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.

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)

Marriage Fraud

WMBB News 13: Marriage Fraud

A recent marriage fraud case in Florida and Alabama

Review the marriage section of the N-400

• n-400r-10    Marital History

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)

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

• Level A get adobe reader
• Level B get adobe reader
• Level C get adobe reader
• Level D get adobe reader

PowerPoint Version

• Level A
• Level B
• Level C
• Level D - Coming Soon!

• Come to class and take the test!
• The teacher will check if you can take a CIT test
• When you are done, watch Preparing the Oath americanhistory.si.edu/citizenship/

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

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)

• Future U.S. Citizens 
• Unit 2 Lesson 1:  1800s A Growing Nation 23-27
• si.edu: A Growing Nation

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

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)

• pdf http://goo.gl/9Z97UK
• ppt https://goo.gl/2hwOsc
• vocab pdf: https://goo.gl/AMNMqy

Watch Vandana's previous interviews.

Vandana Yadav’s Second Practice Citizenship Interview

• https://youtu.be/b2GPNzutpWQ

Vandana Yadav’s First Practice Citizenship Interview

• https://youtu.be/qktj9vmmRnc

New U.S. Citizens Take Oath At Naturalization Ceremony

CBS Denver: New U.S. Citizens Take Oath At Naturalization Ceremony

The group finalized their citizenship the day after Independence Day.

Citizenship 101: Tips for New Teachers at EL Civics, Fresno

March 8, 2019 EL Civics Conference, Fresno, CA

• Tech Up Your Citizenship Class, Jennifer Gagliardi - OTAN
• Google slides
• Notes pdf

More resources from Jennifer Gagliardi

• Mezclar y Combinar Entrevistas y Exámencitos de Ciudadanía (2018)
• Citizenship Resources for Women's History Month
• Citizenship Resources for Presidents Day (2018) (includes the #NoBanNoWall Interviews)
• Citizenship Resources for Hispanic Heritage Month 2018 (includes 7 #HHM Quizzes) 
• Mix-and-Match U.S. Citizenship Interviews and Quizzes (2017)
• N-400 Section Practice Interviews Based on the USCIS Application for Naturalization (2016)

Tech Up Your Citizenship Class, EL Civics, Fresno

March 8, 2019 EL Civics Conference, Fresno, CA

• Tech Up Your Citizenship Class, Jennifer Gagliardi - OTAN
• Google slides
• Notes pdf

More resources from Jennifer Gagliardi

• Mezclar y Combinar Entrevistas y Exámencitos de Ciudadanía (2018)
• Citizenship Resources for Women's History Month
• Citizenship Resources for Presidents Day (2018) (includes the #NoBanNoWall Interviews)
• Citizenship Resources for Hispanic Heritage Month 2018 (includes 7 #HHM Quizzes) 
• Mix-and-Match U.S. Citizenship Interviews and Quizzes (2017)
• N-400 Section Practice Interviews Based on the USCIS Application for Naturalization (2016)

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)
• pdf: http://goo.gl/Q5BhXk
• 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.

Establishing Independence - Intermediate Level

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.

Download lesson plan (PDF, 2.41 MB)

Download handouts (PDF, 1.57 MB)

Download answer key (PDF, 46 KB)

U.S. Constitution - Intermediate Level

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.

Download lesson plan (PDF, 963 KB)

Download handouts (PDF, 169 KB)

Download answer key (PDF, 93 KB)

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

Democrats Set the Stage for Immigration Fight

U.S. Citizenship Class 15, Spring 2019, Milpitas Adult School

Pair Practice with Mix-and-Match Citizenship Interviews

N-400 (5:45-6:30 pair practice) (Handout Set 1)

• Mix-and-Match Series B interview (15 questions) for Beginning High ESL 2 students.
• Practice 5
• Coin Quiz
• Future U.S. Citizens  
• Unit 1 Lesson 2: Tag Questions pg 134-135

Civics (6:30-7:30 choral reading) (7:30-7:45 break)

• Future U.S. Citizens (Handout Set 2)
• Unit 1 Lesson 5:  George Washington and Benjamin Franklin 19-22
• si.edu: Independence

Integration (7:45-8:45)

• The Founders Quiz
• Citizenship Interview Quiz for Presidents’ Week 2017: Hushang Ansary (Afvaz, Iran)
• pdf: https://goo.gl/jR2y9y

Tech Up Your Citizenship Class at TDLS19

Tech Up Your Citizenship Class at TDLS19

• google slides

Tech Tools for Civic Engagement at TDLS19

Tech Tools for Civic Engagement at TDLS19

• google slides

Teaching with YouTube: Build Playlists to Deliver Curated Content at TDLS19

Teaching with YouTube: Build Playlists to Deliver Curated Content at TDLS19

• google slides

For more info, see:

Google YouTube Help

https://support.google.com/youtube/#topic=9257498

Google YouTube Help: Create & manage playlists

https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/57792?hl=en

You Tube Creators Academy (free online courses)

https://creatoracademy.youtube.com/page/home

You Tube Creators Academy: Building an educational channel on YouTube (free online course)

https://creatoracademy.youtube.com/page/course/educational-channel?hl=en

YouTube Creators Channel (videos only)

https://www.youtube.com/user/creatoracademy

YouTube Creators Channel: Building an educational channel on YouTube playlist 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpjK416fmKwQJoYvccfbsv7oV3p07C646

243 TO GO at TDLS19

243 TO GO! USING MOBILE APPS TO SUPPORT THE TRANSITION FROM CASAS COAPPS 231 TO 243 INSTRUCTION

• google slides

Citizenship Resources for Women's History Month

Happy Women's History Month! 

