Families migrate or seek refuge in a new country due to various circumstances, including war, violence and poverty. For those seeking a fresh start, obtaining citizenship in their new country is a crucial step toward stability and opportunity.
In the U.S., the path to citizenship can be long, expensive and riddled with challenges, especially for non-fluent English speakers who must pass both English and Civics tests. To support these individuals, Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville/Albemarle offers free group classes and one-on-one tutoring in basic literacy and citizenship preparation, helping applicants navigate the naturalization process.
Lighting the way with literacy
LVCA’s Citizenship program began in 2008 with a mission of empowerment through literacy.
The program is open to Green Card holders in Virginia who plan to apply for citizenship within one to two years. It offers basic and intermediate-level courses, independent resources accessible to anyone and practice interviews for those nearing their USCIS interview dates.
The basic curriculum is best suited for individuals who are further from obtaining citizenship and may have lower English proficiency. It focuses on building a foundational understanding of the language and familiarizing students with the concepts and terminology they will encounter on the English and Civics tests.
Theintermediate coursecovers the 100 questions presented on the Civics test. These classes aim to clarify complex English terminology and cultural connotations.
To be eligible for the program, all students must:
- Be 18 or older
- Complete an enrollment assessment
- Complete at least 6 weeks of computer learning before being matched with a tutor
- Commit to a year of studying
- Meet with a tutor for 8 hours per month
Giving voices to dreams
LVCA tutors are volunteers who aim to make a difference in the lives of others using a resource they use in their daily lives: language.
All tutors receive a full day of training to familiarize themselves with the curriculum and principles of adult education. The training supports tutors in lesson planning, identifying the types of students they are best suited to work with and understanding the resources available to them.
“Although it can seem scary to work with someone one-on-one, you make an impact on their life from day one,” said Rebecca Thomas, communications and marketing coordinator at LVCA. “Just showing up shows that you care, which empowers people.”
Additionally, LVCA employs staff with expertise in both English language-learning and social studies education.
“Having that dual background has really helped us build instructional materials that provide enough context to help students build their understanding and their language skills simultaneously,” said Catherine McCall, citizenship program coordinator at LVCA.
The impact
In the 2023 fiscal year, LCVA worked with 140 students to help them achieve their goal of U.S. citizenship. Of those students, 112 earned a total of 2,400 instructional hours through participation in citizenship classes. Additionally, 54 students successfully passed their naturalization interviews the following year.
To learn more about LVCA’s impact and how to best support its mission, visit https://literacyforall.org/.
