Are you aiming to become a naturalized citizen of the United States? Then you need to make sure that you’re reasonably proficient in English – since that’s one part of the citizenship test.
If you’re lucky, you’re already fluent in English, but if you’re still struggling with the language, it may be time to try some tips and tricks that people use to quickly improve their language skills.
Immerse yourself
When you want to improve your ability to both speak and understand a language, a lot of people recommend immersing yourself in the language. That means surrounding yourself with native English speakers and using the language as often as possible – even when you’re alone. You won’t get proficient in a language if you don’t use it regularly.
Improve your vocabulary
Think of vocabulary words as the building blocks you need to expand your language skills. The more words you have in your cache, the more fluent you will become. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services even provides a list of vocabulary words you should know before taking the written part of the citizenship test.
Leverage technology
Technology makes a lot of things easier, including learning a language. Duolingo offers bite-sized lessons in many different languages, and you can put the app on your phone so that you can practice anytime you have a few spare minutes. Babbel and Google Translate can help you learn to switch back and forth between your primary language and English with ease.
Use videos, movies and books
This is another great way to immerse yourself in a language. Explore YouTube videos with subtitles and put on movies or television shows to sharpen your English listening skills. Start reading in English too – even if you start with children’s books.
If you keep working at it, it won’t be long before you will feel comfortable about your ability to pass the English part of the naturalization test – and that confidence can make you feel a lot better.