Friday, June 29, 2007

Q25-27: USCIS 96 Questions 25-27: Legislative Branch, Congress, Senate


USCIS 96 Questions 25-27

Today we will listen to Questions 25-27 plus M-638 comments. You can download the Class Handout 25-27 to deepen your knowledge of US History and Politics and broaden your English language skills. Look for new vocabulary, grammar structures, and idioms.

Note the key words--these words will help you remember the questions and answers. The key words for 25-27:

Legislative Branch
Congress
Senate


You can get more info about the US Senate from

Simple Wikipedia: US Senate
Wikipedia: US Senate
US Senate: Historical Minutes (excellent short stories)

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

USCIS Pilot Exam Questions and Answers

Here is the USCIS link to information about the USCIS Pilot questions.


Here is the reformatted document of the USCIS Pilot Questions in English from US Citzenship Podcast


Here is the USCIS Pilot Questions in Spanish from Univison.


Here is the USCIS Pilot Questions in Chinese from World Journal (Taiwan).

Sunday, June 24, 2007

WelcomeToUSA.gov

"The Task Force on New Americans today introduced four new inter-agency initiatives to help immigrants assimilate. In addition to launching WelcometoUSA.gov, the federal government’s official website for new immigrants, the Task Force announced three major projects to help legal immigrants embrace the common core of American civic culture, learn English, and fully become American."

--from the USCIS Press Release announcing the new website for immigrants WelcometoUSA.gov.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Q21-24: USCIS 96 Questions 21-24: Legislative Branch, Congress, Senate, House of Representatives


USCIS 96 Questions 21-24
Today we will listen to Questions 21-24 plus M-638 comments. You can download the Class Handout 21-24 to deepen your knowledge of US History and Politics and broaden your English language skills. Look for new vocabulary, grammar structures, and idioms.

Note the key words--these words will help you remember the questions and answers. The key words for 21-24:

Legislative Branch
Congress
Senate
House of Representatives


You can get more info about the Congress and Legislative Branch from

Simple Wikipedia: Congress
Wikipedia: Congress
Government Guide: Elected Officials
Government Guide: Summary of Current Bills
EL/Civics: Capitol Hill

Sunday, June 17, 2007

End of the School Year Citizenship CD

At the end of the year, I made a Cd for my students. I included 5 interviews (without the introductory or concluding remarks), the 96 Questions (in sets of 10 without the explanations), and the Oath of Allegiance and Pledge of Allegiance.

The first CD copy was ok, so I made 99 more copies. The only problem was the subsequent copies cut 12 seconds of each track. It was not too noticeable during the interviews, but each 96 question set is basically missing 1 question. I was heartbroken!

So I added 15 seconds to most of the tracks. Please download these tracks for your own CD. Please leave a comment about the copy quality, etc.

I haven't "podcasted" the 96 Questions, the Oath, nor the Pledge yet. Those will be added to the podcast after I complete the "96 Questions with M-638 Explanation" series.

1st Interview: Mae Chen (basic)
2nd Interview: Nam Van Nguyen (advanced)
3rd Interview: Guadalupe Garcia (simple)
4th Interview: Gerta Mueller (simple)
5th Interview: Pari Akibari (basic)

Q01-10
Q11-20
Q21-30
Q31-40
Q41-50
Q51-60
Q61-70
Q71-80
Q81-90
Q91-5X

Extras:
Oath of Allegiance
Pledge of Allegiance

Let me take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy end of school! Also I would like to wish my beloved parents a Happy 50th Anniversary (06/16/57) and my dad a Happy Father's Day (I am using his computer & high-speed internet connection to post this entry). As I type this, he is taking pictures of his grandchildren and my mom is advising him him on the photo shoot while passing out another dessert. Back to the family party.

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Q20-20: USCIS 96 Questions 20-20: The Branches of Government, Executive, Legislative, Judicial


USCIS 96 Questions 20
Today we will listen to Question 20 plus M-638 comments. You can download the Class Handout Q20 to deepen your knowledge of US History and Politics and broaden your English language skills. Look for new vocabulary, grammar structures, and idioms.

Note the key words--these words will help you remember the questions and answers. The key words for Q20:

Branches of Government
Executive
Legislative
Judicial


You can get more info about the Branches of Government from

Simple English Wiki: Branches of Government
Wikitext: The Three Branches: Checks and Balances
USA.gov: The Executive Branch
USA.gov: The Legislative Branch
USA.gov: The Judicial Branch

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Q17-19: USCIS 96 Questions 17-19: The Constitution and Amendments


USCIS 96 Questions 17-19

Today we will listen to Questions 17-19 plus M-638 comments. You can download the Class Handout Q17-19 to deepen your knowledge of US History and Politics and broaden your English language skills. Look for new vocabulary, grammar structures, and idioms.

Note the key words--these words will help you remember the questions and answers. The key words for Q17-19:

Constitution
Amendments


You can get more info about the Constitution and Amendments from

El/Civics: The Constitution
Simple English Wikipedia: The Constitution
Wikipedia: The Constitution
Audio version of US Constitution: free mp3 download
DoD Constitution Day and Citizenship Day Website (online course)


Teacher Judy is our special guest. She will read the M-638 explanations. After the questions and explanations, I will interview her about Constitution Day. We hope that you celebrate Constitution Day in your school or home. Constitution Day is also called Citizenship Day.

The Constitution Center (NCC in Philadelphia, PA)
NCC Main Page:
NCC Podcasts & mp3s
NCC Constitution Day

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Q14-16: USCIS 96 Questions 14-16: Vice-President, Electoral College

USCIS 96 Questions 14-16

Today we will listen to Questions 14-16 plus M-638 comments. You can download the Class Handout Q14-16 to deepen your knowledge of US History and Politics and broaden your English language skills. Look for new vocabulary, grammar structures, and idioms.

Note the key words--these words will help you remember the questions and answers. The key words for Q14-16:

Vice-President
Electoral College


You can get more info about Vice-Presidents or the Electoral College from

Wikipedia: Vice-President
US National Archives: Electoral College
VOA: How the Electoral College Works (2nd Segment)

Monday, June 4, 2007

Q12-13: USCIS 96 Questions 12-13: President, George Washington, George W. Bush


USCIS 96 Questions 12-13

Today we will listen to Questions 12-13 plus M-638 comments. You can download the Class Handout Q12-13 to deepen your knowledge of US History and Politics and broaden your English language skills. Look for new vocabulary, grammar structures, and idioms.

Note the key words--these words will help you remember the questions and answers. The key words for Q12-13:

President
George Washington
George W. Bush

You can get more info about Presidents from

EL/Civics: George Washington
Wikipedia: President
The White House: Presidents