Monday, December 31, 2018

Jothy Nair’s Third Citizenship Interview



uscitizenpod: Jothy Nair’s Third Citizenship Interview Published on Dec 29, 2018

Jothy's interview is part of the "New Year, New Citizen" video series which was recorded during our last 2018 class. We will also post a Round-Robin video in which Jothy answers civics questions from her classmates, and a Civics Blitz during which I ask her approximately 30 questions.

Watch all six videos in the NEW YEAR, NEW US CITIZEN Playlist

Watch Jothy's earlier interviews:

Milpitas Adult School Open House Citizenship Interview 4 Published on Apr 27, 2018
On Thursday, April 12, Milpitas Adult School hosted an Open House in honor of Adult Education Week. During the Open House, community members and students dropped by our Citizenship class to participate in mock Citizenship interviews.

Milpitas Adult School Open House Citizenship Interview 8 Published on May 2, 2018
Van Lan Truong, Commissioner for the City of Milpitas Community Advisory Commission, kindly accepted our invitation and joined us at the Milpitas Adult School Open House. Here is the second mock interview with student Jothy Nair.

Sunday, December 30, 2018

Huong Nguyen's Third US Citizenship Interview



uscitizenpod: Huong Nguyen's Third US Citizenship Interview (Dec 29, 2018)
Huong's interview is part of the "New Year, New Citizen" video series which was recorded during our last 2018 class.

Watch all six videos in the NEW YEAR, NEW US CITIZEN Playlist

Watch Huong's earlier interviews:

Huong's Practice Interview (Aug 2, 2018)
Huong's daughter practices with Teacher Jennifer so that Huong can prepare for her Citizenship Interview while she is taking care of her son in the hospital.

Huong’s Second US Citizenship Interview (Aug 17, 2018)
In this interview, Huong has returned to class. While she was absent, she watched Citizenship interviews every day.

Saturday, December 29, 2018

MST Saleha Khatun’s First Practice Citizenship Interview



uscitizenpod: MST Saleha Khatun’s First Practice Citizenship Interview

This is Saleha's first practice interview. When she first came to our school, Saleha was in the ESL 1 class. She studied hard and spoke more English at work. After 6 months, her English skills improved so much that she was able to transfer into our Citizenship class. She is so happy to study with her son and he is proud that his mother has accomplished so much!

This interview was based on the following script: Beginning Inteview (1 pg, 10qs) (updated 04/18/2016)

Watch her son's interview video:

Milpitas Adult School Open House Citizenship Interview 2 with Kazi Sabbir Ahmed

Watch all six videos in the NEW YEAR, NEW US CITIZEN Playlist

Friday, December 28, 2018

Lan Do's Citizenship Interview



uscitizenpod: Lan Do's Citizenship Interview

Lan's interview is part on the "New Year, New Citizen" video series which was recorded during our last 2018 class. Lan's interview is interview is scheduled Jan 4, 2019. A “Typical” Citizenship Interview Based on the USCIS N-400r (4 pages)

Watch all six videos in the NEW YEAR, NEW US CITIZEN Playlist

Thursday, December 27, 2018

Citizenship Resources for Kwanzaa



uscitizenpod: Two Citizenship Questions for a Joyous Kwanzaa!

Kwanzaa is a week long celebration (Dec 25 to Jan 1) held in the United States to honor universal African heritage and culture. 

Kwanzaa is a celebration that came out of the black nationalist movement of the 1960s. 

It was created as a way to help African Americans reconnect with their African cultural and historical heritage.

Every night, people light a candle on a kinara (candle holder) which represent Kwanzaa's principles: 

Unity, Self-determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith. Source: https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa


For the full quiz, see Citizenship Quiz for Kwanzaa

Also checkout


Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Citizenship Resources for Boxing Day

USCIS 100:55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?




uscitizenpod: Boxing Day

Boxing Day is a secular holiday that is traditionally celebrated on December 26, the day after Christmas Day in England and its former colonies. December 26 is also the feast day of St. Stephen who collected food and clothing and gave them to the poor.  On Boxing Day, workers would received boxes of food and small gifts from their employers.  Frequently, there were used  clothing or blankets in the boxes.

