Thursday, October 30, 2008

Dictation Sentences 96:91-96

Special Thanks to Mr and Mrs Nakrani for inspiring this dictation series--
Diwali Blessing of Peace and Prosperity!

Dictation Sentences 96:91-96

Here are ten sentences for reading and dictation. These sentences are based on answers to the USCIS 96:91-96 Questions. Instead of phrasal responses, the answers are given in complete sentences.

91. The benefits of being a citizen of the United States are
to obtain Federal government jobs;
to travel with a U.S. passport;
or to petition for close relatives to come to the United States to live.
92. Yes, the Constitution can be changed.
93. The right to vote is the most important right granted to U.S. citizens.
94. The White House is the President’s official home.
95. The United States Capitol (Building) is the place where Congress meets.
96. There are 3 branches in the United States government.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Why would anyone want to stop you from voting?



Dictation Sentences 96:81-90


New Citizen: Ho Thu Huong

Dictation Sentences 96:81-90

Here are ten sentences for reading and dictation. These sentences are based on answers to the USCIS 96:81-90 Questions. Instead of phrasal responses, the answers are given in complete sentences.

81. The President is Commander-in-Chief of the United States military.
82. We vote for the President in November.
83. The new President is inaugurated in January.
84. There is no limit to the number of times a Senator or Congressman may be re-elected.
85. The Democratic and Republican parties are the two major political parties.
86. The executive branch of our government is the President, the Cabinet, and departments under the cabinet members.
87. The freedom of speech comes from the Bill of Rights.
88. The N-400 is used to apply for naturalization.
89. The United States is a republic (and a democracy).
90. The purposes of the United Nations are for countries to discuss and try to resolve world problems or to provide economic aid to many countries.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Dictation Sentences 96:71-80



Dictation Sentences 96:71-80

Here are ten sentences for reading and dictation. These sentences are based on answers to the USCIS 96:71-80 Questions. Instead of phrasal responses, the answers are given in complete sentences.

71. Congress has the power to declare war.
72. The 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th amendments guarantee voting rights.
73. The Constitution was written in 1787.
74. The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the Constitution.
75. The rights of all people living in the U.S. are guaranteed by the Constitution.
76. The Preamble is the introduction to the Constitution.
77. Congress meets in the U.S. Capitol building.
78. The White House is the President’s official home.
79. The White House is located in Washington D.C.
80. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, and the right to petition the Government.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Dictation Sentences 96:61-70


Dictation Sentences 96:61-70

Here are ten sentences for reading and dictation. These sentences are based on answers to the USCIS 96:61-70 Questions. Instead of phrasal responses, the answers are given in complete sentences.

61. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States.
62. Abraham Lincoln was President during the Civil War.
63. The Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves.
64. The Cabinet advises the President.
65. George Washington is called the “Father of our Country”.
66. George Washington was the first Commander-in-Chief of the US Army.
67. Hawaii was the 50th state to be added to our Union.
68. The Native Americans helped the Pilgrims in America.
69. The Mayflower was the ship that brought the Pilgrims to America.
70. The 13 original states of the U.S. were called colonies.
Direct download: s71-80.mp3

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Interview 09: David Bian (Tianjin, China)--FIXED!

Students practice interviewing each other.

Interview-09

Today we will listen to our ninth practice interview David Bian (Tianjin, China). These are questions are based on the N-400. You can get a pdf. of the Advanced Citizenship Interview here.

10/26/08--the audio file as been updated. Thanks!

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Thursday, October 23, 2008

USCIS 96-10s--Remix Accomplished!

The Statue of Liberty Quilt by Maria Elena Padilla (PIQF 2008)

USCIS 96-10s.mp3

The USCIS 96 remixed:
  • 96-10s "Tens": USCIS 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 plus two dictation sentences and handout.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

USCIS 96-9s

A Red, White, and Blue Quilt--from New Zealand! (PIQF 2008)

USCIS 96-9s.mp3

The USCIS 96 remixed:

  • 96-9s "Nines": USCIS 09, 19, 29, 39, 49, 59, 69, 79, 89, 3x
    plus two dictation sentences and handout.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

USCIS 96-8s

Detail of a very large patriotic quilt on display
Flynn Quilt Frames Co. came all the way from Billings, Montana
to Santa Clara, California for PIQF 2008!

USCIS 96-8s.mp3

The USCIS 96 remixed:

  • 96-8s "Eights": USCIS 08, 18, 28, 38, 48, 58, 68, 78, 88, 2x
    plus two dictation sentences and handout.

Monday, October 20, 2008

USCIS 96-7s

Betsy Ross Never Imagined This by Nancy K. McLerran @ PIQF 2008

USCIS 96-7s.mp3

The USCIS 96 remixed:

  • 96-7s "Sevens": USCIS 07, 17, 27, 37, 47, 57, 67, 77, 87, 1x
    plus two dictation sentences and handout.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

New citizens get ready to cast their votes

Ahora marchamos,
mañana votamos!

