Thursday, April 30, 2009

President Obama: The First 100 Days



VOAVideo: Obama - a 100 Days Montage

President Barack Obama completes his first 100 days in office on April 29th -- a period marked by major domestic and foreign policy initiatives. Here are some of the highlights of Mr. Obama's first 100 days in the news, produced by Brian Allen.

VOANews: Obama Surprised By Number of Critical Issues

U.S. President Barack Obama marked his 100th day in office Wednesday by rallying support for his policies, and tackling an unfolding health crisis

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Our Common Wealth: the Massachusetts Experiment in Democracy


the Museum of Masschusetts History

"Our Common Wealth: The Massachusetts Experiment in Democracy"


The exhibit traces the Massachusetts experience through the colonial, revolutionary, federal, and nineteenth century reform periods. The sub-theme, “Tracing our Roots,” tells the story of four representative Massachusetts families of Native American, English, African-American and Irish heritage.

Read the AP News: Mass. displays nation's founding papers for public

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

VOANews: the Web and Newspapers



VOAVideo: Small Newspapers Look For Ways To Survive

The San Francisco Chronicle, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, all are major U.S. Newspapers in financial trouble. The owners of two of those big dailies have threatened to close down, as happened to newspapers this year in Denver and Seattle. As big city newspapers struggle to survive, industry experts say many small community newspapers around the country are doing fine. Jeff Swicord visited a small weekly serving a suburban community to learn why.

VOANews: How the Web Could Save Newspapers, or Kill Them
On THIS IS AMERICA: Publishers search for ways to redesign an industry that helped incite the American Revolution.

ESL Discussions: News

  • Do you trust everything you read, see or hear on the news?

Monday, April 27, 2009

Milpitas Adult Education Citizenship Class


Slide Show

Here are some ealy Spring photos of Milpitas Adult Education Citizenship class. You can download individual photos here.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom in Washington, DC



VOAVideo: Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom in Washington, DC

It is that time of year again in the U.S. capital, when young, old, rich and poor gather at the city's Tidal Basin to enjoy the blooming cherry blossom trees. Almost 100 years ago, the mayor of Tokyo gave the city three thousand cherry trees. And ever since then, each spring, in good times and bad, their beauty have soothed the soul of people who travel from across the country and the world to enjoy their fleeting beauty. VOA sent photographer Mike Kornely and his camera to the Tidal Basin and here is his video postcard.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Twittering the Oath Ceremony


On April 23, there were three Oath Ceremonies at the Campbell Heritage theater (10am, 1pm, 3pm). I attended the 1pm ceremony with Li Jiayan and her family, then stayed to "twitter" the 3pm ceremony. The tweets are time-stamped so that new citizens and their families can know what to expect during the Oath Ceremony.

