Sunday, August 30, 2020

Thousands Become U.S. Citizens in Drive-Thru Naturalization Ceremonies, Easing Backlog

 

Bloomberg: Thousands Become U.S. Citizens in Drive-Thru Naturalization Ceremonies, Easing Backlog

It's long been a joyous and patriotic event when someone takes the oath to become a U.S. citizen, like a high school graduation for new Americans.

Now, it's like a visit to a fast-food restaurant.

Thousands of people have become U.S. citizens in drive-up ceremonies under the social-distancing rules that govern life amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"At first, I was disappointed, because I thought, 'Oh, I'm not going to be able to have the picture in front of the emblem and the flag and all of that.' But then I thought, 'How great is it that they're making this opportunity available that I don't have to wait?' So actually, it was fine," Anita Rosenberger said after affirming the oath of citizenship during a drive-up ceremony in Detroit.

The 60-year-old Rosenberger came to the U.S. from England as a child in 1968.

She was among a few dozen who became new Americans on a recent afternoon inside the parking garage of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services complex in the city.

Cars inched along until arriving in front of a face shield-wearing U.S. District Judge Laurie J. Michelson (MEYE'-kehl-sehn), who recited the oath of citizenship to new citizen candidates situated in their cars, trucks and vans.

"This is a new experience, like we have done it in the building with a group of people. And this is a different feeling. But I'm very happy that they're handling it safely," said Bahar Khan, who witnessed his friend Khadiza Akter Suma of Bangladesh become a citizen.

The drive-up ceremonies are helping to ease a backlog.

But they haven't dampened enthusiasm.

People tell The Associated Press they are thrilled with their new status after already long waits that were prolonged further by the outbreak.

Nomsa Durham said it didn't matter much to her how the ceremony played out.

"I mean, it's fine. I'm okay as long as I got my stuff," said Durham, who came to the U.S. from South Africa. She lives in Pontiac, Michigan, and works as a surgical technologist.

Many more are waiting to become citizens -- and new voters.

"I wanted to become a citizen partly just to get involved in the whole voting process. I've been here a long time. And I thought, 'You know what? I meant to do it for a long time.' And finally, it's like, 'This is the year to do it,'" said Margaret Arnold, originally from Scotland, who affirmed the oath in Detroit.

But they could be held up by a budget crisis that could soon largely shut down USCIS.

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Citizenship Fall Class 4



 VOANews: What Is the US Senate?

N-400

Civics
Integration:
  • Citizenship Interview Quiz: América Griselda Ayes (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) pdf
Extra Credit:
  • VOA Learning English: What Is the US Senate? article

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Happy Women's Equality Day!

USCIS 100:48. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
  • Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote).
  • You don’t have to pay (a poll tax) to vote.
  • Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.)
  • A male citizen of any race (can vote).

Check out more resources from Women's Suffrage and History from US Citizenship Podcast:

PDFs and Podcasts
  • American Women who Fought for the Right to Vote mp3 / pdf 
  • Eight Outstanding Americans by Choice for International Women’s Day! podcast / pdf
  • Four American Women in Honor of Women’s History Month pdf
  • International Women's Day pdf
  • Women and USCIS 100 Questions: Civics pdf
  • Women in the Executive Branch podcast / pdf
  • Women in the Legislative Branch Quiz podcast / pdf (fixed)
  • Women in the Judicial Branch podcast / pdf
Podcasts and Videos
  • 2020 U.S. Citizenship Interview with Patrice Lumumba (Senegal) (video) (podcast)
  • 2020 U.S. Citizenship Interview with Maya Gomes via Guatemala Part 1 (video) (podcast)
  • 2020 U.S. Citizenship Interview with Maya Gomes via Guatemala Part 2 (video) (podcast)
  • 2020 U.S. Citizenship Interview with Yinghong Xu (video) (podcast)
Videos
  • Azucena Guevara’s First Practice U.S. Citizenship Interview (video)
  • Maria Flores’ Practice U.S. Citizenship Interview (video)
  • Martha Arroyo Orozco’s Practice U.S. Citizenship Interview (video)
  • Patrice Lumumba’s Practice U.S. Citizenship Interview (video)
  • Thi Nhung Phan's Practice U.S. Citizenship Interview (video)
  • Thi Nhung Phan's Second Practice U.S. Citizenship Interview video
  • Thuy Thu Pham’s Practice Citizenship Interview (video)
Other Resources

