Sunday, March 31, 2019

Citizenship Resources for Cesar Chavez Day

]

uscitizenpod: Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta

Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta started the United Farm Workers union, because farm workers did not have

"the legal right to organize and to vote for collective bargaining. They didn't have the right to have clean drinking water, access to portable toilets, lunch breaks, or short rest breaks during workdays. And they were not entitled to the minimum wage or unemployment insurance."

USCIS 100:51. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
  • freedom of expression
  • freedom of speech
  • freedom of assembly
  • freedom to petition the government
  • freedom of worship
  • the right to bear arms
Listen:

Family Fun:


NEW (Jan 2019) New Readers Press: Field of Vision - Novel 
Scenes Reader, Low-Intermediate Level by Ana Gianola

Rafael is a farmworker foreman who takes pride in his work. After putting off eye surgery, an emergency in the field changes everything. Teacher Guide

Saturday, March 30, 2019

Washington Is Abloom With Cherry Blossoms



VOANews: Washington Is Abloom With Cherry Blossoms

"Puffy White." That's how the National Cherry Blossom Festival describes the current and final stage of blooms for the iconic Japanese blossoms, which attract scores of visitors to Washington every year.

Friday, March 29, 2019

Candy Tran's Second Practice Citizenship Video



uscitizenpod: Candy Tran's Second Practice Citizenship Video

Candy Tran is back and asks several clarification questions during her second practice interview. Remember: if you don't understand a word (or if you cannot say its definition in English), ASK the officer to explain the question BEFORE you say Yes or No. Check back soon for updated Closed Captions.

Thursday, March 28, 2019

U.S. Citizenship Class 22, Spring 2019, Milpitas Adult School

Kazi, Huong, and Van decorated the voting boxes for the Student Council Election
N-400 
  • Mix-and-Match Series D interview (25 questions) for Intermediate High ESL 4 students.
    • Interview D-3 plus USCIS Quiz 10: Law, Gov't, and the Economy
  • Future U.S. Citizens  
    • Unit 2 Lesson 3: Using Polite Speech and Following Directions pg 144-145
Civics (6:30-7:30 choral reading(7:30-7:45 break)
Integration (7:45-8:45)
  • I-Class-5 Quiz (in development)
  • Women in the Executive Branch LISTEN / READ
  • Women in the Legislative Branch Quiz LISTEN / READ (fixed)
  • Women in the Judicial Branch LISTEN / READ

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Devi's First Practice U.S. Citizenship Interview



uscitizenpod: Devi's First Practice U.S. Citizenship Interview

The closed captions will be updated before 3/31/2019

Download the pdf of the script and follow along:

A “Typical” Citizenship Interview Based on the USCIS N-400r (4 pages)
pdf http://goo.gl/9Z97UK
ppt https://goo.gl/2hwOsc
vocab pdf: https://goo.gl/AMNMqy

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

U.S. Citizenship Class 21, Spring 2019, Milpitas Adult School



N-400 
  • Mix-and-Match Series D interview (25 questions) for Intermediate High ESL 4 students.
    • Interview D-1 plus USCIS Quiz 9: Do and Did
  • Future U.S. Citizens  
    • Unit 2 Lesson 2: Making Small Talk pg 140-141
Civics (6:30-7:30 choral reading(7:30-7:45 break)
Integration (7:45-8:45)
  • Citizenship Interview Quiz: América Griselda Ayes (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) pdf
  • Women and USCIS 100 Questions: Civics pdf

Monday, March 25, 2019

Candy Tran's First Practice Citizenship Video



uscitizenpod: Candy Tran's First Practice Citizenship Video--UPDATED

Candy Tran is a long-time ESL student at Milpitas Adult School. To practice for her Citizenship interview, she brought a copy of her N-400 Application for Naturalization to class. She is sought-after hair stylist with a diverse clientele, so she wants to change her legal name to Candy Thu Tran.

