US Citizenship Podcast

VOA Leaning English: US Withdraws Planned Visa Restriction for International Students

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has withdrawn planned visa restrictions for international students. The restrictions would have forced international students to leave the country if their schools held classes online because of the coronavirus crisis.

The surprise announcement came during a federal court hearing on Tuesday in Boston, Massachusetts. Both Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) had filed the legal action seeking to overturn the rule. (read more)

Words in This Story

status quo - n. the way things are now

exemption - n. freedom from being required to do something

transfer - v. to move from one school to another

fall - n. the season between summer and winter

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Summer Citizenship Zoom Class 6

TED-ED: A 3-minute guide to the Bill of Rights - Belinda Stutzman

Summer Citizenship Zoom Class is Tue and Thu 7:00-8:00 pm PDT

Join Zoom Meeting

ID: 597 738 4168

Password: 226317

Direct Link to the Summer Citizenship Zoom Class

https://bit.ly/maecit

Screenshots from the Summer Citizenship Zoom Class:

https://bit.ly/cit-zoom-photos

N-400

Elementary Interview based on the Revised N-400 (21qs) (updated 04/18/2016)

Civics

USCIS: Bill of Rights (beginning)
si.edu: Preparing the Oath: Writing the US Constitution: 5 (Bill of Rights)

English transcript

Integration

A Quick Review of the Bill of Rights and the N-400 Part 12 plus Civics Questions mp3 and pdf and video (2017)

Monday, July 13, 2020

New Rules: Foreign Students Must Leave US if Classes Go Online

VOA Learning English: New Rules: Foreign Students Must Leave US if Classes Go Online

International students will be forced to leave the United States or change colleges if their school plans to offer online-only classes later this year.

The requirement is part of new guidance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. The federal agency announced the measures on Monday. They provide additional pressure for universities to reopen as concern grows about the spread of COVID-19 among young adults. read more / listen / quiz

Words in This Story

fall - n. the season between summer and winter : the season when leaves fall from trees

pandemic - n. an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world

depart - v. to leave a place especially to start a journey

transfer - v. to move (someone or something) from one place to another

horrifying - v. to cause (someone) to feel horror or shock : to greatly upset and shock (someone)

outbreak - n. a sudden start or increase of fighting or disease

campus - n. the area and buildings around a university, college, school, etc.

tuition - n. money that is paid to a school for the right to study there

cruelty - n. a desire to cause others to suffer : the quality or state of being cruel

know no bounds - expression. to have no limits

Sunday, July 12, 2020

New US Citizens Sworn In at Los Angeles Drive Through

VOANews: New US Citizens Sworn In at Los Angeles Drive Through

Giant backlog during pandemic forces officials to get creative

Saturday, July 11, 2020

What's happening with the USCIS Openings? Week 5

uscitizenpod: What's happening with the USCIS Openings? Week 5

video: https://bit.ly/uscis-week-05 (40+ minutes)
video, no audio: https://bit.ly/uscis-week-05-no (4 minutes)
google slides: https://bit.ly/uscis-week-05-gslides

07/11/2020 Agenda:

1. Quick Comments and Request
2. Practice Interview
3. New Citizenship Resources--(Sorry, we skipped it. See below)
4. 2020 Calendar—before and after COVID-19
5. USCIS Webinar Seattle plus Migration Policy Institute Webinar
6. Immigration news headlines
7. ICE Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) announcement and our response

New Citizenship Resources

Voices of Freedom Digital Book and Audio
http://buymylab.com/accesscode/?page_id=1806

05/06/2020 COABE webinar: Resources for Online Citizenship Classes
google slides: https://bit.ly/2020-coabe-cit (UPDATED)

07/06/2020 COABE: Hit the Deck Running: 2020 Census, Civics, and Citizenship
google slides: https://bit.ly/2020-coabe-3cs

News You Can Use

PBS: The American Experience: The Vote
video/website: https://bit.ly/wom-vote

VOANews: New US Citizens Sworn In at Los Angeles Drive Through
video: https://bit.ly/oath-drivethru

NPR: How The Pandemic Will Affect This Year's Election
video: https://bit.ly/pan-vote

NPR: The Long, Perilous Route Thousands Of Indians Have Risked For A Shot At Life In U.S.
read/listen: https://bit.ly/indian-migrants

NYTimes: How ICE Helped Spread the Coronavirus | Coronavirus News
video: https://bit.ly/ICE-covid