During the month of March, US Citizenship Podcast will explore the connection between the USCIS N-400, the 100 Civics questions, and the history of American Women. Check back for updates!

Women's History Month Resources from uscitizenpod

• 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence audiogram
• 2018 Lunar New Year Citizenship Interview mp3 / video
• American Women who Fought for the Right to Vote mp3 / pdf 
• Basic Citizenship Interview 2016 with Lan Thi Dang mp3
• Bill of Rights and the N-400 Part 12 plus Civics Questions mp3 and pdf
• Casual Citizenship Interview with Mrs Chen (Kaohsiung, Taiwan) mp3
• Casual Citizenship Interview with Vanita mp3 / video
• Citizenship Interview with Carol Lin (Taipei, Taiwan) (Presidents' Day 2017) mp3
• Citizenship Interview with Senior Citizen Gabriela DeLeon (Philippines) mp3
• Citizenship Question in Honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month audiogram
• DACA, DAPA, and Citizenship: an Interview with Kayla Ladd (rescue.org) mp3
• Deborah Parker (Tulalip) and the Violence Against Women Act (2013) audiogram
• Eight for March 8th: a Quick Citizenship Quiz for International Women's Day LISTEN / READ
• NEW: Eight Outstanding Americans by Choice for International Women’s Day! (2018) 
• pdf  
• mp3  
• video 
• Election Eve 2016 Interview with #newUScitizen and #newUSvoter Thu Thi Nguyen mp3
• Everyday Citizenship Interview with Munni Thakkar (Mubai, India) mp3
• Happy International Women's Day (Beginning ESL) pdf
• Independence Day Citizenship Interview with Lien Ho  mp3 / video
• Linda Chen's Second Citizenship Interview mp3 / video
• Lisha Gong's Citizenship Interview LISTEN 
• Mei-Lin Chen's Quick Interview Based on the N-400r for Lunar New Year mp3 and pdf
• Mix and Match U.S. Citizenship Interview Level B Practice 3 video
• Mix and Match U.S. Citizenship Interview Level C Practice 2 Plus Geography Quiz video
• Mix and Match U S Citizenship Interview Level D Practice 5 video
• Quick Citizenship Interview with Bhavna (India) mp3 / video
• Quick Interview Based on the N-400r plus 10qs about Voting and Elections (Yésica Sánchez, Oaxaca, Mexico) mp3 and pdf
• Regular Citizenship Interview (plus N-400 Part 12 Vocabulary Questions) mp3 / video
• Su Lan Li's Citizenship Interview LISTEN
• Thanksgiving Citizenship Interview 2017 mp3 / video
• USCIS N-400r Part 12 Questions and Explanations with Maria (Mexico) mp3
• USCIS N-400r Part 12 Overview Quiz Number 2 Podcast with Bhavna (India) mp3
• US Citizenship Bootcamp Episode 1 of 5: Introduction mp3 / video
• US Citizenship Bootcamp Episode 2 of 5: Vocabulary mp3 / video
• US Citizenship Bootcamp Episode 3 of 5: She Built Ships in World War II mp3 / video
• US Citizenship Bootcamp Episode 4 of 5: Mini-Dialogues about Work mp3 / video
• US Citizenship Bootcamp 5 of 5: The Interview mp3 / video
• What is a U Visa? mp3 / video
• Women in the Executive Branch LISTEN / READ
• Women in the Legislative Branch Quiz LISTEN / READ (fixed)
• Women in the Judicial Branch LISTEN / READ
• Women's History Month Podcast Series
• USCIS 96:90 Eleanor Roosevelt and the United Nations mp3
• USCIS 100:09 Women's Rights ARE Human Rights! mp3
• USCIS 100:77 National Women's History Month and Susan B. Anthony mp3
• USCIS 100:21 US Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm and Minimum Wage mp3
• USCIS 100:22 US Congresswoman Patsy Matsu Takemoto Mink and Title IX mp3
• USCIS 100:23 US Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin and Finding Your US Rep with ZIP+4 mp3
• USCIS 100:36 Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Passports mp3

Other Resources:

• ACLU: Major Supreme Court Decisions On Women's Rights 
• pdf / 
• interactive timeline
• AmericanEnglish.state.gov: Women's History Month pdf
• CivicEd: Women in Constitutional History page
• DOD.gov: Celebrating Women's History Month video
• ELCivics: National Women's History Month
• Google Arts and Culture: New Beginnings: Immigrant Women and The American Experience
• Helene Lerner: Women's History Month video
• NPS.gov: Woman's Suffrage History Timeline
• nwhm.org: New Beginnings: Immigrant Women and the American Experience 
• SI.edu Postal Museum: Women in the Postal Service and Philately great online exhibitions!
• State.gov: Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award
• UN: Interactive Women's Timeline
• USCourts: Women's History Month
• USPS: Women on Stamps pdf
• VOANews: The 2017 Women of Courage Awards
• VOANews: US First Lady Presents International Women of Courage Award 2017 (2 min)
• VOANews: First Lady Honors Women, Girls in Rare Public Appearance (3 min)
• VOANews: 14 Women Honored With Courage Award 2016
• VOANews: UN Agency Focuses on Promoting Women’s Global Agenda 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
• WH.gov: Presidential Proclamation -- Women's History Month, 2016 
• WH.gov: Women's History Month at the White House video
• WomensHistoryMonth.gov: March is Women's History Month

Family Fun!

• Dream Big: More than a Princess Coloring Book
• Education: Women's History Month Worksheets and Printables (4 pages)
• SheKnows: The Notorious RBG (Ruth Bader Ginsburg) Coloring Book