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l
LIFE
Texts
SKI~LS
TRAINING
Your New Life in the United States
The Home ManagementHandbook and Guide to Life in the
United States
\'/EEK 1
I.
Introduction to the United States
A. Resettlement in the United States
B. Your New Life in the United States
1. Community relations
2. Religious life
3. American customs and behavior
C. American Families
D. The Untted States Government
1. Local governments
2. State governments
3. Federal governmenss
II. Law in the United States
A. Refugee Status and Citizenship
B. Freedom Under Law
1. Federal laws
2. State laws
3. Local laws
C. Some Laws You Should Know About
D. Family Laws
E. Police in the United States
F. Legal Assistance
WEEK 2
III.
Community Services in the United States
A. Medical Programs
B. Food Programs
C. Cash Assistance (Welfare)
1. Types of assistance
2. Thin§s to know about cash assistance
D. Education Programs
E. Employment Programs
F. Housing Programs
G. Legal Assistance
H. Additional Information
I. Private Organizations and Services
J.-N. Public Library, Police Department, Courts, Fire
Department , Social Service Advice
WEEK 3
IV.
Your Home in the United States
A. Your Home
B. In and Around the Home
1. Kitchen
2. Bathroom
3. Living room
4. Bedrooms
5. Furnishings
�•
C.
F.
Outside the Home
Looking for a Home
Lease
Paying for Your Housing
WEEK 4
G.
H.
I.
J.
Taking Care of Your Home
1. Cleaning inside the home
2. Disposing of garbage and trash
3. Temperature in the house
4 . Using other utilities
Outside the Home
·
Keeping Your Home Secure
Safety Around Your Home
1. Cleaning supplies
2. Electricity
3. Fire
WEEK 5
v.
Medical Care in the United States
A. Medical Emergencies
B. What To Do If You Don ' t Feel Good
1. Physical examinations
2. Questions and forms
3. Drugs and medicines
4. Hospitals
5. Vaccinations
6. Dental care
7. Payment for medical and dental services
8. Preventing illness
9. Health-related customs in the U.S.
WEEK 6
VI.
Travel and Communication
A. Travel
1. Local travel
a) by walking
b) by bicycle
c) by bus
d) by car and motorcycle
e) by taxi
f) by subway or train
2. Long distance travel
a) by car
b) by bus
c) by train
d) by plane
3. Outside safety
�W
EEK 7
B.
Communication
By mail
a) sendi ng mail
b) receiv·ng mail
2.
3.
B telephone
making a phone call
b) private phones
c) long distance
d) your telephone book
e) phone bill
f) public telephones
g) hot-line and toll-free numbers
Telegrams
W
EEK 8
VII.
Finances and Consumer· Education
Your Finances in the United States
1. The money system in the U.S.
2. Other ways to pay
3. Banks
B. Taxes
1. Kinds of taxes
2. Tax services
C. Insurance
1. Types of insurance
2 • Buying insurance
3. Unemployment insurance
D. Consumer Education
1 . Budgeting
2. Preparing for shopping
3. Places to shop
4. At the store
a) shopping for food
b) shopping for clothing
A.
W
EEK 9
VIII.
Your Job in the United States
Types of Employment
1. Unsi:i lled workers
2. Skilled workers
3. Professionals
4. Full-time employment
5. Part-time employment
B. Looking for a Job
1. Friends and sponsors
2. State employment agencies
3. Signs on buildings
4. The newspaper
5. Private . employment agencies
C. A
pplying for a Job
1. The Social Security Card and I-94
2. The fact sheet (resume)
3. The interview
A.
�WEEK 10
o.
IX.
Job Responsibilities and Benefits
1. Work hours
2. Company rules
3. Fringe benefits
E. On the job
1. Time clock
2. Calling in
3. Probationary period
4. Getting paid
S. The paycheck
6. Cashi rg your paycheck
7. Union and guild dues
F. Advancing in a Job
1. Learning a skill
2. CETAJJETPA
3. Job Corps
G. Changing Jobs
Education in the United States
A. Education for Children
1. Public schools
2. Private schools
3. Special education
4. School for children under six
S. Enrolling your child in school
6. Things to find out about your child ' s school
7. Aspects of the American school system
8. The role of parents
9. Working and attending school
10. General Equivalency Dtplomas (GRD)
11. Beyond high school
B. Education for Adults
1. Studying English
2. Job skills training
�LIFE SKILLS TRAINING
Textss
Your New Life in the United States (YNL)
The Home Management Handbook and Guide to Life
the United States (HMH)
in
WEEK 1
Preliminaries
Welcome students to the Life Skills Training class .
Explain the role of the Indochinese Refugees Foundation (IRF)
in helping refugees in Lowell.
Describe the services provided here s 1) Educational services
(English as a Second Language, Life Skills Training, Pre-employment
Orientation, and Job Search Training) and 2) Employment services
(job counsel ling~ and referral).
Di scuss the responsibilities of the students, especially
regarding attendances 1) Participation by welfare recipients
is mandatory, ( r epeated unexcused absence s could resul t i n -t he
termination of benefits) and 2) t he reason(s) for all absences
must be reported to the ESL (English) teacher, bi-lingual
counselor, or case manager.
I.
Introduction to the United States (YNL Sec. 1, HMH Sec. 1 & 2)
(Please read through pages i-viii in YNL , )
Read 'Background Notes' (YNL, 2).
A.
Resettlement in the United States
Discuss the r e settlement process, and· the role. of . :
t he Volag (Volunt a ry Agenc y) and sponsor (YNL, 3).
B.
Your New life in the United States
There are many problems of adjusting to a new
culture. This is called 'culture shock' ( YNL, S; HMH, 14).
1. Community relations
The U.S. is a nation of immigrants (YNL, 6) particularly so Lowell . Conflicts and tensions
bwtween ethnic groups often occur. Refugees
will occasionally ecperience prejudice. Discuss
thi s expe rience •
2. Religious llfe
Religious treedom in the U.S. is important (YNL,7).
�3.
There is no official 'American Church'. A
refugee is free to practice his religion in
the U.S. Religious groups in the U.S. can help
the refugee in the resettlement process. They
may provide food, clothing and services.
American customs and behavior
Interacting with Americans will be difficult
in the beginning (YNL, 9). Americans are
friendly and outgoing. They prefer informality,
and believe it to be a sign of friendliness.
This can be seen in greetings and the use of
first names.
aJ greetings.
Usually quite informal. Shake hands, never bow.
(See
A New
Start Unit 1, 'Saying
Hello'~)
b) names.
Many Americans use informal shorter names.
Examples Samuel Johnson will be called 'Sam'
by his friends.
The family name (last name) comes second.
Examples John Smith's family name is Smith
(He is Mr. Smith.)
(See
A~
Start Unit 4, 'Names• .)
c) t ime
American time is 'on the dot'. If something
is supposed to happen at 8s00, it will begin
at 8sOO.) Americans value promptness and
may become angry if a per son is very late.
(See A ~ Start Unit 50, 'Time' ·)
d) gestures
They are cultural. What is polite in one
country may be rude in another.
e) l ei sure. activities
Americans schedule leisure time as well as
worl<time. Discuss some popular American
leisure activities.
C.
American Families
The nuclear family - father, mother and children is the basic unit of American family structure (YNL, 12).
D.
The United States Government
American government has three levelss local, state,
and federal (YNL 13). Each level has specific
functions and ofticials who are elected by American
�citizens to terms of stated years. Any citizen
in good standing over the age of 18 may vote.
1. Local governments
Local governments manage everyday matters, such
as gar bage collection, water and sewer service,
maintenance of police and fire departments, and
libraries.
2. State governments
State governments regulate sales and other taxes,
and manage services that are essential to residents of the states road maintenance, issuing
of drivers' licenses, etc.
3. Federal government
The federal government in Washington, D.C. has
three major divisions: the executive, the
judicial and the legislative branches.
II.
Law in the United States (YNL Sec. 9, HMH Sec. 1)
Read
~ Background
Notes' (YNL, 198).
Read through and discuss 'The Story of Mr. M' (YNL, 199).
In t he · united States, laws· are intended to protect your
rights (YNL, 201).
A.
Refugee Status and Citizenship
As a refugee you are entitled to many of the same
basic rights and fair treatment under the law as
everyone else living in· the U.S. (YNL, 202; HMH, 1).
1. When you entered this country you entered with
refugee status. You were given a I-94 form.
You must keep this form with you at all times.
2. Every January, all non-citizens must report their
addresses to the U.S. Attorney Gene ral. A form
is available free of charge at your post office
or INS (Immigration and Naturalization Gerili.ce)
office.
3. Every non-citizen of the U.S. must f ile a change
of address form (AR-11) with the nearest INS
office within 10 days of moving.
4. After you have lived here for one year, you may
apply to change your status to that of permanent
resident alien. You must do this before you can
apply for citizenship (naturalization).
S. After you have lived here for five years, including
six months in the state in which you apply, you
may apply for citizenship (naturalization). (See
6.
7.
HMM , 7.)
Your legal status affects your right to petition
for your close relatives to join y©u in the U.S.
Men must register for the draft if they are 18
years or older and living in the U.S.
�If you have any questions, you may contact the
Boston Immigration and Naturalization Service Offices
B.
Immigration and Naturalization Service
John Fitzgerald Kennedy Federal Building
Government Center
Also: International Institute
Boston, MA 02203
79 High St.
Telephone: (617) 223-2343
Lowell, MA 01852
459-9031
Freedom Under Law
In the United States, national laws are made by
Congress. They are intended to prote ~t your rights.
