Citizenship Now, 3rd Edition with DVD and CD

Wow! Look what DHL delivered today:

Citizenship Now, 3rd edition with DVD, CD, and a Teacher's Manual!

I am thrilled to announce the publication of the third edition of Citizenship Now. This edition has not only been updated for the new 100 questions, it also includes a DVD of practice interviews and audio CD of the 100 questions is included with each student edition.

Also available, a Teacher's Manual with lesson plans, handouts, and activities that addresses multiple leaning modalities and fluency levels.

Citizenship Now: A Guide to Naturalization - Student Book with Pass the Interview DVD and Audio CD by Karen Hilgeman, Winifred Ho Roderman, Kristin D. Sherman, Jennifer Wilson Cooper, ISBN 0077202651 / 9780077202651

Citizenship Now: A Guide to Naturalization - Teacher's Edition by Kristin Sherman, ISBN 0077194624 / 9780077194628

Why am I so happy with Citizenship Now? McGraw-Hill gathered a "team of experts"--citizen-students and classroom teachers (me included)--to help improve their textbook. McGraw-Hill listened to us and actually incorporated many of our suggestions.

Thanks to the writers and "experts"--we constantly learned new things about this "old material."

Special thanks to the citizen-students for sharing their poweful stories that inspire their fellow students as well as their teachers.

Kudos to McGraw-Hill, especially Mary P. Sutton the editor, for delivering a fine, fine product: Citizenship Now is a "textbook example" of WE THE PEOPLE.

Shaping the Man: Anh 'Joseph' Quang Cao

A majority of the US Citizenship students

at Milpitas Adult School are from Viet Nam

and are very, very, very proud of their brother

Congressman-elect, Joseph Cao!

Shaping the Man Washington Post
The story of Anh 'Joseph' Quang Cao, the newly elected Republican congressman for Louisiana's second district, is the definition of the American dream Slide Show

Li JiaYan's Essay

The American Red Cross

If the law requires it are you willing to do work of national importance under civilian direction?

One of the last questions of the N-400 section of the USCIS Naturalization Interview asks if the new citizen will help during an emergency. The American Red Cross (and the Red Crescent), provide direct relief to victims of disaster.

American Red Cross disaster preparedness materials that are available in a variety languages to support the needs of the culturally diverse communities it serves. Available material and languages are shown below, along with related materials from other agencies.

• Arabic
• Cambodian
• Chinese
• English
• Farsi
• French
• Hmong
• Japanese
• Korean
• Laotian
• Russian
• Spanish
• Tagalog
• Vietnamese

Please consider making a tax deductible donation to the American Red Cross to support all their good works.

NYTimes: Leaning on Jail, City of Immigrants Fills Cells With Its Own

A woman and her son prepare to visit her husband, an immigration detainee

at the Detention Facility in Central Falls, R.I. More photos.

Leaning on Jail, City of Immigrants Fills Cells With Its Own By NINA BERNSTEIN, NYTimes
In Central Falls, R.I., a mostly Latino city, few realized that a jail held hundreds of people caught in the nation’s crackdown on illegal immigration. Photos

A Growing Detention Network
People picked up on suspicion of immigration violations are held in a patchwork of detention centers. Most of the largest are privately run. Interactive Map

An Immigrant Jail in an Immigrant Town
As a detention center tries to cash in, a community lives in fear. Video

NYTimes Topics: Immigration Detention In-Custody Deaths

SJ Mercury News: Soldier's visit home is best gift of all

Soldier's visit home is best gift of all
Serviceman comes home from Iraq and surprises his San Jose family at their Christmas Eve gathering. "People ask me what I want for Christmas and I tell them, 'I'm home. That's good enough for me,' " he says.

Christmas Day, 1776

Click the picture to make the image larger.