NPR: Foreign Journalists Working For U.S. Government Broadcasters (VOANews) May Lose Visas
Read/listen: https://bit.ly/voa-jvisas

VOA Learning English: Who Is Affected by the US Visa Ban?
read/listen: https://bit.ly/visas-ban-2020

VOA Learning English: New Rules: Foreign Students Must Leave US if Classes Go Online
read/listen: https://bit.ly/online-go-home

Friday, July 10, 2020

US Supreme Court Deems Half of Oklahoma a Native American Reservation

VOANews: US Supreme Court Deems Half of Oklahoma a Native American Reservation

Decision overturns a tribe member's rape conviction because the location where the crime was committed should have been considered outside the reach of state criminal law

POP QUIZ:

USCIS 100:37. What does the judicial branch do?

USCIS 100:38. What is the highest court in the United States?

USCIS 100:39. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

USCIS 100:40. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

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

USCIS 100:42. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?

USCIS 100:59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

USCIS 100:87. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.

Also see:

A Citizenship Quiz in Honor of Native American Heritage Month Focus: Recent Native American History and Legislation pdf

Citizenship Resources for Native American Heritage Month post

Thursday, July 9, 2020

Summer Citizenship Zoom Class 5

uscitizenpod: Bill of Rights (google slides)

Summer Citizenship Zoom Class is Tue and Thu 7:00-8:00 pm PDT

Join Zoom Meeting

ID: 597 738 4168

Password: 226317

Direct Link to the Summer Citizenship Zoom Class

https://bit.ly/maecit

Screenshots from the Summer Citizenship Zoom Class:

https://bit.ly/cit-zoom-photos

N-400

Elementary Interview based on the Revised N-400 (21qs) (updated 04/18/2016)

Civics

USCIS: Bill of Rights (beginning)
si.edu: Preparing the Oath: Writing the US Constitution: 5 (Bill of Rights)

Bill of Rights pptx
Bill of Rights Citizenship Quiz
The Founders Quiz (pdf)

Integration

A Quick Review of the Bill of Rights and the N-400 Part 12 plus Civics Questions mp3 and pdf and video (2017)

Extra Credit

ListenAndReadAlo n g is an AWESOME resource that produces videos that highlights words as they are heard from VOA news reports and features.
- American History - Part 022 - Bill of Rights

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

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Laid Off Diversity Visa Holders Struggle During Pandemic

VOANews: Laid Off Diversity Visa Holders Struggle During Pandemic

Under The Diversity Visa program tens of thousands of potential immigrants literally rely on the luck of the draw to get the opportunity to legally live and work in the US

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Summer Citizenship Zoom Class 4

VOA Learning English: The Making of the Constitution

N-400

Elementary Interview based on the Revised N-400 (21qs) (updated 04/18/2016)

Civics

USCIS: U.S. Constitution (intermediate)
si.edu: Preparing the Oath: Writing the US Constitution
US Constitution Quick Quiz (picture vocabulary)
Summary of the Constitution (pdf)
The Founders Quiz (pdf)

Integration

A Quick Interview for US Constitution and Citizenship Day (2011) pdf

Extra Credit

ListenAndReadAlo n g is an AWESOME resource that produces videos that highlights words as they are heard from VOA news reports and features.
- American History - Part 015 - Birth of the Constitution
- American History - Part 016 - Birth of the Constitution - Part 2
- American History - Part 017 - Birth of the Constitution - Part 3 - Making of a Nation
- American History - Part 018 - Birth of the Constitution - Part 4 - Executive Branch
- American History - Part 019 - Birth of the Constitution - Part 5 - Big State vs Small State
- American History - Part 020 - Birth of the Constitution - Part 6 - Slaves
- American History - Part 021 - Birth of the Constitution - Part 7 - States Ratify
- American History - Part 022 - Bill of Rights (tomorrow!)

Monday, July 6, 2020

Hit the Deck Running: 2020 Census, Civics, and Citizenship

COABE 2020: Hit the Deck Running: 2020 Census, Civics, and Citizenship
Jennifer Gagliardi jgagliar@musd.org
google slides: https://bit.ly/2020-coabe-3cs
pdf: https://bit.ly/2020-coabe-3cs-pdf
https://coabe-conference-2020.pathable.co/meetings/virtual/2GBzoa9amP4HCg4te

05/06/2020 COABE webinar: Resources for Online Citizenship Classes
Jennifer Gagliardi jgagliar@musd.org
google slides: https://bit.ly/2020-coabe-cit
pdf: https://bit.ly/2020-coabe-cit-pdf
webinar recording: https://bit.ly/2020-coabe-cit-wv

Sunday, July 5, 2020

The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro by Fredrick Douglass

Happy Independence Day Week! Today we will listen to an old podcast from uscitizenpod: USCIS 100:99 July 4th, Slavery, and Fredrick Douglass

We will first read about Q99 from the USCIS M638 quick civics lesson. Then we will discuss the Declaration of Independence, the Compromise of 1850, and abolitionist Fredrick Douglass. Then we will listen to a short reading from Fredrick Douglass speech: “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro.” Note that Negro was a common term for Black or African-Americans, but it is not often used today. Let's get started.