Friday, March 22, 2019

Thursday, March 21, 2019

U.S. Citizenship Class 20, Spring 2019, Milpitas Adult School



uscitizenpod: Thu Thi Nguyen Practice Citizenship Interview

N-400 
  • Mix-and-Match Series C interview (20 questions) for Intermediate Low ESL 3 students.
    • Interview C-5 plus USCIS Quiz 8: History "Name one"
  • Future U.S. Citizens  
    • Unit 2 Lesson 1: Greetings and Shaking Hands pg 140-141
Civics (6:30-7:30 choral reading(7:30-7:45 break)
Integration (7:45-8:45)
  • Citizenship Interview Quiz for Rend al-Rahim pdf
    • A citizenship multiple-choice quiz based on the N-400 Application for Naturalization plus 10 civics questions.

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Citizenship Resources in Honor of Nowruz






Practice Citizenship Interviews with Farsi-Speaking Americans

uscitizenpod: Citizenship Interview Quiz for Presidents’ Week 2017: Hushang Ansary (Iran) (pdf)
A citizenship multiple-choice quiz based on the N-400 Application for Naturalization plus 10 civics questions.

uscitizenpod: 2016 Spring Citizenship Interview with Ali Akbari (Iran/Malaysia) (mp3)
A practice citizenship interview recorded in honor of Persian New Year (2016)

uscitizenpod: A Basic Citizenship Interview with Pari Akibari (Esfahan, Iran) (mp3) (video)
A practice citizenship interview recorded in 2007. Note: N-400 Part 10 is now N-400 Part 12 and the Civics questions are obsolete (ex: George W Bush was the current president in 2007).

uscitizenpod: Citizenship Interview with Osman Nejat (Kabul, Afghanistan) (mp3) (video)
A short citizenship interview with "examiner" with Osman Nejat (Kabul, Afghanistan), the Citizenship and GED/HiSET teacher from New Haven Adult School.  After the interview, Teacher Osman reflects on being bi-lingual and bi-cultural in America.

uscitizenpod: New US Citizen Sardar Habibi's report-back in Farsi  video
Milpitas Adult School student, Sardar Habibi (formerly of Afghanistan) talks about his US Citizenship Interview on Thursday, March 7, 2011. (Also in English)

More ESL/Civics Resources in English and Farsi

ACLU: Immigrants' Rights: What To Do If Stopped (IN FARSI) (video)

ACLU: What To Do When Faced With Anti-Muslim Discrimination (in Farsi) (video)

CA DMV: California Driver Handbook (pdf)

CLINIC: 100 Civics Questions in Farsi (pdf)

ESL Library: Nauruz (Norooz) Festival (article)
In this lesson, students read about the Persian New Year's festival (New Day). They learn about the ceremonial table, and create their own in small groups. Students also learn idioms related to nature. Note: A number of different English spellings are used for this holiday. The UN recognizes March 21 as the International Day of Nowruz

John Q. Khosravi Law Firm (JQK Law Firm): Naturalization for Iranians (Farsi/Persian) سیتیزنشیپ وتابعیت امریکا برای ایرانیان (video)
More Citizenship and Immigration videos in English and Farsi at John Q. Khosravi Law Firm (JQK Law Firm) (YouTube channel)

K-vonComedy: Famous Comedian Explains PERSIAN NEW YEAR Perfectly (K-von on Nowruz) (video)
Want to learn about a new holiday? Persian New Year is in March.  K-von breaks it down in this video w/ fun animation.  Check out K-von on YouTube (especially his Cleaning for Nowruz videos and his trailer for the Nowruz movie) and his TEDx Talk.

LastLY: Nowruz 2021: Date, Significance, Celebrations Associated With The Persian New Year Or Navroze video
Nowruz, also called Navriz, Navroz, Novruz, Nooruz, Nevruz & Nauryz, is a Persian word where 'Now' means 'new' and 'Ruz' means ‘day’. Hence, Nowruz signifies a new day. Nowruz is the Iranian New Year celebrated by the ethnic Iranian people. In India, the Parsi community celebrate Nowruz with full fervour. This year, it falls on Saturday, March 20. Nowruz holds great significance in the Iranian community. It is marked as the day King Jamshid was crowned as the King of Persia. People purchase new clothes and visit family and friends on this day. Nowruz is usually celebrated in the evening by performing certain rituals such as jumping over bonfires and lighting firecrackers. The celebrations also include family coming around the Haft sin table awaiting the moment of March equinox. Haft seen, also called Haft-seen (Persian For “Seven S’s”), is an arrangement of seven foods whose name start with 's' in Persian.