The U.S. Constitution lists the basi c rights of people
in the U.S. They are: freedom of speech,_ press,
religion, and assembly. Laws are made to protect these
rights. A person who violates a law might be fined,
imprisoned, or both. A conviction can have other
damaging effects on a person's life . (YNL, 203). For
example, many employment appl ication forms ask,
'Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offense,
other than minor traffic offenses, in the United States?'
Employers may be reluctant to hire someone with a
conviction record. Ignorance or claiming you didn't
know about a certain law does not exempt you from it.
There are three kinds of laws in the U.S.1 federal,
state, and local (YNL, 203).
1. Federal laws
Federal laws apply to every person living in this
country.
2. State laws
State laws apply within a particular state. These
laws vary from one state to another. For example,
many states set the age to drink alcoholic
beverages at 18; in others the age may be 21.
In Massachusetts the drinking age is 20.
3. Local laws
Local laws apply in a certain city or county.
If you are not sure whether something is legal ask
your sponsor or a ~ ti.end to help you find out. In
the U.S. igno rance of the law does not make you
exempt from it.
C.
Some Laws You Should Know About (YNL, 205)
1. Shoplifting (stealing in a store) is considered
a very serious crime in the U.s.
2. You must have a license to drive a car in the U.S.
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
is illegal.
3. Child abuse and spouse (wife/husband) abuse are
illegal in many paBts of the U.S. What is considered
to be mistreatment in the U.S. may be acceptable
in other countries. For example, leaving a baby
or child alone in a home or in a car is sometimes
considered child abuse.
�4.
Pe r mits are required if you want to hunt or f ish.
Slaughtering (killing for food) animals in the
house .is illegal unless you have a permit.
5. Picking fruit or flowers from other people's yards
or public parks may be illegal.
6. Littering is illegal in most places. For example,
if you are caught littering on certain roads or
highways in the U.S., you may be fined $50 to $200.
7. Carrying firearms (guns), certain kinds of knives,
or other dangerous weapons without a permit, is
illegal in many places.
8. Prostitution is illegal. Both the prostitute and
tbe customer can be arrested.
9. You might not be able to go into a store or a
restaurant unless you are properly dressed.
Shoes and shirts are required in most public places.
10. Urinating in public - outdoors - is against the law.
You must use a restroom.
11. Exchanging money in card games or other games,
even at home, may be against the law.
12. Giving false information on public forms is illegal.
You should not give a false b~ rth date, name, or
name of family members to officials.
D.
Family Laws
Marriage, divorce and adoption are legal matters in
the U.S. (YNL, 207).
1. Before marriage you must register with the local
government and get a license. You may have to have
blood tests and to present your refugee or Permanent Resident Alien documentation.
2. There are laws whi c h !govern the age of marriage.
In ma~y states teenagers cannot marry without parental
consent.
3. Legally, a person can only have one spouse (husband/
wife) at a time.
4. Divorce can be complicated in this country. Consult
a friend or sponsor who can direct you to appropriate
legal services.
5. Parents are usually considered to be responsible
for their children J ~ behavior.
E.
Police in the United States
In the U.S., the police enforce the law (YNL, 208).
Here are some things about the police you should reme mber.
1. In the U.S., police are here to help and protect you.
2. Police must not be bribed. Bribery (giving money)
is illegal here.
3. If you are stopped by the poli ce, it is considered
unlawful to run away - you could be shot for not
stopping for the police.
�~.
Legal Assistance
If you are accused of a crime in the U.S., you are
considered innocent until you are proven guilty
(YNL, 209).
If you have a legal problem and are not sure how
to get the services of an attorney, contact the Legal
Aid Society in your town or in a large city near you.
(See HMH, 6.)
Read through and discuss 'Checklist' (YNL, 210). Note the
'Directory' (including National Hotlines - toll-free) , which
follows it.
WEEK 2
III.
Community Services in the United States (YNL Sec. 6, HMH Sec. 1)
Read 'Background Notes' (YNL, 116).
Read through and discuss 'The Story of Mr. T' (YNL, 117).
The United State s and your new community are ready
to provide helpful services for you and your family,
including public assistance, if you are eligible. They
help people care for their families, find employment,
and obtain more education so they can become self-sufficient.
This kind of help is called social or community service.
The Indochinese Education and Employment Services is a
community service for Indochinese refugees.
Temporary assistance is available to people who may not
have enough money to pay for food, rent, or medical bills.
It continues until they can pay for these expenses
themselves. However, this assistance is designed to be
a ~emporary measure to protect the family until they can
support theymselves. Refugees, like Americans, ~
expected to be self- s ufficient (YNL, 119).
Most assistance comes from the federal, state, and
local governments. It is paid for from taxes collected
by the governments (YNL, 120).
A.
Medical Programs
Basic services such as immunization shots or tests
for tuberculosis or venereal disease are available
to everyone at little or no cost. Medical assistance also helps the elderly or low-income families
for certain costs such as doctors' fees, hospital
bills, and medicine (YNL, 121).
�Additional services may be available for particular
groups of people (YNL, 121).
Things to know about medical services and assistances
1. Bring all records or documents concerning your
health history when applying for assistance.
2. Keep your doctor's or clinic's address and phone
number with you .2.t all times.
3. Keep records of vaccinations for children and
family in a safe place. If lost, they must
receive all shota again.
4. You will need your medical card each time you
or your family goes to a clinic to receive medical
services. Keep it with you at all times.
5. Show your medical card when obtaining prescription
medicine. You may be able to buy it at a lower cost.
B.
Food Programs
Food programs vary from state to state. They help
provide better diet for low-income families until
they can afford to buy it themselves. They give
either food or food stamps for buying food . (YNL, 123).
1. Food stamps
Food stamps are coupons used to buy food. If
you qualify for this assistance, you will receive
an identification card and the food stamp booklet.
(See YNL, 124 and HMH, 66-)
2. Breakfast and lunch programs
Children whose parents have a limited income
may receive f r ee or low-cost meals at school.
]. Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
Women who are pregnant or who have recently
had a baby may be eligib~e for food supplements.
Children up to the age of five are also eligible
for supplementary foods.
4. Elderly people
Some elderly people cannot prepare food for
themselves. They can go to programs for at least
one meal each day.
C.
Cash Assistance (Welfare)
Ira American culture, being able to support yourself
and your family without government help is important.
People sometimes need financial help,. however, unti 1
they become self-sufficient. These cash assistance
programs are usually called welfare (YNL, 127).
Each state's welfare program has its own eligibility
requirements. Most places require that the welfare
applicant also register with the state employment
office. Other programs allow people who are in certain
job training programs t o receive cash assistance (YNL,127).
�The Indochinese Education and Employment Services
is this type of job training program. Participation
in this program is required of all welfare recipients.
1.
2.
Types of assistance
a) General Assistance - for eligible single people
and childless couples
b) Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)
Things to know about cash assistance
a) Interpreters are not always available at
the welfare office.
b) The entire family usually is required to
be at the interview.
c) Give truthful information about your family
during the interview.
d) You should have a s many of the following
documents available as possibles
I-94 (the original, if possible)
Rent bill or lease
Social Security card
Any pay stubs
Bank account statement or savings passbook
Utility bills
Medical bills or proof of medical disability
Employment registration card
e) Take care of your welfare check. Sign it only
in front of the cashier at the bank.
f) Proper ID (Identification) must be used when
cashing a check.
g) Refugees receive the same amount as U.S. citizens.
h) While waiting for cash assistance to become
available, continue your search for work and
study programs. Even if you find employment,
you may still qualify for some financial support.
i) You will have better chances for job improvement
if you work and learn English at the same time.
j) After six months, the office will require an
interview to review your case.
D.
Education Programs
Different education programs may be available in your
communi ty. Much of this education may be free or cost
only a small amount. However, there may be long lists
of people waiting for certain classes (YNL, 130).
E.
Employment Programs
Every state has state employment offices where people
can apply for jobs. After a personal interview,
the job counselor may evaluate the person's skills,
refer the client to an agency, locate training poss~
bilities, or arrange for employment (YNL, 131).
�F.
Housing Programs
Many people need temporary assistance with housing
and its expenses. Housing programs vary from state
to state. Fuel assistance is one of the programs (YNL, 132).
G.
Legal Assistance
Legal advice is usually very expensive in the U.S.
You can obtain free or low-cost legal advice for
certain problems (consumer, housing, civil rights, etc.).
(See YNL Sec. 8, 'Law in the United States'.)
H.
Additional Information (See YNL, 133. )
I.
Private Organizations and Services
Your community has many private organizations that
provide servi ces to help you and your family become
self-sufficient (YNL, 134).
1. Voluntary Agencies (Volags)
The private group providing most of these services
for you is your sponsor's agency. Services
include finding a sponsor for a refugee family
and providing food, a place to live and clothing
upon the refugees' arrival , (YNL, 136)
2. Mutual Assistance Associations (MAA's)
Mutual a ssistance a ssociations were created by
ethnic leaders to help refugees feel more at
home in their new community. Some provide
services such as translations/interpreting,
counseling, or family reunification . (YNL, 136).
J.
Public Library
For more information about your community, ask at
your local public library (YNL, 137).
K.
Police Department
Ymr local police department is comprised of several
divisions to serve you_ and your family: (YNL~, 13B~ . ,
L.
