Happy Birthday, San Jose!

Looking west over northern San Jose (downtown is at far left)

and other parts of Silicon Valley (photo by Elf)

My family moved to the Berryessa district of San Jose in 1964. From the front window of my family home, I could see across the acres of orchards and farmland into downtown San Jose.

Many years have passed. San Jose, once the center of the "Valley of Heart's Delight" is now the capital of Silicon Valley. This past weekend, History San Jose sponsored a Fandango at the Peralta Adobe to celebrate the founding of San Jose in 1777. Happy Birthday, San Jose!

Happy Birthday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger!!!

The Senior ESL Class toasts Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

on his 61st Birthday:

Long Life and Good Health!

UMich Press 3: Andrew's Journey to a New Life in America

In Andrew's Journey to a New Life in America, Andrew is a Chinese man living in the United States, working hard, and trying to make a better life for himself and his fiancée, YaoLin. While adapting to a new language and customs, Andrew faces an even bigger challenge when his credit card is charged with purchases that aren't his. Andrew learns that his identity has been stolen, but with the help of his friends, he sets things right and begins a new life for himself in America.

Andrew's Journey to a New Life in America discusses problems with Eligibility/Personal Info (N-400 Parts 2 & 3), Jobs (N-400 6:B), and Crime (N-400 Part 10:D).

My students love to read and discuss these stories! The students are very concerned about identity theft and were surprised by the story's ending.

Read the modified Chapter 1 pdf and the other chapters, order the book from Amazon.com, or borrow it from your local library.

The MICHIGAN Stories for Newcomers are original fiction written for adult English learners who wish to improve their reading and English skills. These stories allow adults to read about the experiences of new speakers of English and learn about life in the United States. A modified, simpler and shorter, version of the story is provided on the website.

UMich Press 2: Senem's Journey to a New Beginning

In Senem's Journey to a New Beginning, Senem is a Turkish woman living in the United States and taking care of her family—her husband, Tarkan, and their son, Hasan—while adapting to a new language and new customs. Her task becomes even more challenging when Hasan is kidnapped and when she gets word of a natural disaster back home. With the help of her family and her new friends, however, Senem manages to find the strength to thrive in her unfamiliar setting and make new beginnings in her life.

Senem's Journey to a New Beginning discusses problems with Children (N-400 Part 9), Crime (N-400 Part 10:D) and Emergencies (N-400 Part 10:39).

My students love to read and discuss these stories! The Chinese students identified with Senem waiting for news about her family after there was an earthquake in her home country.

Read the modified Chapter 1 pdf and the other chapters, order the book from Amazon.com , or borrow it from your local library.

The MICHIGAN Stories for Newcomers are original fiction written for adult English learners who wish to improve their reading and English skills. These stories allow adults to read about the experiences of new speakers of English and learn about life in the United States. A modified, simpler and shorter, version of the story is provided on the website.

UMich Press 1: Flor's Journey to Independence

Flor's Journey to Independence begins as Flor and her four-year-old daughter, Betina, are unexpectedly abandoned by Flor's husband, Ricardo. Flor is suddenly faced with paying the bills and caring for Betina on her own, as she struggles without speaking much English. Still, Flor's determination gets her through the hard times, and once she enrolls in an English class for adults and begins working, she finds that her new life brings her new friends and opportunities.

Flor's Journey to Independence discusses problems with Marital Status (N-400 Part 8 & Part 10:22d) and Child Support (N-400 Part 10:22g) and issues with finding Housing (N-400 Part 4 & Part 6:A) and keeping a Job (N-400 Part 6:B).

My students love to read and discuss these stories! The students were especially sympathetic to Flor's problems finding good childcare.

Read the modified Chapter 1 pdf and the other chapters, order the book from Amazon.com, or borrow it from your local library.

The MICHIGAN Stories for Newcomers are original fiction written for adult English learners who wish to improve their reading and English skills. These stories allow adults to read about the experiences of new speakers of English and learn about life in the United States. A modified, simpler and shorter, version of the story is provided on the website. My students love to read and discuss these stories!

