New York City's Times Square Prepares for New Year’s Eve

 

VOA News: New York City's Times Square Prepares for New Year’s Eve

Every December 31, New Yorkers and tourists alike flock to the Big Apple’s Times Square for the New Year's Eve celebration. Elena Wolf had a look at how the city prepares for the big event in this story narrated by Anna Rice. VOA footage by Max Avloshenko and Elena Matusovsky. 

USCIS 100:95. Where is the Statue of Liberty?* 

USCIS 100:100. Name two national U.S. holidays.

What is your special wish for the New Year?

The US National Anthem

NHL: Pentatonix sings U.S. National Anthem at Lake Tahoe

The Pentatonix sing the National anthem before a special hockey game between the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers in Lake Tahoe, California.

USCIS 100:98. What is the name of the national anthem?

USCIS 100:53. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen? 

Make the resolution to become a U.S. citizen in the upcoming New Year!

Happy Birthday President Andrew Johnson!

 VOA Learning English: America's President--Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson (December 29, 1808 – July 31, 1875) was the 17th President of the United States (1865-1869).  He grew up in a poor family and did not learn how to read or do math until he was an adult. Johnson served as governor of Tennessee and represented his state in both houses of Congress.  Although Johnson was from the opposition party, he went on to serve as Abraham Lincoln's vice-president and succeeded him after Lincoln's assassination. He was the first president to be impeached, but he was not removed from office. The impeachment happened because he fired the Secretary of War after Congress had made it illegal. This was unusual because a president usually appoints his cabinet secretaries. 

Learn more:

• ESL Library: Andrew Johnson (subscription required; teacher discretion advised!)
• VOA Learning English: Andrew Johnson

POP QUIZ:

USCIS 100:17. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*

USCIS 100:28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?*

USCIS 100:29. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?

USCIS 100:30. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

USCIS 100:35. What does the President’s Cabinet do?

USCIS 100:36. What are two Cabinet-level positions?

USCIS 100:43. Who is the Governor of your state now?

USCIS 100:45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?*

USCIS 100:74. Name one problem that led to the Civil War.

USCIS 100:75. What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?*

Happy Birthday President Woodrow Wilson!

VOA Learning English: America's Presidents - Woodrow Wilson 

Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856 – February 3, 1924) was the 28th president of the United States between 1913 and 1921. He was born in Virginia, grew up in Georgia, and became preside of Princeton University in New Jersey. Although Wilson supported peace, the United States entered World War I in 1917.  After the war, Wilson helped start the League of Nations. In 1919, he won the Nobel Prize for Peace.  In 1920, women gained the right to vote in America.

Learn More

• C-SPAN Classroom: Woodrow Wilson
• ESL Library: Woodrow Wilson (subscription required)
• Smithsonian: Woodrow Wilson (collection)
• VOA Learning English: Woodrow Wilson

POP QUIZ

100:15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?

100:26. We elect a President for how many years?

100:64. There were 13 original states. Name three.

100:41. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?

100:32. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?

100:78. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*

100:79. Who was President during World War I?

100:48. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.

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)

Also checkout

• uscitizenpod: US Citizenship Resources for African-American History Month and Citizenship, Immigration, and Government Resources in African Languages 
• ESL Library: Kwanzaa
• Google Arts and Culture: Sharing the Timeless Principles of Kwanzaa through Stamps and Buttons
• NMAAHC: Kwanzaa
• Share America: American celebrate African Heritage during Kwanzaa
• uscitizenpod: Citizenship Quiz for Kwanzaa mp3 | pdf
• VOA News: African Americans Celebrate Kwanzaa
• 

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

• EnglishClass101: Boxing Day
• ESL Holiday Lessons: Boxing Day
• ESL Library: Boxing Day

Goodwill Industries

• Goodwill
• GFCLearnFree
• GCFLearnFree YouTube Channel
• GCFAprendeLibre YouTube Channel

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

• American Cancer Society Discovery Shop
• Habitat for Humanity
• Hope Services
• Humane Society
• Resource Area For Teaching: RAFT
• Sacred Heart Community Service
• Salvation Army
• Second Harvest Food Bank
• Santa Clara County Library District

