Factors predicting success in passing a mock United States naturalization test among Chinese speakers and Spanish speakers 55 years of age and older

This study focused on the factors that affect the ability to pass the U.S. naturalization test among Chinese- and Spanish-speaking adult learners 55 years of age and older when applying to become a U.S. citizen. The data gathered in this study will be useful to both researchers and practitioners working with the immigrant population, particularly individuals of 55+ years of age. The concentration of this population in this 55+ age group has resulted in an overwhelming challenge to the educational system and has raised questions about effective teaching techniques of teaching the elderly in the U.S. citizenship arena. Therefore, the data gathered through this study will allow educational institutions to better tailor their programs to benefit older immigrant students. Also, this study will aid U.S. citizenship educators to allocate proper materials and implement suitable teaching techniques for this specific group of students.;Additionally, the results of this study will provide essential data in relation to classroom management, implementation of a curriculum, and cost effectiveness for governmental and non-governmental agencies. While oral communication is one of the major components when taking the U.S. naturalization test, this study did not focus on uncovering the students' oral communication difficulties and the reasons that students are experiencing these difficulties. Instead, this study focused on the effects of four factors predicting success on the U.S. naturalization test. These four factors are: (1) age, (2) length of U.S. residency, (3) level of English proficiency, and (4) level of education.;In summary, though there are other Spanish speaking groups and other Asian groups who immigrate to the United States every year, the focus of this study was on Chinese speakers (specifically those who were born in China) and Spanish speakers born in Mexico and any other country in Central and South America.