New Citizen and New Passport

Tammy Chen is a retired elementary school teacher from Taiwan. She immigrated with her husband, Charles, to the United States to live with their daughter and granddaughter.

After living in the United States for five years, Tammy applied for US Citizenship and passed the interview.

Tammy went to Taiwan for the summer to visit her family. While she was in Taiwan, she finally received her letter for the Oath Ceremony--18 months after her Citizenship interview!

Tammy was very happy to receive the letter, but there was a small problem. The Oath Ceremony was on August 6 and she was going on vacation to the Canadian Rockies on August 8. She must have a passport to go to Canada. What should she do?

Tammy called her daughter, Carol, in California. Checking the internet, Carol found out that the US State Department, not the USCIS, issues US passports.

The US State Department does not manage relations between US states, such as California and Nevada. The US State Department manages relations between the United States and other countries, such as the United States and Canada. The Travel Department of the US State Department issues passports for US Citizens and visas for visitors to the United States.

Because Tammy needed a passport quickly, Carol made an appointment for Tammy at the San Francisco Passport Agency.

The San Francisco Passport Agency only serves customers who are traveling, or submitting their passports for foreign visas, within 14 days.

To apply at the Agency, you must schedule an appointment by calling toll-free at 1-877-487-2778, 24 hours/day.

If you are not traveling, or needing to submit your passport for foreign visas within 14 days, you must apply at a Passport Application Acceptance Facility.

On August 8, the day after her Oath Ceremony, Tammy and Carol went to the SFPA for her appointment.

San Francisco Passport Agency
95 Hawthorne Street, 5th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105-3901

Tammy gave the agent her application, fee, and 2 passport photos. The passport agent did not ask her many questions, but only checked her passport application. Then the agent gave Tammy a new passport.

Twenty-seven hours after becoming an American Citizen, Tammy Chen can use her new US Passport to travel to outside of the United States.

Tammy is overjoyed to become a US Citizen and her family is thrilled to go on vacation together. Congratulations and Bon Voyage!

Lost Boy becomes US Citizen!

The San Jose Mercury News is proud to present the story of Simon Kuir Deng, former Lost Boy of Sudan, who has found a new home in San Jose as a US citizen. During this ceremony, my students, Chen Fu Chiu, Wu Wan Jung, and others, also became citizens.

The related article also details the conflict between federal and local voting officials, who allowed people to register to vote immediately before the Oath Ceremony.

CBP: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

CBP: U.S. Customs and Border Protection protects the borders of the United States from terrorism, human and drug smuggling, illegal migration, and agricultural pests. Video.

Every day, CBP welcomes more than 1.1 million international travelers into United States at its land, sea, and air ports!

Border Patrol officers guard US borders. Here is a photo gallery the Border Patrol at work.

When travellers come through US "Customs," they must show their passport to a Customs officer. Here is a photo gallery of Customs Officers working at an airport. Listen to a conversation between a Customs Officer and a woman re-entering the United States.

CBP has information sheets about what a traveller should "Know Before You Go" outside of the United States.

CBP, ICE, USCIS are departments under the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

ICE is the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

ICE enforces immigration & customs laws.

ICE goes to worksites to check if the employees can work in the US legally.

ICE deports illegal aliens.

ICE stops human trafficking.

ICE stops illegal copying & the theft of intellectual property.

ICE is frequently in the news. ICE is sometimes confused with the USCIS.

• ICE and USCIS are two separate departments under the Department of Homeland Security.
• ICE does the law enforcement job of the old INS (USCIS) and Customs departments.
  

USCIS is the US Citizenship and Immigration Service.

• USCIS helps people to immigrate to the US.
• After they fulfill the residency requirement, people can become naturalized US citizens.

USCIS: New "How do I?" Customer Guides

On August 1, 2008, the USCIS published updated "how-to" or FAQs to help people with immigration and naturalization. These guides are available in a .pdf format for easy downloading and printing. Kudos, USCIS!

A- U.S. Citizens
A1- How Do I Help My Relative Become a U.S. Permanent Resident?
A2- How Do I Help My Fiancé(e) Become a U.S. Permanent Resident?
A3- How Do I Immigrate an Adopted or Prospective Adopted Child or Help My Adopted Child Become a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident?
A4- How Do I Get Proof of My U.S. Citizenship?
A5- How Do I Get Information About Requirements for Traveling Abroad?