A Brief History of Washington’s Crossing of the Delaware River, Christmas Night 1776

George Washington led his army across the icy Delaware River and surprise attacked the Hessians at Trenton, New Jersey on Christmas Day, 1776. The Continental Army had little to celebrate that Christmas and seemed beaten by hunger and cold until their victory over the Hessians and English armies. This battle was followed by the Second Battle of Trenton on January 2, 1777, and the Battle of Princeton a day later. The victories bolstered sagging morale, changing the course of the American Revolution.

A Christmas Card from the President!!!

Mr Wu is in my Senior ESL class and worked as a tri-lingual poll worker during the recent general election. He was thrilled to receive a Christmas Card from President George W. Bush and the First Lady Laura Bush.

Look Carefully: What monument is on the front of this year's Presidential Christmas Card?

USPS Holiday Stamps

USPS stamps reflect the religious and cultural diversity of the United States of America. Here are the 2008 USPS Holiday Stamps.



Eid al-Adha (2008), the Muslim Festival of Sacrifice, is on Monday, the 8th of December.

Chanukah (2008), the Jewish Festival of Lights, will start on Monday, the 22nd of December and will continue for 8 days until Monday, the 29th of December.



Christmas is celebrated on December 25 by Roman Catholics, Protestants, and many non-Christians. Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 6.

This season's secular stamps are the tin soldiers from the holiday ballet, The Nutcracker.












Kwanza is celebrated between December 26 and January 1 in US African-American communities.

Lunar New Year (2009) will start on January 26 and will continue for 15 days, ending with the Lantern Festival. Asian communities all over the world will be celebrating the Year of the Ox.

For a good, quick reference for holiday dates, visit When-Is, which also includes What Is? a simple description of each holiday.

Capitol Menorah Lighting Ceremony

Gov. Schwarzenegger Celebrates Chanukah Season at Capitol Menorah Lighting Ceremony
Gov Schwarzenegger & local leaders of the Jewish community joined Chabad of California to celebrate Chanukah at the 15th annual Capitol Menorah Lighting Ceremony. This year’s celebration honored Project PRIDE, the Chabad-sponsored anti-drug program & also dedicated to the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India.
Speech Photos Video

VOAVideo: New York City in the Holiday Season

Former citizenship coordinator in San Jose charged with theft and impersonating a lawyer

Former citizenship coordinator in San Jose charged with theft and impersonating a lawyer
By Tracey Kaplan, Mercury News Article Launched: 12/18/2008 05:54:05 PM PST

(exerpt from the article)
"A former employee of a San Jose nonprofit has been charged with stealing from Spanish-speaking clients whom he was supposed to assist in filling out citizenship and immigration documents.

Jose Mario Campos, 66, of San Jose, also faces charges that he told some clients who came to Sacred Heart Community Service that he was a lawyer, embellishing on his actual position as a part-time citizenship coordinator. Sacred Heart, an interfaith agency, fired Campos in September after three years at the agency. . .

Those who think they have been victims in this matter should call Gary Medlin at the district attorney's office at (408) 792-2917."

**If you EVER have questions or concerns about the legal services that you have received, contact your local District Attorney.

VOANews: Coming to Town for the Inaugural? Add These Sights to See

Coming to Town for the Inaugural? Add These Sights to See
A visit to Congress' new, $600 million Capitol Visitor Center and the Smithsonian's renewed National Museum of American History.
MP3Download (MP3)
MP3Listen to (MP3)

American Wonder...

The Statue of Liberty, the Lincoln Memorial, and Midnight Lightning at Yosemite. Three amazing subjects seen best in rich three-dimensional spaces, stitched together to create a 360 degree view!

National Geographic is partnering with Nikon to present American Wonder...three iconic locations at your fingertips with Microsoft's Photosynth application.

VOANews: Oh, Say, You Can See the Star-Spangled Banner Again in Washington

VOANews: Oh, Say, You Can See the Star-Spangled Banner Again in Washington

The famous flag on which the national anthem is based gets a new display. More news...