US Citizenship Resources for Christmas

A Citizenship Quiz for Christmas  (2021) mp3 / pdf / video

More Citizenship Resources for Christmas

• George Washington's Mount Vernon: George Washington Remembers Crossing The Delaware (2018)
• Share America: White House decorations evoke holiday ‘magic, wonder and joy’ 2023
• US Dept of Interior: Happy Holidays from Interior 2023!
• US Postal Museum: The Art of Christmas Stamps 
• VOA News: A 400-Year-Old Mexican Tradition, Pinatas Are Not Child's Play 2023
• VOA News: How Did America’s Founding Father Celebrate the Holidays? 2023
• VOA News: Poinsettia's Origins, Namesake’s Checkered History Get New Attention 2023
• VOA News: Volunteers Join Annual Christmas Bird Count 2023
• VOA Learning English: 'Tis the Season!
• VOA Learning English Presents 'A Visit from St. Nicholas' 2023
• WH: The White House Transforms into Magic, Wonder, and Joy for the 2023 Holidays

uscitizenpod

• 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  (2021) mp3 / pdf / video
• Two Citizenship Questions for Christmas (2017) video
• O. Henry, author of "Gift of the Magi," Bio, Practice N-400, and Civics Quiz (2017) pdf (fixed!)

2023 Annual Bill of Rights Day Naturalization Ceremony

National Archives: 2023 Annual Bill of Rights Day Naturalization Ceremony

December 15, 2023 in the Rotunda of the National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.

Presiding: The Honorable Elizabeth Gunn Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia Keynote Remarks: Mrs. Melania Trump Former First Lady of the United States \

New US citizens sworn in at naturalization ceremony

NBC Chicago: New US citizens sworn in at naturalization ceremony 

More than 100 people became U.S. citizens on Monday, a moment many had been long waiting for. NBC 5’s Patrick Fazio has the story.

Melania Trump makes rare public speech

CNN: Melania Trump makes rare public speech 

Former first lady Melania Trump spoke in uncharacteristically personal terms about her experience becoming a US citizen and the challenges she faced traversing a complicated legal system as she made a rare public appearance during a naturalization ceremony at the National Archives in Washington. CNN's Kristen Holmes reports.  Her speech begins 2:52.  Read more here.

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

• Bill of Rights pptx https://goo.gl/o4Y2g4
• Bill of Rights Vocabulary Quiz 01
• Bill of Rights Vocabulary Quiz 02
• Bill of Rights Vocabulary Quiz 03
• Bill of Rights Vocabulary Quiz 04
• Bill of Rights Vocabulary Quiz 05
• Bill of Rights Citizenship Quiz

VOA Learning English: What Does the Bill of Rights Say?

What Do the Amendments in the Bill of Rights Say?
I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X

More Bill of Rights Resources

• Bill of Rights cartoon
• iCivics: Do I have the right? Game
• LearningChocolate.com: U.S. Constitution: Bill of Rights  
• LearningChocolate.com: U.S. Constitution: The First Amendment 
• Library of Congress: Today in History: December 15: Bill of Rights
• LINCS: Civics Resources for Bill of Rights Day
• Listen Speak Read Write: The Bill of Rights
• National Archives: Celebrating Bill of Rights Day
• National Constitution Center: Bill of Rights Day
• TED-ED: A 3-minute guide to the Bill of Rights - Belinda Stutzman
• USCIS: Bill of Rights Day | A More Perfect Union series: The Civics Test Guide to the George Mason Memorial

75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Share America: 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Learn more:

• Resources for Human Rights Day links
• A Citizenship Quiz in Honor of the UDHR and Human Rights Day mp3 and pdf 
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Word Search Puzzle pdf 
• TED-ed: The rights you might not realize you have - Shannon Odell

Welcome Corps

Share America: Welcome Corps

For more information, visit our website: welcomecorps.org and to apply, visit welcomecorps.org/get-started/ This video is available in the following languages: English:    • Welcome Corps   Spanish:    • Cuerpo de bienvenida   French:    • Corps de bienvenue   Chinese:    • 欢迎团   Russian:    • Добро пожаловать, корпорация   Portuguese:    • Corpo de boas-vindas   Arabic:    • فيلق الترحيب   Urdu:    • کارپس کو خوش آمدید   Persian:    • سپاه استقبال  

Roseville hosts welcoming ceremony for 900 new U.S. citizens

 

KCRA 3: Roseville hosts welcoming ceremony for 900 new U.S. citizens

A Visit to America’s Oldest Public Park

VOANews: A Visit to America’s Oldest Public Park 

America’s oldest public park was established in Massachusetts in 1634. Boston Common has seen a lot in its 389-year history and remains as central to city life as it was at its founding centuries ago. VOA’s Dora Mekouar reports from Boston. VOA footage by Adam Greenbaum.