I sat in the far corner of the balcony so I could text discreetly while showing the proper respect for this very, very important ceremony. Here are the "corrected" (many typos) tweets from the Oath Ceremony.
  • 3:03 PM waiting for the 3pm Oath Ceremony to begin
  • 3:11 PM the pre-ceremony has begun. They are talking about voting.
  • 3:15 PM they are talking about registering to vote in Vietnamese
  • 3:22 PM the Tagog rep from the Registar of Voters just finished speaking
  • 3:23 PM Tagalog--not "Tagog"
  • 3:24 PM the Spanish rep just finished (was she from Argentina?)
  • 3:27 PM The Mandarin (not Cantonese) rep is exorting us to vote in Eng & Mandarin
  • 3:28 PM The Santa Clara County Registgar of Voters is showing a slide show about the voter reg form
  • 3:31 PM reg form: personal info, politic party, language, absentee ballot are being explained
  • 3:33 PM remember: always exercise you right to vote.
  • 3:34 PM film about the history of immigration begins
  • 3:34 PM ellis island looks grim and hopeful
  • 3:35 PM vietnamese refugee camp
  • 3:36 PM old photos and new photos are made equal in black and white
  • 3:37 PM the statue of libery is in glorious color
  • 3:38 PM film ends. local USCIS supervisor speaks
  • 3:39 PM Angela Tirado leads the star spangled banner
  • 3:41 PM people cheer!
  • 3:43 PM USCIS field director: we come from 55 different countries; we go out the door as 1 country
  • 3:44 PM America: melting pot or stew pot?
  • 3:45 PM Roll Call of Nation begins!
  • 3:46 PM China!
  • 3:46 PM India! Iran! Iraq!
  • 3:47 PM Mexico!
  • 3:48 PM VIETNAM--hello TAM LAM!
  • 3:49 PM RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME....I HEREBY DECLARE ON OATH...
  • 3:50 PM So help me God!
  • 3:51 PM Congrats! Cheer! Clap! Wave flags!
  • 3:52 PM Welcome!
  • 3:52 PM The essence of a democracy is an engaged citizentry
  • 3:53 PM with liberty and justice for all!
  • 3:55 PM Thank yous...
  • 3:55 PM My fellow citizens...sounds good, eh?
  • 3:56 PM Closing remarks: contact Social Security about your change of status
  • 3:58 PM The director shows his grandfather's naturalization papers, SF 1944
  • 4:00 PM Video: AND I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!!!
  • 4:01 PM (I am tearing up)
  • 4:02 PM guests leave. new citizens receive certificates
  • 4:02 PM GOD BLESS THE USA!!!
  • 4:03 PM I am going to look for my former students--later!

Friday, April 24, 2009

Oath Ceremony!



Download pictures here.

On April 23, 2009, twelve hundred new citizens from Santa Clara County gathered together at the Campbell Heritage Theater to take the Oath of Allegiance (in three Citizenship ceremonies). Congratulations to everyone, especially to the new citizens from Milpitas Adult School.

  • Jiayan Li
  • Erika Martinez
  • Marta Alicia Flores
  • Farideh Bagherbeikmarhom
  • Tam Lam
  • Mao Thi Nguyen
  • Henry Xing

Thanks to the USCIS officers who made this a day that we will never, ever forget!

Special thanks to Flicker Flacker Films--good luck on your naturalzation documentary--we can't wait to see it!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Interview 13: Easy Citizenship Intervew: Ngoc Tram My Nguyen (Hue, Vietnam)

Ngoc (left) just passed her Citizenship exam. Hoa will interview next month.

Interview 13


Today we will listen to an Easy Interview with Ngoc Tram My Nguyen (Hue, Vietnam).
Download:

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

EARTH DAY!


ESL Holiday lessons: Earth Day

Earth Day is an annual event that aims to inspire awareness of and appreciation for our environment.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

CATESOL 2009



My father had a heart attack on Easter Monday. I have cancelled my CATESOL workshop to be with him. Here is my presentation from Northern CATESOL. I will update this presentation next week, plus post some new interviews and handouts. Have a great CATESOL.--Jennifer

Friday, April 17, 2009

USCitizenPod's Constitution Resources

SPRING CLEANING (04/01-04/15): USCitizenPod will re-post old USCIS 96 questions resources, then re-organize the sidebar. USCIS 100 questions and interview resources will be featured; the USCIS 96 questions resources will be consolidated into one sidebar group. We will also test all links. Suggestions or concerns? Email uscitizenpod@gmail.com. Thanks!

Summary of the US Constitution
The Preamble Puzzle
US Constitution Slide Show
USCIS 96/100 Quiz: The Constitution
USCIS 96:17-19 Handout
USCIS 96:17-19 Podcast
USCIS 96:34-35 Handout
USCIS 96:34-35 Podcast

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

US Citizenship Podcast N-400 Part 10 Quizzes

SPRING CLEANING (04/01-04/15): USCitizenPod will re-post old USCIS 96 questions resources, then re-organize the sidebar. USCIS 100 questions and interview resources will be featured; the USCIS 96 questions resources will be consolidated into one sidebar group. We will also test all links. Suggestions or concerns? Email uscitizenpod@gmail.com. Thanks!

