Saturday, December 31, 2022

The US National Anthem



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

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

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

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


Friday, December 30, 2022

The National Mall

VOA News: People Walk Over Frozen Reflecting Pool on National Mall 

People walk over the frozen Reflecting Pool on the National Mall in Washington, as a historic winter storm and Arctic blast engulf much of the U.S.

USCIS: 

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Happy Birthday President Andrew Johnson!

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

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

Learn more:

POP QUIZ:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Happy Birthday President Woodrow Wilson!


VOA Learning English: America's Presidents - Woodrow Wilson 

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

Learn More

POP QUIZ

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Tuesday, December 27, 2022

Kwanzaa



uscitizenpod: Two Citizenship Questions for a Joyous Kwanzaa!

Kwanzaa is a week long celebration (Dec 25 to Jan 1) held in the United States to honor universal African heritage and culture. 

Kwanzaa is a celebration that came out of the black nationalist movement of the 1960s. 

It was created as a way to help African Americans reconnect with their African cultural and historical heritage.

Every night, people light a candle on a kinara (candle holder) which represent Kwanzaa's principles: 

Unity, Self-determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith. (source)

Also checkout


Monday, December 26, 2022

Boxing Day

USCIS 100:55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?



uscitizenpod: Boxing Day

Boxing Day is a secular holiday that is traditionally celebrated on December 26, the day after Christmas Day in England and its former colonies. December 26 is also the feast day of St. Stephen who collected food and clothing and gave them to the poor.  On Boxing Day, workers would received boxes of food and small gifts from their employers.  Frequently, there were used  clothing or blankets in the boxes.

Recently, Boxing Day has gained popularity in America.  Many families "box up" unused clothes, electronics, and furniture and donate them to charitable organizations such as Goodwill.

Goodwill was started in 1902 by the Reverend Edgar J. Helms of Morgan Methodist Chapel in Boston. Helms and his congregation collected used household goods and clothing being discarded in wealthier areas of the city, then trained and hired the unemployed or poor to repair them. The products were then redistributed to those in need.

Today, Goodwill has become an international nonprofit that is funded by thrift stores and provides more than 300,000 people with job training and community services each year.  Goodwill also offers free online job skills and technology courses--learn more at gcflearnfree.org 

In the spirit of Boxing Day, we encourage you to donate your unused goods or volunteer with your local civic or community groups.


Boxing Day Resources

Goodwill Industries

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


Sunday, December 25, 2022

US Citizenship Resources for Christmas


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

More Citizenship Resources for Christmas

uscitizenpod
  • USCIS 100: 10. What is freedom of religion? (2011) mp3 / pdf
  • Washington Crossing the Delaware, Christmas Night 1776 (2012) pdf
  • A Citizenship Quiz for Christmas  (2021) mp3 / pdf / video
  • Two Citizenship Questions for Christmas (2017) video
  • O. Henry, author of "Gift of the Magi," Bio, Practice N-400, and Civics Quiz (2017) pdf (fixed!)

Saturday, December 24, 2022

Happy Holidays from Interior 2022!

 


From all of us here at Interior, our best wishes for a joyous holiday season, and a happy and healthy New Year!

Geography Quiz

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

USCIS 100:88. Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.

USCIS 100:89. What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?

USCIS 100:90. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?

USCIS 100:91. Name one U.S. territory.

USCIS 100:92. Name one state that borders Canada.

USCIS 100:93. Name one state that borders Mexico.

USCIS 100:94. What is the capital of the United States?*

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

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

Friday, December 23, 2022

U.S. Citizenship Lesson 75 | Fall 2022

Kulwinder Singh PASSED his interview, but there were some tense moments: the USCIS officer said there was another person with the same name and case details who had been deported!  Mr. Singh kept his cool and answered all of the officer's questions about deportation.  Most interviews go smoothly, but you still need to prepare how to answer awkward questions.  Good job, Mr. Singh!

Here are his practice interviews:

Kulwinder Singh’s 1st Practice Citizenship Interview

Kulwinder Singh’s 2nd Practice Citizenship Interview

Kulwinder Singh’s 3rd Practice Citizenship Interview

Kulwinder Singh’s 4th Practice Citizenship Interview

Kulwinder Singh’s 5th Practice Citizenship Interview

Kulwinder Singh’s 6th Practice Citizenship Interview

Kulwinder Singh Talks about his Citizenship Interview

N-400
USA Learns 
Learn More:
  • U.S. Citizenship Resources for the Winter Holidays page

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

U.S. Citizenship Lesson 72 | Fall 2022

Candy Tran's Citizenship interview is next week, so here is her third practice interview with civics questions and reading/writing test. Note her explanation about the difference between the name on her Legal Permanent residence Card (Green Card) and her Legal Name. Check back soon for updated Closed Captions. Watch all of Candy Tran's Citizenship Interviews: Candy Tran's First Practice Citizenship Video--UPDATED! Candy Tran's Second Practice Citizenship Interview Candy Tran’s Third Practice Citizenship Interview Candy Tran nói về cuộc phỏng vấn thi công dân Hoa Kỳ của cô Candy Tran Talks About Her U.S. Citizenship Interview

N-400
USA Learns 
Learn More:
  • U.S. Citizenship Resources for the Winter Holidays page

Monday, December 19, 2022

U.S. Citizenship Lesson 71 | Fall 2022

Elvia Velázquez is back with Teacher Jennifer got a practice U.S. Citizenship plus dictation and Civics Questions. Closed Captions have been updated. Check Elvia's first interview in Spanish with fellow teacher Ana Mendoza:

La Entrevista de Ciudadanía en Español con audio mejorado!