POP QUIZ:

USCIS 100:61. Why did the colonists fight the British? Question 61 Audio (MP3, 356.45 KB)

USCIS 100:69. Who is the “Father of Our Country”? Question 69 Audio (MP3, 138.99 KB)

USCIS 100:70. Who was the first President?* Question 70 Audio (MP3, 141.03 KB)

USCIS 100:06. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?* Question 6 Audio (MP3, 313.28 KB)

USCIS 100:51. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States? Question 51 Audio (MP3, 426.66 KB)

USCIS 100:85. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?* Question 85 Audio (MP3, 240.8 KB)

USCIS 100:74. Name one problem that led to the Civil War. Question 74 Audio (MP3, 273.37 KB)

USCIS 100:59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived? Question 59 Audio (MP3, 192.74 KB)

USCIS 100:64. There were 13 original states. Name three. Question 64 Audio (MP3, 659.02 KB)

USCIS 100:63. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? Question 63 Audio (MP3, 187.86 KB)

Two Citizenship Questions for Hanukkah

uscitizenpod: Two Citizenship Questions for Hanukkah

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday known as the Festival of Lights. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar.

Emma Lazarus (1849-1887) was a Jewish-American poet and activist who used the image of America as a light to the nations when she wrote "The New Colossus" (1883). This poem, which is engraved inside of the Statue of Liberty, talks about the millions of immigrants who came to the United States many of whom came through Ellis Island at the port of New York. The final lines say:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Manfred Anson (1922-2012), a survivor of the Holocaust, designed this Hanukkah lamp for the centennial of the Statue of Liberty in 1986. Anson used a souvenir figurines to cast the statuettes for the lamp, and the Statue of Liberty torch was transformed into a candle holder. The lamp is surmounted by an American eagle, and the base of each statuette is inscribed with significant dates in Jewish history. This Statue of Liberty Menorah is currently displayed at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Washington DC.

USCIS 100:95. Where is the Statue of Liberty?*

USCIS 100:10. What is freedom of religion?

Learn more:

A closer look at our Statue of Liberty Hanukkah lamp
http://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/2013/11/a-closer-look-at-our-statue-of-liberty-hanukkah-lamp-now-on-view.html

A Menorah That Honors an Immigrant’s Story: After escaping the Holocaust, Manfred Anson paid tribute to his new home
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/statue-of-liberty-menorah

Emma Lazarus: Poet Of Exiles
https://mjhnyc.org/exhibitions/emma-lazarus-poet-exiles/

Statue of Liberty National Monument
https://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm

She Wrote a Nation’s Welcome
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/arts/design/emma-lazarus-at-museum-of-jewish-heritage-review.html

This One-of-a-Kind Menorah Represents the True Spirit of Thanksgivukkah: A Hanukkah tradition melds with an icon of Americana
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/this-one-of-a-kind-menorah-represents-the-true-spirit-of-thanksgivukkah-180947855/

U.S. Postal Service and Israel Post Jointly Issue Hanukkah Stamps
http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2018/pr18_088.htm

What Are Treaties and Alliances?

 

 

National Museum of American Diplomacy: What Are Treaties and Alliances?

Treaties and alliances are two ways the United States formalizes agreements with other countries and international organizations. Treaties are written agreements between nations or between nations and international organizations. Alliances are formal agreements where countries pledge to help one another in a time of need. In this video, you will learn how treaties and alliances help nations build formal relationships. These agreements address different global issues. From copyright protection to border disputes, the United States is part of many treaties and alliances. Learn how treaties and alliances help nations build formal relationships in this video. Want to use this video in your classroom? Find supplementary resources like vocabulary lists, worksheets, and more here: LESSON PLAN

What Are Embassies, Consulates, and Missions?