USPS Stamp: Mount Rushmore

On June 6, 2008, the US Postal Service issued a new Mount Rushmore ($4.80 Priority Mail) stamp. Mount Rushmore National Memorial is very popular tourist site located in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Carved into this mountain of granite are the faces of four American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. According to a 1929 budget document, the monument was intended “to commemorate the founding, expansion, preservation, and unification of the United States (source USPS.com). For more info, see VOANews American Mosaic: Mount Rushmore.

Video: Naturalization Ceremony in Southport, NC

A very special naturalization ceremony took place in Southport, NC where a group of 100 members of the United States armed forces will become U.S. citizens. Click here for the video from WWAY Channel 3 News (Wilmington, NC).

Note: There are several military and naval bases near Southport , NC. The above photo is the corner marker of the former Fort Johnston military reservations built in 1745. The fort was destroyed in 1775 by the US Patriots protesting the Stamp Act.

NYTimes: Lesson Plans about Immigration

One of my all-time favorite sites on the web is the NYTimes.com Learning Center which contains articles, activities, and lesson plans based on current topics. All the lesson plans are geared towards grades 6-12, but the material can be adapted for Adult ESL and Citizenship students.

Lesson plans are linked to current news stories and you can search for past lesson plans by topic. Today's lesson plan focuses on the topic of Immigration and is linked to an article about Day Laborers in New York.

Also of interest is the online almanac This Day in History, which has inspired many warm-up and enrichment activities in my Citizenship class.

New Citizens Register to Vote

07/17/08 GJFreePress: New citizens register to vote in Grand Junction Article

07/19/08 SJ MercuryNews: County voter drive blocked. Fewer New Citizens Registered After U.S. Agency Changes Rule Article

07/17/08 MPR: His mission: make new citizens voters. Article Audio plus slide show

07/21/08 FresnoBee: New citizens have chance to sign up for civic duty: voting Article

July 2008 Oath Ceremonies

07/04/08 Courant: Middletown Ceremony Welcomes 35 New U.S. Citizens Article

07/05/08 NYTimes: Bush Welcomes 72 New U.S. Citizens Article AP Video

07/11/08 LATimes: Number of Mexicans gaining citizenship soars in 2007 Article

07/14/08 KVBC: 1,000 new US citizens welcomed in Las Vegas Article Video

07/17/08 Tyler Paper: 57 Become American Citizens Article

07/17/08 Wochester Telegram: 733 rejoice over new citizenship Article

07/18/08 Gainsville Sun: New citizens are welcomed into the fold Article

07/18/08 WIVT/WBGH News Channel 34: 44 New US Citizens in Binghamton, NY Video

07/19/08 AZ Central: 1,500 new citizens take oath in Chandler Article

07/19/08 Philly: New American: A woman's path to citizenship Article

07/20/08 Sea Coast Online: Great day for U.S., new citizens Article

Dictation Sentences 96:51-60

USCIS S96:51-60

Here are ten sentences for reading and dictation. These sentences are based on answers to the USCIS 96:51-60 Questions. Instead of phrasal responses, the answers are given in complete sentences.

• 51. The executive of a state government is the Governor.
• 52. The head executive of a city government is the Mayor.
• 53. Thanksgiving was celebrated for the first time by American colonists.
• 54. Thomas Jefferson was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence.
• 55. The Declaration of Independence was adopted July 4, 1776.
• 56. The basic beliefs of the Declaration of Independence are that all people are created equal and have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
• 57. The national anthem of the United States is the Star-Spangled Banner.
• 58. Francis Scott Key wrote The Star-Spangled Banner.
• 59. The minimum voting age in the United States is 18 years old.
• 60. The President signs bills into law.

The Capitol, Knitted!

In 2005, Canadian artist, Janet Morton, taught at the University of Wisconsin. While she was in Madison, Morton became fascinated with the Wisconsin Capitol Building. The building was modeled on the US Capitol, the place where Congress meets. This knitted sculputre is part of the Beyond Knitting: Uncharted Stitches, currently on display at the San Jose Quilt Museum.

Seneca Falls and the Right to Vote

The Seneca Falls Convention, July 19 to July 20, 1848, was the first women's rights convention held in the United States. The convention leaders, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, were later joined by Susan B. Anthony, Carrie C. Catt, to work for the abolition of slavery (the 13th Amendment), temperance (prohibition of alchohol--the 18th Amendment), and women's suffrage, the Nineteenth Amendment. Because of the hard work of many brave women and men begun at Seneca Falls, Women have the right to vote!