MedicinePlus: Health Information in Farsi (فارسی) (web page)

Must See Iran 
FB page that introduces Iran's cultural, historical, and natural tourist attractions.  Many good Nowruz videos in English and Farsi.

PARS Equality Center
Pprovides free or low-cost legal immigration services to qualified individuals.  We provide community members with integration support by offering immigration education, representation and advocacy.

Quartz: Nowruz: How millions celebrate the Persian New Year (video)
During Nowruz, the Persian New Year celebration, each vibrant item on the haftseen table has its own symbolic meaning.

SSA: Social Security Resources in Farsi (web page)

Sahar Zand: What is Nowruz? How to celebrate Persian New Year
BBC Persian's Sahar Zand visited Little Persia in London to explain how her family celebrate the Persian New Year.

Share America: Online Nowruz connects Americans to the world
In the U.S., museums and cultural centers host Nowruz festivities. This year, because of the pandemic, they will reach out through the internet.

TEDx Talks: Iran from a Different Lens | Maryam Ghadiri | TEDxPurdueU (video)
When only one side of a story is told, the truth can be blurred or completely disjointed. When Maryam arrived in the U.S. she encountered stereotypes and predisposed opinions causing her to hide her own identity as Iranian. She now describes how she rekindled the pride she once had for her motherland, Iran, through curating a photo exhibit that celebrates Iran's rich culture, diversity and beauty.

USIP: Iran Primer: Nowruz: Traditions for Persian New Year (article)
Ironically, the most widely celebrated holiday in the Islamic Republic of Iran long predates the official religion. Nowruz, literally “New Day” in Farsi, marks the first day of spring and the Persian New Year. The holiday, which falls on March 20 this year, is widely celebrated across the Middle East and Central Asia.

VA Health: Public Health Info in Farsi (webpage)

VOANews: New in Farsi (web page)
News in Farsi from the Voice of America

VOANews: Iranian-Americans Nurture New Generations After Revolution (2019) (article)
Sharifan and others from her generation seek to build a connection to their Iranian heritage and culture among their American children and grandchildren.

VOANews: Iranians Prepare For Traditional New Year Celebrations (video)
Iranians around the world are preparing to celebrate their traditional new year, Nowruz, which falls on Thursday. The ancient tradition is also celebrated by Kurds and marks the arrival of spring. Zlatica Hoke reports.

VOANews: Iraq Norwuz (video)
It's time for celebration in Iraq. Men and women rang in a new year, as millions of Kurdish people celebrated Nowruz. The celebration falls on the first day of spring, symbolizing the passing of the dark season and the arrival of the season of light. 

VOANews: Kurds Celebrate 'Nawroz' - New Years (video)
Kurdish residents of the northern Syrian city of Kobani are marking the New Year festival Nawroz. Celebrations were held along the border with Turkey, where many of Kobani's citizens fled when the city came under attack by Islamic State militants. Video by VOA Kurdish service reporter Mahmoud Bali.

Northern California's 'Little Kabul' a Cultural Hub to One of America's Largest Afghan Communities video
Alameda County in California, known as a retreat for hippies four decades ago, has become home to one of the largest Afghan American communities in America.  VOA's Saba Shah Khan takes us to one area known as "Little Kabul," now a cultural hub for the Bay Area's rapidly growing Afghan American population.

VOA Learning English: Once a US Soldier, Iranian Immigrant Now Serves Veterans (article, mp3, video)
Assal Ravandi knows service. First, as a soldier in the United States Army in Afghanistan. Now, as a soldier for soldiers at the organization she founded: Academy of United States Veterans. Read, listen to, and watch more great stories from VOA Learning English series: People in America

VOA Learning English: Mahsa, English Teacher in Iran, Talks About Spending Nowruz With Family (video of Skype interview)
Avi Arditti from VOA Learning English and Mehrnaz Sami from VOA's Persian Service (and an English teacher) talk to a Skype caller about the Persian New Year (2013)

VOA Learning Engish: Mohsen, Engineering Student in Iran, Talks About Nowruz (video of Skype interview)
Avi Arditti from VOA Learning English and Mehrnaz Sami from VOA's Persian Service (and an English teacher) talk to a Skype caller about the Persian New Year

VOA Learning English: Vernal Equinox: The Arrival of Spring (article)
An overview of many holidays associated with the Vernal Equinox (the Arrival of Spring) including Nowruz.

