Happy National Native American Heritage Month!

November is Native American Heritage Month!

Native American history IS American history, and it is only by recognizing that history that we can build a future that is equitable and inclusive. Happy National Native American Heritage Month!

Resources from US Citizenship Podcast

• U.S. Citizenship Resources for Native American Heritage Month page (2023)
• Deborah Parker (Tulalip) and the Violence Against Women Act (2013) video
• Native American Tribes Puzzle pdf
• A Citizenship Quiz in Honor of Native American Heritage Month (November)
• A Third Citizenship Quiz in Honor of Native American Heritage Month (2018) video / mp3 / pdf 
• A Second Citizenship Quiz in Honor of Native American Heritage Month (2017) video / mp3 / pdf
• 10 USCIS Civics questions focusing on Recent Native American History and Legislation (2016) mp3 / pdf
•  The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Region

Happy Birthday San Jose, California!

A Citizenship Quiz in Honor of the Double Birthday of San Jose, CA  mp3 | pdf

Happy Birthday San Jose! Today we are going to celebrate the Double Birthday of San Jose, California.

Today we are going to listen to eight questions from the USCIS 100 questions plus 2 extra credit questions. There is so much to say about San Jose, that I could have asked many more questions, but ten questions in total is just enough. Remember you only have to get 6 out of 10 questions correct to pass the citizenship exam along with the questions from you N-400 plus reading and writing one sentence.

Today when I ask the questions, there will be no answers--you will have to answer the questions yourself. Check your copy of the USCIS questions to make sure that you are correct. Let's get started!

Life in U.S.A.

 

Easy English News: "Life in U.S.A.: U.S. citizenship" - December 2023 Easy English NEWS

Subscribe to Elizabeth Claire's Easy English NEWS

Indigenous People Answer Commonly Googled Questions About Native Americans

Buzz Feed: Indigenous People Answer Commonly Googled Questions About Native Americans

USCIS 100:59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived? Question 59 Audio (MP3, 192.74 KB)

USCIS 100:87. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States. Question 87 Audio (MP3, 1.13 MB)

USCIS 100:10. What is freedom of religion? Question 10 Audio (MP3, 174.83 KB)

USCIS 100:100. Name two national U.S. holidays. Question 100 Audio (MP3, 977.39 KB)

USCIS 100:64. There were 13 original states. Name three. Question 64 Audio (MP3, 659.02 KB)

USCIS 100:71. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803? Question 71 Audio (MP3, 252.61 KB)

USCIS 100:91. Name one U.S. territory. Question 91 Audio (MP3, 348.71 KB)

USCIS 100:92. Name one state that borders Canada. Question 92 Audio (MP3, 624.4 KB)

USCIS 100:93. Name one state that borders Mexico. Question 93 Audio (MP3, 287.63 KB)

Dozens become U.S. citizens at naturalization ceremony in Oklahoma City

KFOR Oklahoma's News 4: Dozens become U.S. citizens at naturalization ceremony in Oklahoma City

Dozens of people from across the world became U.S. citizens Tuesday morning during a naturalization ceremony at the Oklahoma History Center.

Remembering JFK

VOANews: Remembering John F. Kennedy – the 56th Anniversary of the Assassination

Also watch: 

• Texas JFK Assassination Perch Is Now Both Museum and Memorial (2023)
• Dateline Dallas: A Reporter Remembers (2023)

56 years ago, President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed during a visit to Dallas, Texas, November 22, 1963. His assassination shocked Americans and people around the world.

👉 President John Kennedy, 46 years old when he died, was the youngest man ever elected president. He served only 1,000 days in office, yet he remains one of the most popular presidents in American history.

Kennedy was elected president in 1960, and faced difficult foreign policy decisions during his less than three years in office. The United States and the Soviet Union were in the midst of a Cold War, and he was elected on a goal of fighting Communism.

He suffered early in his term with a failed invasion of Cuba. But his public image recovered during a visit to Germany. In Berlin, Kennedy became famous for a speech denouncing Soviet Communism.
Later, he ordered a naval blockade of Cuba in an effort to stop the shipment of Soviet missiles to the island. He successfully persuaded the Soviet Union to remove the missiles already there and disarm the weapon sites.
Kennedy’s creation of the Peace Corps and his support of the space program were major victories at home during his presidency. He also helped move forward civil rights efforts.

