Thursday, May 31, 2018

CLASS CANCELED


Sorry--no class this evening due to family health issues.  Next class is June 5 and the last class is June 7.  Thanks! --Teacher Jennifer 

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Citizenship Interview with Osman Nejat (Kabul, Afghanistan)





Citizenship Interview with Osman Nejat (Kabul, Afghanistan) mp3 and video 

A short citizenship interview with "examiner" with Osman Nejat (Kabul, Afghanistan), the Citizenship and GED/HiSET teacher from New Haven Adult School. After the interview, Teacher Osman reflects on being bi-lingual and bi-cultural in America.

This interview was recorded at the 2018 CCAEstate.org conference in Fresno,CA.

Read more about Teached Osman's journey from ESL student to ESL teacher https://adultedlearners.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=studentStory&sId=35

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Legal Program for Detained Immigrants Under Review



uscitizenpod: Legal Program for Detained Immigrants Under Review

The U.S. Justice Department is re-evaluating its program that educates undocumented immigrant detainees about their legal rights to determine its worth and cost effectiveness — both of which were demonstrated in a previous study. Almost 20 nonprofit organizations carry out the Legal Orientation Program in detention centers around the country. Bill Rodgers reports on the work of one of these groups, the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center, or PIRC.

Monday, May 28, 2018

Memorial Day Twitter Moment

Citizenship Resources for Memorial Day



      Memorial Day Resources from uscitizenpod
      • Citizenship Resources for Memorial Day post
      • A 21-Question “Salute” for Memorial Day Quiz based on the USCIS 100qs
      • Memorial Day: Vietnam Time Line (video)
        Ngo Huu Phuc reads "The Vietnam Time Line" essay in honor of Memorial Day. Mr Ngo was a mechanic in the South Vietnam Air Force and studied for US Citizenship at Milpitas Adult School. He became a US Citizen in 2009.  You can find a copy of "The Vietnam Time Line" in HOLIDAYS AND SPECIAL DAYS IN THE USA by Mary Glasgow, Scholastic Inc., 2001, ISBN 1-900702-59-2.
      • The Vietnam War Memorial, Washington DC (photos)
        The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, The Three Soldiers, and The Vietnam Women's Memorial, april 2013.  I took this picture in 2010 near the Vietnam Heritage Garden, San Jose.  May the American and Vietnamese peoples always stand together!
      • uscitizenpod (gagliajn): Sons of San Jose Vietnam War Memorial
        These photos were taken on Memorial Day 2013 at Sons of San Jose Vietnam War Memorial, Guadalupe Park, by Paula Harbor and were uploaded to Facebook. I asked Paula if I could share them. Her comments:

        I hate war. I hate violence. I hate greed. I look at this name etched into granite and wonder ... what if?

        Over the course of the couple hours I was at this memorial today people came and went. Parents, siblings, friends, vets, Vietnamese with bouquets of thanks. Everyone had a story. "Do you have someone on the wall?" The answer was always yes and the story told. A man came and put his hand on my shoulder. After several moments we spoke. He helped with find raising the memorial and talked about his buddies who are on the wall. I shared about Gus.