Recently, Boxing Day has gained popularity in America.  Many families "box up" unused clothes, electronics, and furniture and donate them to charitable organizations such as Goodwill.

Goodwill was started in 1902 by the Reverend Edgar J. Helms of Morgan Methodist Chapel in Boston. Helms and his congregation collected used household goods and clothing being discarded in wealthier areas of the city, then trained and hired the unemployed or poor to repair them. The products were then redistributed to those in need.

Today, Goodwill has become an international nonprofit that is funded by thrift stores and provides more than 300,000 people with job training and community services each year.  Goodwill also offers free online job skills and technology courses--learn more at gcflearnfree.org 

In the spirit of Boxing Day, we encourage you to donate your unused goods or volunteer with your local civic or community groups.


Boxing Day Resources

Goodwill Industries

More organizations in San Jose/Milpitas that accept household goods donations and need volunteers--check your local area for similar organizations!


Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Citizenship Resources for Christmas




Two Citizenship Questions for Christmas

US Citizenship Podcast
  • Dec 25: Christmas
    • USCIS 100: 10. What is freedom of religion? (2011) mp3 / pdf
    • Washington Crossing the Delaware, Christmas Night 1776 (2012) pdf
    • A Citizenship Quiz for Christmas  (2015) mp3 / pdf
    • Two Citizenship Questions for Christmas (2017) video
    • O. Henry, author of "Gift of the Magi," Bio, Practice N-400, and Civics Quiz(2017) pdf

More Resources for the Winter Holidays

VOANews

Monday, December 24, 2018

Barack Obama Joins Lin-Manuel Miranda on a ‘Hamilton’ Remix



Hamilton: Barack Obama Joins Lin-Manuel Miranda on a ‘Hamilton’ Remix
We’re coming at you one last time with our final #Hamildrop and it’s one for the books. Listen to “One Last Time (44 Remix)” featuring Christopher Jackson, Bebe Winans, and Barack Obama.

USCIS 100:67. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
▪ (James) Madison
▪ (Alexander) Hamilton
▪ (John) Jay
▪ Publius

USCIS 100:69. Who is the “Father of Our Country”?
▪ (George) Washington

USCIS 100:70. Who was the first President?*
▪ (George) Washington

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Immigration 2018: National Emergency or Manufactured Crisis?



VOANews: Immigration 2018: National Emergency or Manufactured Crisis?

Leaked audio of wailing migrant children, separated from their parents; President Trump's deployment of National Guard and active-duty troops for what he called “a national emergency”; and images of families fleeing spreading tear gas fumes at the U.S.-Mexico border will be remembered as the most evocative displays of Trump’s immigration policies of 2018. VOA’s Ramon Taylor takes us through the high drama border moments that have begun to define President Trump’s legacy.

Saturday, December 22, 2018

Border Wall Funding: How Would a Government Shutdown Affect You?

By In order to comply with the use and licensing terms of this image, the following text must must be included with the image when published in any medium, failure to do so constitutes a violation of the licensing terms and copyright infringement: © Tomas Castelazo, www.tomascastelazo.com / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

Immigration Nerds: Border Wall Funding: How Would a Government Shutdown Affect You?

Welcome to Immigration Nerds, today we have Erickson Immigration Group Attorney Krystal Kirst joining the podcast. Yesterday the government passed the Stop gap Bill which continues government funding until February 8th. However earlier today, Paul Ryan announced that Trump will not be signing the bill, putting the government once again back into limbo. The friction between both parties lies upon the topic of border security and whether funding will go toward building the Mexican border wall. Krystal helps shed light on where the parties stand now and give insight into what could happen to immigration-related agencies if the government is in fact shut down. The government has till the end of the day tomorrow to decide that fate.