During the 1960 campaign, it was a close battle between Kennedy, a Democratic senator from Massachusetts, and Vice President Richard Nixon, the Republican nominee.

Also see:

uscitizenpod: 10 USCIS Questions in honor of President John F. Kennedy mp3 pdf

The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Region

Worldwide Walls: POW! WOW! San Jose 2021 AIR: We Are Muwekma Ohlone (clip)

"We Are Muwekma Ohlone" is the title of the mural.

They were once recognized but it got taken away back in the late 1920s.

Charlene Nijmeh, the current chairperson, 

she represents the present, 

and she's doing what she can to help get the tribe 

federally reinstated as a sovereign nation as a Muwekma Ohlone, 

an American Indian tribe recognized by the United States.

Ask the question.

Find out why you didn't know anything about the Ohlone people before.

Just learn.

I'm glad I painted this just to be like a talking point, 

like a starting point to to talk about that.

--Alfonso Salazar 

US Citizenship Podcast gratefully acknowledges Muwekma Ohlone people on whose ancestral land we reside, as well as the diverse Native communities who make their home here today.

The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Region are seeking seeking federal recognition of their tribal status, which would give them the same benefits as other Native American tribes for housing, medical care, higher education and the ability to establish a land trust.  Sign a letter of support at http://www.muwekma.org/sign-letter-pledge.html.

Check out Native Land (native-land.ca) to discover the Indigenous people, languages, and treaties associated with your local area.

POP QUIZ:

1. USCIS 100:59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
2. USCIS 100:87. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.

Learn more:

• Native Land 
• National Native American Heritage Month
• NMAI: Honoring Original Indigenous Inhabitants: Land Acknowledgment
• Preparing the Oath: 100:59, 100:87
• SJSU: The Muwekma Ohlone Are Still Here
• uscitizenpod: U.S. Citizenship Resources for Native American Heritage Month
• VOA News: Native America

Learn more the Muwekma Ohlone of San Jose / Oakland / San Francisco:

• Muwekma Ohlone | Facebook
• ABC7: Ohlone women fighting to get back their land, cultural heritage in Bay Area
• Brian Fanger: We Are Still Here: Ohlone Mural San Jose
• Brian Fanger: Chictactac-Adams Ohlone site in Gilroy, CA
• Brian Fanger: Exploring the Ohlone Territory of the South Bay
• India Country Today: Preserving Ohlone cosmology and teachings
• KQED: How This Native American Elder Reclaimed Sacred Land in the Bay Area
• Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority: Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the SF Bay Area | The Past, Present, and Future Stewards of Coyote Valley
• Sacred Land Film Project: Unearthing Ancestors at the West Berkeley Shellmound
• SJ Walls: We Are Still Here

See also: 

• A Citizenship Quiz in Honor of the Double Birthday of San Jose, CA mp3 and  pdf
• US Census: Native American Heritage Day: November 24, 2023
  

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

uscitizenpod: Thanksgiving Citizenship Interview 

In this episode, we reflect on the Pilgrims Immigration and first year in America by pairing these events with twelve questions from the N-400 Application for Naturalization.

US Citizenship Podcast

• A US Citizenship Quiz about the History of Thanksgiving (2018) video / mp3 / pdf
• Thanksgiving N-400 Interview (2016) pdf and mp3 
• A Citizenship Quiz for Thanksgiving (2015) pdf and mp3
• A Quick Interview Based on the N-400r plus 10 qs in honor of Thanksgiving 2015 pdf and mp3
• U.S. Citizenship Resources for Native American Heritage Month page
• U.S. Citizenship Resources for Thanksgiving page (many!)

US appeals court strikes at landmark voting rights law

Reuters: US appeals court strikes at landmark voting rights law 

A US appeals court ruling strikes at the core of a landmark voting rights law, dealing a potentially serious blow to groups trying to push back against what they see as discriminatory voting rules and unfair representation. Read the full story here: https://reut.rs/3G4Gxc5

Tracing the origins and significance of the presidential turkey pardon

PBS News Hour: Tracing the origins and significance of the presidential turkey pardon 

One thing Americans can be thankful for this year is the price of Thanksgiving turkeys. Turkey prices are down 5.6 percent since last year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. But two special turkeys will be spared from the dinner table this week as part of a beloved White House tradition. Laura Barrón-López reports.

