US Citizenship Podcast

A Juneteenth Citizenship Quiz: 19 Civics Questions that Celebrate Freedom https://goo.gl/HcJVQT

You can listen to Robin Braxton's full interview podcast: http://traffic.libsyn.com/uscitizenpod/q76.mp3 video: http://youtu.be/elEzKOkyvz4

Citizenship Resources for Juneteenth https://goo.gl/vByVne

US Citizenship Resources for African-American History Month and Citizenship, Immigration, and Government Resources in African Languages https://goo.gl/ZYarom

Answers to the Juneteenth Citizenship Quiz For alternate answers, go to USCIS: https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learners/study-test/study-materials-civics-test

1. Africans 2. Mexican-American War 3. New York 4. to print money 5. decides if a law goes against the Constitution 6. life and liberty 7. slavery 8. Republican 9. Washington D.C. 10. the Civil War 11. freed slaves in the Confederate states 12. freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation) 13. July 4 14. between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26) 15. a change (to the Constitution) 16. serve in the U.S. military (if needed) 17. A male citizen of any race (can vote). 18. April 15 19. The Star-Spangled Banner

DOWNLOAD THE NEW APP FROM USCIS.GOV: USCIS Civics Test Study Tools Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details? id=com.myuscismobileapp iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/uscis-civics-test-study-tools/id1216824613

LISTEN to US Citizenship Podcast US Citizenship Podcast Show website http://uscitizenpod.libsyn.com/ Download our FREE Android app: https://goo.gl/d6rs9f Download our FREE Apple iPhone/iPad: https://goo.gl/dLiOAE or subscribe vi Apple iTunes: https://goo.gl/BVrqHQ

Get ready for Flag Day with thirteen questions about the U.S. Flag.

quiz pdf: https://goo.gl/5YMUKP

This week (June 12-15), I am at the CASAS Summer Institute, Anaheim CA. I will be presenting two workshops on behalf of OTAN.us entitled

1. Tech Up Your Citizenship Class 2. CASAS Citizenship Assessment

Plus I will be attending teacher training workshops taught by USCIS staff. Check uscitizenpod.com for daily updates about the #CASASSI2017

Learn more about The Flag that Inspired the National Anthem https://amhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/

LISTEN to US Citizenship Podcast US Citizenship Podcast Show website http://uscitizenpod.libsyn.com/ Download our FREE Android app: https://goo.gl/d6rs9f Download our FREE Apple iPhone/iPad: https://goo.gl/dLiOAE or subscribe vi Apple iTunes: https://goo.gl/BVrqHQ

Download the Quiz PDF https://goo.gl/sLFgyV

An American Pentecost:

We are American Indians, Native Alaskans, Europeans, Latinos, Africans, Arabs, Asians, Pacific Islanders-- yet all of us hear America speaking in our own languages about FREEDOM!

The Christian Pentecost:

Pentecost is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ

"We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God." (Acts 2:9-11)

For more info about languages spoken in America:

Slate: Tagalog in California, Cherokee in Arkansas: What language does your state speak? By Ben Blatt (great graphics) http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2014/05/language_map_what_s_the_most_popular_language_in_your_state.html

Wikipedia: Languages of the United States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_the_United_States

Voting Rights Act Sect 203

Section 203 targets those language minorities that have suffered a history of exclusion from the political process: Spanish, Asian, Native American, and Alaskan Native. The Census Bureau identifies specific language groups for specific jurisdictions.

Section 203 says that jurisdictions (cities, counties, states) shall provide election materials in the language of the applicable minority group as well as in the English language.

Sources: DOJ: MINORITY LANGUAGE CITIZENS: Section 203 of the voting Rights Act https://www.justice.gov/crt/minority-language-citizens

US Census: Voting Rights Determination File https://www.census.gov/rdo/data/voting_rights_determination_file.html

GPO: Federal Registar: Voting Rights Act Amendments of 2006, Determinations Under Section 203 https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-12-05/pdf/2016-28969.pdf

Quiz Questions and Answers (Download Quiz PDF https://goo.gl/sLFgyV)

1. What is one reason colonists came to America? (58) ▪ freedom ▪ political liberty ▪ religious freedom ▪ economic opportunity ▪ practice their religion ▪ escape persecution

2. Name one U.S. territory. (91) ▪ Puerto Rico ▪ U.S. Virgin Islands ▪ American Samoa ▪ Northern Mariana Islands ▪ Guam

3. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803? ▪ the Louisiana Territory ▪ Louisiana

4. Who was President during World War I? (79) ▪ (Woodrow) Wilson

5. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words? (3) ▪ We the People

6. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States. [USCIS Officers will be supplied with a list of federally recognized American Indian tribes.] ▪ Cherokee ▪ Navajo ▪ Sioux ▪ Chippewa ▪ Choctaw ▪ Pueblo ▪ Apache ▪ Iroquois ▪ Creek ▪ Blackfeet ▪ Seminole ▪ Cheyenne ▪ Arawak ▪ Shawnee ▪ Mohegan ▪ Huron ▪ Oneida ▪ Lakota ▪ Crow ▪ Teton ▪ Hopi ▪ Inuit

7. 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).

8. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?* (49) ▪ serve on a jury ▪ vote in a federal election

9. Name one right only for United States citizens. (50) ▪ vote in a federal election ▪ run for federal office

10. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States? ▪ freedom of expression ▪ freedom of speech ▪ freedom of assembly ▪ freedom to petition the government ▪ freedom of religion ▪ the right to bear arms

More from US Citizenship Podcast:

• Go to N-400 pdfs for practice scripts based on the N-400 Application of Naturalization.
• Go to Citizenship by the Month for more commemoration, event, and holiday resources.
• Go to Citizenship by Language for Citizenship Resources organized by language.
• Go to Citizenship by Country for Citizenship Resources organized by country or origin.
• Go to More for more citizenship resources.

LISTEN to US Citizenship Podcast

• US Citizenship Podcast Show website http://uscitizenpod.libsyn.com/
• Download our FREE Android app: https://goo.gl/d6rs9f
• Download our FREE Apple iPhone/iPad:https://goo.gl/dLiOAE
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Citizenship Resources for the Month of Ramadan Citizenship and Civics Resources in English, Arabic, Farsi, Urdu, and more! post: https://goo.gl/klciVE

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is observed by all Muslims as a month of prayer and fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad. Ramadan 2017 began in the evening of Friday, May 26 and ends in the evening of Saturday, June 24, Peace!

A Citizenship Quiz for the Month of Ramadan pdf: https://goo.gl/lUkA0A (CORRECTED)

Fourteen questions that pairs a fact from Muslim-American History with a USCIS civics question.

This quiz is dedicated to Mohammed's faithful daughters: Minire Karamanaga, Tasleem Khaldoon, Humaira Saleem, Munni Thankkar, and Kalsoom Bibi of Milpitas, CA. You are all (or soon will be) great American citizens!

Answers:

1. Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia

2. because of high taxes

3. to make treaties

4. George Washington

5. Religion

6. Africans

7. freedom of worship (religion); the right to bear arms

8. No one is above the law.

9. Slavery

10. You can practice any religion, or not practice religion.

11. join a civic group;join a community group

12. Franklin Roosevelt

13. the Civil Rights movement

14. Ro Khanna (CA-17; check www.house.gov)

For other possible responses, check the USCIS Civics Test page.

If you have any further questions of comments about the quiz, please contact me at [email protected]

LISTEN to US Citizenship Podcast

• US Citizenship Podcast Show website http://uscitizenpod.libsyn.com/
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For this interview, my fellow teacher, Vanita, asks the Examiner's questions. You can download the script and follow along.

A "Casual" Citizenship Interview Based on the USCIS N-400r (40qs, 2pgs) (updated 06/12/2016)

• pdf: http://goo.gl/3tQWXw
• ppt: https://goo.gl/pctBRb (corrected!)
• vocab pdf: https://goo.gl/kaekRV

LISTEN to US Citizenship Podcast

• US Citizenship Podcast website: http://www.uscitizenpod.com/
• US Citizenship Podcast Show website http://uscitizenpod.libsyn.com/
• Download our FREE Android app: https://goo.gl/d6rs9f
• Download our FREE Apple iPhone/iPad: https://goo.gl/dLiOAE
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From: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Date: May 16, 2017

USCIS Message: New Phone Scam Targets U.S. Immigrants

If you receive a phone call that appears to come from the Canadian government's Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Call Centre (1-888-242-2100), hang up! Scammers are altering their caller IDs to appear as if they are calling from the IRCC Call Centre. The scammers tell people that their names and identities are under federal investigation. Sometimes they tell individuals that there is a legal case, an affidavit, and/or allegations against them.

If you receive a call demanding personal information or payment, hang up immediately. If you want to check the status of your case, you may:

• Make an InfoPass appointment at http://infopass.uscis.gov;
• Use myUSCIS to find up-to-date information about your application; or
• Call our National Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283 to ask if you need to do anything about your case or immigration status.

Remember, USCIS officials will never threaten you or ask for payment over the phone or in an email. Do not give payment over the phone to anyone who claims to be a USCIS official. All requests for official payments will arrive on government stationery. In general, we encourage you to protect your personal information and not provide details about your immigration case in any public area.

If you receive a scam email or phone call, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at http://1.usa.gov/1suOHSS. If you are not sure if it is a scam, forward the suspicious email to the USCIS webmaster at[email protected]. USCIS will review the emails received and share with law enforcement agencies as appropriate.

