"Simons is the associate director at Centro Latino de San Francisco and its naturalization program manager. He teaches the citizenship class three days a week. In Simons' classroom, students complete worksheets with practice questions like "Who is in charge of the executive branch?" and "What is the capital of the United States?" They are preparing for the 10-question civic exam given to all prospective citizens. They'll need to answer 6 of them correctly to pass."
"In class, Simons asked his students a practice question: "Why do you want to become a U.S. citizen?" "I want my vote to count," chimed Flora Billalta in English. Billalta, a Salvadoran immigrant, heard about Centro Latino's classes through a friend. "Initially, I was going some days and not others. But later I said, 'No, this is interesting,' because I saw that I was actually learning," she said in Spanish. "Since then I haven't missed a class.""
A Mission District citizenship class brings together mostly Latino middle-aged and elderly immigrants seeking U.S. naturalization. An instructor from Centro Latino de San Francisco leads lessons three days a week, using worksheets and practice questions to prepare students for the 10-question civic exam. The class covers basic civics such as the roles of the executive branch and the U.S. capital and explains that six correct answers are required to pass. Students show determination and view the class as a rare formal educational opportunity and a pathway to having their vote count. Changes to the test are expected to make passing harder.
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