Happy Birthday, President Joe Biden!

 

Joe Biden: 11 Things You May Not Know About Joe 

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is an American politician who is the 46th and current president of the United States. Ideologically a moderate member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 under President Barack Obama and represented Delaware in the United States Senate from 1973 to 2009.

Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, Mental Health Advocate, Dies at 96

 

VOA News: Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, Mental Health Advocate, Dies at 96 

 

Former U.S. first lady Rosalynn Carter has died at the age of 96. VOA’s Kane Farabaugh, who extensively covered Rosalynn Carter’s life and post-White House career promoting global health and democracy with her husband, former President Jimmy Carter, has more.

JAZZ UP YOUR CITIZENSHIP AND EL CIVICS CURRICULUM

 

CCAE South | 11/18/2023 | Jennifer Gagliardi | jgagliardi@scoe.net google slides | pdf

Immigrants’ Rights Advocates Rally in Washington

 

VOA News: Immigrants’ Rights Advocates Rally in Washington 

Thousands of people marched to the White House on Tuesday, urging President Joe Biden to provide work permits to long-term immigrants, among other policy reforms, as VOA’s Celia Mendoza reports. 

Learn more:

 

VOA News: Advocates March in Washington to Demand Work Permits for Migrants

Hundreds of people gathered Tuesday in Washington to urge the Biden administration to extend labor protections to undocumented immigrants in the United States. The Here to Work Day of Action march, organized by a coalition of dozens of migrant advocacy groups, called on U.S. President Joe Biden to allow immigrants living in the U.S. for years to apply for work permits. read more

Learn more:

USCIS 100:06. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?* Question 6 Audio (MP3, 313.28 KB)

• speech
• religion
• assembly
• press
• petition the government

USCIS 100:51. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States? Question 51 Audio (MP3, 426.66 KB)

• freedom of expression
• freedom of speech
• freedom of assembly
• freedom to petition the government
• freedom of religion
• the right to bear arms

USCIS 100:55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy? Question 55 Audio (MP3, 681.01 KB)

• 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

Chinese Migration to the US

VOA Learning English: Learning English Podcast Chinese Migration to US, Sheep herders, Antarctica's forests READ THE ARTICLE HERE

On Today's podcast, Dan Novak and Dan Friedell host the show while Dan Novak tells listeners what they are going to hear.

01:00 First, Caty Weaver reports on the increase in Chinese migrants who are traveling through Panama trying to get to the U.S. southern border. The migrants start in Ecuador which has no visa requirements. There are also YouTube videos aimed at pushing migrants to use this path.

07:50 Listen to more stories about the Navajo tribe and Antarctica.

Words in This Story

emigration –n. to leave a country to live somewhere else

character –n. (language) a symbol that is used in writing or printing to express meaning in a language that does not use an alphabet

meme – n. a picture, video, usage, or term that spreads through the internet

despair –n. a feeling of having no hope

white-collar –adj. related to or describing office jobs that are usually done at a desk

50 new citizens to be welcomed during Veterans Day naturalization ceremony

FOX St Louis: 50 new citizens to be welcomed during Veterans Day naturalization ceremony

Veterans Day 2023

uscitizenpod

• U.S. Citizenship Resources for Veterans Day page (more resources)
• A 21-Question “Salute” for Veterans Day Quiz based on the USCIS 100qs pdf | audiogram
• Interview Based on the USCIS N-400r for Current and Former Armed Forces Members pdf
• N-400 Practice Interview: Part 12 Detailed Review: 
  • Question 15: Group Violence pdf
  • Questions 17-21 Gang, Weapons, Child Soldiers pdf
  • Questions 37-44 U.S. Military Service pdf
  • Questions 45-50 Attachment to the U.S. Constitution pdf
• Part 18 Oath of Allegiance pdf
• The Selective Service / el Servicio Selectivo in English and Español audiogram

