双语新闻：美国接纳了超过96.7万人成为新公民，入籍成急需克服的难题
2022年，美国接纳了超过96.7万人成为新公民。
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said that was the largest number of people naturalized since 2008.
美国公民及移民服务局表示，这是自2008年以来入籍人数最多的一次。
To become a U.S. citizen, a candidate needs to live in the country as a permanent resident for at least five years and be over 18 years old. After applying, a candidate for citizenship needs to pass an interview with a USCIS officer.
要成为美国公民，候选人需要作为永久居民在美国居住至少五年，并且年满18岁。申请公民身份后，候选人需要通过美国移民局官员的面试。
In the interview, an official assesses the person for their English ability, knowledge of American history and government, and personal background. Over 96 percent of people pass the naturalization test. But changes are coming to the test that could make it more difficult for English learners.
在面试中，一名官员评估此人的英语能力、对美国历史和政府的了解以及个人背景。超过96%的人通过了入籍测试。但考试的变化可能会让英语学习者更加困难。
Carolyn Quinn and John Schmelzer teach a free class in Montgomery County, Maryland, to help prepare people living in the area for the interview. They said it is most important that people are able to understand the questions the interviewer is asking. It is not as important to speak in grammatically correct sentences. The question the interview is trying to answer is: "Do these people understand enough English to be a functioning citizen?" Schmelzer said.
Carolyn Quinn和John Schmelzer在马里兰州蒙哥马利县教授一门免费课程，帮助生活在该地区的人们为面试做好准备。他们说，最重要的是人们能够理解面试官提出的问题。用语法正确的句子说话并不重要。Schmelzer说，采访试图回答的问题是：“这些人的英语水平是否足以成为一名正常运作的公民？”
At the beginning of each class, Quinn and Schmelzer ask their students simple "small talk" questions they might hear in the interview, like "How did you get here today?" or "Why do you want to become a United States citizen?" Much of the interview is based on questions on the Application for Naturalization Form, called the N-400. Most are personal questions related to employment, family and personal history.
每节课开始时，奎因和施梅尔泽都会问学生一些简单的“闲聊”问题，比如“你今天是怎么来的？”或“你为什么想成为美国公民？”大部分面试都是基于N-400入籍申请表上的问题。大多数是与就业、家庭和个人历史有关的个人问题。
Rajbit Kahn took Quinn's class and passed the naturalization interview in August. She said the class gave her more confidence to speak English in the interview. Before the class, she rarely spoke English, she said. But now, "I talk to anyone."
Rajbit Kahn参加了奎因的课程，并在8月份通过了入籍面试。她说，这门课让她在面试中更有信心说英语。她说，上课前，她很少说英语。但现在，“我可以和任何人说话。”
However, Quinn stresses to her students that her class is not an English class. And she has students enter her class without enough English knowledge to pass the interview.
然而，奎因向她的学生强调，她的课不是英语课。她还让一些没有足够英语知识通过面试的学生进入她的班级。
With the increase in Afghan immigrants into the United States, Quinn said she has had a few Afghan women come into her class. She said, "They never had any kind of schooling. So, they don't know how to write. They don't know how to read. They don't know letter sounds." Often, family members with better English skills will fill out the N-400 form for them. But they would be unable to answer the interview questions themselves.
奎因说，随着进入美国的阿富汗移民的增加，她班上也有一些阿富汗女性。她说：“他们从来没有受过任何教育。所以，他们不知道如何写作。他们不知道怎样阅读。他们不懂字母发音。”通常，英语水平较高的家庭成员会为他们填写N-400表格。但他们自己将无法回答面试问题。
Possible changes to the naturalization interview would make civics questions multiple choice to "reflect current best practices in test design," USCIS said in a document explaining the update to the test. Schmelzer said that would make the test harder for immigrants who may not have a great understanding of American history or English.
美国公民及移民服务局在一份解释考试更新的文件中表示，入籍面试的可能变化将使公民问题成为多项选择，以“反映当前考试设计的最佳实践”。Schmelzer说，这将使那些可能对美国历史或英语不太了解的移民的考试更加困难。
For now, students memorize 100 civics questions. Ten of the questions will be asked on the day of the interview and applicants must answer six correctly to pass. One question is "Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s." Currently, people just need to memorize one war fought during that 100-year period. But a multiple-choice test would require knowledge of four wars presented as answer choices and know which one was fought in the 1800s.
目前，学生们记住了100个公民问题。面试当天将提出10个问题，申请人必须正确回答6个才能通过。其中一个问题是“说出美国在19世纪打过的一场战争的名字”。目前，人们只需要记住100年期间打过的战争。但多项选择题测试需要了解四场战争的知识，并知道哪场战争发生在19世纪。
"You're forcing them to expand their memorization," Schmelzer said.