MP3 - Download (MP3)

MP3 - Listen to (MP3)

VOANews: Presidential Electors Confirm Obama as Next President

WikiCommons 2008 US Electoral College Map

VOANews: Presidential Electors Confirm Obama as Next President By Jim Malone Washington15 December 2008
Presidential electors met in state capitals around the United States on Monday to confirm last month's presidential election results that will make Barack Obama the 44th U.S. president on January 20.
Malone report - Download (MP3)

Malone report - Listen (MP3)

Bill of Rights Day

• Bill of Rights Overview
• The First Amendment
• The Second Amendment and Third Amendments
• The Fourth Amendment
• The Fifth Amendment
• The Sixth & Seventh Amendments
• The Eighth Amendment
• The Ninth & Tenth Amendments
• 96:34-35 Handout
• 96:34-35 MP3
• LOC: The Bill of Rights

A Red, White, and Blue Christmas at the White House

California Congressman Mike Honda selected artist Isako Wasano to decorate the 15th District's (San Jose/Milpitas) ornament for the 2008 White House Christmas Tree. White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian

Each US Congressional District contributed a specially-designed ornament to the White House's Red, White, and Blue Christmas Tree. Click here, to see the ornament from your congressional district.

ESL Podcast 226 – Holiday Decorating
We buy a Christmas tree and the kids decorate it with ornaments that we’ve bought and made over the years, and with silver and gold tinsel. ...Download Podcast

Erika's Essay

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Virgen de Tepeyac, Patroness of the Americas, Mother Without Borders

NYTimes: Waiting for Asylum

America represents liberty and wealth --the one place where everybody can go and feel at home... Njoya Hilary Tikum, Cameroon

Waiting for Asylum: Thousands request political asylum each year. For Njoya, the process meant 2 long years of waiting. Video

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

For more info, visit Human Rights Action Center or

Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Simple English Wikipedia ...

VOANews: New Visitor Center Opens at US Capitol

1st Vietnamese-American elected to US Congress

Anh 'Joseph' Cao (R) was born in Saigon, VN and came to the US when he was 8 years old.

Cao defeated Rep. Jefferson, for the 2nd District in Louisiana. Cao is the 1st Vietnamese-American elected to the US Congress!

Chúc mừng Congressman-elect Cao!

For more info, visit:

Joseph Cao for Congress

VOANews: Strike Up the Band

The U.S. Army's Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps is one of the most visible military units in the world. Sporting their revolutionary war inspired uniforms and playing adaptations of traditional military signal instruments, the Old Guard has performed for millions of people around the world. VOA's Liu Enming has more on this busy group that performs nearly 500 performances every year.

AP: Test for Vietnam government: free-speech bloggers

Test for Vietnam government: free-speech bloggers
By BEN STOCKING Associated Press Writer
Posted: 12/06/2008 11:45:06 AM PST

"We fought two wars to free ourselves from the shackles of imperialism and colonialism, all in the hope of having basic human rights," wrote Vo Thi Hao, a novelist and painter, on her self-titled blog. "Even the French colonial government allowed private media, opposition parties and free expression."

ESLPod Blog's US Geography Lesson

New Citizen: Varinder Singh!

Kudos to ESLPod (and Wikipedia) for another excellent post applicable to the USCIS 100.

ESLPod Blog: Where exactly is the United States of America?
On Cafe #163, I said that the area known as the Florida Keys (which includes the city of Key West) was the “southernmost” point in the United States (that is, the place that is farthest to the south). Wolfgang, a listener from Germany, pointed out to me that this is not completely correct. The Florida Keys are southernmost in the continental United States...

Wikipedia: Extreme points of the United States
This is a list of the extreme points of the United States, the points that are farther north, south, east, or west than any other location in the country. Also included are extreme points in elevation.

New Citizen: Huong Ho!

Capitol Visitor Center opens

VOANews: Nicknames: America's 50 States

USCIS 100:89-95 asks questions about geography. Student can practice their geography and listening skills while learning fun facts about different states:

Nicknames: America's 50 States (First of Four Parts) Alabama is known as the Heart of Dixie. Alaska is called the Last Frontier. More states...