Visit the Avoid Scams Initiative at www.uscis.gov/avoid-scams for more information on common scams and other important tips.

What's up? I am furiously correcting the proof for the paperback edition of US Citizenship Bootcamp, so here are 3 quick news items.

USCIS Will begin issuing Redesigned Green Cards and Employment Authorization Documents on May 1, 2017.

The new Green Cards and EADs will:

• Display the individual's photos on both sides;
• Green Cards will have an image of the Statue of Liberty and a predominately green palette;
• EAD cards will have an image of a bald eagle and a predominately red palette;
• Have embedded holographic images; No longer display the individual's signature. Also, Green Cards will no longer have an optical stripe on the back.

How To Tell If Your Card Is Valid

Some Green Cards andEADs issued after May 1, 2017, may still display the existing design format as USCIS will continue using existing card stock until current supplies are depleted.

Read the full story about the re-design at https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-will-issue-redesigned-green-cards-and-employment-authorization-documents

2 Scam Alerts Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

I am sure you have heave heard reports about malware or ransomware that lock down data on personal computers. this is a big problem. to be safe, make a back-up of important data files and be sure that your computer virus software is up-to-date.

Alert 1: Pass it on: tech support scams https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/pass-it-tech-support-scams The FTC is tracking increase reports about tech support scammers: the people who act like there's a problem with your computer and then try to convince you to fork over money to fix – ahem – "fix" it. Except there never was a problem, and they weren't really from tech support.

Watch the FTC Tech Scam video: https://youtu.be/KGIAyLMEzXo

Alert 2: Imposters selling English course are shut down https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/imposters-selling-english-course-are-shut-down

Scammers said that they were representing stores like Walmart and the the customer had won the prize of a free English course, then demanded that the "winners" pay the scammer money.

To help you avoid scams like this one, here are a few tips:

• Be skeptical about a "free" prize. If you have to pay, it's not free.
• Don't give money to someone who tells you over the phone that you'll be arrested if you don't pay them. Scammers may pressure you with threats of arrest or lawsuits. Resist the pressure and hang up.
• Wiring money is like paying with cash. It's nearly impossible to trace it or get your money back. The same goes for prepaid cards. If anyone asks you to pay with a wire transfer or prepaid card, that's a clear sign of a scam.
• Talk to someone. Before you give up your money or personal information, talk to someone you trust. And stay up-to-date on the latest scams with free scam alerts: ftc.gov/scams.

Paperback edition of US citizenship Bootcamp available Late May 2017 http://www.eslpublishing.com/

US Citizenship Bootcamp helps citizens-to-be prepare for the Naturalization interview by completing a series of 10 interviews based on the USCIS N-400 Application for Naturalization (released 03/26/16) and 100 Civics Questions. The first interview pairs 5 basic questions in simple English from the N-400, with 5 USCIS Civics questions. The subsequent interviews expand on these N-400 and Civics questions by gradually introducing new vocabulary and grammar patterns.

In addition to the 10 Citizenship interviews, US Citizenship Bootcamp includes a list of 50 sentences based on the USCIS Reading and Writing Vocabulary, 10 multiple-choice Civics quizzes, and 2 N-400 vocabulary glossaries, PLUS a ESL/Citizenship resource list and a special chapter entitled "How to Study for Your Citizenship Interview." Additional material includes vocabulary quizzes with pictures and definitions.

Need more practice?

• Visit our updated US Citizenship Podcast show page http://uscitizenpod.libsyn.com/
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More next week! I know that you will be a great American citizen!

This week, we are LIVE from Long Beach at the 2017 CCAE Conference. CCAE is the California Council for Adult Education (https://www.ccaestate.org/), a professional organization which advocates for the needs of Adult Learners so that they may acquire the necessary English language, civics, and vocational skills to full integrate in California and beyond.

At the conference, I was honored to present a workshop entitled, "Tech Up Your Citizenship Class" (https://goo.gl/SMrwdC) which includes ten tips on how to use digital resources in a Citizenship classroom. The ideas ranged from using EMMA, to answer student most pressing questions while familiarizing them with the USCIS.gov website, to downloading apps to inform students about their civil rights and enabling them to contact their government representatives.

After the workshop, I recorded a quick podcast with Kathy Martin,the Citizenship teacher from Beaumont Adult School (https://bas-beaumont-ca.schoolloop.com/). After this quick interview, Teacher Kathy talked about the I-912, Request for Fee Waiver and I-942, Request for Reduced Fee. She used an idiom to give a very important piece of advice--listen closely and try to identify the idiom and what it really means. The idiom's definition is also included in the show notes.