施梅尔泽说：“你在强迫他们扩大记忆力。”
Another proposed change would add a speaking test to assess English ability. The officer would present three photos and the interviewee would have to describe what is happening in the pictures. Currently, English knowledge is assessed through questions from the N-400 and other small-talk questions.
另一个提议的改变是增加口语测试来评估英语能力。警官会出示三张照片，受访者必须描述照片中发生的事情。目前，英语知识是通过N-400的问题和其他闲聊问题来评估的。
The new interview changes are currently being tested in several locations around the country. USCIS will hear feedback about the tests before the end of the year.
新的面试改革目前正在全国多个地方进行测试。美国移民局将在年底前听取有关测试的反馈。
Quinn and Schmelzer said the test should be updated. Just one civics question is related to a female American historical figure, Schmelzer said.
奎因和施梅尔泽说，测试应该更新。施梅尔泽说，只有一个公民问题与一位美国女性历史人物有关。
But Quinn questions what is to be gained by making changes to the test to make it harder.
但奎因质疑通过改变测试来增加难度会有什么收获。
People in her class "put their souls" into becoming citizens. "How much more do we need to ask them to do?" she said.
她班上的人“全心全意”地成为公民。“我们还需要要求他们做多少？”她说。
John Yepow is another of Quinn's students who along with his wife, recently became a U.S. citizen. Yepow came from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He lived in Zambia for 10 years before moving to the United States.
约翰·耶波是奎因的另一名学生，他和妻子最近成为了美国公民。Yepow来自刚果民主共和国。在移居美国之前，他在赞比亚生活了10年。
Yepow, who works as a medication technician, said he follows American politics closely. He calls himself a lifelong learner and has even taken online classes about American history.
Yepow是一名药物技术员，他说他密切关注美国政治。他称自己是一个终身学习者，甚至上过关于美国历史的在线课程。
"I want to learn and make sure I'm integrated into American society," he said.
“我想学习，确保自己融入美国社会，”他说。
Yepow added: "This is the land of opportunity. We are dreaming big." He said he will make sure to take advantage of every opportunity."
Yepow补充道：“这是一片充满机遇的土地。我们有远大的梦想。”他说他一定会抓住每一个机会。“
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said that was the largest number of people naturalized since 2008.
美国公民及移民服务局表示，这是自2008年以来入籍人数最多的一次。
To become a U.S. citizen, a candidate needs to live in the country as a permanent resident for at least five years and be over 18 years old. After applying, a candidate for citizenship needs to pass an interview with a USCIS officer.
要成为美国公民，候选人需要作为永久居民在美国居住至少五年，并且年满18岁。申请公民身份后，候选人需要通过美国移民局官员的面试。
In the interview, an official assesses the person for their English ability, knowledge of American history and government, and personal background. Over 96 percent of people pass the naturalization test. But changes are coming to the test that could make it more difficult for English learners.
在面试中，一名官员评估此人的英语能力、对美国历史和政府的了解以及个人背景。超过96%的人通过了入籍测试。但考试的变化可能会让英语学习者更加困难。
Carolyn Quinn and John Schmelzer teach a free class in Montgomery County, Maryland, to help prepare people living in the area for the interview. They said it is most important that people are able to understand the questions the interviewer is asking. It is not as important to speak in grammatically correct sentences. The question the interview is trying to answer is: "Do these people understand enough English to be a functioning citizen?" Schmelzer said.
Carolyn Quinn和John Schmelzer在马里兰州蒙哥马利县教授一门免费课程，帮助生活在该地区的人们为面试做好准备。他们说，最重要的是人们能够理解面试官提出的问题。用语法正确的句子说话并不重要。Schmelzer说，采访试图回答的问题是：“这些人的英语水平是否足以成为一名正常运作的公民？”
At the beginning of each class, Quinn and Schmelzer ask their students simple "small talk" questions they might hear in the interview, like "How did you get here today?" or "Why do you want to become a United States citizen?" Much of the interview is based on questions on the Application for Naturalization Form, called the N-400. Most are personal questions related to employment, family and personal history.
每节课开始时，奎因和施梅尔泽都会问学生一些简单的“闲聊”问题，比如“你今天是怎么来的？”或“你为什么想成为美国公民？”大部分面试都是基于N-400入籍申请表上的问题。大多数是与就业、家庭和个人历史有关的个人问题。
Rajbit Kahn took Quinn's class and passed the naturalization interview in August. She said the class gave her more confidence to speak English in the interview. Before the class, she rarely spoke English, she said. But now, "I talk to anyone."
