Citizenship Instructor

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Kansas City Public Library Volunteer Position Description

Position Title: Citizenship Preparation Instructor
Department: Refugee and Immigrant Services, Kansas City Public Library
Reports to: Julie Robinson, Refugee & Immigrant Services Outreach Manager, and Daniel Russo

Refugee and Immigrant Services contact information:
Email: DanielRusso@kclibrary.org // JulieRobinson@kclibrary.org
Phone: 816.701.3547

Description of Role:
The Citizenship Preparation Instructor will teach a weekly class to members of the community who are applying for U.S. Citizenship. The Instructor will deliver Naturalization Test Prep through reading, writing, speaking, and civics. There are 100 possible questions for the civics test; the applicant will be asked ten and must answer six correctly to pass. In this course, you will make sure your students understand and can correctly answer all 100 possible questions. This is an exciting role sure to provide you with an overall enriching experience as you get to know a culturally diverse group of individuals and build community by learning together here at the Kansas City Public Library.

Primary Responsibilities:
The Citizenship Course Instructor will be responsible for reviewing the provided USCIS Citizenship Curriculum, preparing adequately for class each week, and providing quality instruction to students throughout the year. In this course, you will be "teaching to the test" while still making each class period engaging. We encourage the use of visual aids, multimedia, and group activities to engage the multiple learning styles that individuals use. Other responsibilities will include ensuring that the classroom is an open, welcoming, and inclusive space, as well as helping students with vocabulary and English comprehension skills if necessary.

The Instructor will also get students excited about citizenship and help them understand the importance of being an active, informed community member. Above all, we want our students to feel confident and ready to become a citizen of this country - the spirit of this class is not a 2 hour lecture on US history. Following the conclusion of the 12 weeks, the instructor will assist in program evaluation through gathering and tracking students’ pre-/post-test information.

Skills and Experience:
● ESL and/or formal teaching experience highly preferred
● Must have good classroom management skills
● Must be able to work with and accommodate students of different skill levels at once
● Must have a desire and ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds
● Must be patient, kind, and passionate about citizenship

Time Commitment: Minimum 3 hours per week (2 hours in class; ~1 hour preparing at home) for 12 weeks. Class is held once per week on Saturday. It is expected that the Instructor will be present for all 12 class sessions.
❖ Location: North-East Branch, Room B (6000 Wilson Avenue, KCMO, 64123)
❖ Duration: Saturday January 14th - Saturday April 1st
❖ Day + Time: Saturday 10am - Noon (weekly)

Training and Support: Instructors will participate in training/orientation prior to beginning service and will be given ongoing support from the Refugee and Immigrant Services team. Instructors will be accompanied in the classroom by either a member of the Refugee and Immigrant Services team or by a Mentor, who will be there to support the Instructor as well as assist with more personal and 1-on-1 instruction. Instructors will be equipped with a binder containing an Instructor’s Guide, the curriculum, and other resources. All supplies required for classes will be provided by the Library - any additional materials will be provided along the way. We are here for you from start to finish!

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More Information About the Citizenship Test:
In order to become a naturalized citizen, an individual must be at least 18 years of age and must have been a permanent resident of the U.S. for five years without having left the country for more than 6 months during that time (there are exceptions if one is married to a U.S. citizen or if one has served in the Armed Forces). An applicant must also be a person of good moral character. Read more about the eligibility requirements here.
If an individual is eligible for naturalization, they must pay $680 ($595 plus an $85 biometric fee) to file the Application for Naturalization (Form N-400) with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). During the naturalization interview, a USCIS Officer will ask questions about the applicant’s (our student’s) application and background. The applicant will then take an English test that covers reading, writing, and speaking, as well as a civics test that covers notable U.S. history and government topics. There are 100 possible questions for the civics test; the applicant will be asked ten and must answer six correctly to pass. In this course, you will make sure your students understand and can correctly answer all 100 possible questions.
Applicants have two opportunities to take the English and civics tests per application. If they are unsuccessful in any portion of the test during the first interview, they will be retested on the unpassed portion between 60 and 90 days later.
Students can take practice the civics test online via Learning Express, a database available through the Kansas City Public Library. Students can access this resource at the Library or at home with their Library card. There is a pre-test (30 questions), a tutorial, and a post-test.