B- Permanent Residents
B1- How Do I Help My Relative Become a U.S. Permanent Resident?
B2- How Do I Renew or Replace My Permanent Resident Card?
B3- How Do I Apply for U.S. Citizenship?
B4- How Do I Know What My Responsibilities Are?
B5- How Do I Get a Reentry Permit?

C- Nonimmigrants
C1- How Do I Extend My Nonimmigrant Stay in the United States?
C2- How Do I Change to Another Nonimmigrant Status?
C3- How Do I Replace a Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record?

D- Refugees and Asylees
D1- How Do I Help My Relative Get Refugee or Asylee Status in the United States?
D2- How Do I Show My Employer That I Am Authorized to Work in the United States?
D3- How Do I Become a U.S. Permanent Resident?
D4- How Do I Get a Refugee Travel Document?

E- Employers
E1- How Do I Hire a Foreign National for Short-Term Employment in the United States?
E2- How Do I Sponsor an Employee for U.S. Permanent Resident Status?
E3- How Do I Complete Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification?
E4- How Do I Use E-Verify?

F- General Information
F1- How Do I Know What Services Are Available After I File?
F2- How Do I Change My Address With USCIS?
F3- How Do I Financially Sponsor Someone Who Wants to Immigrate?

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT 2008

The "25th Annual National Night Out" (NNO), is a national crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW). This year's NNO has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 5, 2008.

National Night Out campaign brings together neighbors, police, civic groups, businesses, and local officials from over 10,000 communities from all over the US and Canada. In all, over 35 million people participated in National Night Out 2007.

The 4 goals of NATIONAL NIGHT OUT are:

• Tell people how to stop crime.


• Support local anti-crime programs.


• Help neighborhoods and police work together.


• Send a message to criminals--We're fighting crime!

Many people show their support for NNO by turning on their porch light, sitting outside for the evening, and chatting with their neighbors and patrol officers.

San Jose and Milpitas will have several NNO events. To find a NNO event in your neighborhood, vist National Night Night.

CBS: Craig Ferguson's Citizenship Test

January 29, 2008: Enjoy this funny (but true) video of Craig Ferguson, formerly of Scotland (and currently the host of the CBS Late Late Show) as he takes and passes his official U.S. citizenship test. Good job, Craig!

Deportation

N-400 Part 10 Section E #25 asks "Are there any removal, exclusion or deportation proceedings pending against you?"

During the Citizenship interview, this question is usually asked: "Have you ever been deported?"

Here are three stories about deportation:

Simple English News 06/25/07: A Politician Could Be Deported Article & Audio

NYTimes o8/03/08: Immigrants Deported by U.S. Hospitals Article Video

NYTimes 07/11/08: An Interpreter Speaking Up for Migrants Article & Video

LOC.gov: Interviews with Today's Immigrants

As part of online exhibit: Immigration...The Changing Face of America, the Library of Congess has collected Interviews of Today's Immigrants conducted by students and teachers. The interviews are organized by geographic region, and list the name of the interviewer, the interviewee, relationship, age at immigration, year of immigration, and port of entry. Each story is fascintating, heartbreaking, and inspirational.

While you are at the LOC website, checkout the other Library of Congress Digital Collections featuring photos, videos, music, audio clips, and essays on thousands of topics.

Did you know that the original Library of Congress was destroyed when the British burned down Washington DC during the War of 1812?

Less than a day after the attack began, a hurricane which included a tornado passed through Washington DC, damaging the British navy and putting out the fires in the capital. A week later, the British attacked Fort McHenry (between Washington DC and Baltimore), inspiring Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner. The retired President Thomas Jefferson donated his personal library to re-establish the Library of Congress.

Our Advice

On the last day of Summer School, the US Citizenship class went to Pho Nguyen to celebrate the successful "PASS!" of one of our fella students, Diem. We also congratulated the students who had already passed their interview, and encouraged our fellow soon-to-be-citizens. Our advice:

Study hard before the interview.

Stay calm during the interview.

Celebrate your success!

