7 Things You Didn't Know About Kamala Harris

 

VOANews:  7 Things You Didn't Know About Kamala Harris

Also watch: 7 Things You Didn't Know About Mike Pence

Thousands Become U.S. Citizens in Drive-Thru Naturalization Ceremonies, Easing Backlog

 

Bloomberg: Thousands Become U.S. Citizens in Drive-Thru Naturalization Ceremonies, Easing Backlog

It's long been a joyous and patriotic event when someone takes the oath to become a U.S. citizen, like a high school graduation for new Americans.

Now, it's like a visit to a fast-food restaurant.

Thousands of people have become U.S. citizens in drive-up ceremonies under the social-distancing rules that govern life amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"At first, I was disappointed, because I thought, 'Oh, I'm not going to be able to have the picture in front of the emblem and the flag and all of that.' But then I thought, 'How great is it that they're making this opportunity available that I don't have to wait?' So actually, it was fine," Anita Rosenberger said after affirming the oath of citizenship during a drive-up ceremony in Detroit.

The 60-year-old Rosenberger came to the U.S. from England as a child in 1968.

She was among a few dozen who became new Americans on a recent afternoon inside the parking garage of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services complex in the city.

Cars inched along until arriving in front of a face shield-wearing U.S. District Judge Laurie J. Michelson (MEYE'-kehl-sehn), who recited the oath of citizenship to new citizen candidates situated in their cars, trucks and vans.

"This is a new experience, like we have done it in the building with a group of people. And this is a different feeling. But I'm very happy that they're handling it safely," said Bahar Khan, who witnessed his friend Khadiza Akter Suma of Bangladesh become a citizen.

The drive-up ceremonies are helping to ease a backlog.

But they haven't dampened enthusiasm.

People tell The Associated Press they are thrilled with their new status after already long waits that were prolonged further by the outbreak.

Nomsa Durham said it didn't matter much to her how the ceremony played out.

"I mean, it's fine. I'm okay as long as I got my stuff," said Durham, who came to the U.S. from South Africa. She lives in Pontiac, Michigan, and works as a surgical technologist.

Many more are waiting to become citizens -- and new voters.

"I wanted to become a citizen partly just to get involved in the whole voting process. I've been here a long time. And I thought, 'You know what? I meant to do it for a long time.' And finally, it's like, 'This is the year to do it,'" said Margaret Arnold, originally from Scotland, who affirmed the oath in Detroit.

But they could be held up by a budget crisis that could soon largely shut down USCIS.

Report Back from USCIS Los Angeles!

 

uscitizenpod: Report Back from USCIS Los Angeles! 

uscitizenpod: Reporte de USCIS Los Ángeles! (en Espanol)

US Republican Party History

 VOANews: US Republican Party History 

Citizenship Fall Class 4

 VOANews: What Is the US Senate?

N-400

• n-400r-9     Travel outside the US plus mp3

Civics

• USCIS: The Legislative Branch lesson plans (beginning)
• si.edu: Preparing the Oath: Congress plus USCIS 100:16 (Congress), 100:17 (Two parts), USCIS 100:18 (number of Senators), 100:19 (term), 100:20 (name)
• English transcript
• Spanish transcript
• English transcript
• Spanish transcript

Integration:

• Citizenship Interview Quiz: América Griselda Ayes (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) pdf

Extra Credit:

• VOA Learning English: What Is the US Senate? article

Happy Women's Equality Day!

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

• Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote).
• You don’t have to pay (a poll tax) to vote.
• Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.)
• A male citizen of any race (can vote).