Courts
Your district or county circuit court serves civil,
traffic, and criminal cases, and payment of traffic
fines. People can obtain a marriage license at the
court building (YNL, 138).
M.
Fire Department
Your local fire department responds to fire and
rescue calls in the city and outlying areas (YNL, 138).
N.
Social Service Advice (See YNL, 139.)
Read through and discuss 'Checklist' (YNL, 140) 1 Note the
list of Voluntary Organizations (Volags) (YNL, 141), and 'Useful
Numbers in Your Area' (YNL, 142), which might be done in class,
time permitting.
•
•
<
�WEEK 3
IV.
Your Home in the United States (YNL Sec. 5, HMH Sec. 4)
Read 'Background Notes' (YNL, 90).
Read through and discuss 'The Story of Mr. H' (YNL, 91).
A.
Your Home
In the United States people live in different types
of housing depending on geographic region and
their finances (YNL, 93). The main types of housing
are apartments, attached or semi-attached houses called
townhouses or rowhouses, and detached houses.
1 . Apartment
In cities people usually live in apartments.
It is customary in the U.S. for Q!!Q family to
live in ~ apartment. It may have one room
with a kitchen and a bathroom or it may have
as many as three or four rooms. The apartments
in a building share the entrance way from outside. Each apartment is entered through its
own door from the common entrance way or hall . (YNL, 93).
2. Semi-attached house
A semi-attached house is a building that shares
one or more walls with buildings built next to it.
It has its own entrance from outside and is
usually occupied by a single family (YNL, 94).
3. House
A house is usually a solita~y building with
a yard around it (YNL, 94).
B.
In and Around the Home
Most homes, whether apartments or houses, have
different rooms for different purposes. Most places
will have at least a kitchen or cooking area and
a bathroom (YNL, 95).
1. Kitchen
The kitchen is the room used for cooking. It
usually contains a sink, a stove, a refrige~ator,
and storage areas (YNL, 95).
a) stove
Most stoves work on electricity or gas.
You should know how to operate the stove
properly and safely so as not to cause
harm or accidents. Ask someone to show
you the proper way to use a stove.
b) refrigerator
The refrigerator is used to keep foods cold
and fresh. The door of the refrigerator
must be shut. Otherwise the refrigeratax
may break down and the food will spoil.
�2.
3.
4.
c) sink
The sink has hot and cold running water.
Be careful with the hot water - it can
burn. Dishes and cooking utensils are
washed in the sink. Dirty water is all
that should go down the drain. Grease
or food scraps will cause the sink to
break down and it may be expensive to fix.
d) garbage disposal
Your sink may have a garbage disposal.
This grinds up food scraps so that they
don't have to be put into the trash. Be
careful not to put metal objects or bones
in the disposal. Never put your hand in
the garbage disposal - ask how to use it
properly.
e) diswasher
Sometimes a kitchen may also have a dishwasher. This is a machine that washes pots,
pans and utensils. If there is one in
your home, ask how to use it.
Bathroom
The bathroom is where you use the toilet, wash
and clean yourself. Bathrooms usually have
a toilet, a sink and a bathtub or a shower (YNL, 97).
a) bathtub and sink
Ask someone to show you how to use the
faucets in the sink, tub and shower.
Showers usually have a door or curtain
to keep water inside the tub or shower
stall. These must be closed properly,
o~herwise water will spill on the floor.
b) t oilet
American toilets are designed to be used
in a seated position. Usually the seat
is kept down; however, men lift up the
seat and stand facing the toilet to urinate.
Do not stand Q!: squat on the toilet since
it may break. Only human waste and toilet
paper should be flushed down the toilet.
Hair, sanitary napkins, disposable diapers,
tampons, cigarettes or anything else
whould not be put in the toilet. These will
clog the pipes, stopping up the toilet
and flooding the room.
Living room
The living room is for family recreation and
entertaining guests. Sometimes it may be used
as a place to sleep.
Bedrooms
Your home may have one or more bedrooms. In
American families, parents sleep in one bedroom,
apart from the children (YNL, 98).
�5.
Furnishings
Basic furnishings found in an American home
usually consist ofs
a) table and chairs for e ating
b) beds for sleeping
c) closets, cabinets, dressers for storage :·
d) sofa (couch) and chairs for relaxing
e) rugs or carpets for covering the floor
f) curtains or drapes or venetian blinds on
the windows, for insulation and privacy
When you move into your new apartment or house,
your sponsors or friends may give you some
furniture or basic items (such as cooking
utensils, dishes, etc.). If you need furniture
you can save money by buying it secondhand (YNL, 99).
C.
Out si d e the Home
If you live in a house, you may huve a yard where
it may be possible to plant a garden. Ask the
landlord first. If you live in an apartment,
there may be storage areas in another part of the
building. There may also be a play area or other
facilities. Sometimes these are indicated in the
lease. Ask the landlord or resident manager to
explain what is available and how the facilities
can be used (YNL, 100).
D.
Looking for a Home
(See HMH, 34.)
1. In some places, hosing is more difficult to
find than in others. There are various ways
to look for a place to lives
a) talking to your sponsor or friends
b) checking classified ads in newspapers
c) walking around the neighborhood looking for
signs indicating housing 'FOR RENT'
d) going to the office that manages an apartment building to see if any vacancies exist
2. As you are looking at apartments or housez ,
there are some things you should consider before
you decide to rents
a) How much can you afford to pay for housing?
b) Are there extra charges for utilities or
are they included in the rental charge?
c) How much is the rent?
d) Is there a deposit? If, how much?
e) How many people are allowed to live in the
apartment or house?
f) Are there stores, public transportation, nearby?
g) W
here are the schools located?
3. W
hile deciding whether or not to take a place
LOOK AROUND INSIDE to see what kind of condition
it's in (YNL, 101).
�E.
Lease
When you decide to rent, you may be asked to sign
a lease. This ia an agreement between you and the
landlord (YNL, 102). Before signing the lease
be certain to understand what it says and what it
means. If necessary, )ask your sponsor or a friend
to explain it to you. When you sign a lease you
are usually asked to pay the first month's rent in
advance along with a deposit. This is sometimes
called a security or a security deposit. This is
an amount of money which the landlord holds in the
event that there is damage to the house or apartment
(YNL, 102).
(See A New Start Units 86-88, 'Complaining',
'"Requesting' , and 'Insisting' . )
F.
Paying for Your Housing
Usually the rent must be paid once a month on the
first day of the month. The lease will usually give
you the date by which you must pay. If you fail to
pay or if you often pay late, you would be breaking
the lease and the landlord uould have you evicted.
W
hen you sign the lease you should find out about
other expenses you may need to pay that are not
included in the rent payment. The lease will list
utilities (for example, heating, hot water, electricity, gas) which are included in the rent payment
and those which may have to be paid for separately.
The one utility never included in the rent payment
is the telephone (YNL, 102).
WEEK
G.
f?-
Taking Care of Your Home
1. Cleaning inside the home
Your landlord will expect you to keep your
home in clean condition and in good repair.
Americans use a variety of tools to keep the
home clean (YNL, 103).
a) sponges a nd brushes ·
b) mops
A mop is used to clean the f l oo r s ·, us\dal l y
with soap o r a de tergent and water. In
the U.S., floors are never washed by t hrowing
buckets of water on them (YNL, 104).
c) brooms
d) detergents and cleansers
e) vacuum cleaner
f ) washer and dryer
For washing clothes, towels, and linens,
Americans use a washing machine. Sometimes
a house or apartment wi_ J. h~ve ~ wa ~hi ng
l
machine available .
.,
-
�For drying laundry, a machine called
a dryer may be used, or the laundry may
be hung from an appropriate place. Clothes
should not be hung on the balcony of an
apartment, on benches, trees or fences
around the house or apartment building (YNL, 105).
If there is no washer or dryer in your home
you may have to take your dirty laundry
to a laundromat to be washed. This is a
business where you can find coin-operated
washers and dryers for public use. If
you do not know how to use a washer or
dryer ask your sponsor or a friend to show
you how (YNL, 105).
(See
2.
3.
4.
a New
Start Unit 83, ' Using a Laundromat ' .)
Not all clothes can be washed and dried
in a machine. Some should be washed gently
by hand; others s hould be professionally
dry cleaned (YNL, 105).
Disposing of garbage and 'trash
In most apartment buildings , there is a room
or place where trash can be placed where it
will be removed by a trash or sanitation service.
Any garbage or trash around the home should be
placed in a bag or container which must be
covered or closed to stop unpleasant odors, and
keep insects, mice, rats or other animals from
getting into it (YNL, 106) .
Temperature in the ttouse
Homes in the U.S. usually have the temperature
inside cont colled automatically by machines.
It is neaessary to know how to adjust the temperature. Sometimes the landlord controls the
temperature from a central location. When a
furnace, heater, or air conditioner are working,
all doors and windows should be kept closed (YNL, 107).
Using other utilities
Most American homes have a vari.ety of appliances
and machines used in cooking, cleaning, leisure
activities, etc. Most of these use electricity
to operate. When you use something that runs
on electricity be very careful .tQ know how to
1!..§g it properl y (YNL , 108).
Never use an electrical appliance near water. If an elctrical
appliance doesn ' t work don ' t try to fix it
yourself (YNL, 108).
�Some stoves, heaters and furnaces use natural
gas or oil. You must be careful about lighting
matches or using flame near an appliance whith
uses gas or oil. It raay cause a fire or an
explosion. Also, breathing the gas is dangerous often fatal. ~now how to~ gas appliances safely
and properly (YNL, 108).