U.S. Citizenship Interview with Elvia Velázquez (2nd interview; cc--updated!)

Both interview were recorded at #tdls sponsored by OTAN.us Learn more about Gonzales Adult School's Citizenship and Distance Learning Programs at https://ae.gonzalesusd.net/

N-400
USA Learns 
Learn More:
  • U.S. Citizenship Resources for the Winter Holidays page

Sunday, December 18, 2022

Hanukkah at the White House

 


President Biden and the First Lady were joined by Vice President Harris and the Second Gentleman for a Menorah Lighting at the White House in celebration of Hanukkah.

More about Hanukkah:

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

Emma Lazarus (1849-1887) was a Jewish-American poet and activist who used the image of America as a light to the nations when she wrote "The New Colossus" (1883). This poem, which is engraved inside of the Statue of Liberty, talks about the millions of immigrants who came to the United States many of whom came through Ellis Island at the port of New York. The final lines say:
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Manfred Anson (1922-2012), a survivor of the Holocaust, designed this Hanukkah lamp for the centennial of the Statue of Liberty in 1986. Anson used a souvenir figurines to cast the statuettes for the lamp, and the Statue of Liberty torch was transformed into a candle holder. The lamp is surmounted by an American eagle, and the base of each statuette is inscribed with significant dates in Jewish history. This Statue of Liberty Menorah is currently displayed at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Washington DC.

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

USCIS 100:10. What is freedom of religion?



Learn more:

A closer look at our Statue of Liberty Hanukkah lamp blog post

A Menorah That Honors an Immigrant’s Story: After escaping the Holocaust, Manfred Anson paid tribute to his new home article

Emma Lazarus: Poet Of Exiles post

Statue of Liberty National Monument website

She Wrote a Nation’s Welcome article

This One-of-a-Kind Menorah Represents the True Spirit of Thanksgivukkah: A Hanukkah tradition melds with an icon of Americana article

U.S. Postal Service and Israel Post Jointly Issue Hanukkah Stamps blogpost

Citizenship Resources for the Winter Holidays blog post

Saturday, December 17, 2022

USCIS Announces Trial for Updates to the Naturalization Test

USCIS: USCIS Announces Trial for Updates to the Naturalization Test (full text) (short video)

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ( #USCIS ) announced today that we will conduct a nationwide trial of proposed changes to the naturalization test. The trial will include changes to the English-speaking portion of the test and content and format updates to the civics portion. The trial will not include changes to the reading or writing portions of the test as they are already standardized. (text of the full announcement https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-announces-trial-for-updates-to-the-naturalization-test) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) invites you to participate in a national engagement on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, from 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern, to learn more about a nationwide trial for the naturalization test redesign initiative. You must register for the 1/12/2023 event at uscis.gov. During the first part of the engagement, we will give an overview of the proposed changes, provide the trial testing parameters and explain the volunteer process for trial testing opportunities. During the second part of the engagement, we will respond to questions and hold a listening session to hear your comments and feedback on all aspects of the trial testing process. We also invite you to email comments on the trial testing to natzredesign22@uscis.dhs.gov. We look forward to participating in the redesign to the English-speaking portion of the test and content and format updates to the civics portion. What do you want to see on the resigned test? Let's brainstorm at the new LINCS.ED.GOV community (https://community.lincs.ed.gov/group/152) . Thanks!

Friday, December 16, 2022

Thursday, December 15, 2022

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

Monday, December 12, 2022

U.S. Citizenship Lesson 67 | Fall 2022

 

N-400
Civics:
USA Learns 
Learn More:
  • U.S. Citizenship Resources for the Winter Holidays page

U.S. Citizenship Lesson 66 | Fall 2022

 

N-400
Civics:
USA Learns 
Learn More:
  • U.S. Citizenship Resources for the Winter Holidays page

Sunday, December 11, 2022

Nearly 2,000 new U.S. citizens sworn in at the same time in Chicago

WGN: Nearly 2,000 new U.S. citizens sworn in at the same time in Chicago

WATCH LIVE | 1,984 candidates for U.S. citizenship from 120 countries will gather at Wintrust Arena Wednesday to swear their oath to the country.

It’s the largest naturalization ceremony for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Saturday, December 10, 2022

It's Decorative White House Season, Americans

 
 

The White House is bright with holiday cheer, an annual tradition meant to delight and remind Americans of the importance of the end-of-year holidays. This year's theme is "We the People," a nod to the most powerful force in America: the American people. VOA's Anita Powell reports from the White House.

USCIS 100:3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?

Learn More:
  • U.S. Citizenship Resources for the Winter Holidays page

Friday, December 9, 2022

U.S. Citizenship Lesson 65 | Fall 2022


 

  • Interview Based on the USCIS N-400r for Senior Citizens or Those Who Request Accommodations/Exemptions plus the USCIS 100qs for 65/20 Applicants (8 pgs) Script
  • Before the Interview: 7 Questions about Exemptions and Accommodations PLUS 65/20 Civics Questions video
 أسئلة التربية المدنية للمتمتعين بالإعفاء 20/65 
65/20 면제에 해당되는 공민/역사 시험 문제
Các câu Hỏi của Công Dân về Miễn Trừ 65/20
N-400
Civics:
USA Learns 
Learn More:
  • U.S. Citizenship Resources for the Winter Holidays page