Check out more resources from Women's Suffrage and History from US Citizenship Podcast:

PDFs and Podcasts

• American Women who Fought for the Right to Vote mp3 / pdf 
• Eight Outstanding Americans by Choice for International Women’s Day! podcast / pdf
• Four American Women in Honor of Women’s History Month pdf
• International Women's Day pdf
• Women and USCIS 100 Questions: Civics pdf
• Women in the Executive Branch podcast / pdf
• Women in the Legislative Branch Quiz podcast / pdf (fixed)
• Women in the Judicial Branch podcast / pdf

Podcasts and Videos

• 2020 U.S. Citizenship Interview with Patrice Lumumba (Senegal) (video) (podcast)
• 2020 U.S. Citizenship Interview with Maya Gomes via Guatemala Part 1 (video) (podcast)
• 2020 U.S. Citizenship Interview with Maya Gomes via Guatemala Part 2 (video) (podcast)
• 2020 U.S. Citizenship Interview with Yinghong Xu (video) (podcast)

Videos

• Azucena Guevara’s First Practice U.S. Citizenship Interview (video)
• Maria Flores’ Practice U.S. Citizenship Interview (video)
• Martha Arroyo Orozco’s Practice U.S. Citizenship Interview (video)
• Patrice Lumumba’s Practice U.S. Citizenship Interview (video)
• Thi Nhung Phan's Practice U.S. Citizenship Interview (video)
• Thi Nhung Phan's Second Practice U.S. Citizenship Interview video
• Thuy Thu Pham’s Practice Citizenship Interview (video)

Other Resources

• ACLU: Major Supreme Court Decisions On Women's Rights pdf / interactive timeline
• AmericanEnglish.state.gov: Women's History Month pdf
• CivicEd: Women in Constitutional History page
• Women in the 19th Century: Crash Course US History #16 (video)
• Crash Course: Women's Suffrage: Crash Course US History #31 video
• DOD.gov: Celebrating Women's History Month video
• ELCivics: National Women's History Month
• Google Arts and Culture: New Beginnings: Immigrant Women and The American Experience
• NPS.gov: Woman's Suffrage History Timeline
• nwhm.org: New Beginnings: Immigrant Women and the American Experience 
• SI.edu Postal Museum: Women in the Postal Service and Philately great online exhibitions!
• State.gov: Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award
• TED-ed: The historic women’s suffrage march on Washington - Michelle Mehrtens video
• UN: Interactive Women's Timeline
• USCourts: Women's History Month
• USPS: Women on Stamps pdf
• VOANews: 
• NEW: Sunflower Display at NYC Park Commemorates Women's Suffrage (2020-08-26)
• International Women's Day Marked Across the World (2020)
• For 200 Years Women Fought for Their Rights in the US (2020)
• Major New Exhibition Explores Achievements of Native Women Artists (2020)
• International Women's Day Highlights Gender Inequality in Women's Athletics (2020)
• At UN, Call to Action for Women’s Day (2020)
• WomensHistoryMonth.gov: March is Women's History Month
• Women Vote 100: Women's Vote Centennial

Citizenship Fall Class 3

 

VOANews: Huong’s Second US Citizenship Interview

Fall Citizenship Zoom Class is Tue and Thu 7:00-8:30 pm PDT

For one-on-one interviews 6:00-7:00--email Teacher Jennifer jgagliar@musd.org

Join Zoom Meeting

ID: 597 738 4168

Password: 226317

Direct Link to the Fall Citizenship Zoom Class 

https://bit.ly/maecit

N-400

1. n-400r-8     Work and School

Civics

• Civics
  • USCIS: The Executive Branch lesson plans (intermediate)
  • si.edu: Preparing the Oath: The Presidency plus USCIS 100:15 (Executive Branch), 100:32 (Commander-in-Chief), 100:33 (signs laws), 100:34 (veto)
  • English transcript
  • Spanish transcript
  • English transcript
  • Spanish transcript

Integration:

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

Extra Credit:

• UsefulCharts: U.S. Presidential Line of Succession video
• VOA Learning English: The Unique Invention of the American President article and audio
• VOA Learning English: America's President series
• VOA Learning English: America Presidents separate articles, audio, videos
• VOA Learning English: America Presidents video playlist

How Has Support Changed Over Time for the Two Main US Political Parties?

 VOANews: How Has Support Changed Over Time for the Two Main US Political Parties? 

The modern political landscape is now almost a reverse image of the one that existed more than a century ago.