Subscribe to Immigration Nerds via iTunes or Podbean

For more immigration info, go to Erickson Immigration Group

Thursday, December 20, 2018

U.S. Citizenship Class 31, Fall 2018, Milpitas Adult School



VOANews: Obama Plays Santa at Children’s Hospital in Washington

N-400
Civics
  • USCIS 100: 10. What is freedom of religion? (2011) mp3 / pdf

Integration
  • A Citizenship Quiz for New Year’s Day (2015/2016) mp3 / pdf

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

The Secret History of Muslims in the U.S. | NYT Opinion



NYTimes: The Secret History of Muslims in the U.S. | NYT Opinion

Muslims arrived with Columbus and have been leaving their mark on American culture and society ever since. Did you know that the Statue of Liberty was based on an Egyptian Muslim woman, and that two of the oldest mosques in the United States are in Ross, N.D., and Cedar Rapids, Iowa? In the video above, we explain many other ways Muslim history is tightly woven into American life.

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

U.S. Citizenship Class 30, Fall 2018, Milpitas Adult School

CITIZENSHIP CLASS IS CANCELLED TUESDAY 12/18/2018
We will be testing new students. If you can help translate, please come. The last class is Thu 12/20/2018.



Today we will listen to our fourth interview with Officer David. You can download the Common Citizenship Interview at uscitizenpod.com and practice with a classmate, friend, or family member.

A "Common" Citizenship Interview Based on the USCIS N-400r (53qs, 2pgs) (updated 06/12/2016)
pdf: http://goo.gl/cPTyRL

USCIS 100 Remix Quizzes: "Fours" 04, 14, 24, 34, 44, 54, 64, 74, 84, 94
pdf: http://traffic.libsyn.com/uscitizenpod/q04s.pdf

Listen/Watch all of the Officer David Interviews

U.S. Citizenship Interview with Officer David Part 1
podcast: http://traffic.libsyn.com/uscitizenpod/officer-david-interview.mp3
video with subtitles: https://youtu.be/WFT0qmr1hl4

U.S. Citizenship Interview with Officer David Part 2
podcast: http://traffic.libsyn.com/uscitizenpod/officer-david-interview-2.mp3
video with subtitles: https://youtu.be/8dknLegW6pY

U.S. Citizenship Interview with Officer David Part 3
podcast: http://traffic.libsyn.com/uscitizenpod/david-3.mp3
video with subtitles: https://youtu.be/EyaDt7KUQF0

U.S. Citizenship Interview with Officer David Part 4
podcast: http://traffic.libsyn.com/uscitizenpod/david-4.mp3
video with subtitles: https://youtu.be/wczLyAPdTIc

Subscribe and listen to US Citizenship Podcast
https://uscitizenpod.libsyn.com/

Subscribe and watch US Citizenship Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/uscitizenpod/

More Citizenship Resources for the Winter Holidays
http://bit.ly/cit-holidays-18

Monday, December 17, 2018

What Is the US House of Representatives?



VOANews: What Is the US House of Representatives

USCIS 100:16. Who makes federal laws?
▪ Congress
▪ Senate and House (of Representatives)
▪ (U.S. or national) legislature

USCIS 100:17. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*
▪ the Senate and House (of Representatives)

USCIS 100:21. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
▪ four hundred thirty-five (435)

USCIS 100:22. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
▪ two (2)

USCIS 100:23. Name your U.S. Representative.
▪ Answers will vary. [Residents of territories with nonvoting Delegates or Resident Commissioners may provide the name of that Delegate or Commissioner. Also acceptable is any statement that the territory has no (voting) Representatives in Congress.]

USCIS 100:25. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
▪ (because of) the state’s population
▪ (because) they have more people
▪ (because) some states have more people

USCIS 100:47. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
▪ Paul D. Ryan
▪ (Paul) Ryan

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Report: U.S. Immigrant Detentions, Rights Abuse Claims Rise



VOANews: Report: U.S. Immigrant Detentions, Rights Abuse Claims Rise


The number of undocumented immigrants being detained in the United States is growing, and they are being held for longer periods of time without being afforded legal protections given to criminals. This is the finding of a recent report issued by an immigration advocacy group. As VOA's Brian Padden reports, detention efforts have further expanded under President Donald Trump, raising concerns among immigrant rights groups.