• MP3 - Download Audio - Download (MP3)


• MP3 - Download Audio - Listen to (MP3)

Nicknames: America's 50 States (Second of Four Parts) Kentucky is the Bluegrass State and Louisiana is the Bayou State. More states...

• MP3 - Download Audio - Download (MP3)


• MP3 - Download Audio - Listen to (MP3)

Nicknames: America's 50 States (Third of Four Parts) The mid-Atlantic state of Maryland is called the Free State. The western desert state of Nevada is called the Silver State. More states...

• MP3 - Download Audio - Download (MP3)


• MP3 - Download Audio - Listen to (MP3)

Nicknames: America's 50 States (Fourth of Four Parts) Ohio in the midwest is called The Buckeye States. Rhode Island's nickname is Little Rhody. More States...

• Words and Their Stories Audio - Download (MP3)


• Words and Their Stories Audio - Listen to (MP3)


• Words and Their Stories Audio - Download

WLWT: Is New U.S. Citizenship Test Too Hard?

Is New U.S. Citizenship Test Too Hard?

WLWT Cincinatti News 5 conducted a very informal, unscientific sampling of people on the street to see if they could answer all of the questions on the new test correctly. No one did

Video: How Would You Do On U.S. Citizenship Test?

SaberHacer.com Videos in English and Español

SaberHacer.com has produced seven beautiful and informative short videos about the citizehship process. Watch the Scam video above and check out the other videos in English and Spanish below. Brava SaberHacer!

What You Need to Know About Voting
Lo que necesitas saber sobre el voto

Citizenship & Immigration Scams
Fraudes en Ciudadanía e Inmigración

United States Citizenship Process
Pasos para obtener la ciudadanía

What you need to know Benefits of Citizenship
Beneficios de la Ciudadanía

Citizenship classes
Clases de Ciudadanía

Citizenship Interview and Ceremony
Entrevista y ceremonia de juramento

Citizenship- Common Mistakes
Ciudadanía-Errores comunes

SaberHacer on YouTube

Land of Liberty

Land of Liberty is a new text book that prepares low-level ESL students for their Citizenship interview.

Land of Liberty can be customized to include your own Governor, Senators, & Representatives! No additional charge! Click here to find out how!

SFPL: United States Citizenship Resources

San Francisco Public Library has produced short videos about US Citizenship Resources featuring multilingual guides, exam practice questions and community resources for the new US Citizenship Exam.

English

Spanish ⁄ Español
Cantonese ⁄ 粤語
Mandarin ⁄ 國語
Russian ⁄ РУССКИЙ

VOANews: Economy May Be Weak, but Thanksgiving Traditions Hold Strong

Phuc reads his Thanksgiving Essay

Economy May Be Weak, but Thanksgiving Traditions Hold Strong
Also: A question from India about American Indians. And music from the new album by James Taylor. Transcript of radio broadcast: 20 November 2008
MP3 - Download (MP3)
MP3 - Listen to (MP3)

US Citizenpod Thanksgiving Resources

Mai Anh reads her Thanksgiving Essay

• 96:50 and 53 Class Handout
• 96:68-70 Class Handout
• Thankfulness Cloze Essay
• Thanksgiving mp3
• Thanksgiving Quiz
• Thanksgiving Quiz Answers

This I Believe: Sharing Food with Family

This I Believe is an international project engaging people in writing, sharing, and discussing the core values that guide their daily lives. Here are the Thanksgiving stories for 2008.

Special Feature: Sharing Food with Family
Thanksgiving marks the start of the holiday season, with the attendant gatherings of family over food and drink. Regardless of the context, sitting down to share a meal can affirm our connections, our roots and our traditions. Click the links below to partake of these beliefs about food and family.

Rice for Thanksgiving
Doing Things the Slow Way
Remembering the Past at Waffle House
A Home-Cooked Tradition
Finding Acceptance in Macaroni and Cheese

This I Believe: Thanksgiving

This I Believe is a national media project engaging people in writing, sharing, and discussing the core values and beliefs that guide their daily lives. NPR airs these three-minute essays on All Things Considered, Tell Me More and Weekend Edition Sunday.