        For more info, see http://goo.gl/uulqUi and http://www.sjwarmemorial.com/

      More Memorial Day Resources
      Check back later for more resources

      Sunday, May 27, 2018

      A 21-Question “Salute” for Memorial Day Quiz based on the USCIS 100qs



      A 21-Question “Salute” for Memorial Day Quiz based on the USCIS 100qs
      Memorial sites referenced in this quiz
      01. Old Granary Burial Ground in Boston bit.ly/1lMiWtH
      02. The Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence 1.usa.gov/1tDRIMa
      03. Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial 1.usa.gov/1p9thX3
      04: The Star Spangled Banner 1.usa.gov/1TH68Xd s.si.edu/1VpCYk8
      05. The San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park bit.ly/SDejuZ
      06. The Robert Gould Shaw and Massachusetts 54th Regiment Memorial 1.usa.gov/1oxWTep
      07. The Gettysburg Cemetery nps.gov/gett
      08. The Arlington National Cemetery arlingtoncemetery.mil
      09. The Arlington National Cemetery Spanish-American War memorials bit.ly/S9Hl4V
      10. The Arlington National Cemetery Tomb of the Unknowns tombguard.org
      11. The Liberty Memorial theworldwar.org
      12. and 13. Franklin Delano Roosevelt's “Four Freedoms” speech nps.gov/frde
      14. The USS Arizona Memorial nps.gov/valr
      15. The Memorial to Japanese-American Patriotism in World War II njamf.com
      16. The World War II Memorial on the National Mall, Washington DC nps.gov/nwwm
      17. The Korean War Veterans Memorial nps.gov/kowa
      18. The Vietnam Veterans War Memorial nps.gov/vive
      19. The National Desert Storm War Memorial,Washington DC ndswm.org
      20. There are three major memorials which honors those who lost their lives on September 11: 
      NYC 911Memorial.org, Arlington, VA PentagonMemorial.org, UA 93 nps.gov/flni
      21. Naturalization Through Military Service: USCIS Fact Sheet bit.ly/2IPOTsS

      Saturday, May 26, 2018

      On Memorial Day, Military Monuments Have Special Meaning



      VOA News: On Memorial Day, Military Monuments Have Special Meaning

      Cities across the United States have erected memorials to the hometown heroes who fought and died in America's wars, from the American Revolution of 1776 to the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and the Middle East. Washington, DC, is no exception. The capital city area is home to some of the best-known military monuments, as Faith Lapidus reports on this Memorial Day.


      Friday, May 25, 2018

      Citizenship Interview with Nahil Ireiqat (Jerusalem)



      uscitizenpod: Citizenship Interview with Nahil Ireiqat (Jerusalem) and Josefina Rios (Mexico)

      In honor of Ramadan, my fellow teacher, Nahil Ireiqat (Jerusalem), asks questions based N-400 Application for Naturalization and requests further explanation for Part 12 vocabulary.

      You can also listen to the podcast here:



      You can follow along at:

      A “Regular” Citizenship Interview Based on the USCIS N-400r (6 pgs, 75 questions) (updated 10/01/2016)
      pdf: http://goo.gl/Q5BhXk
      ppt: https://goo.gl/GUfiKY
      vocab pdf: https://goo.gl/PsDrG9

      N-400r Part 12 Overview pptx via Google Slides (30 vocabulary words) https://goo.gl/yWvD4Q

      N-400r Part 12 Overview Vocabulary (pdf of pptx) (30 vocabulary words) https://goo.gl/402lzB

      Introduction to the N-400r Part 12 Quiz (20 questions) http://goo.gl/0HdOVp

      N-400r Part 12 Overview Quiz (27 questions) http://goo.gl/3m3t7K

      N-400r Basic Interview Quiz Part 12 (20 vocabulary words) http://goo.gl/U0aGKQ

      After the interview, Teacher Nahil talks about how she prepares for and observes the month of Ramadan.

      This interview was recorded on the eve of Ramadan 2018.

      You can find more citizenship resources in English, Arabic, Farsi, and Urdu at http://bit.ly/citz4ramadan

      Thursday, May 24, 2018

      U.S. Citizenship Class 33, Spring 2018, Milpitas Adult School

      We will be do CASAS Testing for the first part of the evening


      You must take a CASAS rest after May 15 so that you can return to class August 22.



      Civics
      • Citizenship: Passing the Test: A Country of Laws  by Lynn Weintraub (publisher's website)
      • si.edu: Preparing the Oath: The Courts  Videos
      Intermediate Level Judicial Branch Lesson Plan
      The Judicial Branch lesson plan and handouts for low intermediate and intermediate learners covering civics test items 12, 13, 37, 38, 39, 40, and 66.








