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."
Cesar Chavez Day resources from California Department of Education
"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.
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.
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.
The special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, has conducted an extensive investigation into Russian efforts to sway the outcome of the 2016 presidential race. Here is the story of how it all started.
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.
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)
ShareAmerica: Nowruz in the United States: Rising with the spring sun (article, video)
Every year, Americans with roots in Eurasian countries organize public festivals featuring music, dancing, and food to mark the Nowruz holidays. In cities from New York to Los Angeles, Chicago to Houston, Americans introduce and inspire others unfamiliar with Nowruz and its celebrations.
ShareAmerica: First Lady Michelle Obama Nowruz Address (2015) (article, video)
“I think it’s so fitting that we’re holding this celebration here today, because one of my favorite things about the White House is how it is truly the People’s House — a house that reflects the diversity of culture and traditions that make us who we are as a country,” the First Lady said. “And Nowruz is one of those traditions.” SJ Mercury News: Saratoga: Iranian-American community celebrates Persian New Year amid political anxieties (article)
Persian New Year or "Nowruz," typically a time of celebration for the Iranian-American community, undoubtedly will be tempered this year by the climate of fear and anxiety created by the Trump administration's travel ban.
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.
The Obama White House: President Obama’s Nowruz Message to the Iranian People (video)
President Obama sends best wishes to everyone celebrating Nowruz, March 20. 2016.
White House: Statement by President Donald J. Trump on Nowruz 2018 (article)
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: Iranian Americans Confused and Angered Over Trump Travel Ban (video)
President Donald Trump’s revised executive order banning entry to the U.S. from six Muslim majority countries is due to take effect on March 16. Among the six countries is Iran. Even the threat of the revised order is causing major disruptions, not only there, but in Los Angeles, home to the largest group of Iranians living outside of Iran. VOA’s Elizabeth Lee reports from the neighborhood called Persian Square. Originally published at - http://www.voanews.com/a/3766574.html
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. VOA Learning Engish: 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 Engish: 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)
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.
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.
A Citizenship Quiz in Honor of St Patrick's Day and Irish-American Heritage Monthmp3 / 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?
Twelve Republican senators on Thursday joined Democrats to vote against American President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency. (read more)
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.
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
7:45-8:15Distribute 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.
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.
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.
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.
NEW (Jan 2019) New Readers Press: Field of Vision - Novel 