Thanksgiving marks the start of the holiday season, with gatherings of families and friends, and the sharing of food and drink. During the festivities of the coming weeks, we hope you take time to reflect on the beliefs that guide your life, just like these essayists have done.

Family Blessings, by Meghan Guinnee
Joy Beyond Measure, by Linda Balestracci
Hope Dished Out in Plenty, by David Cowen
You Can Go Home Again, by Victoria Higle
Baking by Senses and Memories, by Emily Smith
Click here to read previous Special Features

VTC247: The Pilgrims and Columbus

VTC24's Videos on YouTube
VTC24's main website--including N-400 and Civics info!)

ESLPod.com Update

My students constantly ask me for more listening exercises. In my opnions, ESLPod.com is one of most valuable ESL sites on the internet.

You can download the mp3s or subscribe to ESLPod's podcasts for free. Here are some recent examples of ESLPod's features:

ESLPod's Blog: Secret Service Handles
The president of the United States has his own special security protection, special police officers who are responsible primarily for protecting the president and the vice president from any danger.

ESLPod's Podcast: ESL Podcast 427 – Planning a Protest
Planning a political protest can be a lot of work. Learn more about it in this episode. Download Podcast

ESLPod's "Variety Show" English Café 164
Topics: Naming Rights; Famous Americans: Cesar Chavez; Why Americans have middle names; future perfect tense; American versus U.S. as an adjective. Download Podcast

ESLPod's Premium Course: Interview Questions Answered This course is for anyone who wants to learn business English and how to communicate better with American business people. Course Price: $24.99. Listen to a free audio sample

Since Thanksgiving is next week, let me suggest one of their most popular podcast:

ESLPodcast 91 - Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving reminds us to be grateful, but for a lot of people, the holiday also means a weekend of eating a lot and watching football...Download Podcast

**Check out USCitizenPod's 06/29/08 post which links ESLPod shows with the different sections of the N-400.

The Smithsonian National Museum of American History Reopens Nov. 21!

Come Celebrate with Us! Reopening Festival Nov. 21-23 The Museum will officially reopen to the public after a two-year renovation with a ribbon-cutting ceremony (Friday, Nov. 21, 8:30-10 a.m.).

• Add your photos to our Flickr group and see some of our favorite images
• Follow us on Twitter for live coverage of the reopening events
• Become a fan on Facebook and tell us how we're doing
• Watch our YouTube channel for sneek peeks of new exhibitions and more

NYTimes: America’s Attic, Ready for a Second Act:
When the National Museum of American History reopens, it may begin to shed its reputation as one of the more cramped and confounding corners of the Smithsonian Institution.

• Slide Show: A Museum With a New Look
  

Freedom of Assembly

Sign spotted on the 680N 10th St Exit.

Most people who pass by are on their way to SJSU.

ESL Podcast 427 – Planning a Protest Planning a political protest can be a lot of work. Learn more about it in this episode. Download Podcast

New Citizen: Xu Shang Xia

Yang Baoyu and Xu Shang Xia

Xu Shang Xia was born in Canton, China in 1930. He became a psychology professor and taught in universities in Beijing and Guangzhou. He suffered terribly during the Cultural Revolution, but refused to compromise his intellectual freedom.

Professor Xu and his wife, Yang Baoyu, immigrated to California to help take care of their grandchildren. He and his wife would alternate babysitting duties during the day so that the other could go to ESL class in the morning. In the evening, they would walk over a mile to school to attend citizenship classes. They were diligent and faithful students, true role models to other students and inspiration for their teachers.

On the evening before his Oath Ceremony, Professor Xu and Mrs Yang attended the Citizenship class to talk about their Citizenship interviews. Mrs Yang passed last year, but Professor Xu delayed his inteview for health reasons. They both passed the interview easily because they had made a tremendous effort to study, understand, and practice English and Civics questions and answers.

Most citizenship interviews follow the N-400. The following exchange, however, was a surprise:

Examiner: Have you travelled outside of the United States in the past five years?