Visit www.uscitizenpod.com during the week for more Citizenship resources from the CCAE conference including a new Citizenship and civics books for Spanish Speakers from http://www.fisher-hill.com/.

USCIS Forms Page https://www.uscis.gov/forms USCIS FORMS ARE FREE: Download them on this site (forms can be filled out using the latest version of Adobe Reader.) You can also order forms by mail or phone. Don't pay anyone for copies of USCIS forms. Don't forget to sign your forms! Failure to sign will result in rejection.

I-912, Request for Fee Waiver https://www.uscis.gov/i-912

I-912P, HHS Poverty Guidelines for Fee Waiver Request https://www.uscis.gov/i-912p

I-942, Request for Reduced Fee https://www.uscis.gov/i-942

I-942P, Income Guidelines for Reduced Fees https://www.uscis.gov/i-942p

I-912 | Solicitud de Exención de Tarifas https://www.uscis.gov/es/formularios/i-912

I-912P | Guías de Pobreza de HHS para de Solicitud de Exención de Tarifas https://www.uscis.gov/es/formularios/i-912p

I-942, Petición de Reducción de Tarifa https://www.uscis.gov/es/formularios/i-942

I-942P, Guías de Ingreso para la Reducción de Tarifas https://www.uscis.gov/es/formularios/i-942p

From the Cambridge Dictionary: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/stick-with-it

The idiom graphic is from American English at State. See it at http://www.uscitizenpod.com/2017/05/2017-ccae-citizenship-interview.html Or go to the American English at State Facebook page and check out their whole collection of idiom and grammar cards. Look under photos.

This week, we have an extra podcast in honor of Cinco de Mayo.

Cinco de Mayo is a celebration held on May 5. The date commemorates the Mexican Army's surprise victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. In the late 1980's, California schoola and cities in California started to celebrate Cinco de Mayo as an expression of our state's Mexican-American heritage. However, some people confuse Cinco de Mayo with Mexico's Independence Day.

Mexico's Independence Day is celebrated on September 16 and is similar to America's Independence Day on July 4th. Cinco de Mayo is closer to our Patriot's Day, which is celebrated in the New England states during mid-April. Patriot's Day commemorates the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the American Revolutionary War. For more that 100 years, the city of Boston has celebrated Patriot's Day by hosting the Boston Marathon, the world's largest marathon.

But let's get back to Cinco de Mayo. Today I have selected five topics to showcase Mexican-american Heritage: The Constitution and the Bill of Rights. the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, The Judicial Branch, and Geography and Holidays. I will read the questions, and Mexican-American students from our ESL 3 class will read the answers. Listen to the podcast, then download the pdf from our website, http://www.uscitizenpod.com, and take the quiz: Five for Cinco de Mayo http://goo.gl/k9SZ1N

While you are on our website, read the April 28 blog post: USCIS Will Issue Redesigned Green Cards and Employment Authorization Documents.

http://www.uscitizenpod.com/2017/04/uscis-will-issue-redesigned-green-cards.html

Also, see our May 1st blog post which is a collection of Citizenship Resources for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

http://www.uscitizenpod.com/2017/04/citizenship-resources-for-asian-pacific.html

Look for #APAHM #APAHM17 #APAHM2017 on all your favorite social media outlets.

Want more?

• Visit our updated US Citizenship Podcast show page http://uscitizenpod.libsyn.com/
• Download our FREE Android app: https://goo.gl/d6rs9f
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Thanks for listening. I know that you will be a great American citizen!

We are kicking Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with a practice interview with Lisha Gong from China. Follow along with the resources below:

• A "Regular" Citizenship Interview Based on the USCIS N-400r (6 pgs, 75 questions) (updated 10/01/2016)
• • pdf: http://goo.gl/Q5BhXk
  • ppt: https://goo.gl/GUfiKY
  • vocab pdf: https://goo.gl/PsDrG9

Download a copy of the script and follow along. Then download another copy of the pdf and practice your own interview with a study buddy.

While you are on our website, read:

April 28 blog post about how the USCIS Will Issue Redesigned Green Cards and Employment Authorization Documents.

http://www.uscitizenpod.com/2017/04/uscis-will-issue-redesigned-green-cards.html

Also, see our May 1st blog post which is a collection of Citizenship resources for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

http://www.uscitizenpod.com/2017/04/citizenship-resources-for-asian-pacific.html

Look for #APAHM #APAHM17 #APAHM2017 on all your favorite social media outlets.

• Visit our updated US Citizenship Podcast show page http://uscitizenpod.libsyn.com/
• Download our FREE Android app: https://goo.gl/d6rs9f
• Download our FREE Apple iPhone/iPad: https://goo.gl/dLiOAE
• Subscribe vi Apple iTunes https://goo.gl/BVrqHQ