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!

Simple English News: UNUSUAL NEWS

**Happy Birthday, Dad!
**Good Luck on your interview, Mr & Mrs Nakrani!

My students enjoy the short and sweet stories from Sam Margolis' Simple English News, but they particularly enjoy Simple English News: UNUSUAL NEWS stories. Here are some funny stories keyed to the N-400 sections. Click the evoca widget to listen to an audio clip of the story.

N-400 Part 1 Name: A Baby Whose Name is 185 Letters Long

N-400 Part 2 & 3 Eligibility& Birth: A Lucky Baby

N-400 Part 4 Addresses & Phone: Living in a Motel

N-400 Part 5 Physical Appearance: Hemingway Lookalikes

N-400 Part 6 Residence & Job: The Virtuoso Janitor

N-400 Part 7 Travel: This Doesn't Look Like Greece

N-400 Part 8 Marital History: A 7-year Marriage Limit

N-400 Part 9 Children: A Woman Gave Birth to Her Grandchildren

N-400 Part 10 Additional Questions

• A Dog Who Can Vote
• Romanian Prisoners Escaped During a Soccer Game
• A Computer Thrower Will Not be Punished
• A Geman Thief Left His Credit Card Behind
• A Mother Drove Her Son to Rob a Store
• A Shoplifter Is Arrested After Returning Shoes
• A Writer Described His Crime in a Book
• Australia's Dumbest Robbers
• A Woman Was Arrested for Not Watering Her Lawn
• A Beer Taster Becomes An Alcoholic
• A Woman with 10 Husbands
• Don't Say These Words to the Mayor

US History Puzzle: USCIS 100:58-87

Here is a word search puzzle based on the new USCIS 100:58-87. The vocabulary word are presented in chronological order. Find only the bold words. Numbers are not included. Good luck!

Dictation Sentences 96:41-50

USCIS S96:41-50

Here are ten sentences for reading and dictation. These sentences are based on answers to the USCIS 96:41-50 Questions. Instead of phrasal responses, the answers are given in complete sentences.

41. Patrick Henry said, “Give me liberty or give me death”.
42. Germany, Italy, and Japan were some countries that were our enemies during World War II.
43. Alaska was the 49th state added to our Union.
44. A President can serve 2 full terms.
45. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a civil rights leader.
46. A candidate for President must be a native-born, not naturalized, citizen; at least 35 years old; and have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years.
47. There are 100 Senators in the U.S. Senate because each state elects 2 Senators.
48. The President nominates judges for the Supreme Court.
49. There are 9 Supreme Court Justices.
50. The Pilgrims came to America to gain religious freedom.

Dictation Sentences 96:31-40

USCIS S96:31-40

Here are ten sentences for reading and dictation. These sentences are based on answers to the USCIS 96:01-10 Questions. Instead of phrasal responses, the answers are given in complete sentences.

31. The President is elected for a 4-year term.
32. The Supreme Court is the highest part of the Judiciary Branch.
33. The duties of the Supreme Court are to interpret and explain the laws.
34. The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States.
35. The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the Constitution.
36. The capital of the state of California is Sacramento.
37. Arnold Schwarzenegger is the current Governor of California.
38. The Speaker of the House becomes President if both the President and Vice-President die.
39. John G. Roberts, Jr. is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
40. The original 13 states were Virginia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Georgia.

New USCIS Resources Are Coming!!!

*Spanish and Chinese translations of the 100 questions will by available online at http://www.uscis.gov/ by July 15, 2008.

*Vietnamese and Tagalog translations of the 100 questions will be available online by September 1, 2008.

*Revised Civics Flash Cards and a new product - English Vocabulary FlashCards - will be available free online, and for purchase from the Government Printing Office, in late summer. Both sets will becolor-coded red, to distinguish them from the blue flash cards for thecurrent test.

*Updated "Quick Civics Lessons" (also color-coded red) will be online by September 1, 2008. As has been the established practice, we expect free dissemination to all naturalizations applicants reporting to the Application Support Center for their fingerprinting appointments to begin on October 1, 2008.