Professor: No.

Examiner: Have you travelled outside of the United States during your permanent residence?

Professor: No.

Examiner: If this is true, why do you have so many "stamps" in your (PRC) passport?

Professor: I was a visiting scholar before.

Examiner: What was your field of study?

Professor: I studied psychology.

Examiner: Were you a psychiatrist?

Professor: No, I was not a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist is a doctor; I was a psychology professor.

Examiner: What schools did you visit?

Professor: University of California at Los Angeles.

Examiner: UCLA?

Professor: Yes.

Examiner: What did you do at UCLA?

Professor: (Universities) exchange teachers. I studied psychology.

The USCIS Examiner seemed satisfied with the answers--he immediately moved to the 96 questions which Professor Xu easily aswered.

I am so proud of Professor Xu because he answered the "surprise" questions clearly and calmly.

• USCIS examiners are not trying to trick people. The USCIS examiner asks more questions to make sure that everyone follows the law.
• Review your N-400 and supporting documents (passport, marriage/divorce certificate, etc).
• Think about what kind of surprise (or embarassing) questions you could be asked.
• Practice these questions and answers.
• Stay calm. Answer each question simply and truthfully.

Citizenship ABC

USCIS 100:01-12--New Series

USCIS 100:01-12

Here is the first podcast on the new 100 Questions (USCIS 100).

CNN: History shines in Washington, D.C.

CNN.com features iReporter photos fron Washington DC in their weekly Travel Snapshots gallery. (slide show)

FamousPeopleLessons.com: Barack Obama

Famous People Lessons.com: English Lesson Plan on Barack Obama

• Word Doc
• PDF
• MP3 Listening
• Online Exercise

Famous People Lessons.com has many, many biographies, but here are a couple more to check out:

• Aung San Suu Kyi Democrary Leader from Burma
• Ban Ki-moon UN Secretary General from S. Korea
• Cesar Chavez Union Leader from California
• Hillary Rodham Clinton US Senator from New York
• Martin Luther King Civil rights Leader from Georgia

Oath of Allegiance Quiz

Oath of Allegiance Quiz: match words and phrases with the correct picture

VOANews: Change

Election 2008: 'Change We Need' or 'Country First?' 03 November 2008
MP3 - Download

Election 2008: 'At This Defining Moment, Change Has Come to America'
Barack Obama won a historic presidential race, and his Democratic Party increased its majorities in Congress. Now comes acting on the changes he promised. Transcript of radio broadcast: 10 November 2008
MP3 - Download (MP3)
MP3 - Listen to (MP3)

EASY English Video Series

Some students need extra help with English in preparation for their Citizenship Interview. One of the very best video resources for basic English is EASY English, available in multiple formats: VCR, DVD, CD-ROM, and broadcast television (PBS, HITN). EASY English videos and workbooks are also availabe through local libraries and Distance Learning programs.

Here is a list of the first and second series of Easy English:

1. The Basics: Alphabet, number, colors, calendar, To be.
2. Interactions: Greetings & introductions; Wh?’s, to be, pronouns.
3. Feelings: How are you? Small talk.
4. At School: People, places and things in a school. More "small talk."
5. At Home: Intro to family relationships and a tour of home.
6. The Time: Telling time & daily activities.
7. Your Community: DMV, Form-Filling, Money & Directions.
8. Health Care: The Body, Family Health & Medical Visits.
9. Personal Finance:Banking, Budgets & Shopping.
10. Around Town: Driving, Housing, Govt. & Phone Skills.
11. Education: People, Services & Parent Involvement.
12. Employment: Finding, Getting & Keeping a Job.

Here are some sample video clips:

• Video clip: Where are you from? (from Unit 3)
• Video clip: Job interview (from Unit 12)
• Watch more video clips here.

Video sections that are very important to Citizenship students include

• Filling out Forms: 7/1:03(DMV), 10/47:08 (Rental Application), 12/15:43 (Job Application)
• Community resources (library, police, city hall) 7/55:15, 10/1:04:48
• Government 10/1:09:47

For further information about the First, Second, a *NEW* Third Series (Hotel Work), visit EASY English.