USCIS Office of Citizenship

• 2023-09-12 USCIS Webinar: Immigration Overview for Veterans Service Organizations
• 2023-10-19 USCIS Institute of Museum and Library Services Webinar - Immigration and Naturalization for Military Members and Their Families 
• A More Perfect Union: The USCIS Civics Test Guide to the Monuments and Memorials on the National Mall
• Lesson Plans Beginning | Intermediate
• N-400 Topic Exercise: Armed Forces
• N-400 Topic Exercise: Oath of Allegiance

USCIS Military

• Immigration information and links to resources specifically for members of the military and their families. Naturalization through Military Service | Military Naturalization Stats | USCIS Military Help Line: 877-247-4645

Ellis Island: Gateway to America in Early 20th Century

VOA News: Ellis Island: Gateway to America in Early 20th Century 

Immigration in the U.S. wasn’t always difficult or a crisis. Just 100 years ago, immigrants arriving in America simply had to give their name, occupation, and port of call when crossing into the U.S. Millions arrived through Ellis Island, an immigration and processing center that operated for more than 62 years. It stopped processing migrants 70 years ago this month. Evgeny Maslov reports on what it was like for immigrants on Ellis Island in this story narrated by Anna Rice.

Also watch: USCIS: USCIS and the Legacy of Ellis Island

Nearly 1,000 people become U.S. citizens at Wrigley Field ceremony

CBS: Nearly 1,000 people become U.S. citizens at Wrigley Field ceremony 

The Friendly Confines hosted its third and largest naturalization ceremony yet. Nearly 1,000 people from 94 countries were sworn in as U.S. citizens.

CCAE Central Follow Up

This is a follow-up to some of the questions asked at CCAE Central ESL, ABE, and Civics Breakout Group.  f I missed anything or if you have further questions, please contact me at jgagliardi@musd.org.  Thank you, Visalia, for your warm hospitality!

NOTE the Oct 17-18 2023 NIICE: National Immigrant Integration & Citizenship Education Conference and the Nov 1 Naturalization Test Overview focused on naturalizing LPRs. 

• The NIICE conf focused on providing tools and data to assist CBOs to prepare applicants for their interview (see below).  I will post further info from the NIICE conf on LINCS.ed.gov Civics Education and Citizenship group. 
• Central California was proudly represented by PaoYang, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Fresno Center and USCIS Citizenship Ambassador (volunteer role) (video); more USCIS Citizenship Ambassadors

• The Nov 1 webinar focused on eligibility and clearly delineated the components of the Naturalization interview that CBOs need.  At the end of the Nov 1 webinar, there was a comment from a USCIS officer that the Naturalization Test Redesign Pilot has been put on hold.

USCIS Naturalization Statistics

• Naturalization Statistics
• Find data on the population of recently naturalized.
• Naturalization Test Performance
• Find data on applicants' performance on the Naturalization Test.
• Eligible to Naturalize Data
• Find data on those eligible to naturalize.
• Eligible to Naturalize Dashboard
• The Eligible to Naturalize Dashboard displays data on the population of lawful permanent residents (LPRs) who may be eligible to naturalize. 

USCIS LPRs Eligible to Naturalize Factsheets: 

• USCIS is committed to providing more information on the eligible to naturalize population. This fact sheet provides information on select characteristics of people with Lawful Permanent Residence (LPR) status, also known as Green Card holders in the following California area:
• Fresno County California
• Los Angeles (CBSA)
• Imperial County California
• Kern County California 
• San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, California 
• San Joaquin County California
• Santa Clara County California
• All LPRs Eligible to Naturalize Data 

TESOL

• TESOL Policy Recommendations for the 118th Congress 
• Google slides--make a copy and modify it for your Congress person or school board meeting.  Most of the text was taken directly from the TESOL Advocacy Center.  USCIS LPR stats are used on slide 19 and 20.  Note: recently, Senator Padilla has committed to introduce and co-sponsor the SPELL Act.
• Nov 11: TESOL: Enhancing State-Level Advocacy: U.S. State Legislative Issues Impacting ELT
• From Florida to California, U.S. states are active in legislation and policy affecting you, ELT educators, and the multilingual learners of English. Join TESOL on 11 November from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET, as we provide an overview of issues across the states, explore the implications, and discuss how you can make an impact in your own advocacy efforts. Register

LINCS

• Join the LINCS.ed.gov Civics Education and Citizenship group and more adult education forums.  Recent posts include:
• REPORT BACK from the 11/01 Naturalization Test Webinar
• Civics Resources for Veterans Day
• Civics Resources for Indigenous Peoples Day and Native American Heritage Month (and discussion questions)
• "Superman and Me"  by Sherman Alexei (example of Reservation Indian literature.  Discussion question: "Write you own literacy narrative.")