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Citizenship Fall Class 3

 

VOANews: Huong’s Second US Citizenship Interview

Fall Citizenship Zoom Class is Tue and Thu 7:00-8:30 pm PDT
For one-on-one interviews 6:00-7:00--email Teacher Jennifer jgagliar@musd.org

Join Zoom Meeting
ID: 597 738 4168
Password: 226317

Direct Link to the Fall Citizenship Zoom Class 

N-400
  1. n-400r-8     Work and School
Civics
Integration:
  • Claudia Rios Castro: A Quick Interview Based on the N-400r plus 10qs about the Branches of Gov’t Part 1 pdf
Extra Credit:

    Monday, August 24, 2020

    How Has Support Changed Over Time for the Two Main US Political Parties?

     VOANews: How Has Support Changed Over Time for the Two Main US Political Parties? 

    The modern political landscape is now almost a reverse image of the one that existed more than a century ago.

    ————————— 



    POP QUIZ 

     USCIS 100:45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?* 

     USCIS 100:46. What is the political party of the President now?

    Sunday, August 23, 2020

    Drive-Thru Naturalizations Put New Citizens Behind The Wheel

     

    KPBS: Drive-Thru Naturalizations Put New Citizens Behind The Wheel 

     The Coronavirus pandemic put a hold on naturalization ceremonies in San Diego’s Golden Hall — which has been converted into a homeless shelter. But thousands of immigrants safely became citizens today, thanks to a naturalization drive-through. KPBS reporter Max Rivlin-Nadler has the story.

    Friday, August 21, 2020

    Full Roll Call at the 2020 DNC (plus pop quiz!)

    NowThis: Watch Full Roll Call at the 2020 DNC

    POP QUIZ:

    3.  The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?

    11. What is the economic system in the United States?*

    20. Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?*

    23. Name your U.S. Representative.

    24. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

    25. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

    26. We elect a President for how many years?

    27. In what month do we vote for President?*

    42. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states? 

    43. Who is the Governor of your state now?

    44. What is the capital of your state?*

    45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?*

    48. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them

    49. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*

    50. Name one right only for United States citizens.

    54. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*

    55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

    64. There were 13 original states. Name three.

    87. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.

    89. What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?

    90. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?

    91. Name one U.S. territory.

    92. Name one state that borders Canada.

    93. Name one state that borders Mexico.

    94. What is the capital of the United States?*


    Thursday, August 20, 2020

    Citizenship Fall Class 2

     

    VOANews: What is a Nominating Convention?

    Summer Citizenship Zoom Class is Tue and Thu 7:30-8:30 pm PDT
    For one-on-one interviews 6:00-7:30--email Teacher Jennifer jgagliar@musd.org

    Join Zoom Meeting
    ID: 597 738 4168
    Password: 226317

    N-400
    1. n-400r-3     Accommodations
    2. n-400r-4     Contact Info
    3. n-400r-5     Residence
    Civics
    Integration
    Extra Credit:

    Wednesday, August 19, 2020

    US Democratic Party History

     VOANews: US Democratic Party History 

    The Democratic Party is known for favoring a larger federal government as well as progressive social policies. However, this was not always the case. What does the U.S. Democratic Party stand for today? VOA has the answers.

    Tuesday, August 18, 2020

    Citizenship Fall Class 1



    Summer Citizenship Zoom Class is Tue and Thu 7:30-8:30 pm PDT
    For one-on-one interviews 6:00-7:30--email Teacher Jennifer jgagliar@musd.org
    Join Zoom Meeting
    ID: 597 738 4168
    Password: 226317

    N-400
    1. n-400r-1     Eligibility
    2. n-400r-2     Info About You
    Civics
    Integration

    Monday, August 17, 2020

    Resources about Voting and the 2020 Election for AdultEdu, ESL, and Citizenship Students


    American English at State

    Colorín Colorado
    1. Check the data
    2. Know your risk
    3. Mail it in
    4. Dropping off your mail-in ballot
    5. Voting in person
    ESL Discussions
    • Voting (20 discussion questions)
    ESL Fast
    ESL Library
    ESL Podcast: Government + Law
    • Excellent resource for Advanced students.  Requires subscription.
      • ESL Podcast 1230 – Expressing Disapproval of Elected Officials
      • ESL Podcast 733--Voting in an Election
      • ESL Podcast 825--Political Advertising
    iCivics.org: Election Headquarters
    • Although these games are geared towards K-12 civics students, these games are great practice for higher-level ESL Citizenship students, especially WIN THE WHITE HOUSE. 