Congratulations to recently naturalized US Citizen, John Dicker, President of Greenfield Learning and Executive Producer of Easy English, on the release of EASY English 3. KUDOS!

VOANews: Names Are Read to Mark 25th Anniversary of Vietnam Veterans Wall

ARVN Veteran Do Ngoc Xuan

proudly displays his US Citizenship Papers

(reposted from 11/11/07)

Last night, I listened to the VOA's Names Are Read to Mark 25th Anniversary of Vietnam Veterans Wall. All of a sudden I thought, "I wonder what happened to my POW/MIA?".

When I was freshman in high school, the Viet Nam war was coming to the end. A classmate, Molly Olds, who was an "army brat", convinced me, a Catholic "peacenik", to wear a POW/MIA memorial bracelet. The name on my bracelet: Richard R. Perricone. I never knew what happened to this POW, so I "googled" Perricone. There he was on the POW Network--free and alive--living in New York with his wife. Wow! I hope he is in Washington DC this weekend with his fellow vets. I hope he knows peace.

(Update; many people wrote to say Stff Sgt. Richard Perricone is alive and well).

The VOA story also brings to mind one of my students, Nguyen Kiem Long, formerly of the South Viet Nam Air Force and the Milpitas Adult School Senior ESL Class. He is currently in New York attending to family business, and I and his classmates miss him so much. He is a living example of a free and prosperous Viet Nam.

I also honor Do Ngoc Xuan, a farmer forced to flee the South and join the army. After working the night shift, he comes to the Senior ESL class every day in preparation for US Citizenship--the ticket to freedom for his relatives still in Viet Nam. His goal is shared not only by the Vietnamese students at our school, but by the immigrant communty at large.

On Veterans Day, let us remember the US service men and women, and our allied commrade-in-arms, fighting for the freedom of their own country.

More Resources--

• VOAVideo: Last-Known American World War One Veteran
• Soldier Media Center: Paying Tribute
• Proud Members Of Military Become U.S. Citizens
• NYTimes: Video: Women at War
  Despite what U.S. policy says, female soldiers are on the front lines.
• USCitizenpod Wikispaces: Military

PBS: THE NEW AMERICANS

PBS: THE NEW AMERICANS:
Follow a diverse group of immigrants and refugees as they leave their home and families behind and learn what it means to be new Americans in the 21st century.

Lesson Plans

More Video Clips about Immigration from Independent Lens

America Is . . .

USINFO published an AMAZING Photo Essay: America is . . . You can Download Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version (3.17 MB) or view it online. Topics include:

Introduction

Love of Family
Community
Individuality
Liberty and Freedom
Justice
Democracy
Freedom of Faith
Freedom of Speech
Compassion
Diversity
Equal Rights
Education
Innovation
Opportunity
Hope

Northern CATESOL

Obama Captures the World's Imagination

President-Elect Barack Obama in Chicago

Transcript: 'This is your victory,' says Obama

President-elect Barack Obama!!!

Election Day Interview

New Citizens: Mai Anh & Hoanh!

Election Day Interview

Today we will listen to our twelfth practice interview (plus election prediction) with Chau Hoanh Chieu (Saigon, Vietnam). The questions are based on the N-400. Here's a link to the pdf. of the Basic Interview.

USCitizenPod Voting and Election resources

You can download the Slide Show

or vote with the Practice Electronic Ballot.

Here are some voting and election resources:

• New: Practice Electronic Ballot.
• New: USCIS 96/100 Voting and Election (questions and answers)
• New: USCIS 96/100 Voting and Election Quiz (questions--only; plus dictation)
• New: Elected Officials (Who's the current President? Who's the President-elect?)
• Voting Cloze Essay
• Voting Amendments

N-400 Part 10H Quiz

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

N-400 Part 10EFG Quiz

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

N-400 Part 10D Quiz

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

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.

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.

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.

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