H.
Outside the Horne
Neighborly considerations
There are some things you should keep in mind to
get along well with your neighbors (YNL, 109) .
Many Americans do not like to be disturbed at
night when they usually rest. Loud music,
yelling or loud talking and other noisy activities
can tie disturbing at these times. There may be
certain places around your home where children
are not allowed to play.
(See
I.
Start Unit 100, ' Meeting a Neighbor ' .)
Keeping Your Horne Secure
(See HMH , 4 3 . )
Check to see that the doors and windows in your
home can be closed and locked. If you live in an
area where many people are strangers, it is important
to keep doors and windows secure since crimes do
occur (YNL, 110).
When strangers come to your horn~, find out who they
are and what they want before you open the door
to let them in (YNL, 110).
If you leave your home, lock the doors and windows.
Keep the keys to your home in a safe place. Always
carry a set with you when you leave s o that you can
let yourself in and out. It is a good idea to
give a set of keys to your sponsor , a f ~ end or
someone you trust - in case you lose your keys or
accidentally lock them in the house (YNL, 110).
(See
J..
A New
A New
Start , Unit 96, ' Coping with Salespeople ' .)
Safety Aa:-oudd Your Horne
Here are some reminders for safe living in and
around your home:
1. Cleaning supplies
a) Store cleaning supplies in closed containers
out of the reach of children. Most cleaning
products are poisonous.
b) Never mix cleaning products since dangerous
fumes can be released .
2. Electricity
a) ~ever use an.electrical appliance that is not
in good repair.
b) Never use electrical appliances near water.
c) ~fit£d~gg~iances out of the reach of small
�d)
3.
(See
Don't plug too many appliances into one
socket.
Fire
a) If you smoke, use an ashtr? Y• Don't throw
cigarettes or matches or cigarette ash
on the floor or carpet. Be sure cigarettes
and matches are cold before throwing them
in a trash can.
b) Never smoke in bed or near flammable substances
such as gasoline, natural gas, some cleaning
fluids.
c) Never leave irons, toasters or heat-up
appliances turned on if you leave the room.
d) If you go away from your home, turn off
all appliances except for the refrigerator.
The stove, if it runs by electricity, can
be left plugged in, but all burners should
be turned off.
e) Don't store gasoline or flammable substances
inside your home.
f) Never have an open fire in the house.
g) Never burn charcoal sold for barbeQueing
inside the house. If your house or apartment
does not have smoke alarms you should
install one.
h) If a fire ever happens, use fire exits or a
stairway to get out of a building. Never
use an elevator.
A New
Start Unit 19, 'Requesting Emergency Asst stance'
Read through and - discuss ' Checklist ' (YNL, 113).
W
EEK 5
V.
Medical Care in the United States (YNL Sec. 7, HMH Sec. 6)
Read ' Background Notes ' (¥NL, 144) .
Read ' through and _discuss ' The Story of Mr .
'
A.
- •
~
I
s .•
(YNL, 145).
/
Medical Emergencies
(See HMH, 85.)
If you have a medical emergency , such as a broken leg,
a heart attack, or unbearable physical pain, you
should go to the Emergency Room of a hospital near you.
�At the Emergency Room, doctors and nurses are
available to provide immediate care for serious
illnesses or injuries (YNL, 147).
If you, your family, or friend has such a medical
emergency, you should contact your sponsor o r a
bilingual friend to go with you to the hospital
to explain the problem to the hospital staff.
If you are unable to drive or take public transportation to the hospital, then you can call an
ambulance to take you to a hospital. In many
places if you call the police or fire department,
they will be able to send an ambulance to you.
In Lowell, the telephone number for the JPOlice
and ambulance service is the same, 454-0425.
The Fire Department is 459-2444. Keep these
numbers near the telephone.
Lowell Emergency Num
bers :
0
45 9 - 2444 o r
454 -0425
At the Emergency Room · - When you go to the emergency
room, you must check in at a desk or counter, explain
your problem, and fill out some forms giving your
name, address, place of employment, medical card and
the like. You r sponsor or bilingual friend can
help you do this. Then you will be treated and either
released or required to stay ih t he hospital, depending
on the severity of your problem , (YNL, 148).
Note: In some hospital emergency rooms, you may
be required to prove that you will be able t o pay
for the services given to you. Public hospitals
are required to give you emergency treatment in
a ny case.
B.
W
hat ~o Do If You Don't Feel Good
( Se e HMH, 73.)
When Americans have a medical problem that they
don't understand, they call their doctor prompt ly.
A doctor may be found in a private office or a clinic
(YNL, 149).
If you go to a private doctor, you will have to make
an appointment in advance. If an appointment is made,
always be there on time. If you cannot, call the
doctor's office as soon as you know. Otherwise, you
will be charged for the visit, whether you receive
treatment or not.
If you go to a clinic, you may or may not have to
make an appointment. If you can't keep an appointment, let the clinic know in advance. Generally
public health clinics are less expensive than private
aoctors (YNL, 149).
�In Lowell, the Lowell General Hospital ' s Community
Health Center is one of the best and least expensive
clinics in this area. The telephone number is 454-2323.
1.
2.
3.
Physical examinations
So that the doctor can diagnose your problem,
you may have to submit to a physical examination. Certain parts of the exam may seem
unfamiliar to you ( YNL ·, 150) , such as:
a) blood pressure
b) blood tes t
c) pelvic exam
d ) temperature
e) throat examination
Questions and forms
When you go to the clinic or to the doctor
for the first time, you will be required to
answer questions and fill out forms. Some
of the information may seem personal to you,
but your treatment can be more effective if
you answer as trut hfully and completely as
possible. If the forms seem confusing to you,
ask a friend or your sponsor for some hel p .
Don ' t sign the forms until you are sure you
understand them (YNL, 151).
Drugs and medicines
(See HMH, 76-86 . )
After seeing you, the physician ma y prescribe
special medication for you to take. This
will be written on a prescription. Take this
to a dr ugstore or pharmacy, where the pharmacist can give you the medication the doctor
ordered. Be~ to follow the doctor's directions for taking the medication. For example,
if the doctor tells you to take pills for ten
days and after five days you begin to feel better,
you should still take the pills for ten days (YNL, 152).
Many people will go to the pharmacy or drugstore
when they are sick and obtain nonprescription
medication . If you are sick, it is better to
go to the doctor or a clinic and get your
problem taken care of immediately . (YNL , 153).
Overuse of any medication can be dangerous to
your health. If you are seeing a doctor for
a particular medical problem, be sure that he
knows about the other medications you are taking.
If medicines are prescribed for ymu by the doctor,
never take any others without his permission.
Remember, for safet y, keep all medication out
of the reach of children.
(See A New Start Unit 75, ' Getting a Prescription
Filled.....-:)
�4.
5.
6.
Hospitals
If the doctor thinks you are very sick or require
further detailed examination, he may require
you to go to the hospital for a set period of
time. The doctors and medical staff expect
patients to ask questions when there is something that th~ y don't understand (YNL, 154).
Hospital rules and regulations - There are a
number of rules and regulations you are expected
to know about when you are in the hospitals
a) In most hospitals, ther e are designated
smoking areas. Smoking is llQ£ permitted in
patients' rooms.
b) In most hospitals, there are regular visiting
hours when you can visit the patient (YNL, 154).
c) Quiet is very important in hospitals . (YNL, 155).
d) Your doctor may require a specific diet for
you when you are in the hospital. Food should
not be brought in from the outside without
the doctor's permission.
e) Burning incense, lighting candles, or doing
other such religious acts may not be permitted
in patients' rooms. Ask permission first.
f) Phone calls can often be made in
your
hospital room (YNL, 155).
If you are in the hospital, remember that many
people - doctors, nurses, etc. - will ask you
many questions. These can be about health
history or that of your family, allergies,
type of drugs that you current ly use or have
used in the past. If you are a patient, you
should be as cooperative as possible and try
your best to answer the questions asked (YNL, 155).
Remember, if you have any questions about medical
procedures, eguipment, medication, Q.r treatments ask.
Vaccinations
For children, immunizations or vaccinations to
prevent certain diseases are required by law
in the U.S. (YNL, 156). After vaccination,
you will be given an Immunization record, which
may be necessary for children to show when they
first enter a school system (YNL, 156).
(See HMH, 87 ; )
Dental Care
Denta l care is very important for Americans.
Clean teeth and a pleasing smile are considered
marks of beauty in the U.S. Americans take care
of their teeth by brushing ac· lea st twice daily
with a toothbrush and toothpast (YNL, 157).
�W
hen Americans have medical problems with
their teet h , m
outh or gums , they go to the
dentist or to a dental clinic . Dental care
can be costly in the U. S . but proper care of
teeth is essential for you all-around health .
Many schools have programs for students called
flouride treatment programs (YNL , 157). These
treatments may prevent the need for expensive
dental care in l ater years .
(See A New Start Units 66-68 , ' Making Appointments ', ' Indicating Preference ' , and ' Insisting '. )
7.
8.
9.
Payment for medical and dental services
For most Americans, health care and medical
care are not free . Each time a person visits
the doctor or dentist , he/ she must pay for the
doctor ' s or dentist ' s services . Medical and
dental care are expensive . Americans have
medical insurance to help cover the high
cost. However , insurance does not usually cover
all medical costs (YNL , 158) . To help people ,
the government has various assistance programs
determined by the amount that a patient is able
to pay (YNL , 158).