Rajbit Kahn参加了奎因的课程，并在8月份通过了入籍面试。她说，这门课让她在面试中更有信心说英语。她说，上课前，她很少说英语。但现在，“我可以和任何人说话。”
However, Quinn stresses to her students that her class is not an English class. And she has students enter her class without enough English knowledge to pass the interview.
然而，奎因向她的学生强调，她的课不是英语课。她还让一些没有足够英语知识通过面试的学生进入她的班级。
With the increase in Afghan immigrants into the United States, Quinn said she has had a few Afghan women come into her class. She said, "They never had any kind of schooling. So, they don't know how to write. They don't know how to read. They don't know letter sounds." Often, family members with better English skills will fill out the N-400 form for them. But they would be unable to answer the interview questions themselves.
奎因说，随着进入美国的阿富汗移民的增加，她班上也有一些阿富汗女性。她说：“他们从来没有受过任何教育。所以，他们不知道如何写作。他们不知道怎样阅读。他们不懂字母发音。”通常，英语水平较高的家庭成员会为他们填写N-400表格。但他们自己将无法回答面试问题。
Possible changes to the naturalization interview would make civics questions multiple choice to "reflect current best practices in test design," USCIS said in a document explaining the update to the test. Schmelzer said that would make the test harder for immigrants who may not have a great understanding of American history or English.
美国公民及移民服务局在一份解释考试更新的文件中表示，入籍面试的可能变化将使公民问题成为多项选择，以“反映当前考试设计的最佳实践”。Schmelzer说，这将使那些可能对美国历史或英语不太了解的移民的考试更加困难。
For now, students memorize 100 civics questions. Ten of the questions will be asked on the day of the interview and applicants must answer six correctly to pass. One question is "Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s." Currently, people just need to memorize one war fought during that 100-year period. But a multiple-choice test would require knowledge of four wars presented as answer choices and know which one was fought in the 1800s.
目前，学生们记住了100个公民问题。面试当天将提出10个问题，申请人必须正确回答6个才能通过。其中一个问题是“说出美国在19世纪打过的一场战争的名字”。目前，人们只需要记住100年期间打过的战争。但多项选择题测试需要了解四场战争的知识，并知道哪场战争发生在19世纪。
"You're forcing them to expand their memorization," Schmelzer said.
施梅尔泽说：“你在强迫他们扩大记忆力。”
Another proposed change would add a speaking test to assess English ability. The officer would present three photos and the interviewee would have to describe what is happening in the pictures. Currently, English knowledge is assessed through questions from the N-400 and other small-talk questions.
另一个提议的改变是增加口语测试来评估英语能力。警官会出示三张照片，受访者必须描述照片中发生的事情。目前，英语知识是通过N-400的问题和其他闲聊问题来评估的。
The new interview changes are currently being tested in several locations around the country. USCIS will hear feedback about the tests before the end of the year.
新的面试改革目前正在全国多个地方进行测试。美国移民局将在年底前听取有关测试的反馈。
Quinn and Schmelzer said the test should be updated. Just one civics question is related to a female American historical figure, Schmelzer said.
奎因和施梅尔泽说，测试应该更新。施梅尔泽说，只有一个公民问题与一位美国女性历史人物有关。
But Quinn questions what is to be gained by making changes to the test to make it harder.
但奎因质疑通过改变测试来增加难度会有什么收获。
People in her class "put their souls" into becoming citizens. "How much more do we need to ask them to do?" she said.
她班上的人“全心全意”地成为公民。“我们还需要要求他们做多少？”她说。
John Yepow is another of Quinn's students who along with his wife, recently became a U.S. citizen. Yepow came from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He lived in Zambia for 10 years before moving to the United States.
约翰·耶波是奎因的另一名学生，他和妻子最近成为了美国公民。Yepow来自刚果民主共和国。在移居美国之前，他在赞比亚生活了10年。
Yepow, who works as a medication technician, said he follows American politics closely. He calls himself a lifelong learner and has even taken online classes about American history.
Yepow是一名药物技术员，他说他密切关注美国政治。他称自己是一个终身学习者，甚至上过关于美国历史的在线课程。
"I want to learn and make sure I'm integrated into American society," he said.
“我想学习，确保自己融入美国社会，”他说。
Yepow added: "This is the land of opportunity. We are dreaming big." He said he will make sure to take advantage of every opportunity."
Yepow补充道：“这是一片充满机遇的土地。我们有远大的梦想。”他说他一定会抓住每一个机会。“