N-400 Part 10 Quizzes

Monday, April 13, 2009

USCIS N-400

New Citizen!

SPRING CLEANING (04/01-04/15): USCitizenPod will re-post old USCIS 96 questions resources, then re-organize the sidebar. USCIS 100 questions and interview resources will be featured; the USCIS 96 questions resources will be consolidated into one sidebar group. We will also test all links. Suggestions or concerns? Email uscitizenpod@gmail.com. Thanks!

N-400 version 01/22/09

A new version of the N-400 dated 1/22/09 has been posted on the USCIS.gov website. This OMB edition expires 12/31/09. The instructions say that the following editions: 1/22/09. 10/15/07, 07/30/07, 11/01/06, 05/31/01 can be used but no other editions will be accepted.

You can complete the N-400 two ways:

  1. Fill out the N-400 on the computer; print out the completed N-400; mail the N-400.
  2. OR Print out the blank N-400; complete the N-400; mail the N-400.

Links for the N-400

Filing Fee :

  • The N-400 filing fee is $595 plus a biometrics fee of $80; the fee total is $675.
  • Applicants 75 years of age or older are not charged a biometric fee; their fee total is $595.
  • No fee is required for military applicants filing under Section 328 and 329 of the INA.

Where to File :

If you currently reside in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, send your application to the USCIS Lockbox Facility at:

USCIS

P.O. Box 21251

Phoenix, AZ 85036

For express/courier deliveries, use:

USCIS

Attn: N-400

1820 E Skyharbor Cicle S, Floor 1

Phoenix, AZ 85034

If you reside in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, send your application to the USCIS Lockbox Facility at:

USCIS

P.O. Box 299026

Lewisville, TX 75029

For express/courier deliveries, use:

USCIS

Attn: N-4002501

S State Hwy 121, Bldg. #4

Lewisville, TX 75067

All naturalization applicants filing under the military provisions, section 328 or 329, should file their application at the Nebraska Service Center regardless of geographic location or jurisdiction. Please send your application to:

Nebraska Service Center, P.O. Box 87426, Lincoln, NE 68501-7426
For express/courier deliveries, use:

Nebraska Service Center, 850 S Street, Lincoln, NE 68508

Sunday, April 12, 2009

USCIS 100:10 What is freedom of religion?

You can practice any religion,
or not practice a religion.

In honor of Easter, here is a quick tour of the religious communities of Milpitas and Berryessa (East San Jose).

St Victor's Tet Mass, Berryessa San Jose

My family moved to San Jose in 1964. My father was assigned to teach in the new public high school, but the building wasn't ready. Instead, the Milpitas and San Jose students had to "share" a school campus: the current site of Milpitas Adult School. My siblings and I went to the newly built Catholic school, St Victor's. When the school began, the religious sisters were Irish-Americans and the students were either Italian- or Mexican-Americans. Now there are lay teachers and the students are mostly Vietnamese- or Filipino-Americans.

On Sunday, many people park in the Milipitas Adult School parking lot, then walk to Silicon Valley Alliance Church. Around the corner is a storefront Muslim mosque, Masjid Dar Al-Salaam, and down the street is a Buddhist charity Tzu-Chi.

The Pao-Hua Buddhist Temple (McKee Road, San Jose) serves free vegetarian meals every Sunday.


Many of the Buddhist Vietnamese students visit Duc Vien Temple (McLauglin Road, San Jose) to give thanks for passing their Citizenshp Test.

The Chinese Church in Christ (Main Street, Milpitas) offers US Citizenship preparation classes. Main Street, Milpitas is also home to (2) the Avatamsaka Buddhist Lotus Society, (3) the Jain Center of Northern California, (4) Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, (5) St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and School, and (6) St. James Orthodox Church (great festival!). The Sikh Temple, (6) Gurdwara Sahib, is a quick trip up 680, to Mission Blvd, Fremont.