Preventi ng illness
It is very important to dress appropriately
for American climates. In colder areas you
must wear shoes, s ocks , and appropriate outerwear. Otherwise , you may become ill .
Also to maintain good health, it is important
to live in a clean environment. Especially,
kitchens and bathrooms should be kept clean
and free from stale food and garpage . Toilets
should be kept clean , and water should not be
left in the sink or t ub after use .( YNL, 158).
Health-related customs in the U.S .
In the U.S . there are a number of practices which
are considered impolite and unhealthy. You
should know about these . (YNL , 159) :
a) Always use a handkerehief or a kleenex to blow
your nose in public places or inside a public
building .
b) Never urinate in the street . This creates
a smell that is offensive to Americans . They
also believe that it causes disease . Always
use a public restroom or your bathroom inside
your home .
c) Spitting in public is c onsidered impolite and
unhealthyr · use a kleenex or handkerchie~ .
d) Picking your nose or your ears in public is
frowned upon in the U.S. If you must do these
things , do so in private.
�e) Americ ans believe that children , no matter
what age , should have their bottoms cl o thed
when out in public - regardless of the temperature . Also, children should be shown how to
use public restrooms. Diapers should be used
while in public with younger children . If
paper di ape rs are used , they should be thrown
out (not flushed down the toilet) when soiled .
Cloth di a pers are washed and dried after
being soi led.
f) Americans feel that it is very healthy for
mothe rs to breastfeed their babies . This
is done in private , however.
(See
A New
Start Unit 11 , ' Restroom Signs '. )
Read through a nd discuss ! Checkl ist ' ( YNL, . 160).
WEEK 6
VI.
Travel and Communication (YNL,Sec. 2 , HMH Sec . 8 & 9)
Read ' Background Notes ' (YNL , 16).
Read through and discuss ' The Story of Mrs. S ' (YNL , 17).
The U.S . is a very large country with many types of
climate and terrain , different time zones , and a variety
of people and lifestyles. Most places have developed
their own transportation systems. You need to learn
the one in your area. Communication systems are usually
the same throughout the U. S .
A.
Travel
.
(See HMH, 108 . )
1 . Local travel
People in the U.S. get around their communities
by walking or bicy€le, bus, car , or subway.
First you should know exactly where you want
to go and about how far it is. Then you can
choose the best type of transportation (YNL, 19) .
a) by walking
Walking is a good way to become faimiliar
with your neighborhood. However, there are
some important things you need to know
about walking in your community (YNL, 20).
Learn the meaning of ' WALK '
·_ ' DON ' T WALK '
signs when crossing the st ceet.
�Do not accept r ides with strangers.
Do not walk alone at night.
(See A New Start Unit 16, ' Simpl e
Di rec ti ons' . )
b) by bicyle
In the U.S. bicycle riding is usually
for recreation and exercise. Some people
ride their bicycles to school or work
In some areas, there are trails for bicycle s
Q.n1Y which are usually marked by a sign
(YNL, 21). (See YNL , 21 for bicycle riding
rules.)
c) by bus
Traveling by bus is the most common means
of publ ic transportation. W
hen you take
a bus you must know where to ~et on and
off. Before you u s e your : bu s system, ask
someone to help you get a s chedule and learn
to read it. Bu s es usually arrive at the
stop at a specific time so be sure you
are there at the correct time (YNL , 22).
Boarding a bus - Make sure you get on the
bus by following those in front of you.
In some cities, you must have the exact
fare. In Lowell the fare is SO cents.
Exiting from a bus - Just before your
stop, pull the cord or push the button
over your seat and the driver will know
to stop for you. The exit door in the back
usually has a light. When it is green,
you can get off the bus. ( W
atch how other
people do it.)
Before trying to use the bus system by
yb urself, ask a friend or your sponsor to
explain you local bus route and costs . (YNL, 22).
In Lowell, the bus system (Lowell Regional
Transportation A
uthority) runs from Monday
to Saturday, until 6:00 P . M. The fare is
SO cents, and you must have the exact change.
(See A New Start Unit 63, 'Describing
Travel Routines'.)
d) by car and motorcycle
In places with little or no public transportation, the most common and convenient way
to travel is often the automobile. However,
it is very expensive to own a car. The
�owner must have enough money to pay for
gas, oil, maintenance, insurance, and
sometimes monthly car payments. Many
retugees have bought new cars and then
found that they could not afford the payments
or insurance. Consider buying a cheaper
used car. Ask for help in choosing it.
Some facts to know before owning or driving
a car or motorcycle (YNL, 23)s
Every driver must have a license to operate
a vehicle.
The vehicle muzt be registe~ed in the state
where the owner lives.
It is illegal to drive if you have been
drinking alcohol.
You must be 16 or older to get a license.
The laws for motorcyles are much the same
as for cars. It is safer to wear a helmet
while on a motorcycle.
Remember, always use seatbel t s in the car.
2.
(See HMH, 112.)
e) by taxi
Taxis are found in large cities and often
in other areas. The fare is expensive
and the taxi drivers usually expect a 10%
tip after the trip. You can call a taxi
from your home or anywhere at any time
of the day or night (YNL, 24).
In Lowell, the names and telephone numbers
of taxi services are located in ~ he yellow
pages of the phone book, under TAXICAB.
f) by subway or train
In some large cities, there is a fast train
called the subway, which travels under
and above ground. To use the subway, you
must know where the stations are located,
how to pay the fare, and where the trains
go (YNL, 24).
Long distance travel
It is legal to travel on all public roads in the
U.S. However, traveling between cities and
states is different from traveling in your
local area and can be more expensive. You can
choose to travel by car, bus, train or plane (YNL, 25).
a) by car
. (See YNL, 25.)
b) by bus
Tickets are bought at the bus station. Get
to the station early to buy a ticket.
Know the time the bus leaves for your
destination. (Buses usually leave on time.)
�3.
Toilets are usually available at the back
of the bus.
Observe rules about no smoking, eating,
drinking, and playing music.
c) by train
It is more comfortable to travel by train
than by bus, but it is also a little more
expensive and trains do not go very many
routes (YNL , 27).
(See YNL, 27.)
d) by plane
Traveling by plane is usually the most
expensive means of transportation.
You can travel by plane to most cities and
many large towns in and outside the U.S.
Discount t ickets may be · available if
purchased in advance.
All passengers should report t o the ticket
counter at least 45 minules before the flight
leaves.
Airlines have rul es about luggage and what
they can allow.
Ask your friends or sponsor for information
about plane travel (YNL , 28).
Outside safety
While you are usually safe in the United States,
crime is a problem in some areas of this country.
However, there are precautions you can take t o
help prevent being the victim of a crime (YNL, 29).
a) Avoi d dark places where you cannot be
easily seen by others.
b) Beware of places where there is nobo&y else
present. It is less likely that you will be
bothered if there are others around.
c) Avoid walking alone at night.
d) Keep your children home at night. It is
danger01s for them to be outside along after dark.
e) It is a general rule that you should be wary
of strangers. Warn your children not to
-. a ccept rides or gifts from people they don ' t
know. Women should be particularly careful
of men they don ' t know, because there is
always the danger of rape.
f) It is generally unsafe to carry cash or
valuables with you. If you must, keep them
in a pocket or purse, out of the sight of
potential thieves.
g) Most impo rtant , do not hesitate to call the
police if something happens to you or if you
are suspicious of someone . It is better to
call the police unnecessarily than to jeopardize
your own safety . You are entitled to the
protection and assistance available to all
Americans .
�If you are a victim of any crime , call the
police iiiiiiiectiately . In Lowell , the phone
number for the Police Department is 454-0425 ,
the same as the number for ambulance service .
In most areas you can dial an emergency number 911 - to reach the police . You can also dial
' 0 ' to reach the telephone operator who will
heil p you .
EEK
B.
r/.
Communi c ation
There are many easy ways to communicate with your
friends , relatives , or anyone you want to co ntact.
The most common ways are mail or telephone . If
you have a very important message that must get
there quickly, you can send a telegram but it is
expensive (YNL , 31) .
l. By mai 1
a) sending mail
When sending a letter , you should write
the address in English clearly and completely .
The address m st have : (YNL, 31 ):
u
1) name of person
2) street address of person plus apartment
number (or P.O. Box number)
3) city and state
4) zip code
Your name and address should be put on the
envelope also . Put it on the upper lefthand
corner or on the back of the envelope . If
for some reason the letter cannot be delivered ,
it will be returned to you.
To send mail, you must use stamps . .
Stamps for the correct amount of postage oan
be purcha sed at the post office.
Letters going outside the U. S . ~ !.!!Q£g expensive
to mail .
Aeo rograms are less expensive to send .
Post offices are usually closed on Sundays ,
holidays , and sometimes on Saturdays .
M i lboxes , usually red and blue, are outside
a
nea r the street , and at the post office .
Packages and t a pes can be mail e d at the post office.
Never send cash through the mai l. (Send
c ertified bank drafts.)
When moving to a new address, inform the postal
service. ( Forms are available at the post office.)
When sending important documents , ask the
post office about registered mail.
�b) receiving mail
Mail arrives at your home daily except
on Sundays and holidays. In an apartment building , a box is assigned to you
and usually is located near the main
entrance.. Some people receive their mail
at the post office , where they rent a box .