Vox: Persian New Year, or Nowruz, explained for non-Persians (article)

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

U.S. Citizenship Class 19, Spring 2019, Milpitas Adult School



uscitizenpod: What makes us American?

N-400 
  • Mix-and-Match Series C interview (20 questions) for Intermediate Low ESL 3 students.
    • 3 and 4 plus USCIS Quiz 7: Civics "Name one"
  • Future U.S. Citizens  
    • Unit 3 Lesson 4: How Long and How Many pg 138-139
Civics (6:30-7:30 choral reading(7:30-7:45 break)
Integration (7:45-8:45)
  • uscitizenpod: Citizenship Interview Quiz for Presidents’ Week 2017: Hushang Ansary (Iran) (pdf)
    A citizenship multiple-choice quiz based on the N-400 Application for Naturalization plus 10 civics questions.

Monday, March 18, 2019

Border Agents Train in Virtual Ports of Entry



VOANews: Border Agents Train in Virtual Ports of Entry

In his proposed 2020 budget, U.S. President Donald Trump asked Congress for $8.6 billion more for the construction of a border wall. With that in mind, Vice President Mike Pence visited an advanced Border Patrol Training Center in Harper's Ferry, W.Va., two days later. Thousands of soon-to-be Border Patrol agents receive training there in high tech scenarios that include a virtual reality room, border wall prototypes and a replica of a vehicle customs entry. Cristina Caicedo Smit reports.

Sunday, March 17, 2019

A Citizenship Quiz in Honor of St Patrick's Day and Irish-American Heritage Month




A Citizenship Quiz in Honor of St Patrick's Day and Irish-American Heritage Month mp3 / pdf (10Questions)

03. From 1820 to 1860, almost 2 million Irish immigrants came to America to escape "The Great Hunger." What is one reason colonists came to America?

Q4: The "Know-Nothings" (1850s) was a group of native-born Americans which tried to stop Irish immigration.  The "Know-Nothings" thought that the Irish were “alien” and would not support US democracy because of their Catholic religion.  The "Know-Nothings" became too violent and failed. The Irish persevered and overcame discrimination and exploitation.  100 years later, what movement tried to end racial discrimination? 

The fight against xenophobia based on religious belief continues. See the #NoBanNoWall Citizenship Interviews  (Presidents's Week 2017)

Saturday, March 16, 2019

Marriage Fraud



WMBB News 13: Marriage Fraud

A recent marriage fraud case in Florida and Alabama

Review the marriage section of the N-400

Friday, March 15, 2019

US Senate Rejects Trump’s Emergency Order, Veto Expected


The wall at the border of Tijuana, Mexico and San Diego; the crosses represent migrants who have died in crossing attempts.  © Tomas Castelazo, www.tomascastelazo.com / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

VOANews: US Senate Rejects Trump’s Emergency Order, Veto Expected

Twelve Republican senators on Thursday joined Democrats to vote against American President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency. (read more)



Thursday, March 14, 2019

U.S. Citizenship Class 18, Spring 2019, Milpitas Adult School

No, not Learning Chocolate, we will be taking CASAS.org Assessments

Tonight, Citizenship students will take a CASAS test 


Today we give 2 (or possibly 3) CASAS tests to our current Citizenship Students


  • The Citizenship Interview Test (CIT) is a one-on-one oral assessment that simulates the citizenship applicant's English-language interview with a USCIS examiner (This test will be given to students who have been in class for several months).
  • The Government and History for Citizenship tests reveal how much students know about American government and history. (All citizenship students will take this test)

Life and Work Reading Sample Test  (Some citizenship students will take this test)

Use these sample test items to:
  • familiarize students with CASAS items
  • help reduce student test-taking anxiety
These items are samples to familiarize students with CASAS test formats. Since they are not actual tests, they are not predictors of student performance, and are not valid for level placement, assessment, or for reporting standardized scores.
Printable Version
PowerPoint Version



Wednesday, March 13, 2019

The Historic Women’s Suffrage March on Washington



TED-ed: The Historic Women’s Suffrage March on Washington

Explore how the Women’s Suffrage Parade on Washington in 1913 helped women secure the right to vote in the United States through the 19th amendment.