New citizens get ready to cast their votes By Anna Gorman, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Although most of the nonpartisan campaigns are helping Latinos with the voting process, some groups are helping Asian Americans prepare for the November elections.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

LasVegasNow: 1000 People Sworn in As New Citizens

This is a screenshot. Click here for the video.

Here is an article and video (after a brief commercial) of a recent Oath Cermeony in Las Vegas, NV. At the end of the video, the news anchor and reported discuss the importance of the Latino vote in the upcoming election.

Friday, October 17, 2008

VOANews: Early Voting Begins For US Presidential Election


Early Voting Begins For US Presidential Election
Early voting is underway in the United States as people cast ballots in the presidential election between Republican Party nominee John McCain and the Democratic Party standard bearer Barack Obama. Millions of new voters have registered, and a surge in early voting has some election officials predicting as many as 150 million Americans could vote in the November 4th election. VOA's Chris Simkins has more on the early voting and accusations of voter fraud in some states.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

N-400 for the Third Debate


Transcript of the Third Debate.

Here is a new N-400 for the Third Debate

VOANews Video: McCain, Obama Clash in Final Debate
Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama clashed often in their third and final U.S. presidential debate. The senators fought over campaign tactics, the economic crisis, and other domestic issues. For the first time, the two discussed face-to-face questions that McCain's campaign has raised over Obama's past associations. The two sparred repeatedly over the increasingly negative tone of the campaign.

N-400 Part 10A Quiz

N-400 Part 10A Quiz: pictures, vocabulary, and cloze sentences.
Direct download: n400-10a-quiz.pdf

Thursday, October 9, 2008

The Debates



Transcipt of the Second Debate

Check back later in the day for student activity: a modified Simple Interview (based on the N-400) for Obama and McCain. Complete this activity before watching the Debate.

update 10/10/08: I am working on a less cluttered version of an N-400 Obama/McCain scripts and will post it soon

update 10/15/08: Here is a new N-400 for the Third Debate

Other Debates

First 2008 Presidential Debate (Full Video)

Vice Presidential Debate with Gov. Palin and Sen. Joe Biden (Full Video)

For more info, see

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

USCIS 96-6s

Where there's a will, there's a way.

USCIS 96-6s.mp3

The USCIS 96 remixed:
  • 96-6s "Sixes": USCIS 06, 16, 26, 36, 46, 56, 66, 76, 86, 96
    plus two dictation sentences and handout.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

USCIS 96-5s

The Milpitas Adult School T/TH Citizenship Class

USCIS 96-5s.mp3

The USCIS 96 remixed:
  • 96-5s "Fives": USCIS 05, 15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95
    plus two dictation sentences and handout.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

USCIS 96-4s

Guey-Lan (far left) and Qing Fang (far right) welcome Diep (center)
to the "Sisterhood of US Citizens at Milpitas Adult School".
Nga (left) and Cuc (right) join the Sisterhood soon.

USCIS 96-4s.mp3

The USCIS 96 remixed:
  • 96-4s "Fours": USCIS 04, 14, 24, 34, 44, 54, 64, 74, 84, 94
    plus two dictation sentences and handout.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

USCIS 96-3s

New Citizen: Vo Huynh Diep

USCIS 96-3s.mp3

The USCIS 96 remixed:
  • 96-3s "Threes": USCIS 03, 13, 23, 33, 43, 53, 63, 73, 83, 93
    plus two dictation sentences and handout.

Friday, October 3, 2008

USCIS 96-2s

New Citizen: Ngo Thithu Minh

USCIS 96-2s.mp3

The USCIS 96 remixed:
  • 96-2s "Twos": USCIS 02, 12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62, 72, 82, 92
    plus two dictation sentences and handout.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

New Series: 96 Remixed! USCIS 96-1s


USCIS 96-1s.mp3

Today we begin a new series: the USCIS 96 remixed plus two dictation sentences and handout:

96-1s "Ones": USCIS 01, 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91
96-2s "Twos": USCIS 02, 12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62, 72, 82, 92, etc

We will take a short break to prepare for the election, then we will present the N-400 section by section. Next, we wil post the new USCIS 100 in ten question sets, followed by a "re-mixed" 100 Question series. Finally we will present a dual question series: five questions from both the 96 and 100 questions.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

USCIS 96:91-05x

Name one benefit of being a citizen of the United States.

USCIS 91-05x.mp3

For the next ten days, we will present 10 of the 96 questions plus two dictation sentences and handout. Today's questions are 96:91-5x. Direct download: 91-05x.mp3