Let me tell you a little story: There once was a girl who lived in the UK for years and years. She never needed any resident’s permits or visas because she was an EU citizen. Then one day she thought: “Why don’t I become British? I must be eligible!” And lo an behold, she was!!! So she started reading about the process of naturalisation and finding the forms and documents she would need. And then suddenly she stumbles across something called a “citizenship test”. “What is that?” She asks herself. “ A test?” So she reads a bit more and finds out that there is indeed a test that you have to sit to be able to apply for citizenship.
And of course, where there is a test, there is a book to study from... Enter Life in the United Kingdom: A journey through citizenship. (I swear I’m not making it up, that’s what it’s called...) The content was useful. I won’t go as far as to describe it as interesting but useful is a fair enough description. The language, as was expected, was very simple and this at least gave it some entertainment value when you reached parts like the Holidays and Festivals section where Santa was described as an old man coming in the house at night, when the children are asleep to leave things and drink alcohol. That was, aside from creepy, hilarious. Aside from sections like that, because the language was very simple some more complex concepts were overly simplified and that was less funny. In terms of information load there were useful bits and bits that even though they come up in tests (and in the majority they did in mine.... sigh...) are completely pointless. Why is it important to know how many independent schools there are in the UK? How will that help me as a future citizen of the UK? Pointless.
The other issue was the fact that there were no sample questions in the book. If you are like me and in this case you are just studying for the test rather than for the fun of it (in which case: What is wrong with you???) then the sample questions would at least make you focus on the appropriate pieces of trivia that they will ask you before you can successfully get on with your life! All in all, not a fun read, but if you have to read it then do it with patience and a sense of humour.
And if you are wondering...the girl in the story passed her test....
Enjoyed it: Oh no...
Read again: Absolutely not.
275 days remaining - 16 books down, 1 unfinished, 84 left.
And of course, where there is a test, there is a book to study from... Enter Life in the United Kingdom: A journey through citizenship. (I swear I’m not making it up, that’s what it’s called...) The content was useful. I won’t go as far as to describe it as interesting but useful is a fair enough description. The language, as was expected, was very simple and this at least gave it some entertainment value when you reached parts like the Holidays and Festivals section where Santa was described as an old man coming in the house at night, when the children are asleep to leave things and drink alcohol. That was, aside from creepy, hilarious. Aside from sections like that, because the language was very simple some more complex concepts were overly simplified and that was less funny. In terms of information load there were useful bits and bits that even though they come up in tests (and in the majority they did in mine.... sigh...) are completely pointless. Why is it important to know how many independent schools there are in the UK? How will that help me as a future citizen of the UK? Pointless.
The other issue was the fact that there were no sample questions in the book. If you are like me and in this case you are just studying for the test rather than for the fun of it (in which case: What is wrong with you???) then the sample questions would at least make you focus on the appropriate pieces of trivia that they will ask you before you can successfully get on with your life! All in all, not a fun read, but if you have to read it then do it with patience and a sense of humour.
And if you are wondering...the girl in the story passed her test....
Enjoyed it: Oh no...
Read again: Absolutely not.
275 days remaining - 16 books down, 1 unfinished, 84 left.
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