* For direct access to these and other information on the Redesigned Naturalization Test new test materials please save this link www.uscis.gov/newtest. This link is already functional (please do try it!). However, please remember that the new materials listed above willonly be available on or after the dates mentioned. If for some reason the link fails to work for you, simply type it in the address box after you get to our home page.

Exerpted from the Questions and Answers: USCIS National Stakeholder Meeting, June 24, 2008

AMERICAN SYMBOLS at SF Museum of Craft and Folk Art

Collaged Flag, 1943

Maker Unidentified

Paper stamps and envelopes, ink

Collected by Kit Hinrichs

Currently on display at the San Francisco Museum of Craft and Folk Art

My friend and I went to San Francisco today, to see the Frida Kahlo exhibit at SFMOMA and the new Contemporary Jewish Museum. Both were interesting, but the highlight of the day was visiting the San Francisco Museum of Craft and Folk Art, which has relocated from its former location at Fort Mason to it's new location in the SF Yerba Buena Museum District.

SFMOCFA's current show is American Symbols: From Lady Liberty to the Stars and Stripes. This exhibit features American folk art and crafts with Lady Liberty, Uncle Sam, or the American Eagle designs, but the Flag dominated the exhibit. I learned that the exact pattern of the stars was not specified prior to 1912, so there are several flags in the exhibit that do not follow the "standard design".

I quilt and crochet, so I studied the modern quilt, crazy quilt, filet-crochet, and penny-stitch flags very closely. I also collect stamps, so I was overjoyed to see a flag (see above) made from red stamps, postmarks (cut from white envelopes), and blue stamps. Many of the postmarks encouraged people to WWII War Bonds. My friend was particularly moved by the Lakota Gauntlet Gloves and the Cheyenne Flag Moccasins, incorporating the US Flag in Native American Pow-Wow regalia. And everyone stopped to admire the gorgeous 1912 Japanese-American Friendship Kimono (delivered to President Taft along with the Cherry Trees that line the Potomac).

Many of the items in the show were collected by artist/educator (and Eagle Scout) Kit Hinrichs. For more about Kit Hinrich's Americana collection, see: STUDIO MADE FOR THE STARS AND STRIPES. Also checkout Kit Hinrichs' books: 100 American Flags: A Unique Collection of Old Glory Memorabilia (2008) and Long May She Wave: A Graphic History of the American Flag (2001). Kit Hinrichs is also participating in a new exhibit, Thoughts on Democracy, now on display at the Wolfsonian Museum, FL.

Whether you are in California, Florida, cyberspace, or your local bookstore, please see Kit Hinricks art and collections--you will learn a lot about Americana. When you are in San Francisco, visit San Francisco Museum of Craft and Folk Art--you will see great art!

The Star-Spangled Banner

Click here to see a great video of people auditioning to sing the National Anthem for a local minor league baseball team.

The Star-Spangled Banner
O! say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming.
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming.
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Independence Day!

Click once for a HUGE picture of fireworks.

Checkout Yahoo News Independence Day slide show for many more pictures.

Podcasts on their way...
USCIS S96:01-10

USCIS S96:11-20 (Sentence 16--corrected! Thanks Mrs Nakrani!)

USCIS S96:21-30

America the Beautiful

America the Beautiful
O beautiful, for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.

O beautiful, for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years,
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!

See Wikipedias's list of American Patriotic Songs

Search for and sing along with patriotic music videos on YouTube. I particularly enjoyed this video of America the Beautiful sung with gusto by the Gaither Vocal Band.

MUST SEE: Angela Tirado has been singing the National Anthem for naturalization ceremonies in San Jose, CA. This is the woman who leads my students in the Star Spangled Banner at their Oath Ceremony. [Video]

July 4th 96/100Q Quiz

July 4 Handout. On June 11, 1776, Congress appointed a "Committee of Five": John Adams (Massachusetts), Benjamin Franklin (Pennsylvania), Thomas Jefferson (Virginia), Robert Livingston (New York), & Roger Sherman (Connecticut), to write a paper declaring America’s independence from England.

On July 2, 1776, the Committee of Five presented their draft and the Continental Congress voted for independence from England. In a letter written to his wife Abigail, John Adams predicted that July 2nd would become a great American holiday.

Between July 2-4, Congress made a few changes in the text, and deleted a passage about the slave trade. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved and published.

