Tuesday, October 31, 2023

U.S. Citizenship Resources for Halloween


Halloween
  • American English at State: Halloween read
  • Mind Boggler: 5 Ghosts of Presidents Haunting White House: Lincoln's Ghost and 4 more! watch 
  • Share America: Everyday conversations: What’s your Halloween costume? read
  • uscitizenpod: Trick or Treat! A Halloween Citizenship Interview 2019 watch

Sunday, October 29, 2023

Saturday, October 28, 2023

Celebrate America!

 

 CATESOL 2023 Lightning Talk: Celebrate America

The National Constitution Center’s 2023-2024 Civic Calendar explores the Civil Rights Movement. pdf

Friday, October 27, 2023

Election and Voting Resources for Adult Learners


CATESOL 2023 Poster Session: Election and Voting Resources for Adult Learners  Make a copy of this Google slide deck and modify it for your classroom



US Citizenship Podcast

Thursday, October 26, 2023

US House Elects Speaker


VOA News: US House Elects Conservative Republican Johnson as Speaker

Republican Mike Johnson was elected speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, ending lawmakers’ 22-day struggle to pick one of the top leadership positions in the U.S. government. VOA Congressional Correspondent Katherine Gypson reports.

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Two Citizenship Questions for United Nations Day

 uscitizenpod: Two Citizenship Questions for United Nations Day 

The United Nations (UN) is an international organization that works for peace and sustainable development. The United Nations promotes goals that are similar to the rights in the US Declaration of Independence. 

United Nations Day celebrates the founding of the UN on October 24, 1945. Independence Day celebrates the founding of the United States.

Monday, October 23, 2023

USCIS N-400 Part 12 Practice Interview


uscitizenpod: USCIS N-400 Part 12 Practice Interview 

Excerpt of N-400 Part 12 questions from the “Regular” Citizenship Interview Based on the USCIS N-400." Download the script

Saturday, October 21, 2023

National Museum of Women in the Arts Reopens in DC

VOA News: National Museum of Women in the Arts Reopens in DC 

The National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. reopened to the public on October 21 after a two-year and $70 million renovation. Karina Bafradzhian has the story. Camera: David Gogokhia

See more at the NMWA's YouTube Channel and NMWA Online Exhibits

Friday, October 20, 2023

Inside the world of immigration scams

 

FTC videos: Immigration Scams

2023-10-20 NPR Marketplace Morning Edition: Inside the world of immigration scams

Criminals use complex immigration law as well as immigration status against their victims, says Juan Manuel Pedroza, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

"These scams happen because people are looking for answers and help to adjust your legal status,” said Pedroza, who has researched immigration scams.

Marketplace’s David Brancaccio spoke with Pedroza about the nature of these scams and how to deter them from happening. The following is an edited transcript of their conversation.  read / listen more 

More Immigration Scam Resources:

Monday, October 16, 2023

Naturalization Network and USAHello Announce New Professional Development Program for Citizenship Educators

 Albuquerque, New Mexico, – [Naturalization Network and partner USAHello] are launching a new program to provide professional development to Citizenship Educators by using Project ECHO®’s revolutionary guided-practice model that reduces disparities in underserved and rural areas around the world.

The ECHO model develops knowledge and capacity among community leaders through:

  1. Case-based learning: Using case studies, expert specialists lead educators through cases they may encounter regarding the concern at hand.
  2. Knowledge networks: Regularly scheduled teleconferences, led by expert specialists and community partners, provide opportunities for ongoing dialogue and troubleshooting over time.
  3. Learning loops: Educators encountering similar situations in the classroom room can share their best practices and co-manage diverse students in real world situations and practice. (adapted source)

The new ECHO for Citizenship Educators will take place every second Wednesday of the month at: 1pm ET, 2pm CT, 11am MT, 10am PT, beginning 11/8/2023, and will feature experts in adult education, ESL, and civics.  Participants can register for this program at no cost.

For further info, contact Maura Lewiecki, Team Leader or see:

Also check out USA Hello

Thursday, October 12, 2023

A Citizenship Quiz in Honor of Italian-American Heritage Month




A Citizenship Quiz in Honor of Italian-American Heritage Month mp3 | pdf | audiogram
Also check out:

LOC: Explorers Emigrants Citizens: A Visual History of the Italian American Experience

  • Linda Barrett Osborne and Paolo Battaglia discuss their new book comprising a visual history of the Italian American experience from the collections of the Library.


Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Happy Birthday, Eleanor Roosevelt!




Eleanor Roosevelt served as the First Lady the United States (1933 to 1945) and a United States Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly (1945 to 1952). Although Eleanor Roosevelt never ran for public office, she was a living embodiment of a citizen as an active participant in American democracy.

Question 1: Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?