DOWNLOAD MP3

excerpt from The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro by Fredrick Douglass

What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July?

I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelly to which he is the constant victim.

To him, your celebration is a sham;
your boasted liberty, an unholy license;
your national greatness, swelling vanity;
your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless;
your denunciations of tyrants, brass fronted impudence;
your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery;
your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings,
with all your religious parade, and solemnity, are, to him, mere bombast,
fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy—a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages...

TimelessReader1: Meaning of July 4th for the Negro - Frederick Douglass Speech - Hear the Text

Listen to and read text from The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro, written by abolitionist and former slave: Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass presented this speech on July 5, 1852 in Rochester, NY. This speech concludes with a poem, a peace prayer, written by William Lloyd Garrison

For more info:

See zinnedproject.org: Frederick Douglass Fights for Freedom

Watch actor Danny Glover read abolitionist Frederick Douglass's "Fourth of July Speech, 1852" on October 5, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. Part of a reading from Voices of a People's History of the United States (Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove.)

NPR: ‘What To The Slave Is The Fourth Of July?’: Descendants Read Frederick Douglass' Speech

The U.S. celebrates this Independence Day amid nationwide protests and calls for systemic reforms. In this short film, five young descendants of Frederick Douglass read and respond to excerpts of his famous speech, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" which asks all of us to consider America's long history of denying equal rights to Black Americans.

Saturday, July 4, 2020

Citizenship Resources for Independence Day

NEW for 2020!

VOANews: Why does the U.S. celebrate July 4th? video
VOANews: New US Citizens Sworn In at Los Angeles Drive Through video
uscitizenpod: What's happening with the USCIS Openings? Week 4 featuring N-400 Part 12 Definitions!

.gov Resources for Independence Day

SI.edu/USCIS: Preparing for the Oath: U.S. History and Civics for Citizenship

This web resource provides online videos and activities on the 100 civics questions from the naturalization test and highlights museum objects from the Smithsonian Institution. Visit the “Establishing Independence” and “Symbols and Holidays” themes for information on Independence Day.

USCIS: For Independence Day
USCIS highlights some of the resources for learners and teachers that are related to this important holiday.

NEW: Civics Questions Playlist

USCIS helps you prepare for the civics test by posting a new paylist: one video for each civics and history question asked by different examiners. For Independence Day, check out 100:08, 09, 61, 62, 63, 64, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100. Good job, USCIS!

USCIS: Lesson Plans and Activities

Visit this page to find lesson plans, student handouts, and answer keys on a variety of topics, including Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence (Beginning Level), American Symbols and Celebrations (Beginning and Intermediate Levels), Establishing Independence (Intermediate Level).

USCIS: Independence Day 2015 - Declaration of Independence

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (uscis.gov) thanks everyone who participated in our video project to celebrate the nation's 239th birthday on July 4. To find naturalization ceremony photos and immigrant stories posted by some of the more than 700,000 people each year who become U.S. citizens, check #newUScitizen and #newAmericans on social media.

Follow American English at State on FaceBook

More Resources

American English at State: Celebrate Independence Day (pdf)
Americans celebrate Independence Day on July 4 because on July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, officially breaking bonds with England and forming a new independent nation, the United States of America.

JenniferESL: Lesson 26 - Red, White & Blue Idioms - Happy Fourth of July!
Learn six idioms based on the colors red, white, and blue. MORE PRACTICE

Rachel's English: 4th of July Traditions
Happy 4th of July! This is the day we celebrate America’s independence. Study vocabulary, pronunciation, and phrases as we study REAL English conversation and learn about 4th of July traditions in the US.

TED-ED: What you might not know about the Declaration of Independence - Kenneth C. Davis (video)
In June 1776, a little over a year after the start of the American Revolutionary War, the US Continental Congress huddled together in a hot room in Philadelphia to talk independence. Kenneth C. Davis dives into some of the lesser known facts about the process of writing the Declaration of Independence and questions one very controversial omission.