The first public reading was on July 8th in Philadelphia, and General George Washington had the Declaration of Independence read to his troops on July 9th. It is traditional to read the Declaration of Independence publicly on July 4th as a part of Independence Day celebrations.

• 96:09 What do we celebrate on the 4th of July?
• 96:10 Independence Day celebrates independence from whom?
• 96:11 What country did we fight during the Revolutionary War?
• 96:54 Who was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence?
• 96:55 When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
• 96:56 What are some of the basic beliefs of the Declaration of Independence?
• 100:08 What did the Declaration of Independence do?
• 100:09 What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
• 100:62 Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
• 100:63 When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
• 100:99 When do we celebrate Independence Day?
• 100:100 Name two national U.S. holidays.

SimpleEnglishNews.com

My students love listening to Sam Margolis' Simple English News, a website that publishes very short news stories about current events. The news stories also include short audio clips that are less minute.

Here is a selection of Simple English News stories keyed to the new USCIS 100:100: Name two national U.S. holidays.

▪ New Year’s Day
▪ Martin Luther King, Jr., Day
▪ Presidents’ Day
▪ Memorial Day
▪ Independence Day
▪ Labor Day
▪ Columbus Day (Columbus' family may be from Ibiza)
▪ Veterans Day
▪ Thanksgiving
▪ Christmas

Randall's Cyber Listening Lab

Another good listening resource is Randall's Cyber Listening Lab. These short conversations are organized into Beginning, Medium, and Advanced levels and each conversation includes a quiz. Scroll to the bottom of the main page and you will find even more vocabulary activities and quizzes. Here are some conversations keyed to the N-400 (most are Beginning Level).

Before the Interview
Introductions and Small Talk Quiz
Conversation Starters and Small Talk

N-400 Part 1 Name: Tell me about yourself

N-400 Part 2 & 3 Eligibility & Birth: Where are you from?

N-400 Part 4 Addresses & Phone: Phone Message

N-400 Part 5 Physical Appearance: Personal Security

N-400 Part 6 Residence & Job: Job Hunting

N-400 Part 7 Travel: Immigration and Customs

N-400 Part 8 Marital History: Wedding Anniversary

N-400 Part 9 Children: Family Activities

N-400 Part 10 Additonal questions: Traffic Ticket

Also check out Randall's other ESL sites:
Train Your Accent: ESL Accent Reduction Training
Daily ESL: Conversation Starters for English Students
EZ Slang: Speaking Effective English
Randall's ESL Blog - For ESL/EFL Teachers and Students
Study Abroad: Tips For ESL Students

ESLPod.com

My students constantly ask me for more listening exercises. In my opnions, ESLPod.com is one of most valuable sites on the internet. Checkout the ESLPod's Blog (especially the Life in the United States entries) and ESLPod's English Café, an audio series posted on Wednesday which covers current topics. You can download the mp3s or subscribe to ESLPod's podcasts for free. There are more than 300 ESLPod episodes, but here are a couple keyed to different parts of the N-400.

Before the Interview
ESLPodcast 28 - Small Talk About the Weather
ESLPodcast 44 - Making a Good Impression
ESL Podcast 300 – Arriving for an Appointment
ESLPodcast 94 - Nervous at an Interview I

N-400 Part 1 Name: ESLPodcast 95 - Nervous at an Interview II

N-400 Part 2 & 3 Eligibility& Birth: ESLPodcast 93 - Diversity at Work

N-400 Part 4 Addresses & Phone: ESL Podcast 246 – Understanding Addresses

N-400 Part 5 Physical Appearance: ESL Podcast 169 - Describing People’s Looks

N-400 Part 6 Residence & Job: ESLPodcast 92 - Types of Work

N-400 Part 7 Travel: ESL Podcast 191 – Changing Money

N-400 Part 8 Marital History: ESL Podcast 303 – A Traditional Wedding

N-400 Part 9 Children: ESL Podcast 136 - Having a Baby

N-400 Part 10 Additonal questions
ESL Podcast 364 – Filing Taxes
ESL Podcast 143 - Fighting a Parking Ticket
ESL Podcast 172 - Legal Problems
ESL Podcast 334 – Hiding from the Police
ESL Podcast 367 – Going into the Military