————————— 

2020 USA Votes: https://www.voanews.com/2020-election

POP QUIZ 

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

 USCIS 100:46. What is the political party of the President now?

Drive-Thru Naturalizations Put New Citizens Behind The Wheel

 

KPBS: Drive-Thru Naturalizations Put New Citizens Behind The Wheel 

 The Coronavirus pandemic put a hold on naturalization ceremonies in San Diego’s Golden Hall — which has been converted into a homeless shelter. But thousands of immigrants safely became citizens today, thanks to a naturalization drive-through. KPBS reporter Max Rivlin-Nadler has the story.

Oral Reading Fluency 28: "Your Vote and Mine" - Build Vocabulary & Fluency

 

JenniferESL: Oral Reading Fluency 28: "Your Vote and Mine" - Build Vocabulary & Fluency

Full Roll Call at the 2020 DNC (plus pop quiz!)

NowThis: Watch Full Roll Call at the 2020 DNC

POP QUIZ:

3.  The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?

11. What is the economic system in the United States?*

20. Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators now?*

23. Name your U.S. Representative.

24. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?

25. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

26. We elect a President for how many years?

27. In what month do we vote for President?*

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

43. Who is the Governor of your state now?

44. What is the capital of your state?*

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

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

49. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*

50. Name one right only for United States citizens.

54. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*

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

64. There were 13 original states. Name three.

87. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.

89. What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?

90. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?

91. Name one U.S. territory.

92. Name one state that borders Canada.

93. Name one state that borders Mexico.

94. What is the capital of the United States?*

Citizenship Fall Class 2

 

VOANews: What is a Nominating Convention?

Summer Citizenship Zoom Class is Tue and Thu 7:30-8:30 pm PDT

For one-on-one interviews 6:00-7:30--email Teacher Jennifer jgagliar@musd.org

Join Zoom Meeting

ID: 597 738 4168

Password: 226317

N-400

1. n-400r-3     Accommodations
2. n-400r-4     Contact Info
3. n-400r-5     Residence

Civics

• si.edu: Preparing the Oath: The Presidency plus USCIS 100:28 (President), 100:30 (succession), 100:29 (VP), 100:31 (succession)
• English transcript
• Spanish transcript

• USCIS: 
• The Executive Branch (beginning)

Integration

• Anh Thi Vu (Vietnam) (Presidents' Day Quiz 2015 and 2016)
• pdf (2015): http://goo.gl/kzVks7 
• mp3 (2016): http://goo.gl/V6taOP

Extra Credit:

• VOA Learning English: The Unique Invention of the American President article and audio
• VOA Learning English: America's President series
• VOA Learning English: America Presidents separate articles, audio, videos
• VOA Learning English: America Presidents video playlist

US Democratic Party History

 VOANews: US Democratic Party History 

The Democratic Party is known for favoring a larger federal government as well as progressive social policies. However, this was not always the case. What does the U.S. Democratic Party stand for today? VOA has the answers.

Citizenship Fall Class 1

MAE Citizenship Class Orientation

Summer Citizenship Zoom Class is Tue and Thu 7:30-8:30 pm PDT

For one-on-one interviews 6:00-7:30--email Teacher Jennifer jgagliar@musd.org

Join Zoom Meeting

ID: 597 738 4168

Password: 226317

N-400

1. n-400r-1     Eligibility
2. n-400r-2     Info About You

Civics

• si.edu: Preparing the Oath: Government Basics plus USCIS 100:02 (Purpose), 100:01 (Supreme Law), 100:03 (First Three Words)
• English transcript

• USCIS: 
• Government Basics (beginning)

Integration

• B-7 quiz

Resources about Voting and the 2020 Election for AdultEdu, ESL, and Citizenship Students

American English at State

• About the USA: Duties of a Citizen pg 126-135

Colorín Colorado

• Election Day: Resources for ELLs

CNN

• Voting safely: How to protect yourself from COVID-19 while casting your ballot

1. Check the data
2. Know your risk
3. Mail it in
4. Dropping off your mail-in ballot
5. Voting in person

Crash Course

• Election Basics
• How Voters Decide 
• Congressional Elections 
• Political Parties 
• Political Campaigns