US News: 15,000 people became Americans on Independence Day 2017
Immigrants from around the world celebrated their new American citizenship in over 65 naturalization ceremonies across the United States.

uscitizenpod: Independence Day Citizenship Interview with Lien Ho (2017)

uscitizenpod: A Quick Interview Based on the N-400r plus 10qs for Independence Day
New for 2016: 24 questions based on the N-400r plus 10 civics question.

uscitizenpod: US Citizenship Podcast Independence Day Quiz (video)
Celebrate Independence Day with uscitizenpod. Here is a quiz based on USCIS 100:08, 09, 61, 62, 63, 64, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100.

VOANews: Ahead of Independence Day Holiday, Children Take Oath to Become US Citizens
One of the themes of this year's Smithsonian Folk Life Festival is immigration. As part of the festival events, a group of 25 children were sworn in as U.S. Citizens, just ahead of America's Independence Day holiday. VOA's Elizabeth Cherneff reports.Originally published at - https://www.voanews.com/a/independence-day-holiday-children-take-oath-become-us-citizens/3923713.html

VOANews: Americans Reflect on Meaning of Independence Day
Savoring freedoms and hoping others worldwide will soon be able to do the same

VOA Learning English: America's Birthplace: Independence National Historical Park (mp3 and article)
This week, our U.S. National Parks journey takes us to the eastern city of Philadelphia, an important place in American history.

Friday, July 3, 2020

Why does the U.S. celebrate July 4th?

VOANews: Why does the U.S. celebrate July 4th?

Americans all over the U.S. will celebrate Independence Day, or the Fourth of July, on Saturday this year.

Thursday, July 2, 2020

Summer Citizenship Zoom Class 3

uscitizenpod: Daily U.S.Citizenship Lessons 08 (posted 04/06/2020--re-posted for Independence Day)
uscitizenpod: Daily U.S.Citizenship Lessons 09 (posted 04/07/2020--re-p)osted for Independence Day

N-400

Easy Interview

Summer Citizenship Zoom Class is Tue and Thu 7:00-8:00 pm PDT

Join Zoom Meeting

ID: 597 738 4168

Password: 226317

Direct Link to the Summer Citizenship Zoom Class

https://bit.ly/maecit

Screenshots from the Summer Citizenship Zoom Class:

https://bit.ly/cit-zoom-photos

Civics

si.edu: Preparing the Oath: Establishing Independence (requires flash) USCIS 100:61, 100:8, 100:62

si.edu: Preparing the Oath: Establishing Independence (requires flash) USCIS 100:63, 100:99, 100:09

USCIS: Lesson Plans

Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence - Beginning Level
Establishing Independence - Intermediate Level

Integration

Citizenship Quiz B-3 (added 4/05/2020)
Citizenship Quiz B-4 (posted 04/06/2020)

Extra Credit:

TeachCove.com: US History 11 - The Declaration of Independence
July 4 is an important date. The country of America was born July 4, 1776.

TED-ED: What you might not know about the Declaration of Independence - Kenneth C. Davis (video)
In June 1776, a little over a year after the start of the American Revolutionary War, the US Continental Congress huddled together in a hot room in Philadelphia to talk independence. Kenneth C. Davis dives into some of the lesser known facts about the process of writing the Declaration of Independence and questions one very controversial omission.

Check back for updates!

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

For Young Activists, Political Rallying Happens on TikTok, Instagram and Twitter

VOANews: For Young Activists, Political Rallying Happens on TikTok, Instagram and Twitter

Across the country, many young people have spoken out on social justice issues by taking to the streets to march in protests. This generation of digital natives is also active online, capitalizing on various social media and digital tools to organize and mobilize their peers. During the pandemic, TikTok, Twitter and Snapchat are proving to be effective in rallying the younger generation. Tina Trinh reports.

POP Quiz

USCIS 100:6. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?*

USCIS 100:9. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

USCIS 100:51. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?

USCIS 100:77. What did Susan B. Anthony do?