VOANews: Learning English Podcasts and Videocasts

Special English TV
Each Sunday, five of our short features are broadcast on satellite television. Each feature is about four minutes long and has captions

15 Minute Features
People in America (Sunday), This Is America (Monday), Science in the News (Tuesday), Explorations (Wednesday), The Making of a Nation (Thursday), American Mosaic (Friday), American Stories (Saturday)

4 Minute Features
Development Report (Monday), Agriculture Report (Tuesday), Health Report (Wednesday), Education Report (Thursday), Economics Report (Friday)

5 Minute Features
In the News (Saturday), Words and Their Stories (Sunday)

Special English Radio: 30 Minutes of News and Features
Special English news and feature programs use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts.

You can see more VOANews podcasts and videocasts here.

VOANews: The Making of a Nation Series

Every Thursday, Voice of America Special English News (VOANews) broadcasts a fifteen-minute program entitled, The Making of the Nation, a radio series about American history. You can read the transcipts and listen to the broadcasts here. Recent episodes have focused on different aspect of Thomas Jefferson's Presidency.

There is a special episode dedicated to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, perfect for Independence Day, the Fourth of July.

ELCivics.com: Videos and More!

One of the best Citizenship resources on the internet is Christine Niven's ELCivics.com. There are photo essays, slide shows, videos, and puzzles keyed to the USCIS History and Government Questions.

Here is ELCivic.com's new Fourth of July Fireworks video. Say the name and state of each city. Find each city on a map of the United States.



You can see all the ELCivics videos here. Congratulations to Christine Niven on another good job well done!

Don't Use Fireworks!

Many people celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks. Fireworks, however, are illegal in many communities. Check with your local police department whether it is legal or illegal for you to use fireworks.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the current Governor of California, is asking people not to buy or use fireworks. Read Gov. Schwarzenegger's 06/25/08 comments here and watch the 2007 video below.

Dictation Sentences 96:01-10

USCIS S96:01-10

Here are ten sentences for reading and dictation. These sentences are based on answers to the USCIS 96:01-10 Questions. Instead of phrasal responses, the answers are given in complete sentences.

1. The colors of our flag are red, white, and blue.
2. There is one star for each state.
3. There are 50 stars on our flag.
4. The stars on our flag are white.
5. There are 13 stripes on our flag.
6. The stripes on the flag represent the first 13 states.
7. The stripes on the flag are red and white.
8. There are 50 states in the Union (the United States).
9. We celebrate Independence Day on the 4th of July.
10. Independence Day celebrates independence from England.

You can use the S01-10 Dictation Handout when you listen to the S01-10 mp3.

Practice reading the sentences aloud, then ask a friend to dictate the senteces to you. For fun, read the answer first, then try to remember the questions. Asking questions is an important skill for Citizenship.

Get the complete set of the sentences here.

Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Champaklal and Savitaben Nakrani for the dictation idea.

Thanks to Teleen Santillan from the Colusa County Office of Education and to Thomas Donohue from Santiago Canyon College for reading the dictation sentences.

Milpitas: A Great American City!

Do you know the way to San Jose? If you do, you can find Milpitas just north-east of San Jose, CA.

Official City of Milpitas Website
The Milpitas History Homepage
Wikipedia: Milpitas, CA
Milpitas Adult School Website (new version coming soon)
Milpitas Adult Education Wikispace (great ESL & EL Civics links)
New US Citizens from Milpitas (new slide show)

Humankind: A Union of Citizens

The USCIS revised the US History & Government questions (new USCIS 100) for many reasons. The two most important reasons for the revision are: 1) To make the test more relevant; 2) To inform new citizens of their rights and responsibilities (USCIS 100:48-57).

One of the most important questions of the new USCIS 100:

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

The USCIS lists 10 possibilities (vote; join a political party; help with a campaign, etc), but there are as many ways to participate in the American democracy as there are Americans.

HumanKind, a radio show on National Public Radio (NPR), recently aired two 30-minute programs entitled, "A Union of Citizens." The show begins with the Oath of Allegiance and gives many example of how Americans participate in their local community. You can listen to a free 6 minute sample of the show; or you can pay and download the entire hour.