EL Civics

• Voting Amendments

ESL Discussions

• Voting (20 discussion questions)

ESL Fast

• Voting (17 conversations)

ESL Library

• Excellent resource for all levels.  Requires subscription.
• American Presidents
• The 2016 US Election (expect update)

ESL Podcast: Government + Law

• Excellent resource for Advanced students.  Requires subscription.
• ESL Podcast 1230 – Expressing Disapproval of Elected Officials
• ESL Podcast 733--Voting in an Election
• ESL Podcast 825--Political Advertising

iCivics.org: Election Headquarters

• Although these games are geared towards K-12 civics students, these games are great practice for higher-level ESL Citizenship students, especially WIN THE WHITE HOUSE. 

ISL Collective:

• English ESL Politics, voting, elections worksheets

I Side With

• I Side With Presidential Quiz 

JenniferESL

• Oral Reading Fluency 28: "Your Vote and Mine" - Build Vocabulary & Fluency

• U.S. Politics: Vocabulary & Pronunciation for the 2020 Election Season

• U.S. Presidential Elections - American Culture & English Vocabulary (2016)
• U.S. Political Parties - Talking Politics in American English - Vocabulary (2016)

Kahoot.it: Voting 

Khan Academy: Electoral College

Learning Chocolate

• U.S. Citizenship 10: Voting Part 1
• U.S. Citizenship 11: Voting Part 2
• U.S.Constitution: Voting Rights

New Readers Press

• News for You 2020 Voting Guide

Newslea

• Election 2020 Section: Although these stories are geared towards K-12 civics students, they can be adapted for higher-level ESL Citizenship students.  Requires Subscription!

OTAN: 

• Resources for Election 2020
• Kristi Reyes and OTAN.us posted a great directory of #2020Election activities for advanced ELL and ABE Adult Edu students post

Story Corps:

• A More Perfect Union
• Family Politics

TED-ED

• Check the video's show notes for links to the lesson plans and activities
• Does your vote count? The Electoral College explained - Christina Greer
• The fight for the right to vote in the United States - Nicki Beaman Griffin
• Gerrymandering: How drawing jagged lines can impact an election - Christina Greer
• Which voting system is the best? - Alex Gendler

this i believe

• Democracy (many essays with audio about voting)

US Citizenship Podcast

• Election ABCs--Updated for 2020! google slides / video
• Electoral College Citizenship Quizzes
• Part 1: U.S. Civics mp3 / pdf
• Part 2: U.S. History mp3 / pdf
• Voting pptx
• Voting Video
• Picture Vocabulary Voting Quiz 
• Voting Video Quiz
• A Quick Interview Based on the N-400r plus 10qs about Voting and Elections pdf and mp3
• American Women who Fought for the Right to Vote mp3 and pdf
• Interview E-1 (N-400 Part 12 focus on voting and paying taxes)
• Third Citizenship Quiz in Honor of Native American Heritage Month--Focus: Midterm Elections 2018 pdf mp3 video

USCIS

• Rights and Responsibilities - Intermediate Level Lesson Plan and Handouts
• Your Government and You - Beginning Level Lesson Plan and Handouts
• si.edu: Preparing for the Oath: Voting videos 

Voice of America

• VOA News: 2020 USA Votes
• VOA News: 2020 USA Votes (video playlist)
• VOA News: 2020 USA Votes: Explainers (video playlist)
• VOA Learning English: U.S. Election 2020 and American Presidents
• VOA Learning English: American Presidents

Vote Smart

• Just Facts
• On Point mobile app
• That's Bull fact checker

More Easy Election Resources Resources 

• ACLU.org Voting Rights
• Ballotpedia.org
• CA Secretary of State Election Info
• EasyVoterGuide.org
• League of Women Voters LWV.org
• SCCVote.org
• US Election Assistance Comm. eac.gov
• Vote.gov
• Vote411.org

Drive-thru citizenship

 CBS Sunday Morning: Drive-thru citizenship 

In America, you can get almost anything in a drive-thru. And this year, because of the pandemic, immigrants who have completed all the requirements of citizenship are pulling into parking lots from San Diego to Des Moines to Detroit for socially-distant naturalization ceremonies. Steve Hartman visits with some newly-minted U.S. citizens in Albany, N.Y. where the oath was taken behind the wheel.

