 311 throughout the conference to answer questions and > offer information (including sample test questions). > > They are also presenting a demonstration session titled "Redesigning the > Naturalization Test for US Citizens" on Friday April 2 from 9:30 to 10:15 > and again on Saturday April 3 from 9:30-10:15. > > In addition, they will be at two networking rooms, one on Thursday from > 10:00 am until > noon, and again on Friday from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. > > It's important that USCIS gets guidance from the field at this critical > stage, and they've demonstrated that they're interested in what we have to > say, so please don't miss this opportunity to participate. > > For additional information on the project (from USCIS) read below, and/or > check the updates on my citizenship educators' webpage: citizenshipnews.com > > Lynne Weintraub > Citizenship/ESL Consultant > Amherst MA > > Greetings! > As many of you may know, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) > is currently revising the U.S. history, government and English tests > administered as part of the naturalization process. > USCIS has placed a renewed emphasis on cultivating awareness and > understanding of American civic values and the commitments associated with > U.S. citizenship. An important part of this objective is ensuring that the > U.S. history, government, and English tests administered to naturalization > applicants are fair, uniform, and meaningful. > We have contracted with a professional test development company to help us > redesign the tests. We're not planning on making the tests either more > difficult or easier. We're also not going to allow the new test to unfairly > impact any particular group of applicants. Instead, our focus is on making > the test more meaningful and the process more standardized. Currently, both > the content of the naturalization exam and the process used to administer > the exam can differ from office to office. We'll carefully pilot the > revised tests before beginning implementation in 2006. Once we finalize the > content, our newly created Office of Citizenship will coordinate the > development of educational materials to help immigrants prepare for the new > naturalization test and, more importantly, ensure they understand the > meaning of U.S. citizenship. > We're planning on implementing a revised test format for the history, > government and reading tests, most likely using multiple-choice items. > However, we are open to your suggestions and feedback. For the writing and > speaking tests, we will show applicants photographs and ask them to describe > them, some in writing and some orally. Again, we are open to exploring > other suggested formats. Finally, we are considering allowing applicants to > take the new test either on paper or on a computer, depending on their > preference. We are still studying these options and have not yet made any > final decisions. > Through the entire process, we have and will continue to consult with our > stakeholders. We've received feedback from community representatives, adult > educators, ESL instructors, and USCIS officers on issues ranging from test > question format and content, to pilot test plans and study guide techniques. > > As an additional part of our efforts to obtain input and feedback on the > redesign process, we will be presenting information at the TESOL Convention > in Long Beach, CA, March 31st - April 3, 2004. We will also be providing > information at our booth for the duration of the convention, which will > contain additional background on the test, as well as sample test items. If > you will be in attendance, we look forward to seeing you there. > For more information about the USCIS naturalization test redesign process, > or should you have questions, concerns, or suggestions, please contact us. > We are always willing to share our plans and want to hear your ideas. > Amy.Baide@dhs.gov <mailto:Amy.Baide@dhs.gov> > Lynn.L.Thai@dhs.gov <mailto:Lynn.L.Thai@dhs.gov> > Gerri.Ratliff@dhs.gov <mailto:Gerri.Ratliff@dhs.gov> > > _________________________________________________________________ > Is your PC infected? Get a FREE online computer virus scan from McAfeeŽ > Security. http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963 >
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