You Alone or W/Your Spouse?
Oct 1st 2009, 9:13 pm
#16
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Re: You Alone or W/Your Spouse?
Hi Jenny -
I'm with ya - believe me - I totally agree. The questions are VERY easy.
He's been studying like mad over many, many months now.
But he's dyslexic and he's petrified of any reading and writing he'll be asked to do.
Right now, we're practicing relaxation techniques.
Thanks for the good wishes everyone.
I'm with ya - believe me - I totally agree. The questions are VERY easy.
He's been studying like mad over many, many months now.
But he's dyslexic and he's petrified of any reading and writing he'll be asked to do.
Right now, we're practicing relaxation techniques.
Thanks for the good wishes everyone.
My advice: Bring a good book! 
It might help to remind him that this is one of the few tests he'll probably take in his life where he's given all of the exam questions BEFORE the test -- AND their answers! And of the 100 questions, he will only be asked 10, and of those 10, he only needs to correctly answer 7 of them. Considering that English is his first language, the odds are greatly in his favor of passing.
Just for reference, here were the questions that Mark had to answer -- notice that several of them were easy-peasy:
1) How many stripes are there on our flag?
2) How many states are there in the Union?
3) What makes up Congress?
4) For how long do we elect each Senator?
5) What are the duties of the Supreme Court?
6) Who is the current Governor of the state you live in?
7) What were the 13 original states called before they were states?
8) What is the introduction to the Constitution called?
9) Name one right or freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment.
10) Where does freedom of speech come from?
I can almost guarantee that after it's all over, your husband will wonder what he was all worked up about!!
~ Jenney
It might help to remind him that this is one of the few tests he'll probably take in his life where he's given all of the exam questions BEFORE the test -- AND their answers! And of the 100 questions, he will only be asked 10, and of those 10, he only needs to correctly answer 7 of them. Considering that English is his first language, the odds are greatly in his favor of passing.
Just for reference, here were the questions that Mark had to answer -- notice that several of them were easy-peasy:
1) How many stripes are there on our flag?
2) How many states are there in the Union?
3) What makes up Congress?
4) For how long do we elect each Senator?
5) What are the duties of the Supreme Court?
6) Who is the current Governor of the state you live in?
7) What were the 13 original states called before they were states?
8) What is the introduction to the Constitution called?
9) Name one right or freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment.
10) Where does freedom of speech come from?
I can almost guarantee that after it's all over, your husband will wonder what he was all worked up about!!
~ Jenney
Oct 2nd 2009, 12:16 am
#18
The Missus
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Northwest of Chicago
Posts: 6,239
Re: You Alone or W/Your Spouse?
I know he will worry no matter what anyone says, but the reading and writing mode is not going to be the one tapped primarily----if he feels comfortable conversing in English (which I'm assuming he does) that will be half the battle. And he shouldn't feel embarassed to tell the examiner that he had a learning disability----in fact, once he becomes a US citizen he is covered under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and would be able to get accomodations for future tasks involving reading and writing.
Jan, when my husband naturalized in Sept. 08, he took the "old" test which had a study guide available on a CD (so as a result, no reading necessary in order to memorize the answers) that he listened to in the car everyday while driving to work. I don't know if a CD is available for the "new" test, but if so, that would have been really helpful for you! I'm sad you didn't come to us sooner to share your concerns
.......but if you have time, you could make a CD of yourself reading the study questions and responding with the answers. As I'm sure you know, many people with dyslexia are much better auditory learners than visual. Anyway, good luck...and if you have other questions or concerns we are here to listen and (hopefully) help.
~SecretGarden
Oct 2nd 2009, 1:17 am
#19
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 35,082
Re: You Alone or W/Your Spouse?
Jan, when my husband naturalized in Sept. 08, he took the "old" test which had a study guide available on a CD (so as a result, no reading necessary in order to memorize the answers) that he listened to in the car everyday while driving to work. I don't know if a CD is available for the "new" test, but if so, that would have been really helpful for you! I'm sad you didn't come to us sooner to share your concerns
.......but if you have time, you could make a CD of yourself reading the study questions and responding with the answers. As I'm sure you know, many people with dyslexia are much better auditory learners than visual.Study Materials for the Naturalization Test
Oct 2nd 2009, 1:55 am
#20
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Re: You Alone or W/Your Spouse?
Ian
Oct 2nd 2009, 2:25 am
#21
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Posts: 6,239
Re: You Alone or W/Your Spouse?
~SG
PS. In an ideal world one should be able to "expect" accomodations to be made. but in reality, they often have to be asked for...
Oct 2nd 2009, 3:23 am
#22
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Re: You Alone or W/Your Spouse?
Thanks for the thoughts.
He's taking the new test and yes, it came with a cd - he's been using it intently.
Unfortunately, memory for you and I can be a whole different ball game for someone with dyslexia.
(sigh)
He's taking the new test and yes, it came with a cd - he's been using it intently.
Unfortunately, memory for you and I can be a whole different ball game for someone with dyslexia.
(sigh)
The questions will be administered verbally, and his responses will be given verbally. As far as the sentence writing in English, it will be one sentence, and I can almost guarantee you that they won't be checking for spelling but more for basic sentence structure. He's a native English speaker so even with the dyslexia he has an advantage over some of the people taking the exam.
I know he will worry no matter what anyone says, but the reading and writing mode is not going to be the one tapped primarily----if he feels comfortable conversing in English (which I'm assuming he does) that will be half the battle. And he shouldn't feel embarassed to tell the examiner that he had a learning disability----in fact, once he becomes a US citizen he is covered under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and would be able to get accomodations for future tasks involving reading and writing.
Jan, when my husband naturalized in Sept. 08, he took the "old" test which had a study guide available on a CD (so as a result, no reading necessary in order to memorize the answers) that he listened to in the car everyday while driving to work. I don't know if a CD is available for the "new" test, but if so, that would have been really helpful for you! I'm sad you didn't come to us sooner to share your concerns .......but if you have time, you could make a CD of yourself reading the study questions and responding with the answers. As I'm sure you know, many people with dyslexia are much better auditory learners than visual.
Anyway, good luck...and if you have other questions or concerns we are here to listen and (hopefully) help.
~SecretGarden
I know he will worry no matter what anyone says, but the reading and writing mode is not going to be the one tapped primarily----if he feels comfortable conversing in English (which I'm assuming he does) that will be half the battle. And he shouldn't feel embarassed to tell the examiner that he had a learning disability----in fact, once he becomes a US citizen he is covered under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and would be able to get accomodations for future tasks involving reading and writing.
Jan, when my husband naturalized in Sept. 08, he took the "old" test which had a study guide available on a CD (so as a result, no reading necessary in order to memorize the answers) that he listened to in the car everyday while driving to work. I don't know if a CD is available for the "new" test, but if so, that would have been really helpful for you! I'm sad you didn't come to us sooner to share your concerns
.......but if you have time, you could make a CD of yourself reading the study questions and responding with the answers. As I'm sure you know, many people with dyslexia are much better auditory learners than visual. Anyway, good luck...and if you have other questions or concerns we are here to listen and (hopefully) help.
~SecretGarden
Oct 2nd 2009, 3:24 am
#23
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Re: You Alone or W/Your Spouse?
SG - you're right - looked into this (amongst other things) and it wont work for him.