Who Keeps Washington Looking So Iconic?

 VOANews: Who Keeps Washington Looking So Iconic? 

 A commission made up of experts in the arts has a say about almost every public building, monument and space in America’s capital city

How are Vice Presidential Candidates Vetted?

 VOANews: Explainer: How are Vice Presidential Candidates Vetted?  ️

Presidential nominees formally vet their prospective vice-presidential candidates to learn as much as possible about them, including potentially damaging information.

Summer Citizenship Zoom Class 14

 

uscitizenpod: Lan Do's Citizenship 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

N-400

• A “Typical” Citizenship Interview Based on the USCIS N-400r (4 pages)
• pdf http://goo.gl/9Z97UK
• ppt https://goo.gl/2hwOsc
• vocab pdf: https://goo.gl/AMNMqy

Civics

• Civics
  • si.edu: Preparing the Oath: Government Basics plus USCIS 100:02 (Purpose), 100:01 (Supreme Law), 100:03 (First Three Words)
  • English transcript
• USCIS: 
• Government Basics (beginning)

Integration:

• Citizenship Interview Quiz: Héctor Sánchez (Maracay, Venezuela) pdf

Biden Picks Senator Kamala Harris as His Running Mate

 

 

VOANews: Biden Picks Senator Kamala Harris as His Running Mate

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has chosen California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate, making her the first Black woman and the first person of Indian descent to be nominated for a major party’s ticket.

Summer Citizenship Zoom Class 13

 

uscitizenpod: Kulwinder Singh’s Second Practice U.S. Citizenship 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

N-400

• An “Everyday” Citizenship Interview based on the USCIS N-400 (51qs, 2pgs) (updated 06/12/2016)
• pdf http://goo.gl/Nt0bOf
• ppt https://goo.gl/yR4jvx
• vocab pdf: https://goo.gl/nPY0Js

Civics

• si.edu: Preparing the Oath: The 1900s plus USCIS 100:84 (Civil Rights), 100:85 (Martin Luther King Jr)
• English transcript
• Spanish transcript
• USCIS: 
• Equality and Freedom (intermediate)
• Equality and Freedom (beginning)

Integration:

• Interview with Krestos Negasi (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) on MLK Day mp3 and pdf

Who Will Win in 2020?

VOANews: Who Will Win in 2020? 

Ignoring polls, two experts offer different projections on who will be the next U.S. president based on their models

New U.S. Citizen, Thien Thi Kim Phan

 

uscitizenpod: New U.S. Citizen, Thien Thi Kim Phan

Thien takes the Oath of Allegiance in the USCIS San Jose parking lot. Two other Milpitas Adult School students also became U.S. citizens: Thuan Vo and Fernando. You can watch their interviews below Thuan nói về cuộc phỏng vấn thi công dân Hoa Kỳ của cô https://youtu.be/nH-KpzuJxF8 U.S. Citizenship Practice Interview with Thien Thi Kim Phan https://youtu.be/pyJcCpXOZlg USCIS 100 Remix Sevens Round 2 https://youtu.be/FEwNm-ySp24 Alfredo Interviews Jennifer Campos https://youtu.be/mGFSQUc_oRY Tasleem's Practice Interview https://youtu.be/oe9m5oZoMzw

U.S. Citizenship Prep Activities 1: Part 12 Vocabulary Bingo

 

uscitizenpod: U.S. Citizenship Prep Activities 1: Part 12 Vocabulary Bingo

This week, Dr. Hernandez and I start a new video series about activities for the online or in-person Citizenship classes. This week we Part 12 Vocabulary Bingo made via https://bingobaker.com/. Let's get started!