      Integration
      • A Quick Interview Based on the N-400r plus 10qs about the Branches of Gov’t Part pdf


      Wednesday, May 23, 2018

      SD Citizenship Interview 4: Marital Status and Questions Out of Sequence



      uscitizenpod: SD Citizenship Interview 4: Marital Status and Questions Out of Sequence

      In this interview, the examiner (Ha Thu Nguyen) asks the applicant (Jennifer) some basic level Citizenship questions based on the N-400. Because the applicant's eligibility is based on her marriage to a US citizen, the examiner asks the applicant detailed questions about her marital status and living arrangement. Also the examiner departs from the standard N-400 question sequence to test the applicant's English comprehension.

      This interview was recorded at the San Diego CATESOL Conference where we recorded five quick citizenship videos with SDCE citizenship teachers, Mechelle Perrot, Rose-Elena Lopez, and Thu Ha Nguyen.

      For more information about the San Diego Continuing Education Citizenship classes (including an online course), go to http://www.sdce.edu/citizenship

      Watch more SD Citizenship Interviews at http://bit.ly/SDcitz-interviews

      Tuesday, May 22, 2018

      U.S. Citizenship Class 32, Spring 2018, Milpitas Adult School





      N-400
      Civics
      Integration
      • A Quick Interview Based on the N-400r plus 10qs about the Branches of Gov’t Part 2 pdf

      Monday, May 21, 2018

      SD Citizenship Interview 3: Small Talk and Allegiance



      uscitizenpod: SD Citizenship Interview 3: Small Talk and Allegiance

      In this interview, the examiner (Rose-Elena Lopez) asks the applicant (Thu Ha Nguyen) some beginning level Citizenship questions based on the N-400. The applicant also responds to small talk questions and explains the Oath of Allegiance.

      This interview was recorded at the San Diego CATESOL Conference where we recorded five quick citizenship videos with SDCE citizenship teachers, Mechelle Perrot, Rose-Elena Lopez, and Thu Ha Nguyen.

      For more information about the San Diego Continuing Education Citizenship classes (including an online course), go to http://www.sdce.edu/citizenship

      Watch more SD Citizenship Interviews at http://bit.ly/SDcitz-interviews

      Sunday, May 20, 2018

      American Pentecost: A Citizenship Quiz about Languages in America

      Updated 04-30-2021. Check back for more updates.
       


      American Pentecost: A Citizenship Quiz about Languages in America




      An American Pentecost:
      We are American Indians, Native Alaskans, Europeans, Latinos, Africans, Arabs, Asians, Pacific Islanders-- yet all of us hear America speaking in our own languages about FREEDOM!

      For more info about languages spoken in America:
      • Slate: Tagalog in California, Cherokee in Arkansas: What language does your state speak? By Ben Blatt (great graphics) web article
      • Wikipedia: Languages of the United States wiki article

      Voting Rights Act Sect 203
      Section 203 targets those language minorities that have suffered a history of exclusion from the political process: Spanish, Asian, Native American, and Alaskan Native. The Census Bureau identifies specific language groups for specific jurisdictions.
      Section 203 says that jurisdictions (cities, counties, states) shall provide election materials in the language of the applicable minority group as well as in the English language.
      Sources:
      • DOJ: MINORITY LANGUAGE CITIZENS: Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act web page
      • DOJ: Language Map 2015 interactive map
      • Census: Section 203 Language Provisions of the Voting Rights Act (updates 2016, 2017) web page
      • LEP.gov
        • The Interagency Working Group on Limited English Proficiency (LEP) created LEP.gov in 2002.  LEP.gov is maintained by the Federal Coordination and Compliance Section (FCS) in the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice.  
        • The mission of LEP.gov is to share resources and information to help expand and improve language assistance services for individuals with limited English proficiency, in compliance with federal law.
      More from US Citizenship Podcast:

      Saturday, May 19, 2018

      SD Citizenship Interview 2: Beginning Level Questions with Traffic Citation



      uscitizenpod: SD Citizenship Interview 2: Beginning Level Questions with Traffic Citation

      In this interview, the examiner (Mechelle Perrot) asks the applicant (Rose-Elena Lopez) some beginning level Citizenship questions based on the N-400. The applicant confirms that she has a traffic citation.