CASAS

• CASAS Writing Assessment
• CASAS EL Civics 
• California Civic Participation and IELCE (login to access) 
• COAPPS list
• California EL Civics Civic Objectives: 231 and †243: Funding Immigrant Integration Goal Areas
• California EL Civics Support YouTube Channel 
• Recent California EL Civics Network Meetings playlist
• California Citizenship Preparation Support YouTube Channel

OTAN and more

• California Adult Education Professional Development Upcoming Events
• Training from OTAN, CASAS, CALPRO, CAEP and more!
• CCAE State
• CCAE Southern Section Conference 2023, Nov 17-18, Palms Springs
• CATESOL (check schedule for upcoming events and recordings)
• COABE 
• COABE 2024 Conference, March 17-20, Nashville
• CUE
• CUE Spring, March 21-24, Palms Springs
• Note: Neda of OTAN is now CUE President!
• OTAN
• OTAN TDLS March 1-2 Submit Proposal by Dec 4, 2023
• Note: Melinda Holt is retiring--take every opportunity possible to "vibe" in her presence!
• TESOL
• TESOL 2024 Conference, March 21-24, Tampa & Online

CCAE Central: Teaching with YouTube

Teaching with YouTube

CCAE Central 2023 Visalia Convention Center

Jennifer Gagliardi, OTAN SME, jgagliardi@scoe.net

YouTube Resource Padlet:

bit.ly/teach-yt-padlet

Thanks to Alison Wahlen of Visalia Adult School for sharing her awesome YouTube channel: Stitches N Stuff Studio--check it out!

U.S. Citizenship Resources for All Saints and Day of the Dead

 Citizenship Quiz for All Saints and Day of the Dead 2022, (2023 coming soon!)

• listen | pdf | video

We honor the following list of Americans who passed before us in 2022:

• Dec 5, 2021  Bob Dole, U.S. senator from Kansas
• Dec 26, 2021 Sarah Weddington, Roe v. Wade lawyer
• Dec 28, 2021 Harry Reid, U.S. senator from Nevada
• Jan 11, 2022 Clyde Bellecourt, American Indian Movement cofounder
• Jan 21, 2022 Edwilda Gustava Allen Isaac, American civil rights pioneer
• Jan 25, 2022 Esteban Edward Torres, U.S. House of Representatives (CA-34)
• Feb 11, 2022 Tall Oak Weeden, historian of Mashantucket Pequot and Wampanoag descent
• Mar 18, 2022 Don Young, U.S. representative for Alaska
• Mar 23, 2022 Madeleine Albright, U.S. diplomat 
• Jul 3, 2022 Charles Wesley Turnbull, governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands

Citizenship Quiz for All Saints and Day of the Dead 2021 listen | pdf | video

Citizenship Quiz for All Saints and Day of the Dead 2020 listen | read | watch

Citizenship Quiz for All Saints and Day of the Dead 2019  listen / read / watch

Citizenship Quiz for All Saints and Day of the Dead 2018 listen / read / watch

Citizenship Quiz for All Saints and Day of the Dead 2017 listen / read / watch

Citizenship Quiz for All Saints and Day of the Dead 2016 listen / read

A Citizenship Quiz for All Saints Day Podcast 2015 listen / read

Citizenship Quiz for Day of the Dead Podcast 2015 listen / read

Also see:

Dead Honored in Various Ways watch

Citizenship Resources for Halloween post

U.S. Citizenship Resources for November

U.S. Citizenship Resources for Native American Heritage Month page

U.S. Citizenship Resources for Halloween, All Saints, and Day of the Dead page

U.S. Citizenship Resources for Veterans Day page

U.S. Citizenship Resources for Thanksgiving page