Also see:
  • American Women who Fought for the Right to Vote mp3 / pdf 
  • Women in the Executive Branch LISTEN / READ
  • Women in the Legislative Branch Quiz LISTEN / READ (fixed)
  • Women in the Judicial Branch LISTEN / READ
  • More Citizenship Resources for Women's History Month post
  • The Political Year of the Woman Proves True post

Tuesday, March 12, 2019

U.S. Citizenship Class 17, Spring 2019, Milpitas Adult School



N-400 
  • Mix-and-Match Series C interview (20 questions) for Intermediate Low ESL 3 students.
    • 1 and 2 plus USCIS Quiz: Name 2 or more
  • Future U.S. Citizens  
    • Unit 3 Lesson 2: Yes/No Questions in Present Perfect pg 136-137
Civics (6:30-7:30 choral reading(7:30-7:45 break)
Integration (7:45-8:45)
  • 7:45-8:15 Distribute handouts and read aloud with the students.  Have students take turns reading a page.  Give them time to complete the questions on each page (approx 5 min per page), then continue to the next page.
    • ESL Library: Statue of Liberty (pdf)
  • Quiz.  Review the quiz orally with the class
    • Citizenship Interview Quiz with Antonio Vazquez Gonzalez pdf

    Monday, March 11, 2019

    Vandana Yadav’s Third Practice Citizenship Interview




    uscitzenpod: Vandana Yadav’s Third Practice Citizenship Interview

    Download the pdf of the script and follow along. The closed captions have been updated!

    A “Typical” Citizenship Interview Based on the USCIS N-400r (4 pages)



    Watch Vandana's previous interviews.

    Vandana Yadav’s Second Practice Citizenship Interview



    Vandana Yadav’s First Practice Citizenship Interview

    Thursday, March 7, 2019

    U.S. Citizenship Class 16, Spring 2019, Milpitas Adult School




    N-400
    • 5:45 Show the slide show above.  Ask students read the appropriate question from the "Regular" citizenship interview below.  
    • 6:00 Hand out "Regular interview (see below).  Pick one student and interview them in from of the class.  You can change students at each section
    • 6:15  Pair up students.  A “Regular” Citizenship Interview Based on the USCIS N-400r (6 pgs, 75 questions) (updated 10/01/2016)
    • Note: while students are interviewing each other, circulate through the classroom and correct their pronunciation.  Also take this time to quickly review the LESSON PLANS below.
    Civics:

    • 7:00-7:30 Distribute handouts and read aloud with the students.  Have students take turns reading a page.   Help the student s with pronunciation and defining words.  Give them time to complete the questions on each page (approx 5 min per page), then continue to the next page.


    Benjamin Franklin
    The Establishing Independence lesson plan and handouts for low intermediate and intermediate learners covering civics test items 8, 9, 61, 62, 63, 64, 69, 70, and 99.
    Intermediate Level U.S. Constitution Lesson
    The U.S. Constitution lesson plan and handouts for low intermediate and intermediate learners covering civics test items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 14, 41, 42, 65, 66, 67, and 68.
    Extra: (if you have time)

    7:45-8:15 Distribute handouts and read aloud with the students.  Have students take turns reading a page.  Give them time to complete the questions on each page (approx 5 min per page), then continue to the next page.
    • ESL Library: Statue of Liberty (pdf)

    Integration:

    8:15-8:40  Pass out quiz.  Give students 10 min to complete.  Review the quiz orally with the class
    • Citizenship Interview Quiz with Antonio Vazquez Gonzalez pdf

    Class ends:

    Ask students if they want a one-on-one interview with you.  Use the "Regular" script