Christ Community Church
offers daily ESL classes.

St Elizabeth's Catholic Church & Mount Olive Lutheran Church host very active scouting programs.

More: GoMilpitas' List of Places of Worship

Saturday, April 11, 2009

US Army Recruits Immigrants, Rewards Them With Citizenship


VOA Video: US Army Recruits Immigrants, Rewards Them With Citizenship
The U.S. Army is stepping up efforts to recruit more skilled soldiers by offering immigrants a fast track to U.S. citizenship if they enlist.The move comes as the Pentagon prepares to send several thousand more troops to Afghanistan and with the war in Iraq in its sixth year.

Friday, April 10, 2009

USCIS 100 Remix

Sisters-in-law

SPRING CLEANING (04/01-04/15): USCitizenPod will re-post old USCIS 96 questions resources, then re-organize the sidebar. USCIS 100 questions and interview resources will be featured; the USCIS 96 questions resources will be consolidated into one sidebar group. We will also test all links. Suggestions or concerns? Email uscitizenpod@gmail.com. Thanks!

LISTEN: USCIS 100 Remix

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Obama to Push Immigration Bill Despite the Risks

Rep. Luis Gutierrez has been visiting churches to build support for a bill.
Photo: Jessica Kourkounis for The New York Times

Obama to Push Immigration Bill Despite the Risks By JULIA PRESTON, NYTimes
The new effort would include looking for a path for illegal immigrants to become legal, a senior administration official said. Times Topics: Immigration

For more info about the new bill, visit:

USCIS 100 plus Dictation


SPRING CLEANING (04/01-04/15): USCitizenPod will re-post old USCIS 96 questions resources, then re-organize the sidebar. USCIS 100 questions and interview resources will be featured; the USCIS 96 questions resources will be consolidated into one sidebar group. We will also test all links. Suggestions or concerns? Email uscitizenpod@gmail.com. Thanks!

USCIS 100 plus Dictation

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

USCIS 100 Questions!

New Citizen: Martn Maldonado!

SPRING CLEANING (04/01-04/15): USCitizenPod will re-post old USCIS 96 questions resources, then re-organize the sidebar. USCIS 100 questions and interview resources will be featured; the USCIS 96 questions resources will be consolidated into one sidebar group. We will also test all links. Suggestions or concerns? Email uscitizenpod@gmail.com. Thanks!


Martin thanks his classmates, co-workers, and family
for helping him prepare for the USCIS interview.

If you have access to USCIS 100 Questions in any other languages, please, please, please email your copy to uscitizenpod@gmail.com. Thanks!

Sunday, April 5, 2009

USCIS 96/100 Quizzes!

California's State Flower: The Golden Poppy
Photo: Teacher Hongyan Zheng

SPRING CLEANING (04/01-04/15): USCitizenPod will re-post old USCIS 96 questions resources, then re-organize the sidebar. USCIS 100 questions and interview resources will be featured; the USCIS 96 questions resources will be consolidated into one sidebar group. We will also test all links. Suggestions or concerns? Email uscitizenpod@gmail.com. Thanks!

Saturday, April 4, 2009

NYTimes: 13 Shot Dead During a Class on Citizenship

Hostages left a building near the American Civic Association in Binghamton.
Photo: Chuck Haupt/Getty Images

13 Shot Dead During a Class on Citizenship By ROBERT D. McFADDEN, NYTimes
A gunman invaded an immigration services center in Binghamton, N.Y., on Friday, killing 13 people and himself in a paroxysm of violence, the police said.

Teacher Jennifer: My heart broke when I heard this story.

Please pray for the gunman, his victims, the ACA staff, students, and their families, and the people of Binghamton.

Discuss this tragic story. Talk about anti-immigrant discrimination and violence. Review school and personal safety procedures.