      This interview was recorded at the San Diego CATESOL Conference where we recorded five quick citizenship videos with SDCE citizenship teachers, Mechelle Perrot, Rose-Elena Lopez, and Thu Ha Nguyen.

      For more information about the San Diego Continuing Education Citizenship classes (including an online course), go to http://www.sdce.edu/citizenship

      Watch more SD Citizenship Interviews recorded at CATESOLSD18 at http://bit.ly/SDcitz-interviews

      Friday, May 18, 2018

      San Diego Citizenship Interview with Teacher Thu Ha Nguyen



      uscitizenpod: San Diego Citizenship Interview with Teacher Thu Ha Nguyen

      In this interview, I interview Teacher Thu Ha Nguyen about her online citizenship course that she developed for the San Diego Continuing Education (SDCE) which is the adult education division of the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD).

      This interview was recorded at the San Diego CATESOL Conference where we also recorded five quick citizenship videos with her fellow SDCE citizenship teachers, Mechelle Perrot and Rose-Elena Lopez. The first video is up now in which I, the examiner, doesn't think that Mechelle is ready for the interview because Mechelle doesn't understand one of the first interview questions about eligibility.

      Mechelle insists (politely) that she has studied for the English and Civics test and asks the examiner to rephrase the question which has the key word "eligible."

      Note: If you do not understand an examiner's question, DO NOT SAY YES OR NO. Request that the examiner to use different words to ask the question.

      Check back for the rest of the San Diego citizenship Inteview in the upcoming week.

      San Diego Citizenship Interviews Playlist on YouTube http://bit.ly/SDcitz-interviews

      Listen to podcast here



      If you need help on N-400 vocabulary, go to our website N-400 PDFs http://bit.ly/N400-pdfs

      Thursday, May 17, 2018

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

      See updated U.S. Citizenship Class 30, Spring 2018, Milpitas Adult School lesson about "The Constitution"



      The Quint: Meet ‘Ro’ Khanna, 3 Other Indian-Americans Elected to US Congress

      N-400
      Civics
      Integration
      • Claudia Rios Castro: A Quick Interview Based on the N-400r plus 10qs about the Branches of Gov’t Part 1 pdf

      Wednesday, May 16, 2018

      Citizenship Resources for Ramadan




      A Citizenship Quiz for the Month of Ramadan



      Interview Podcasts 
      • 2018 Citizenship Interview with Nahil Ireiqat (Jerusalem) and Josefina Rios (Mexico) mp3  video
      • 2018 Spring U.S. Citizenship Interview with Pari Akbari, Iran mp3 / video
      • 2016 Spring Citizenship Interview with Ali Akbari (Malyasia/Iran) (2016) mp3
      • An "Everyday" Citizenship Interview with Munni Thakkar (Mumbai, India) (2016) mp3
      • A Basic Citizenship Interview with Pari Akibari (Esfahan, Iran) (2007) (mp3)
      • Interview with Samia Amed (Yemen) video / mp3

