An ESL WebQuest

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EDU134 - Teaching ESL to Adults: A course leading to Colorado’s ABEA Certification
Red Rocks Community College, Spring 2016 (Leecy Wise, Instructor)

US Seal

Benefits and Process of Becoming a United States Citizen

Designed by Mary_Lynn Goberis
An inspiring teacher of adults learning English as a Second Language
Spring 2016

Male citizenfemale citizen


This web quest is to help high intermediate to advanced ESL adult learners gain a better understanding of what benefits there are being a US citizen and steps involved in the naturalization process. While working in pairs, students will take on the role of immigrants considering becoming citizens of the United States and explaining it to family members abroad. 
I. INTRODUCTION

Afghanistan
Image from http://www.voiceofjournalists.com/slums-in-islamabad/

Imagine that you and your partner are friends who lived in the slums of Islamabad, Afghanistan. 

You both left the poverty of your hometown for the opportunities in the United States.  You arrived in the United States five years ago. Now you want to know the positive points of being a citizen of the United States and what you would have to do to be naturalized. During this activity, keep the following questions in mind:

  • What does it mean to be a citizen of the United States?
  • What are the benefits of becoming a citizen of the United States?

What are the parts of the naturalization test?
II. TASK

Your task is to put yourself in the body of an immigrant who wants the family back home to understand why someone would consider becoming a citizen of the United States. 

You will write a letter to your family explaining your choice to become a U.S. citizen, the process of becoming a citizen, and express your thoughts, feelings, and emotions about a new citizenship and what it would actually mean to be a citizen of the United States. 

III. PROCESS

Part One

First, you and your partner will watch the YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE_z4A6-ZDs

Then ask and answer the following questions:

1.  What are the benefits you will receive after becoming a U.S. citizen? 
2.  How will your family benefit from your U.S. citizenship?

Part Two

In order to gain some basic information about becoming a U.S. citizen you need to visit the following page that was created by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.  Ask and answer the questions that follow.  

http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Resources/B3en.pdf

1.  In order to become a naturalized citizen, how old must you be?
2.  How long must a person typically live in the U.S. before applying for naturalization?
3.  What are the requirements concerning the English language, U.S. History, and government for naturalization?
4.  What is the name of the form that must be filled out to apply for naturalization?

Part Three

After your application for citizenship is reviewed and accepted by Immigration Services, you will schedule an appointment to meet with an immigration examiner.  During this appointment, you will have to take a citizenship test.  CLICK HERE to read about the parts of the test and requirements to pass it. Then answer the questions that follow.

1.  What are the 4 different components of the U.S. citizenship test?
2.  What must you do to pass each of these tests?

Now that you and your partner have some basic information on the tests you will need to take, it is time to try a practice test.  CLICK HERE to practice and answer the first 50 practice questions of the test. 

Now CLICK HERE to make flash cards of the 50 questions. Test each other by asking your partner his/her questions and then change roles. Partner 1 will answer the first 25 questions and partner 2 will answer the next 25 questions.  Each person will report their findings individually by answering the questions below.  Then, share and discuss them with your partner. Turn in your flash cards to your instructor

1.  Out of the 25 practice questions, how many did you get correct on-line? With the flash cards?
2.  Did you find anything surprising or interesting about the types of questions that were asked?
3.  If you were actually taking your citizenship test today, would you have passed?  Explain..

Part Four

You are so excited to share the news of how you will benefit as a citizen of the United States with your family back in Islamabad, Afghanistan, that you decide to write them a letter.  You will both type your own one- page letter in MS Word or another application that is to be double spaced in 12 pt. font.  Within the letter, you must include the following elements:  describe what benefits you will receive with your U.S. citizenship status, describe how your citizenship benefits your family in Afghanistan, discuss what the major requirements are to file for U.S. citizenship, explain what you have to do to pass the U.S. citizenship tests and what you will be tested on, and lastly, describe your feelings and emotions about what being a U. S. citizen will mean to you.  Make sure to read the rubric for this assignment.   
IV. RESOURCES

Follow the links in the Process section for content instruction links.
V. CONCLUSION

By completing this web quest, you were able to see just how valuable and time consuming the process of naturalization is.  Immigrants must work hard to accomplish their goal of becoming a U.S. citizen.  Clearly, becoming a U.S. citizen means a lot to them.  Please consider the following questions:

       -Would you take the rights you have as a U.S. citizen for granted?
       -If you took the real citizenship test today, would you have passed?

VI. EVALUATION

Part One – YouTube video and questions

 

I need to do the exercise.

I need to do better.

I did well.

I was great!

 

0

1

2

3

You tube video questions.

I didn’t watch the video.

I answered one question using phrases with more than 5 errors.

I answered both questions using complete sentences with 2-3 errors.

I answered both questions in complete sentences with no errors.

Completion

I didn’t complete the exercise.

 

 

I completed the exercise.

Part Two - Facts about becoming a US citizen

 

I need to do the exercise.

I need to do better.

I did well.

I was great!

 

0

1

2

3

Questions

I didn’t do the exercise.

I answered 2 questions in phrases with more than 5 errors.

I answered all 4 questions using complete sentences with 2-3 errors.

I answered all 4 questions in complete sentences with no errors.

Part Three – Process & Practice

 

I need to do the exercise.

I need to do better.

I did well.

I was great!

 

0

1

2

3

Flash card

I didn’t make them.

I made less than half.

I made more than half.

I made them all.

Answered questions

I didn’t complete the exercise.

I answered the questions using phrases with more than 4 errors.

I answered them all using complete sentences with 2-3 errors.

I answered them all in complete sentences with no errors.

Part Four – Letter home

 

I need to do the exercise.

I need to do better.

I did well.

I was great!

 

0

9

12

15

Benefits of U.S. citizenship

I described 1 or no benefits of U.S. citizenship.

I described 2 benefits of U.S. citizenship.

I described 3-4 benefits of U.S. citizenship.

I described 5 or more benefits of U.S. citizenship.

Description of U.S. Citizen Test & Preparation

I had no description of the U.S. Citizen Test & Preparation.

I had a short description of the U.S. Citizen Test & Preparation.

I had a good description of the U.S. Citizen Test & Preparation.

I had a complete description of the U.S. Citizen Test & Preparation.

Emotions with Becoming a U.S. Citizen

I had no description of the emotions & feelings of becoming a U.S. citizen.

I had a short description of the emotions & feelings of becoming a U.S. citizen.

I had a good description of the emotions & feelings of becoming a U.S. citizen.

I completely described the emotions & feelings of becoming a U.S. citizen.

Writing

I didn’t do the exercise.

I wrote a letter with many errors.

I wrote a letter with some errors.

I wrote a letter with few or no errors.

Completion

I didn’t complete the exercise or didn’t do it on time.

I completed a small part of the exercise on time.

I completed most of the exercise on time.

I completed the exercise on time.
VII. TEACHER NOTES

This is a project for high intermediate to advanced ESL adult learners.

If some students are unfamiliar with using the Internet, go over each part with students as a group before having them work in pairs. Show them how to click on links and use the sites. Clarify any confusion about the steps they need to take and what needs to be completed and turned in. The handouts and rubrics listed in the Resources section can be viewed both online and downloaded.



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