The Basics of Citizenship Class

Ana Sanchez, PVLA student, received her citizenship on February 15, 2023

For many, being able to live in the U.S. is the ultimate dream. There are a variety of things that make this country appealing, including the freedom and the employment and educational opportunities. As an immigrant, the benefits that come with obtaining a U.S. citizenship include the ability to vote, bring family members to the U.S., travel with a U.S. passport (and get help from the U.S. government while abroad), protection from deportation, and being eligible for federal jobs, among others.

To become a citizen, there is a process that must be followed, which involves being able to pass a test. Many immigrants do not possess the knowledge needed to pass the exam, but the information can be learned—and that’s where the Platte Valley Literacy Association comes into play.

Since April of 2022, we have had 22 students enrolled in citizenship classes, with 10 obtaining their citizenship.

PVLA citizenship students in class. 
Lidia - Guatemala, Florine - DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), and Liu - Cuba

Citizenship classes at the PVLA cover civics, N-400 vocabulary, interview preparation, and reading and writing for the U.S. naturalization test. The following civics lessons are taught in order and repeated on a continuous loop, with focused lessons inserted as needed for students with upcoming tests.

1. George Washington	9. Abraham Lincoln
2. Thomas Jefferson/Declaration of Independence	10. Civil War
3. American Symbols & Celebrations	11. U.S. Wars in the 1800s
4. Your Government & You	12. U.S. History Since 1900
5. U.S. Geography	13. Equality & Freedom
6. Thanksgiving	14. Executive Branch
7. Benjamin Franklin/U.S. Constitution	15. Legislative Branch
8. Bill of Rights/Other Amendments	16. Judicial Branch

Classes are available year-round, with two class times available: Mondays from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and Tuesdays from 9:00 to 11:00 am. Students may enter class at any point and continue indefinitely. Students need to understand basic English to get the most out of this class.

If you'd like more information or to sign up for classes, fill out the form on the right-hand side of this blog, send an email to pvlacolumbusne @ yahoo.com (don't forget to remove the spaces!), or call 402 - 562 - 1463.