USCIS 100:84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

USCIS 10085. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?*

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

QUICK TAKE: USCIS Openings Week 3

QUICK TAKE: USCIS Openings Week 3
Video with slides only, no audio.
10 seconds per slide, approximately 3.5 minutes
https://bit.ly/uscis-week-03x

Dr Hernandez and I talk about the good news and bad news from USCIS June 18-26: DACA victory, Visa bans, Civics Pilot, SF/SJ re-opening, possible new procedures, impending furlough, participating in democracy, DC statehood and more!

uscitizenpod: What's happening with the USCIS Openings? Week 3
The video with full audio is about 40 minutes long.
Watch it at https://bit.ly/uscis-week-03

One big concern: a possible USCIS furlough in August. This can greatly delay naturalization and immigration petitions.

Please contact Congress to fully fund USCIS!

Write or say this message:
I SUPPORT THE FULL FUNDING OF USCIS

Example of the address:
Honorable Lucille Roybal-Allard
Chairwoman, Homeland Security Subcommittee House Appropriations Committee
2006 Rayburn House Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20515

More information about who to contact about USCIS funding:

House Committee on Appropriations
Homeland Security Sub-committee
2006 Rayburn House Office Building
(202) 225-5834
https://appropriations.house.gov/subcommittees/homeland-security-116th-congress

Committee Membership:

Lucille Roybal-Allard, Chairwoman
Henry Cuellar
Dutch Ruppersberger
David E. Price
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Grace Meng
Chuck Fleischmann, Ranking Member
John Rutherford
Dan Newhouse
Steven Palazzo
Pete Aguilar

You can also direct postal correspondence to your representatives as follows:
The Honorable (Name)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 224-3121
http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/

Monday, June 29, 2020

What's happening with the USCIS Openings? Week 3

uscitizenpod: What's happening with the USCIS Openings? Week 3

The video with full audio is about 40 minutes long.
Watch it at https://bit.ly/uscis-week-03

Dr Hernandez and I talk about the good news and bad news from USCIS June 18-26: DACA victory, Visa bans, Civics Pilot, SF/SJ re-opening, possible new procedures, impending furlough, participating in democracy, DC statehood and more!

QUICK TAKE: USCIS Openings Week 3
Video with slides only, no audio.
10 seconds per slide, approximately 3.5 minutes
https://bit.ly/uscis-week-03x

One big concern: a possible USCIS furlough in August. This can greatly delay naturalization and immigration petitions.

Please contact Congress to fully fund USCIS!

Write or say this message:
I SUPPORT THE FULL FUNDING OF USCIS

Example of the address:
Honorable Lucille Roybal-Allard
Chairwoman, Homeland Security Subcommittee House Appropriations Committee
2006 Rayburn House Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20515

More information about who to contact about USCIS funding:

House Committee on Appropriations
Homeland Security Sub-committee
2006 Rayburn House Office Building
(202) 225-5834
https://appropriations.house.gov/subcommittees/homeland-security-116th-congress

Committee Membership:

Lucille Roybal-Allard, Chairwoman
Henry Cuellar
Dutch Ruppersberger
David E. Price
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Grace Meng
Chuck Fleischmann, Ranking Member
John Rutherford
Dan Newhouse
Steven Palazzo
Pete Aguilar

Sunday, June 28, 2020

American PRIDE!

In honor of LGBT Pride Month, a single question about the Flag: Long May She Wave! Text: uscitizenpod | Video: Lori Saltis

Take the full quiz:

LOVE AND PRIDE: A Citizenship Quiz in Honor of LGBT Pride Month (10 questions)

pdf | mp3 | video

WH.gov & State.gov

President Biden Signs H.R. 49, to Designate the National Pulse Memorial, Into Law 2021
Progress Flag Raising Ceremony at US Department of State in Honor of Pride Month - 3:30 PM 2021
Remarks by President Joe Biden in Recognition of LGBTQ+ Pride Month 2021
Secretary Blinken Atlantic Council Pride Interview 2021
Secretary Blinken Celebrates Pride Month 2021
Secretary Blinken participates in a virtual conversation “Pressing for Equality"- 1:00 PM 2021
Vice President Harris Holds a Roundtable Marking LGBTQ+ Pride Month 2021

VOA News and VOA Learning English:

Gay Chinese couple talks about acceptance in US vs. China
LGBT: The Gay Pride Movement | Plugged In with Greta Van Susteren
Transgender Migrants Seek Asylum in the US
What Is Title VII of the Civil Rights Act?

Equal treatment. That’s the idea behind the Civil Rights Act. One part of the legislation, called Title VII deals with the workplace. What does that mean for American workers? VOA explains.

US Supreme Court: Obergefell v Hodges
US Supreme Court Rules Same-Sex Marriage Is Legal in 2015 article, video, and mp3

updated June 26, 2021