 

National Museum of American Diplomacy: What Are Embassies, Consulates, and Missions? 

Embassies, consulates, and missions are the places where U.S. government representatives serve in foreign countries. Embassies serve as the headquarters for the State Department and other U.S. government representatives serving in foreign countries. Consulates provide the same services as embassies, but they follow the lead of the embassy. Both embassies and consulates are known collectively as missions, but missions also refer to U.S. representation to international organizations. You can find these buildings all over the world. Each mission has a unique organization and function depending on U.S. foreign policy goals. In this video, learn how U.S. embassies, consulates, and missions operate. Want to use this video in your classroom? Find supplementary resources like vocabulary lists, worksheets, and more here: LESSON PLANS

What Does the U.S. Secretary of State Do?

National Museum of American Diplomacy: What Does the U.S. Secretary of State Do? 

The U.S. Secretary of State leads the U.S. Department of State, America’s lead foreign affairs agency. The Secretary of State holds one of the most important positions in the U.S. government. As the senior member of the President’s Cabinet, this individual is responsible for carrying out the president’s foreign policy decisions and advising the president on issues of international concern. The secretary manages international crises and must be ready to respond to the unexpected anywhere in the world. Learn about America’s top diplomatic representative in this video. 

Want to use this video in your classroom? Find supplementary resources like vocabulary lists, worksheets, and more here: LESS0N PLAN

What Is the State Department?

National Museum of American Diplomacy: What Is the State Department? The U.S. Department of State is the government agency dedicated to protecting Americans and advancing U.S. interests abroad. 

In 1789, the U.S. Department of State, or the State Department, was established with the creation of the U.S. Constitution. Over the past 200 years, this federal agency has evolved to meet the new challenges of the 21st century. Throughout its history, the State Department has led the U.S. government’s foreign policy decisions and assisted Americans all over the world. In this video, understand how the State Department functions. LESSON PLAN

Nearly 900 new U.S. citizens welcomed in Roseville ceremony

CBS Sacramento: Nearly 900 new U.S. citizens welcomed in Roseville ceremony

The National Anthem and the presentation of the Color Guard welcomed nearly 900 people during a naturalization ceremony at The Grounds in Roseville.

Hundreds of Volunteers Get White House Ready for Christmas

VOA News: Hundreds of Volunteers Get White House Ready for Christmas

Every year, thousands of people from across the United States volunteer for a very exclusive holiday experience – the chance to decorate the White House for Christmas. Of all of those applicants, only 300 lucky people are chosen. VOA’s Dora Mekouar reports.

Learn more:

• U.S. Citizenship Resources for the Winter Holidays page
• Holiday Stamps and Religious Freedom pdf (2021)
• A Citizenship Quiz for Christmas  (2021) mp3 / pdf / video

Rosa Parks Day

What does it mean to stand up for something?
How do you show your support for causes you believe in?

TED-ED: The hidden life of Rosa Parks - Riché D. Richardson

Learn about the life of civil rights activist Rosa Parks— her work with the NAACP, bus boycotts, and her lifelong fight against racial inequality.

Throughout her life, Rosa Parks repeatedly challenged racial violence and the prejudiced systems protecting its perpetrators. Her refusal to move to the back of a segregated bus ignited a boycott that lasted 381 days and helped transform civil rights activism into a national movement. But this work came at an enormous risk— and a personal price. Riché D. Richardson details the life of Rosa Parks.

Lesson by Riché D. Richardson, directed by Eido.

Learn more:

Rosa Parks Day is a U.S observance that celebrates the famous civil rights leader Rosa Parks. In different parts of the United States, this day is celebrated on different days. In some areas, it’s celebrated on Rosa Park’s birthday—which is February 4th, and in other areas, it’s celebrated on December 1st. No matter what day it’s observed, however, it’s a good day to learn about the civil rights movement or to take part in activities that support the civil rights movement.

• LOC: Today in History: Dec 1: Rosa Parks Arrested
• NPS: Places of Rosa Parks

POP QUIZ:

12. What is the “rule of law”?

42. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states? 

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

84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

48. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.

37. What does the judicial branch do?

23. Name your U.S. Representative.