The League of Women Voters honors the Nineteenth Amendment by educating voters about political issues and sponsoring candidates' debates. Members of the local chapters of the League of Women Voters attend Oath Ceremonies where they register many new citizens to vote.

John's Word Search Puzzles

John Potter and his family has created hundreds of Word Search puzzles. The puzzles aare organized into the following categories: General, Kid's, Geography, Holidays, Letters, Bible, Sports, and TV-Movies (*hint* the Letters Word Search Puzzle are helpful for pronunciation practice). Here are some puzzles related to the USCIS 96/100.

• American Revolution
• American Revolution (kids)
• Black History
• Civil War, The
• Fourth of July
• Native Americans
• Sept 11, 2001
• Star Spangled Banner
• Star Spangled Banner (kids)
• Thanksgiving I
• Thanksgiving II
• Thanksgiving III
• The United States of America
• U.S. Capitals
• U.S. First Ladies
• U.S. Presidents
• U.S. States
• Veterans Day
• Women in History

Awesome Stories

Awesome Stories has many high-interest US History stories that students in pre-GED or Intermediate-Advanced ESL classes would enjoy reading. Some stories include audio clips. Here are three sample stories related to the USCIS 96/100.

• American Colonies: We are Free! The story of the Declaration of Independence and America’s decision to sever ties with Great Britain.
• US Constitution. The story of America’s Constitution (and the convention which created it).
• Star-Spangled Banner: The story of Francis Scott Key and the poem which became a national anthem.

GRPress: New citizens take the oath at Ford Museum

Here is an article and video of a recent Oath Cermeony at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

ALL-STAR Citizen: David "Big Papi" Ortiz

David "Big Papi" Ortiz, native of the Dominican Republic and All-Star fielder for the Boston Red Sox, recently took the Oath of Citizenship. This video includes the Oath of Allegiance, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a post-ceremony interview.

Like many new citizens, he attended the ceremony with his family, then immediately went to work after the ceremony. Godspeed his recovery--see Big Papi next year at the All-Star Game!!!

Work for the USCIS!

One of the most important benefits of US Citizenship is obtaining a federal job. The USCIS is currently recruiting new immigration officers. For more information, see:

• USCIS: Learn About USCIS
• USCIS: Become a USCIS Employee
• USCIS: Understanding Pay and Benefits
• USCIS- Training and Career Development
• USCIS: Frequently Asked Questions

Also see the Houston Chronicle article about the USCIS Academy:

• Dallas center at heart immigration hiring surge (07/14/08)
  Summary: People who enroll in the USCIS Academy learn how to become USCIS officers. They study immigration law and history. They are part of a nationwide effort by the USCIS to recruit and train hundreds of new employees who will help tackle the agency's mountainous backlog of cases.

For further information about obtaining a federal job, visit USAJOBS, the Federal Government's official one-stop source for Federal jobs and employment information

TEAMUSA Gets Ready for the Beijing Olympics

New US Citizen, Bernard Lagat

One of the most exciting events of the summer will be the Beijing Olympics. It is also interesting to note the contribution of newly naturalized US citizens to TEAMUSA. For futher information, see:

USOC: The Official Website of the US Olympic Team--checkout the videos and photo galleries here.

NYTimes: Born and Trained Elsewhere, Competing for the U.S.

NYTimes: Swapping Passports in Pursuit of Olympic Medals

NYTimes: Olympic Hopes Are Rooted in Tale of Escape

TusconCitizen: Tucsonan Lagat legs out big win at Olympic trials...Tucsonan Bernard Lagat said he took every word seriously when he recited the oath that made him a U.S. citizen. Maybe that's why the smile was so wide when he finally became a U.S. Olympian. . .

Slide Show: Milpitas, a city proud of its cultural diversity.

US Citizenship Podcast is produced at Milpitas Adult School. Click here to see four short slide shows highlighting the history and cultural diversity of Milpitas, CA 95035!

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Nakrani on passing their US Citizenship interviews!