▪ Franklin Roosevelt

Question 2: What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

▪ vote
▪ join a political party
▪ help with a campaign
▪ join a civic group
▪ join a community group
▪ give an elected official your opinion on an issue
▪ call Senators and Representatives
▪ publicly support or oppose an issue or policy
▪ run for office
▪ write to a newspaper

Listen to Eleanor Roosevelt and the United Nations (2010)





Happy Birthday, Eleanor Roosevelt!

Monday, October 9, 2023

U.S. Citizenship Resources for Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day




American English at State: Celebrate!
ELCivics.com 
ESL Library (requires subscription)
LearningChocolate.com 
SI.edu

US Citizenship Podcast

  • Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples Day, and the Columbian Exchange podcast / video
  • Native American Tribes Puzzle pdf
  • Columbus Day and the Columbian Exchange Puzzle pdf 
  • A Citizenship Quiz in Honor of Italian-American Heritage Month mp3 | pdf | audiogram
  • U.S. Citizenship Resources for Hispanic Heritage Month page | video playlist
  • U.S. Citizenship Resources for Native American Heritage Month page
  • ¡Viva Boricua! A Citizenship Quiz In Honor of Puerto Rico pdf  mp3  video
VOA News: Voice of America 
More Websites
FAMILY FUN
  • Columbus Day Coloring Pages pdf
  • Many Hoops Coloring Pages pdfs
  • Native American Coloring Pages pdf

  • Updated 10/07/2023

    Saturday, October 7, 2023

    Democracy Exhibitions' Come to Washington


     
    The U.S. State Department is marking the 60th anniversary of its Office of Art in Embassies, a government partnership with art communities to promote democratic values. VOA’s Saqib Ul Islam shows us two of its traveling exhibitions that were on display in Washington. 

    Learn more:
     

    US State Dept: Art in Embassies: 

    USCIS 100:03. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words? Question 3 Audio (MP3, 236.72 KB)

    • We the People

    Friday, October 6, 2023

    A Citizenship Quiz in Honor of German-American Day



    Two Questions for German American Day



    German-American Day honors the first group of German families who immigrated to colonial America and arrived in Philadelphia on October 6, 1683. Here are ten Citizenship questions which incorporates German-born Americans-by-Choice.

    Thursday, October 5, 2023

    Why Immigrants Are More Hopeful Than US-born Americans

    VOA Learning English: Why Immigrants Are More Hopeful Than US-born Americans 

    "She described what the immigrants told her this way: “They said, ‘You know, I face challenges here in the U.S., but it's far better than where I came from. And I have this belief that things will be better for my children.’” read more (also listen to the mp3 audio)

    Words in This Story

    challenge – n. a difficult task or problem

    opportunity – n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done

    forefront – n. the most important part or position

    insurance – n. an agreement in which a person pays a company regularly so that the company will pay for part of, for example, a health care cost later on

    talk down to –v. (phrasal) to speak as though you are talking to a young child when you are not talking to a young child

    bully – v. to try to force people to do things by making threats

    harassed – v. to annoy or bother (someone) in a repeated way over a period of time

    Wednesday, October 4, 2023

    Happy Autumn! Happy U.S. Citizen!

     


    Practice Citizenship interview with Sofia from Morocco. A “Typical” Citizenship Interview Based on the USCIS N-400r (4 pages) USCIS 100 Remix Quizzes
    • "Ones" 01, 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91
    • "Twos" 02, 12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62, 72, 82, 92
    • "Threes" 03, 13, 23, 33, 43, 53, 63, 73, 83, 93

    Tuesday, October 3, 2023

    Good News! No N-400 Fee Increase!

     


    GOOD NEWS:  No Change in N-400 fees: 640 + $85 (biometrics) = $725.  See more details:

    USCIS G-1055, Fee Schedule https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055

    USCIS Tools Fee Calculator https://www.uscis.gov/feecalculator

    Monday, October 2, 2023

    U.S. Citizenship Resources for October


    Heritage Months: Hispanic, Italian, German
    • U.S. Citizenship Resources for Hispanic Heritage Month page | video playlist
    • A Citizenship Quiz in Honor of Italian-American Heritage Month mp3 | pdf | audiogram
    • A Citizenship Quiz in Honor of German-American Day mp3 | pdf | audiogram
    Holidays

    • U.S. Citizenship Resources for Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day page
    • Two Citizenship Questions for United Nations Day audiogram
    • U.S. Citizenship Resources for Halloween, All Saints, and Day of the Dead page

    Sunday, October 1, 2023

    After Shutdown Averted, Capitol Hill Showdown on the Horizon

    VOA News: After Shutdown Averted, Capitol Hill Showdown on the Horizon

    Despite the fact that a U.S. government shutdown was averted, another week of turmoil seems to be in the making on Capitol Hill. A conservative legislator has promised to be “relentless” in his efforts to oust Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. VOA’s Veronica Balderas Iglesias has the latest. 

    Also read: 

    USCIS 100:47. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now? Question 47 Audio (MP3, 410.91 KB)