Flag of U.S. Immigration: America's International Roots

While I was doing research yesterday, I came upon this most amazing flag from SaltShaker.us. The Flag of US Immigration incorporates the flags of immigrant's countires, the number of immigrants from each country, plus further comments about immigration. Click the flag two or three times to see the flag full-sized.

Spring 2008 Naturalization Ceremonies

USCIS hosted a special naturalization ceremony at the Home of George Washington. Acting Director Jonathan Scharfen administered the Oath of Allegiance and offered congratulatory remarks.

Black Anthem: Troops in Afghanistan Take Citizenship Oath Story

Boston Globe: Big Papi, pride of Sox Nation, joins US as a citizen Story Gallery Video SI.com

Cedar Rapids Gazette: A new chapter for 60 new citizens Story

LA Times: LA welcomes 18,000 new citizens, a city record LAtimesBlog AP Story

Mayor Many Diaz (Miami): Naturalization Ceremony The Mayor's Blog

Naples News: Collier hosts first naturalization ceremony in 25 years Story Gallery

Pittsburgh Tribune Review: 253 sworn in as citizens as part of Pittsburgh's birthday Story

San Jose Mercury News: Hundreds become U.S. citizens at Campbell ceremony Story

Santa Barbara Independent: Goleta’s New Citizens Just-Minted Citizens Cast a Vote for the First Time Story

USCIS: First Military Spouse Takes Naturalization Oath Overseas Story Gallery

USCIS: USCIS Welcomes New Citizens at the Home of George Washington Gallery

Washington Post: Judge Offers Lesson In U.S. Citizenship With Arlington Cemetery As a Backdrop, Ceremony Takes on Added Meaning Story Gallery Soldier's Mind MiliBlog

USCIS & CASAS News

The highlight of the CASAS Institute (for me) was three workshops led by different officers from the USCIS, with futher comments from CASAS representatives.

Big USCIS News

• Available now: Scoring Guidelines for the English Portion of the Naturalization Test.
• In July, the USCIS will be publishing new USCIS 100 Flashcards and supporting Quick Civic Lessons, with supplementary audio CD.
• Also look for "The Revised Naturalization Test: Teaching Objectives: A Guide for Adult Education Civics and Citzenship Teachers of Immigrants Volume 1" (No document number yet--but downloadable soon).

Big CASAS News

• CASAS is updating 963/964C US History & Government tests in support of the new USCIS 100 Questions.
• Teachers: if you have already been teaching the new USCIS 100, contact your CASAS Field Representative about been a pilot site for the revised 963/964 test.
• Plans are being made to make the revised 963/964C test available as an eTest.

New Citizen: My Sister-in-Law!

New Citizen: Guadalupe Gagliardi de Rios

Congratulations to my beloved sister-in-law, Guadalupe, on becoming a U.S. citizen! Guadalupe is originally from Mexico City and came to California in the early '90s. She married my brother, Gene, in 1995 and gave birth to their lovely daughter, Carmen, in 2000. Guadalupe, Gene, and Carmen now live in Oceanside, and I went out to dinner with them after the CASAS Institute. Guadalupe is pictured here with her US Citizenship papers and her new truck.

One Nation, Under CASAS

The US Flag flying over the CASAS Summer Institute at Town & County, San Diego

Greetings from the CASAS Summer Institute in San Diego. I attended a day-long workshop entitled "CASAS: Beyond Implementation for ELL/ESL". The workshop leaders talked about the relationship between CASAS Competencies (updated June 2008)and Basic Skill Content Standards for Reading and Listening.

Although the workshop focused mostly on ESL classrooms, the workshop information can be applied to Citizenship classes.

For example, when a Citizenship student takes the 973S (Citizenship Interview Test) and correctly responds to a question about their eligibility for Citizenship, they are demonstrating the CASAS Competency 5.3.6: interpret information or identify requirements for establishing residency or obtaining citizenship.

This Competency is further re-inforced when they take CASAS "Life and Work" tests (27R-187R) in which they identify various forms of ID from Social Security Numbers to Driver Licenses to Green Cards to a sign about Fingerprinting to a long narrative about voting (see sample tests).

