[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-310159-105":59,"doc-detail-310159-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":124,"head_meta":126,"extra_data":128,"updated_unix":130},105,"en","the-relationship-between-english-proficiency-and-naturalization-overview","The Relationship Between English Proficiency and Naturalization - Overview","","Examines how English language proficiency correlates with U.S. naturalization outcomes among immigrant populations, noting higher naturalization rates for applicants with stronger English skills. Reviews the history of citizenship and English testing in the United States, highlighting key legislative changes from early naturalization acts through the 1906 and 1952 requirements, plus later test standardization in 1986. Defines U.S. citizenship’s importance, outlines benefits, and summarizes core naturalization requirements and how English is assessed during the naturalization test.",{"@graph":69,"@context":123},[70,84,106],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":40,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/the-relationship-between-english-proficiency-and-naturalization-overview/310159/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/the-relationship-between-english-proficiency-and-naturalization-overview/310159.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Gelato","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-11","2026-09-20",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":105},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",15,{"@type":107,"mainEntity":108},"FAQPage",[109,115,119],{"name":110,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":112},"How is English proficiency related to naturalization rates in the United States?","Question",{"text":113,"@type":114},"The document states that immigrants with higher English language proficiency tend to apply for citizenship and successfully naturalize at higher rates. This is presented as a positive correlation between English access and naturalization outcomes.","Answer",{"name":116,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":117},"What major U.S. laws shaped English requirements for naturalization?",{"text":118,"@type":114},"It highlights the 1906 Naturalization Act’s English requirement, the 1952 Immigrant Naturalization Act establishing English speaking/reading/writing as a component of naturalization, and the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 introducing a standardized naturalization test.",{"name":120,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":121},"What requirements must immigrants meet to become U.S. citizens?",{"text":122,"@type":114},"Requirements include living in the U.S. with lawful permanent residency for at least five years (or three years if married to a U.S. citizen), passing a criminal background check, paying an application fee (with a waiver option), and demonstrating English proficiency and knowledge of U.S. history and government through the naturalization test.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":125,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":127,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":129,"site_id":62},310159,1789875885,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":132},{"doc_id":129,"user_id":133,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":39,"category_name":40,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":105,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":140,"language":141,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":142,"faqs":143,"seo_title":144,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":130,"read_time":41,"preview_page_count":4},19241457091524,"https://us-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_276721f389ce27ea32af1340a28f341c","The Relationship Between English Proficiency and  \nNaturalization  \nOVERVIEW  \nThere is a relationship between English language proficiency and naturalization rates for United States immigrant populations, with higher English proficiency rates found among immigrants who apply for citizenship and successfully naturalize. Increasing English language proficiency among immigrants, therefore, seems to be positively related to naturalization. Given this positive correlation, policymakers can take steps to improve immigrants’ access to English language learning, including investing in English classes and making needed investments in programming that addresses systemic barriers to English acquisition.  \nU.S. CITIZENSHIP HISTORY  \nWhat is the history of citizenship and English testing in the United States?  \nThere is no formal definition of citizenship outlined in the United States Constitution. The first U.S. legislative definition addressing the question of citizenship was the 1790 Naturalization Act, which stipulated that a citizen had to be a free white person that had resided in the U.S. for two year and was of good character and took an oath in support of the Constitution of the United States.1 Such requirements changed over the course of the next century, with the most significant shift occurring when African Americans gained the right to citizenship in 1868 under the 14th Amendment. English language proficiency, however, remained distinct from the naturalization process until the 20th century, when the 1906 Naturalization Act instituted an English requirement for immigrants seeking citizenship.2  \nFurther expanding on and institutionalizing this requirement, in 1952, the Immigrant Naturalization Act (INA) established the ability to speak, read, and write in English as a requisite component of naturalization. Per the INA, those seeking to naturalize would also be required to demonstrate “good moral character” and knowledge of U.S. history, government, and principles. Subsequently, the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 first introduced the standardized naturalization test and strengthened educational requirements for citizenship. The test has been revised many times over the decades.3 At present, learning English remains a central requirement of the naturalization process despite the fact that the United States does not have an official language.  \nWhat is citizenship and why is it important?  \nAlthough its meaning is widely recognized, the term“citizenship” has a formal legal definition. Broadly speaking, United States citizenship entitles a person to certain protections, privileges,  \n1 [https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/artifact/h-r-40-naturalization-bill-march-4-1790](https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/artifact/h-r-40-naturalization-bill-march-4-1790)  \n[2](2 Irene Bloemraad)[ Irene Bloemraad](2 Irene Bloemraad), Becoming a Citizen: Incorporating Immigrants and Refugees in the United States and Canada (California: University of California Press, 2006), 22.  \n3 Loring,“The Meaning of Citizenship: Tests, Policy, and English Proficiency,” 200.  \nand responsibilities within the country. On its website, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) paints a more idealistic picture of citizenship, stating that,“Citizenship is the common thread that connects all Americans. We are a nation bound not by race or religion, but by the shared values of freedom, liberty, and equality.”4 Obtaining citizenship is considered to bean important step in the inclusion of immigrants into the country. According to USCIS, the benefits of U.S. citizenship include voting, bringing family members to the US, obtaining citizenship for children born abroad, traveling with a U.S. passport, becoming eligible for federal jobs, becoming an elected official, and demonstrating commitment to the U.S.5 When an adult immigrant naturalizes, any of their foreign-born children under the age of 18 automatically become citizens, as well.  \nCitizenship impro","cbCaiuA2GhdlBmAS","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiuA2GhdlBmAS","pdf",330705,12,"English","# Overview\n# U.S. Citizenship History\n## What is citizenship and why is it important?\n## What are the requirements to become a U.S. citizen?\n# Naturalization Test and English Assessment","[{\"question\":\"How is English proficiency related to naturalization rates in the United States?\",\"answer\":\"The document states that immigrants with higher English language proficiency tend to apply for citizenship and successfully naturalize at higher rates. This is presented as a positive correlation between English access and naturalization outcomes.\"},{\"question\":\"What major U.S. laws shaped English requirements for naturalization?\",\"answer\":\"It highlights the 1906 Naturalization Act’s English requirement, the 1952 Immigrant Naturalization Act establishing English speaking/reading/writing as a component of naturalization, and the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 introducing a standardized naturalization test.\"},{\"question\":\"What requirements must immigrants meet to become U.S. citizens?\",\"answer\":\"Requirements include living in the U.S. with lawful permanent residency for at least five years (or three years if married to a U.S. citizen), passing a criminal background check, paying an application fee (with a waiver option), and demonstrating English proficiency and knowledge of U.S. history and government through the naturalization test.\"}]","The Relationship Between English Proficiency and Naturalization - Overview | PDF"]