If you receive unfamiliar mail or mail
with someone else ' s name on it, don ' t open
it. Ask a friend to explain (YNL , 32) .
·(see ~ New Start Unit 93 , ' In the Post Office ' .)
2.
By telephone
The telephone is the most useful and popular
form of communication in the U.S. There are
many places where you can find a phone to use.
There are public or pay phones, or private
phones in offices , stores , and people ' s homes (YNL, 33).
a) making a phone call
Each phone has a separate number. Every
number has an area code (000) and seven
digits (000-0000) . For local calls in
your area, use the last seven digits only.
To call long distance, use other numbers
plus the last seven digits. To use the
phone (YNL, 33):
1) pick up the receiver
2) listen for the dial tone
3) dial each number separately
4) wait for the person to answer .after
it rings
5 ) speak
Busy signal indicates the person·• s phone
is not free.
(See~
New Start Unit 25, ' Requesting Information ' .)
b) private phones
To have a phone installed in your house or
apartment, contact the local phone company.
Be careful not t o buy services that you don ' t
need (YNL , 34).
c) long distance
If you want to call someone in another town
or state, you must use long distance calling.
There is a monthly charge for local calls
but each long distance call costs extra.
You a r e charged by the minute so the longer
you talk the more expensive it is . These
charges come on your monthly phone bill.
There are two basic types of long distance
calls: direct dialed and operator assisted
(YNL , 34).
�1) direct dialed - You use a combi nati on phone number (1 + area
code+ phone number). You call
directly to the other person and
don ' t talk to the operator (YNL, 34).
2) operator assisted calls - Each phone
has a n ' 0 ' to indicate operator
assistance. You must dial ' 0 to
start this type of ccall and talk
to the operator. You can call
' collect ' or ' person-to-person ' (YNL, 34).
(See HMH , 120.)
(See A New Start Unit 31, ' Making an
Apology ' - wrong number.)
d) your te 1 ephone book ·
The white pages have telephone' numbers
listed by people ' s last names, which a re
in alphabetical order. The ' yellow pages '
have the numbers of companies or services (YNL, 35).
e ) phone bill
~
{See HMH, 126.)
Phone bills come every m
onth and must be
paid on time. If not paid, the phone company may disconnect the phone (YNL, 35).
Caution: Long distance is expensive!
f) public telephones
Public telephones can be found at gas
stations, res taurants, shopping centers,
at . some street intersections, and at the
airport, train , and bus stations (YNL , 36).
In using public phones , keep the following
information in mind (YNL, 36) :
1) I nsert change in the slot. The
cost for a local c all is 20 cents.
2) A long distance call requires a
large amount of change. An operator
must assist you to make this call
and tell you how much it costs.
3) If the person is not at home or their
line is busy, your money will be
returned when you hang up.
g) hot-line and toll-free numbers
Some long distance numbers can be called
at no cost . For example, to call about
orientation information, call ORC
(Orientation Resource Center)at: (800) 424-3701
The 800 at the beginning means a free line1
�(See A New Start Unit 83, · 0 using a Public
Phone1 .-)3.
Telegrams
If you need to send a telegram, call the
telegraph office, tell them the message, and
give them the address. You can also send
money through the telegraph office . It is
an expensive way to communicate and should
be used only when necessary. Post offices
do not provide telegram service (YNL, 36).
Read through and discuss 'Checklist ' (YNL, 37).
WEEK 8
VII.
Finances and Consumer Education (YNL Sec. 8, HMH Sec. 4, 5 & 7)
Read ' Background Notes ' (YNL, 162).
Read through and discuss ' The Story of Mr. K' (YNL, 163).
A.
Your Finances in the United States
Money and financial practices in the U.S. may be
very different from those you are used to. Careful planning, caution and an understanding of the
American economic system can help prevent problems
in this area (YNL, 165).
1. The money system in the U.S.
American money can be either paper (bills) or
metal (coins). Bills come in amounts of one,
two, five, 10, 20, 50, and 100 dollars. All
bills are the same size and color regardless
of their value. You must look carefully at
the number written on the bill to see how
much it is worth (YNL, 165).
There are 100 cents in one dollar; coins
represent amounts of one dollar or less.
Coins can be confusing because their size does
not indicate their value (YNL, 166).
a) The one-cent piece is called a penny.
b) The five-cent piece is called a nickel.
c) A dime, while smaller than a nickel and a
penny, is worth ten cents.
d) The most widely used coin is the quarter,
worth twenty~five cents.
e) The half-dollar is also known as a fiftycent piece.
The symbol¢ mean s ' cent ' . It only appears to
denote amounts of less than one dollar.
The symbol$ means ' dollar ' . Dollar amounts
ar~ alway? placed to the left of a decimal
poi. nt , whi. 1 e
�2.
Doll ar amounts are always placed t o the left
of the decimal point, while cent amounts are
placed to the right.
For .example , 50¢ can also be written $.SO.
Two dollars and forty-three cents is written $2 . 43.
A comma is used to represent ' thousand ' : $1 , 243.43.
Other ways to pay Many Ame ricans use other means t han cash to pay
for goods and services . Common means of payment
include the check and the credit card. Two
other useful methods of payment are the traveler ' s
check and money order . They are used just like
cash but can be easily replaced if stolen. You
can buy them from a bank. If you need to send
money by mail, to pay for such things as
utilities, use a money order or check. Never
send cash Q.y mail (YNL , 167).
(See A New Sta rt Unit 13 , ' Re quest~ng Change ' ,
and Unit 29, ' Adding Up and Counting Change '. )
3.
Banks
(See HMH, 89.)
Most banks are open from 9 A.M . to 3 P.M. M
onday
through Friday. Some banks are also open Saturday
morning. It is advisable to put your money
in the bank rather than keep it in your home.
The government guarantees that you will not
lose your money if something happens to the
bank, such as fire or theft (YNL, 168).
If someone writes a check to you, you may cash
it by signing your name on the back of the check.
This is called endorsing . Always endorse
your check just before you cash it or deposit it.
Never endorse your check ahead of time , If it
were lost , someone else could use it.
Opening a bank account is so simple that it takes
only a few minutes . When yo~ go to the bank,
take s ome sort of identification and your first
deposit. This deposit can be in the form of
aash, check or a money order (YNL, 169).
There are two types of bank account s :
a) savings account - You keep your money
in the bank as savings. You can withdraw
your money at any time, using your passbook ,
or bank book .
b) checking account - You keep your money
in the bank and use checks to pay for
things;
If you have jewelry or valuable documents, do
not keep them in your home . Go to a bank and
rent a safe deposit box. Your possessions will
be protected in the bank ' s vault , but you can
get them out any time the bank is open (YNL , 172).
�Many large purchases - such as a car or house are financed or paid for by a loan. If you
have a good job , you may be able to borrow money
from your bank, then pay part of the money back
to the bank every month for a period of years (YNL, 172).
B.
Taxes
(See HMH, 146.)
A tax is money that eve ry person must pay to the
federal, state or local government so that these
governments may operate and deliver servi ces (such
as social services , maintenance of roads , and law
enforcement) (YNL , 173) .
1. Kinds of taxes
The amount of money you pay in taxes depends
on how much money you earn and the property
you own . Usually the more a person earns ,
the more taxes a person pays; the less a person
earns, the less taxes a person pays (YNL, 173).
There are different kinqs of taxes:
a) federal income tax
The federal income tax must be paid by
everyone who lives in the U. S. , even noncitizens. Most employers automatically
deduct federal income tax payments from
each paycheck. Every year around Jan. 31,
each of your employers will send . out . a W- 2
st atement. this f o rm:·
shows the amount
of money you earned during the year and
the amount deducted for taxes. It is very
important to keep the W-2 statement in a
safe place . You will need it to complete
your income tax return (YNL , 174).
Every year you must complete a form to
send to the governmEnt. This shows how
much money you earned and how much tax
was paid through deductions. This form is
called an i ncome t ax r eturn . It must be
completed and sent to the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) by April 15 (YNL, 174).
b) Social Security tax (F.I .C. A.)
Social Sec urity tax is usually deducted
from a person ' s paycheck in the same way
as federal income tax . It will provide
you with retirement benefits when you are
old enough to retire or disability benefits
if you are injured and can no longer work.
c) s tate income tax
State income tax is paid to the state government, and it is similar to the federal income
tax.
!lt:
�2.
C.
d) property tax
e) merchandise tax
Tax Se rvices
The American tax system is complicated. Because of
this, most government tax offices offer free help
and advice to peopl e with questions or problems (YNL , 176).
Insurance
Life if filled with many unforseen events, such as
accidents or serious illness. If things like these
occur, they can be very expensive for people and
cheir families . Many times people cannot afford
to pay for costly medical bills or for replacing
or repairing damaged property. Because of this,
most Americans buy insurance , which helps them pay
for unexpected large expenses (YNL, 177).
W
hen you buy insurance, you pay a cer tain amount
of money to an insurance company . In return , the
insurance company guarantees to pay you a previously
agreed upon amount of money if one of these unfortunate events occurs (YNL , 17 7).
1. Types of insurance
There are many ki nds of insurance. The most
common types of insurance that are important
for newly-arrived refugees are health
insurance and automobile insurance (YNL, 176)&
a) health insurance
Health insurance can cover the costs of
staying in the hospital, as well as some
of the treatment you receive while you
are in the hospital.
