Monday, March 19, 2018

Citizenship Resources in Honor of Nowruz






Practice Citizenship Interviews with Iranian-Americans

uscitizenpod: Citizenship Interview Quiz for Presidents’ Week 2017: Hushang Ansary (Iran) (pdf)
A citizenship multiple-choice quiz based on the N-400 Application for Naturalization plus 10 civics questions.

uscitizenpod: 2016 Spring Citizenship Interview with Ali Akbari (Iran/Malaysia) (mp3)
A practice citizenship interview recorded in honor of Persian New Year (2016)

uscitizenpod: A Basic Citizenship Interview with Pari Akibari (Esfahan, Iran) (mp3)
A practice citizenship interview recorded in 2007. Note: N-400 Part 10 is now N-400 Part 12 and the Civics questions are obsolete (ex: George W Bush was the current president in 2007).

More ESL/Civics Resources in English and Farsi

ACLU: Immigrants' Rights: What To Do If Stopped (IN FARSI) (video)

ACLU: What To Do When Faced With Anti-Muslim Discrimination (in Farsi) (video)

CA DMV: California Driver Handbook (pdf)

CLINIC: 100 Civics Questions in Farsi (pdf)

ESL Library: Nauruz (Norooz) Festival (article)
In this lesson, students read about the Persian New Year's festival (New Day). They learn about the ceremonial table, and create their own in small groups. Students also learn idioms related to nature. Note: A number of different English spellings are used for this holiday. The UN recognizes March 21 as the International Day of Nowruz

John Q. Khosravi Law Firm (JQK Law Firm): Naturalization for Iranians (Farsi/Persian) سیتیزنشیپ وتابعیت امریکا برای ایرانیان (video)
More Citizenship and Immigration videos in English and Farsi at John Q. Khosravi Law Firm (JQK Law Firm) (YouTube channel)

MedicinePlus: Health Information in Farsi (فارسی) (web page)

Must See Iran 
FB page that introduces Iran's cultural, historical, and natural tourist attractions.  Many good Nowruz videos in English and Farsi.

PARS Equality Center
Pprovides free or low-cost legal immigration services to qualified individuals.  We provide community members with integration support by offering immigration education, representation and advocacy.

SSA: Social Security Resources in Farsi (web page)

Sahar Zand: What is Nowruz? How to celebrate Persian New Year
BBC Persian's Sahar Zand visited Little Persia in London to explain how her family celebrate the Persian New Year.

ShareAmerica: Nowruz in the United States: Rising with the spring sun (article, video)
Every year, Americans with roots in Eurasian countries organize public festivals featuring music, dancing, and food to mark the Nowruz holidays. In cities from New York to Los Angeles, Chicago to Houston, Americans introduce and inspire others unfamiliar with Nowruz and its celebrations.

ShareAmerica: First Lady Michelle Obama Nowruz Address (2015) (article, video)
“I think it’s so fitting that we’re holding this celebration here today, because one of my favorite things about the White House is how it is truly the People’s House — a house that reflects the diversity of culture and traditions that make us who we are as a country,” the First Lady said. “And Nowruz is one of those traditions.”

SJ Mercury News: Saratoga: Iranian-American community celebrates Persian New Year amid political anxieties (article)
Persian New Year or "Nowruz," typically a time of celebration for the Iranian-American community, undoubtedly will be tempered this year by the climate of fear and anxiety created by the Trump administration's travel ban.

The Obama White House: President Obama’s Nowruz Message to the Iranian People (video)
President Obama sends best wishes to everyone celebrating Nowruz, March 20. 2016.

White House: Statement by President Donald J. Trump on Nowruz 2018 (article)

USIP: Iran Primer: Nowruz: Traditions for Persian New Year (article)
Ironically, the most widely celebrated holiday in the Islamic Republic of Iran long predates the official religion. Nowruz, literally “New Day” in Farsi, marks the first day of spring and the Persian New Year. The holiday, which falls on March 20 this year, is widely celebrated across the Middle East and Central Asia.

VA Health: Public Health Info in Farsi (webpage)

VOANews: New in Farsi (web page)
News in Farsi from the Voice of America

VOANews: Iranian Americans Confused and Angered Over Trump Travel Ban (video)
President Donald Trump’s revised executive order banning entry to the U.S. from six Muslim majority countries is due to take effect on March 16. Among the six countries is Iran. Even the threat of the revised order is causing major disruptions, not only there, but in Los Angeles, home to the largest group of Iranians living outside of Iran. VOA’s Elizabeth Lee reports from the neighborhood called Persian Square. Originally published at - http://www.voanews.com/a/3766574.html

VOANews: Iranians Prepare For Traditional New Year Celebrations (video)
Iranians around the world are preparing to celebrate their traditional new year, Nowruz, which falls on Thursday. The ancient tradition is also celebrated by Kurds and marks the arrival of spring. Zlatica Hoke reports.

VOANews: Iraq Norwuz (video)
It's time for celebration in Iraq. Men and women rang in a new year, as millions of Kurdish people celebrated Nowruz. The celebration falls on the first day of spring, symbolizing the passing of the dark season and the arrival of the season of light. 

VOANews: Kurds Celebrate 'Nawroz' - New Years (video)
Kurdish residents of the northern Syrian city of Kobani are marking the New Year festival Nawroz. Celebrations were held along the border with Turkey, where many of Kobani's citizens fled when the city came under attack by Islamic State militants. Video by VOA Kurdish service reporter Mahmoud Bali.

VOA Learning Engish: Once a US Soldier, Iranian Immigrant Now Serves Veterans (article, mp3, video)
Assal Ravandi knows service. First, as a soldier in the United States Army in Afghanistan. Now, as a soldier for soldiers at the organization she founded: Academy of United States Veterans. Read, listen to, and watch more great stories from VOA Learning English series: People in America

VOA Learning Engish: Mahsa, English Teacher in Iran, Talks About Spending Nowruz With Family (video of Skype interview)
Avi Arditti from VOA Learning English and Mehrnaz Sami from VOA's Persian Service (and an English teacher) talk to a Skype caller about the Persian New Year (2013)

VOA Learning Engish: Mohsen, Engineering Student in Iran, Talks About Nowruz (video of Skype interview)
Avi Arditti from VOA Learning English and Mehrnaz Sami from VOA's Persian Service (and an English teacher) talk to a Skype caller about the Persian New Year

Vox: Persian New Year, or Nowruz, explained for non-Persians (article)

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