    ISL Collective:

    I Side With
    • I Side With Presidential Quiz 

    JenniferESL

    Kahoot.it: Voting 

    Khan Academy: Electoral College

    Learning Chocolate
    Newslea
    • Election 2020 SectionAlthough these stories are geared towards K-12 civics students, they can be adapted for higher-level ESL Citizenship students.  Requires Subscription!
    OTAN: 
    • Resources for Election 2020
      • Kristi Reyes and OTAN.us posted a great directory of #2020Election activities for advanced ELL and ABE Adult Edu students post
    Story Corps:
    TED-ED
    this i believe
    • Democracy (many essays with audio about voting)
    US Citizenship Podcast
    USCIS
    Voice of America
    Vote Smart
    More Easy Election Resources Resources 

    Sunday, August 16, 2020

    Drive-thru citizenship

     CBS Sunday Morning: Drive-thru citizenship 

    In America, you can get almost anything in a drive-thru. And this year, because of the pandemic, immigrants who have completed all the requirements of citizenship are pulling into parking lots from San Diego to Des Moines to Detroit for socially-distant naturalization ceremonies. Steve Hartman visits with some newly-minted U.S. citizens in Albany, N.Y. where the oath was taken behind the wheel.

    Saturday, August 15, 2020

    Who Keeps Washington Looking So Iconic?

     VOANews: Who Keeps Washington Looking So Iconic? 

     A commission made up of experts in the arts has a say about almost every public building, monument and space in America’s capital city

    Friday, August 14, 2020

    How are Vice Presidential Candidates Vetted?

     VOANews: Explainer: How are Vice Presidential Candidates Vetted?  ️

    Presidential nominees formally vet their prospective vice-presidential candidates to learn as much as possible about them, including potentially damaging information.

    Thursday, August 13, 2020

    Summer Citizenship Zoom Class 14

     


    Summer Citizenship Zoom Class is Tue and Thu 7:00-8:00 pm PDT
    Join Zoom Meeting
    ID: 597 738 4168
    Password: 226317

    Direct Link to the Summer Citizenship Zoom Class 

    Screenshots from the Summer Citizenship Zoom Class:

    N-400
    Civics
    Integration:
    • Citizenship Interview Quiz: Héctor Sánchez (Maracay, Venezuela) pdf

      Wednesday, August 12, 2020

      Biden Picks Senator Kamala Harris as His Running Mate

       
       

      Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has chosen California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate, making her the first Black woman and the first person of Indian descent to be nominated for a major party’s ticket.

      Tuesday, August 11, 2020

      Summer Citizenship Zoom Class 13

       


      Summer Citizenship Zoom Class is Tue and Thu 7:00-8:00 pm PDT
      Join Zoom Meeting
      ID: 597 738 4168
      Password: 226317

      Direct Link to the Summer Citizenship Zoom Class 

      Screenshots from the Summer Citizenship Zoom Class:

      N-400
      Civics
      Integration:
      • Interview with Krestos Negasi (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) on MLK Day mp3 and pdf

      Monday, August 10, 2020

      Who Will Win in 2020?



      Ignoring polls, two experts offer different projections on who will be the next U.S. president based on their models

      Sunday, August 9, 2020

      New U.S. Citizen, Thien Thi Kim Phan

       


      Thien takes the Oath of Allegiance in the USCIS San Jose parking lot. Two other Milpitas Adult School students also became U.S. citizens: Thuan Vo and Fernando. You can watch their interviews below Thuan nói về cuộc phỏng vấn thi công dân Hoa Kỳ của cô https://youtu.be/nH-KpzuJxF8 U.S. Citizenship Practice Interview with Thien Thi Kim Phan https://youtu.be/pyJcCpXOZlg USCIS 100 Remix Sevens Round 2 https://youtu.be/FEwNm-ySp24 Alfredo Interviews Jennifer Campos https://youtu.be/mGFSQUc_oRY Tasleem's Practice Interview https://youtu.be/oe9m5oZoMzw

      Saturday, August 8, 2020

      U.S. Citizenship Prep Activities 1: Part 12 Vocabulary Bingo

       


      This week, Dr. Hernandez and I start a new video series about activities for the online or in-person Citizenship classes. This week we Part 12 Vocabulary Bingo made via https://bingobaker.com/. Let's get started!