Also watch:

VOANews: Family, With Young Children, Successfully Crosses Tijuana Border Fence After First Failed Attempt

A family with their young baby and toddlers successfully climbed over a border fence in Tijuana on Friday, Dec. 14, after a first failed attempt earlier in the day, as many grow restless in shelters south of the border to get their asylum claims to U.S. authorities. It is not clear whether they were later stopped by border patrol agents as they disappeared into the evening. A fence, where dozens of migrants have been seen crossing, was reinforced.


VOANews: Father, Baby Detained After Climbing Tijuana Border Fence

A family with their young baby climbed over a border fence in Tijuana on Thursday, Dec. 13, as many grow restless in shelters south of the border to get their asylum claims to U.S. authorities.
But these migrants do not get far after they jump the fence. There are a series of fences along the international line patrolled by U.S. border patrol officials, with these migrants detained by officers. Mexican officials have said as many as 1,000 individuals from the caravan of Central American migrants have hopped or otherwise skirted fences to reach the U.S. since they arrived to the border city of Tijuana. (Reuters).


VOANews: U.S. Border Patrol Detains Migrants Climbing Border Fence at Tijuana

A group of Central American migrants climbed over a border fence in Tijuana on Wednesday, Dec. 12, as many grow restless in shelters south of the border to get their asylum claims to U.S. authorities. But they do not get far after they jump the fence. There are a series of fences along the international line patrolled by U.S. border patrol officials, with these migrants detained by officers. Some migrants are jumping the fence to turn themselves over to authorities with the belief that they could start the asylum process quicker. (Reuters).


VOANews: Migrants March to U.S. Consulate to Speed Asylum Process

About 100 demonstrators marched from a Mexican immigration office to the United States consulate in Tijuana on Tuesday, where Mexican federal police in riot gear blocked the street and prevented them from getting close. Pueblo Sin Fronteras leader Irineo Mujica said he was allowed to deliver a letter to a consular official asking that the U.S. increase the number of asylum claims at the San Ysidro crossing. The U.S. government is currently processing about 100 asylum requests a day at the San Ysidro crossing, the US' busiest.

Saturday, December 15, 2018

Citizenship Resources for Bill of Rights Day



uscitizenpod: Bill of Rights Interview Quizzes
The texts of the Bill of Rights matched with questions from the USCIS N-400 Part 12 and the USCIS 100 History/Government questions.
  • A Quick Review of the Bill of Rights and the N-400 Part 12 plus Civics Questions mp3 and pdf and video (2017)
  • The Bill of Rights and the N-400 Part 12 plus Civics Questions mp3 and pdf (2016)
  • A Citizenship Quiz about the Bill of Rights pdf (2015)

uscitizenpod: Bill of Rights Vocabulary Quizzes

VOA Learning English: What Does the Bill of Rights Say?
What Do the Amendments in the Bill of Rights Say?
I
V
X
More Bill of Rights Resources

Check back for more resources....

Friday, December 14, 2018

One House, Many Voices: Art Depicting the Best of US



VOANews: One House, Many Voices: Art Depicting the Best of US

Three hundred local artists in the Washington DC area came together to showcase the American values using their visual art skills. The installation art they created featuring immigration stories makes a powerful visual statement that diversity is the strength of the US. VOA’s June Soh visited the One House Project exhibit at the BlackRock art center outside the capital.
Originally published at - https://www.voanews.com/a/4693825.html

Thursday, December 13, 2018

U.S. Citizenship Class 30, Fall 2018, Milpitas Adult School

We will be do CASAS Testing for this evening







Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

U.S. Citizenship Class 29, Fall 2018, Milpitas Adult School



N-400
  • Voices of Freedom Activity Book: Part 12 Vocabulary G
  • A "Common" Citizenship Interview Based on the USCIS N-400r (53qs, 2pgs) (updated 06/12/2016)

Civics
Integration
  • A Quick Review of the Bill of Rights and the N-400 Part 12 plus Civics Questions mp3 and pdf and video (2017)

Homework (watch these videos at home)

Monday, December 10, 2018

Resources for Human Rights Day



uscitizenpod: A Quick Guide to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

HRAC videos:

More resources:

USCIS 100:9. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
  • life
  • liberty
  • pursuit of happiness