Furthermore, the student is demonstrating the Basic Content Standards of interpreting simple (R4.6) and complex form (R4.7) and comprehending single-step instructions (L5.4).

Althought it wasn't discussed during the workshop, the CASAS Competencies and Basic Content Standards can be further strengthened if a school participates in CASAS EL Civics program, particularly COAPPS 40.6: Respond to questions about the history and government of the United States in order to be successful in the naturalization process. This COAPPS includes a mock Citizenship interview--a TREMENDOUS amount of work--but all the ESL students really benefit from interview preparation during which they must quickly master multiple language skills.

Although, it seems that the only thing more boring than taking a test is talking about a test, the information was quite interesting, especially the info about the new listening tests and etests (computerized tests)--no more bubbling, just click,click,click!

After the workshop, I wandered over to the Resource and Technology room. I was very impressed by the The CASAS resource QuickSearch lists more than 2000 print, audio, visual and computer-based instructional materials, and correlates them to the CASAS Competencies. I also reviewed the updated CASAS Bibliography of Citizenship Materials and took an CASAS etest. But I really got excited about the Reading for Citizenship Tests (951R/9512R,951RX/952RX) and will try to convince our school CASAS administrator to adopt these tests (see pg 28 in the CASAS Catalog).

I am really looking forward to Thursday when an USCIS officer from Laguna Niguel talks about the new 100Qs. If you have any questions, email uscitizenpod@gmail.com.

Final question: What does the acronym C.A.S.A.S. mean?

Marital Status: Bliss!

Gene & Elinor Gagliardi display an Anniversary Greeting

from the President and the First Lady,

given in honor of their fifty-first anniversary.

Over fifty years ago, my parents Gene and Elinor Gagliardi met at the University of Illinois, Champagne-Urbana. They graduated on June 15, 1957, got married on June 16, and drove for the next four days across the country so that my father could accept his naval comission on the USS Hancock. Fifty-one years and five children later, they are still going strong.

Because I knew I would be out of town on their anniversary (I'm in San Diego for the CASAS Institute), I wanted to do something special for their anniversary. The White House sends special anniversary greetings to couples who have celebrated over fifty years of marriage. My father particularly admires George W. Bush, so I thought he would apppreciate this present. The White House also sends greetings for the birth of new babies, birthday greetings to people over eighty years old, and weddings greetings. See White House Greetings for further info.

It is also interesting to note that today, same-sex couples can legally get married in the State of California.

A Good Idea!

Mr. and Mrs. Champaklal and Savitaben Nakrani practice for their Citizenship Interview everyday. They really enjoy practicing dictation and asked for an expanded set of dictation sentences. Their request inspired the creation of Answers in Complete Sentences to N-400 and USCIS 96 Questions.

If you have any good ideas for Interview practice, please share them with your teacher so that your fellow students can benefit from your great idea!

Answers in Complete Sentences to N-400 and USCIS 96 Questions

School's out! Here are some sentences for reading and dictation.

There are two sources for these sentences: the first set is based on routine responses to common N-400 questions; the second set is based on answers to the USCIS 96 Questions. Instead of phrasal responses, the answers are given in complete sentences.

Practice reading the sentences aloud, then ask a friend to dictate the senteces to you. For fun, read the answer first, then try to remember the questions. Asking questions is an important skill for Citizenship.

I will post an audio version of these sentences next week. Thanks for your patience.

Milpitas Mayor Congratulates New US Citizens

On June 11, the VESL, GED, and Citizenship programs of Milpitas Adult School held a joint graduation program. Close to seventy-five students obtained Citizenship during the 2007-2008 school year. Here are some of our new citizens with the Mayor of Milpitas, Jose Esteves (far left). Several of the students had actually voted for him during the June 3 election.

Where's my podcast?

I must apologize for not posting any podcasts since early April.

I have been very busy teaching, plus I am trying to finish papers for MATESOL at SJSU (2 of the papers are about the USCIS interview).

I plan to post more podcasts at the end of May. While you are waiting, please go to US Citizenship Podcast Wikispaces. There are many links to podcasts and other audio clips that will help you practice for the US Citizeship Interview.

Also please visit ELCivics.com for great graphic presentations.

See you soon!