Health insurance is often paid for in
part by your employer and may cover members
of your family as well as yourself. When
this is done, the employer pays for part
of the costs of insurance, and the rest is
deducted from your paycheck (YNL, 178).
If an m
mployer provides insurance, the
policy will be terminated if you leave
your job (YNL, 179).
b) automobile insurance
Automobile insurance should be purchased
when you buy a car. In some states it is
against the law to drive a car that is
uninsured. If you are in a car accident
and do not have insurance, you would have
to pay for .all of the damages yourself.
Automobile insurance also pays for hospital
and doctor bills for people who are injured
in a car accident (YNL , 179).
c) ~ roperty insurance helps pay for possessions
�2.
3.
c) property insurance
Property insurance helps pay for possessions
that are lost because of fire , theft or
other accidents.
d) life insurance
Life insurance provides financial sevurity
for the members of a family if the wageearner for the family dies .
Buying insurance
If you need to buy insurance , ask your sponsor
or a friend for help (YNL , 179) .
Unemployment insurance
Another kind of insurance that may be impornant
to you is unemployment insurance , which provides
you with money if you lose your job . This
insurance is run by the state government, and
most employers pay taxes to the state to cover
the cost of the program . The rules determining
if you are able to get unemployment i nsurance
are different in each state. If you quali f y ,
the payments you receive will onl y be for a
specified amount of time : they will not continue
indefinitely (YNL, 180) .
Read through and discuss ' Checklist ' (YNL, 181) .
Re ad through and discuss •]he
C.
Sto ~y
of M . C.' (YNL , 183).
r
Consumer Educ a tion
America is a country of ' consumers ' . W
herever you
are, you will be encoura ged to buy everything from
cars to candy . Television, magazines and newspapers
are filled with advertisements for all kinds of
produc ts . Do not be tempted by the availability
and quantity of goods that you see. Plan your
spending carefully and buy only things that you
can afford (YNL , 185).
1. Budgeting
(See HMH , 105 . )
A budget is a pl an to spa nd your money wisely.
Add up your income and then determine your expenses.
Your income should be more than yamr expenses (YNL , 185).
2. Preparing for shopping
Before you do your shoppi ng, decide which store
will give you the best values. ·] f you can ,
visit various stores and compare prices for
s imilar items . The following list of suggestions
may help you (YNL , 186)1
a) l ists
vrite down the items you need to buy. At
the store you should try to buy only what ' s
on your list . This avoids overspending and
saves time.
�b) coupons
You can find these in the newspaper or
in magazines. They look like sma ll
cards with the picuure of the products
and the amount of money you will save if
you buy the product. For exa mpl e, a coupon
ma y save you 20c on a jar of coffee. Don ' t
buy~ product you don ' t need just bec ause
you have~ ' money saving ' coupon (YNL, 186).
c) sales
During a sale , the regular price of merchandise is lowered. By watching for
sales and comparing prices, you can s a ve
a significant amount of money on things
you need (YNL, 187).
d) You can ask sponsors , friends , and neighbors
where to shop . Remember that most stores
in the U.S . have fixed prices. This means
the . store has given an item one price ,
which cannot be changed . Never try to bargain
for anything in a store unless you are sure
sure than bargaining is acceptable (YNL , 187).
3. Places to shop
Most people in the U. S . do not shop every day.
They make all their purchases dur ing a once-a-week
trip. If shopping areas near you cannot be
reached by public transportation, ask friends
with a car if you can shop with them (YNL, 187) .
a) supermarkets
These are the most common places to buy
food. They also sel l cl eaning products ,
cosmetics, magazines , some clothing items,
some household items , and some ' over-thecounter ' drugs . (YNL, 187) .
b) farmers ' markets
In som areas of the U. S ., farmers come
e
into town on certain days of the week
to sell fresh fruit , vegetables a nd flowers.
Bargaining m y be permitted in some farmers '
a
markets . (YNL , 18 7) .
c) ' ethnic ' grocery stores
Most big cities have stores tha t sell foods
familiar to you . The prices are usuai ly
higher than supermarket prices .
d) department stores
These are mo stly large cain stores t ha t s ell
clothing , furniture , a ppli ances , ha rdwa re,
shoes, and some food items .
e) shopping centers a nd m lls
a
In some areas , department stores, supermarkets , and smaller speci a lty shops are
�b) coupons
You can find these in the newspaper or
in magazines. They look like sma ll
cards with the picnure of the products
and the amount of money you will save if
you buy the product. For exa mpl e, a coupon
ma y save you 20c on a jar of coffee. Don ' t
buy~ product you don ' t need just bec ause
you have~ ' money saving ' coupon (YNL, 186).
c) sales
During a sale , the regular price of merchandise is lowered. By watching for
sales and comparing prices, you can s a ve
a significant amount of money on things
you need (YNL, 187).
d) You can ask sponsors , friends , and neighbors
where to shop . Remember that most stores
in the U.S . have fixed prices. This means
the . store has given an item one price ,
which cannot be changed . Never try to bargain
for anything in a store unless you are sure
sure than bargaining is a cceptable (YNL , 187).
3. Places to shop
Most people in the U. S . do not shop every day .
They make all their purchases dur ing a once-a-week
trip. If shopping areas near you cannot be
reached by public transportation, ask friends
with a car if you can shop with them (YNL, 187) .
a) super markets
These are the most common places to buy
food. They also sel l cl eaning products ,
cosmetics, magazines , some clothing items,
some household items , and some ' over-thecounter ' drugs . (YNL, 187).
b) farmers ' markets
In som areas of the U.S ., farmers come
e
into town on certain days of the week
to sell fresh fruit , vegetables a nd flowers.
Bargaining m y be permitted in some farmers '
a
markets.(YNL , 18 7) .
c) ' ethnic ' grocery stores
Most big cities have stores that sell foods
familiar to you. The prices are usua! ly
higher than supermarket prices .
d) department stores
These are mo stly large cain stores t ha t s ell
clothing , furniture , a ppli ances , hardwa re,
shoes, and some food items.
e) shopping centers a nd m lls
a
In some areas , department stores , supermarkets , and smaller speci a lty shops are
�f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
frequently located in a huge building
called a mall or shopping center.
discount stores
Shopping in discount stores c an s ave you
a substantial amount of money.
thrift stores
Americ ans do not feel embarassed a bout buying
used cl othing and furniture in thrift sto res.
classified ads
People who want to sell things often put'
a classified ad in the newspaper . The
ad might say ' Bedroom furniture , good
shape, very cheap . Owner moving, must
sell. Call 555-6677 after 5 pm. •
rep ai r shops
Having repairs mad e on al most anything
is expensive in the U.S . For maj o r
repairs such as on a car or house , ask
your sponsor or friends where they have
received good service in the pa st.
Other ways of shopping in the U.S . are by
mail orger, from door-to-door salesmen ,
and through telephone sales. Because of
communication problems, it is best t o avoid
shopping through these methods .
(See
4.
A New
Start Unit 38, ' Store Signs '. )
At the store
W
hen you enter a store , you may be asked to
' check ' the bags and parcels you a re c arrying.
A clerk will take care of your belongings
in the front of the store. You can pick them
up when you leave . Why are you asked to do
this ? Shoplifting (stealing) is a serious
crime in the U.S . Many people try to hide items
in their bags or purses without paying for
them . Do not put anything into your purse
or pocket even if you intend to pay for it.
Most stores have detectives and television
cameras watching you as you shop. Also ,
smmking is not allowed in most stores . Put
out your lighted cigarette before entering a store .
(YNL, 190).
a) shopping for fo od
The food that American3 eat may seem strange
to you at first . The American diet emphasizes
protein (meat , milk , cheese , eggs) and may
use less fish , rice, and fresh vegetables
than you are used to. The frozen and
canned vegetables in the supermarket
taste different, but they are practical
and economical ( YNL , 191).
(See HMH , 55 .)
�(See 8 ew Start Unit 14, Making Simple
Requests ' and Unit 21, ' Making a Pricise
Request ' ; )
1) packages
Are you puzzled by the variety of
packages on the shelves? Some may
have pictures on the outside that
identify the contents. If you are
confused about package contents ,
ask your sponsor or a friend to
identify them for you. Items in
supermarkets are usually grouped
by categories - for example, all
the meats will be together .
American food stores often package
meat and produce to help keep it
fresh . Be careful in selecting
packaged items, since they ma y vary
in cost . Do 1iot open pre -wr apped f ood
items . If you have a question about
an item , ask a store clerk .
2) labels
Information on package labels can
help you to know if you are getting
good value for your money . A label
will list the ingredients of the product . On perishable items , like milk ,
there will be an ' expiration date '
( Exp . Jan 10) . It is the last day
the food should be bought.
Food in the U.S . is measured in both
the English and the metric systems.
It is often cheaper to buy large
amounts .
3) convenience foods
Busy people buy these because they
cook quickly. But they are costly .
Anything that says ' instant ' , ' readyto-eat ' or ' heat and serve ' is a convenience food.
Storing food - When you c ome home from the
supermarket , store your food properly ( YNL, 192) .
Meat, eggs , dairy products, and fresh produce
must be refrigerated. Canned goods , rice,
flour, sugar , oil , and jars of spices can
be put in cupboards or on shelves. Once
you have o pened a bottle or a can, s t ore
what is left over in the refrigerator.
�b) shopping for clothing
In the U. S. , you can find clothing suitable
for any climate and activity (YNL, 193).
(See HMH , 23.)