      Quizzes (pdf)
      • A Citizenship Quiz for the Month of Ramadan pdf  mp3  video
      • Citizenship Interview Quiz for Esam Omeish (Liberia) pdf
      • Citizenship Interview Quiz for Hushang Ansary (Iran) pdf
      • Citizenship Interview Quiz for Louay Safi pdf
      • Citizenship Interview Quiz for Mohamed Awad Elhassan pdf
      • Citizenship Interview Quiz for Nimco Ahmed (Libya) pdf
      • Citizenship Interview Quiz for Rend al-Rahim (Iraq) pdf
      • Citizenship Interview Quiz for Safa Aldabyani (Yemen) pdf
      Videos
      • 2018 Citizenship Interview with Nahil Ireiqat (Jerusalem) and Josefina Rios (Mexico) mp3  video
      • 2018 Spring U.S. Citizenship Interview with Pari Akbari, Iran mp3 / video
      • Blessed Eid al-Adha! (video)
      • Interview with Samia Amed (Yemen) video / mp3
      • Milpitas Adult School Open House Citizenship Interview 1 (Teacher Nahil / Palestine) (video)
      • Milpitas Adult School Open House Citizenship Interview 2 (Kasim / Bangladesh) (video)
      • New US Citizen Minire Karamanaga (Bosnia/Yugoslavia) (2010) video
      • New US Citizen Sardar Habibi (Afghanistan) (English) (video)
      • New US Citizen Sardar Habibi (Afghanistan) (Farsi) (video)
      • Practice! Practice! Practice! (video)
      • Tasleem's First Practice Interview (Pakistan) video
      • Tasleem's Second Practice Interview (Pakistan) video
      • 2015 USCIS 100 Remix Round 1 Twos with Tasleem (Pakistan)  video
      • Tasleem Khaldoon talks about her Citizenship Interview (Pakistan) video

      VOA News (There are so many videos and articles--please search for more)

      Arabic
      Farsi
      • CLINIC: 100 Civics Questions in 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)
      • John Q. Khosravi Law Firm (JQK Law Firm): Naturalization for Iranians (Farsi/Persian) سیتیزنشیپ وتابعیت امریکا برای ایرانیان (video)
      • MedicinePlus: Health Information in Farsi (فارسی) (web page)
      • SSA: Social Security Resources in Farsi (web page)
      • uscitizenpod: Citizenship Resources for Nowruz 2018 (blog post)
      • VOA Farsi
      Urdu
      For more resources, go to

      Tuesday, May 15, 2018

      UPDATED U.S. Citizenship Class 30, Spring 2018, Milpitas Adult School



      uscitizenpod: The Constitution

      N-400

      Civics

      Integration
      • Hao Thi Vu: A Quick Interview for US Constitution and Citizenship Day 2014 pdf

      Sunday, May 13, 2018

      Happy Mother's Day

      Updated 04-30-2021. Check back for more updates.
       


      uscitizenpod: Three Citizenship Questions for Mother's Day

      Ann Reeves Jarvis was a peace activist who took care of wounded soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War. After the war, she hosted Mother's Day Friendship picnics for the women on both sides of the war.  She also created Mother's Day Work Clubs to address public health issues.

      After Ann Reeves Jarvis died, her daughter, Anna Jarvis, wanted to honor her mother by continuing the work that her mother had started.  Anna Jarvis started a petition to set aside one day every year to honor all mothers.  She said that a mother is "the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world."

      In 1908, Anna Jarvis sent a petition to Congress to make Mother's Day a national holiday. Although Congress rejected the petition, many states and cities adopted the idea.  In 1914, Woodrow Wilson  signed a proclamation designating Mother's Day, held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor mothers.

      Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
      • civil rights
      • first amendment rights
      • states’ rights
      • women's rights

      What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
      • join a camping group
      • join a civic group
      • join a comedy group
      • join a community group

      Name two national U.S. holidays.
      • Memorial Day
      • Mother's Day
      • Valentine's Day
      • Veterans Day

      Source: Wikipedia
      Image Source: USPS Mother of America Stamp

      Saturday, May 12, 2018

      Cultivating a 21st Century US Citizen



      Cultivating a 21st Century US Citizen
      NorCal CATESOL 2018
      Santa Rosa Junior College
      May 12, 2018
      1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m
      Room 694

      Empower students to use technology to prepare for their Citizenship Interview. Use mobile and online tools to encourage frequent practice, greater fluency, and advocacy!

      Google slides: http://bit.ly/tech-up-citz-3a
      Notes pdf: http://bit.ly/tech-up-citz-3b
      Blog post: http://bit.ly/tech-up-citz-3

      Thursday, May 10, 2018

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



      USCIS: Promise of Freedom

      N-400

      Civics

      Integration
      • Citizenship Interview Quiz for Hushang Ansary (Ahvaz, Iran) pdf