More Stories from The Greater Binghamton Press Connects


Here are more stories from The Greater Binghamton Press Connects

LISTEN: USCIS 96 M-638 Explanations

The students really concentrate during the CASA Citizenship Listening (Field) Test.


SPRING CLEANING (04/01-04/15): USCitizenPod will re-post old USCIS 96 questions resources, then re-organize the sidebar. USCIS 100 questions and interview resources will be featured; the USCIS 96 questions resources will be consolidated into one sidebar group. We will also test all links. Suggestions or concerns? Email uscitizenpod@gmail.com. Thanks!


Friday, April 3, 2009

LISTEN: USCIS 96 Dictation Sentences

More CASAS Testing!


SPRING CLEANING (04/01-04/15): USCitizenPod will re-post old USCIS 96 questions resources, then re-organize the sidebar. USCIS 100 questions and interview resources will be featured; the USCIS 96 questions resources will be consolidated into one sidebar group. We will also test all links. Suggestions or concerns? Email uscitizenpod@gmail.com. Thanks!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Stand Up for Adult Education 2: Pima College Adult Education


What is the value of Adult Education?
Why is it important
to our communities, state, and country?

In 2003, faced with a budget deficit, the Arizona State Legislature recommended complete elimination of state funding for adult education and family literacy. The crisis marked the begining of a remarkable learning process about government and civic participation.

Kudos to Pima College Adult Education for their action to effect positive change on the state-level! Video (must see!)

Here is a Sample Letter to an Elected Official from the Arizona Association for Lifelong Learning.

There are many more interesting videos and stories on Stories for Change: an online meeting place for community digital storytelling facilitators and advocates. Make and share your own story today!

LISTEN: USCIS 96 Remix

Students taking the CASAS Citizenship Listening (Field) Test--they loved it!


SPRING CLEANING (04/01-04/15): USCitizenPod will re-post old USCIS 96 questions resources, then re-organize the sidebar. USCIS 100 questions and interview resources will be featured; the USCIS 96 questions resources will be consolidated into one sidebar group. We will also test all links. Suggestions or concerns? Email uscitizenpod@gmail.com. Thanks!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Stand Up for Adult Education 1: The Grijalva Dear Colleague Letter

The MAE Independent Studies representative
Stands Up for Adult Education @ a recent School Board meeting.

President Obama will send his Fiscal Year 2010 budget proposal to Congress on April 21, 2009.

The Grijalva Dear Colleague Letter says that adult education must be a high priority for increased federal support. We urge students & teachers, citizen & non-citizens, and all those who use www.uscitizenpod.com to send letters to their US Representative and Senator, and ask them to support this bill.

The most powerful student letters focus on (see sample letter)
  • The reason that the student enrolled in adult education
  • Their plans after they graduate.
  • The request for additional funding or an increase to $750 million.
Students can also make the contact over the telephone with the appropriate Washington office. Callers should identify themselves as a student, staff, or friend of adult education and make the request for additional funding.

Remember that all contacts for members of the House should only come from residents of that Congressional district.

To find contact information, go to:

Both of those websites will allow you to click onto the individual members pages, and then you will find a Contact your Member of Congress link in which you can type the message.

You can also access member’s websites through [ http://www.ncladvocacy.org/ ] which has an interactive map from TESOL and through Proliteracy’s [ http://capwiz.com/proliteracy ]

It is very important that we start this campaign now. Please contact your representatives before April 21, 2009. Thank you again for your continued commitment through advocacy to our students.

Thanks! Teacher Jennifer, US Citizenship Podcast
(The post has been modified from an original email from the National Council of State Directors of Adult Education).

LISTEN: USCIS 96 plus Dictation


SPRING CLEANING (04/01-04/15): USCitizenPod will re-post old USCIS 96 questions resources, then re-organize the sidebar. USCIS 100 questions and interview resources will be featured; the USCIS 96 questions resources will be consolidated into one sidebar group. We will also test all links. Suggestions or concerns? Email uscitizenpod@gmail.com. Thanks!