1) winter wear
In parts of the country where the
climate becomes cold in the winter,
you will need a heavy coat , sweaters ,
long-sleeved shirts , a hat, gl oves ,
and boots.
2) buying c lothing
You can find serviceable, reasona bly
priced cl othing in department stores
and discount stores. In the store ,
you will find racks and shelves of
of coa t s, dresses, pants, shirts,
underwear, and socks arranged according
to size. If you do not know your size,
a clerk can advise you. Or you c an
select a few pieces of cl othing tha t
look like they might fit. Tell the
clerk you want to ' try them on ' .
The tlerk will show you to a fitting
room. There you will have the privacy to put on the clothing and see
how it fits .
(See A New Sta rt Unit 17, ' Colors and
Clothing ' .)
3) caring for clothes
Label s sewn inside the clothing will
tell you how to t ake care of it.
Some fabrics have to be ' dry cleaned '
(cl eaned by a professional) . Blue
jeans and corton clothing may shri nk
when washed in hot water , and the colors
may fade .
(See HMH , 24 .)
4) returning merchandise
If you buy something that is defective
ar the wrong size, o r that you do not
want , return it to the store . Take it
to the l customer servi ce ' desk and explain the problem. You must take the
item back within seven t o ten days.
It must be unused, and you must have
the receip t o r sales slip . The store
may give a cash refund , replace the ite m,
or tell you to select something else
with an e qual value.
Read through and discuss ' Check li st ' ( YNL , 196) .
�W
EEK 9
VIII .
You r Job in the United States (YNL Sec . 3 , HMH Sec . 10)
Read ' Background Notes ' ( YNL , 40) .
Rea d through and discuss ' The Story of Mr . L ' ( YNL . 41 ) .
W rk is very important t o Americ ans . Both men and women ,
o
young and old , work . People wo rk t o e a rn m
oney , but
many also work bec ause they enjoy it . Most Americ ans
believe that people who are able should work and should
not depend on others f o r support (YNL , 43).
You can see this attitude in the way American pa rents
teach their children at a young age the value of work
and self-reliance (YNL , 43 ).
Americans believe that people 'should wo rk if they a re
able to . Many Americ ans re j ect the idea of retiring
at 65 by continuing to wo rk whil e they still enjoy good
heal th (YNL , 44 ).
Most Ame ricans also feel that some people need special help.
These include people who are physi c al ly , ment ally , o r
emotLonally hand i c apped o r who a re t oo old to wo rk and
pa rents who need extra money t o support their chil dren .
This special help is c alled wel f a re .
It is m
oney and other aid that the government gives to
people who need it . The money f o r welfare comes from
taxes paid by the people who work .
Because of the way Americ a ns fee l about wo rk and welfare ,
your sponsor , Voluntary Agency , and other Americans
will encourage you to look for a job as s oon as you can .
They will also expect you to keep any j ob you have until
you can find a better job . Yo u wi l l be vi ewed nega tively
if YQY const a nt . re ject job offers or gui t your job and
rel y Qil welfa re YNL , 44 ).
A. Types of Employment
( See HMH , 129.)
Generally speaking , there are three types of workers
in the United Sta tes : unsk il l ed . workers , skilled
workers , and professi onals . In the United States ,
per son may work ful l time or part time , depending
on the type of job , family constraints , and other
considerations ( YNL , 45) .
1. Unskilled workers
Examples of unski l led wo rkers are janitors ,
diswashers , waiters , and busboys . They are
easy to find because they do not requi r e a
skill or a good knowledge of English . Many
refugees work in these j obs and study English
or a skill at the same time , hoping to find
better employment ( YNL , 45) .
�2.
3.
4.
5.
B.
Skilled workers
Examples of skilled workers are auto mechanics ,
plumbers , hairdressers , typists . These jobs
require some training and fairly good English ,
and salaries depend on the worker ' s experience
(YNL , 46) .
Professionals
Examples of professi onal s are teachers , engineers , pharmacists , doctors , lawyers . Most of
these jobs require a t lea st a college degree
(YNL , 47) .
Full-time employment
Usually , a full-time j ob requires 35 to 40
hours of wo rk per week. Since m st bu sinesses
o
in the U. S . operate from 9i00 a . m. to 5:00 p . m. ,
Monday through Friday , these are also
the most common hours of work for m
any occupations (YNL , 48 ).
Part-time employment
The hours of a pa rt - time ]ob wi l l vary according
to the job itself and the employer or place of
work . Part-time j obs offer m re f l exi bility ,
o
enabling you to work and participate in other
activities at the same t i me ( YNL , 48) .
Looking for a Job
( See HMH , 136.)
Looking for a job takes time and pate ence . Even most
Americans are not offered the fir s t j ob for which
they apply (YNL , 49) .
1 . Friends and sponso rs
Refugees often find j obs through the advice or
recommend a ti on of a sponso r , friend , or acquaintance .
Mut ual Assistance Associations ( MAAs ) and the
Voluntary Agencies (Vol ags) can be especially
helpful . The IndDchinese Refugees Foundati on
is desi gned to help you f i nd a j ob m re easily .
o
2. State emplo yment a genci es
Publ i c empl oyment offi ces help you find suit a ble
jobs free of charge . When you regi ster with
one of these agencies , a job counsel or will
help you establish your file and advise you
a bout j obs that are available in the are a .
You should contact the Department of Employment
Security for information .
3 . Signs on bui l dings
Information about job vacancies in a particular
area is also available at public libraries ,
large private companies , and ma jo r government
offices . Many restaurants advertise by putting
up signs on the windows saying ' Help Wanted '.
If a sign interests you , wal k inside and ask
to speak with the manager ( YNL , SO) .
�4.
5.
C.
The newspaper
In the employment section of a newspaper ' s
Classified Ads , you will find a list of
job openings arranged alphabetically, s uch
as Auto Mechanic , Dishwasher , Typist .
Each advertisement usually contains a brief
description of the job, its requirements ,
and the salary offered. It also will have
a telephone number or ~n address to call or
write to f or j ob appli c ations (YNL , SO) .
Private employment a gencies
These places can refer you to lots of jobs,
but of ten charge you o r your future employer
a fee if you are hired.
Applying for a Job
1 . The Social Security \Card and I -94
To work in the U. S . you mu st have a Social
Security number (Y L, 51). Ya u can apply
for a Social Security number at the Social
Security office . After your application for
a number has been processed, you will receive
a card with your Social Security number on it.
This number will always remain the same . It
doesn ' t matter whether you move , marry , change
jobs, or change your name , you will always
have the same Social Security number. W
hen
you go to apply for a job, you shoul d bring
your Social Security card and your I-94 with
you . These two documents .show that you have
permission to work in the U. S . ( YNL , 51) .
2. The f act sheet (resume)
Before you begin you r job hunt , you should
prepa re a fact sheet , usuall y called a resume.
In bhis you give information about your
background and experience . This will h~lp
you to more easily fill out the application f orm
available at your prospective employer . The
fact sheet will usually include the f ollowing
(YNL, 52):
a) your name, 1addre ss , and current telephone number
b ) your Social Secu r i ty number
c) names and addresse s of your current · ~nd/o r
previous empl oyer
d) you r salary history, dates of empl oyment , and
a brief description of the duties and responsibilities of the positions you ' ve had
e) schools attended, including vocational training
courses , dates attended , and degrees earned
f ) three references with names, addresses, and
telephone numbers
g ) othe r relevant experience , including activi ties
and volunteer work in , for example, the community,
church , or camps
�3.
The interview
W
hen seeking a job, the first thing you should
do is to contact the employer or his representative .
This is usually done by phone. Most jobs require
an interview . An interview is a talk between
you and the employer . During this talk the
interviewer will ask you many questions to find
out if you a re qualified for the job or if you
will be a reliable employee. The interviewer
will probably ask you how long you have been
in the U.S . and where you have worked and
studied before (YNL , 53) .
To prepare for your job interview, you should
anticipate the questions that the employer
may ask about your background, experience , and
job interests . You c an then have your answers
ready. Before you go to an interview , remember
to do the following things (YNL, 53) :
a) Be on time .
Do not come too early or t oo late . You
should get to the appointment place about
five minutes before the interview. Americans
value punctuality highly .
b) Be neatly dressed .
Dress appropriately for the type of work
you are being interviewed for and be sure
to have a neat appearance.
c) Bring an interpreter , if necessa¥Y ·
d) Bring a fact sheet ( resume) .
Having a f act sheet in hand will enable
you to fill out the applicati on properly
and accurately . On the fact sheet , include
work experience in your native country and
in t.he U.S .
e) Be confident and calm.
During the interview , you should give the
employer the impression that you are capable
of doing the job and will enjoy doing it.
Look at the interviewer in the face when
you answer his questi ons so that he will
feel you are honest and self-confident .
f) Be tactful .
Since your job during the interview is to
answer the questions asked by the employer ,
confine yourself to asking him ont y necessary
things if you are invited to do so . Make
him feel that you are very interested in
the work . Onl y ask him about your salary
and benefits at the end of the interview,
if he does not bring up the subject .
�g) Follow-up the results of the interview.
Before the interview ends , you may ask the
employer to tell you when you wi ll hear
from his. An interview does not mean that
you will get the job . If the interview
goes well and you a re optimistic a bout it ,
it is a good idea to write the employer a
short note when you return home , thanking
him for taking the time to talk with you .
It ma y take several days or weeks to know
if the interview ha s been successful and
if you will be offered the job . Be patient
and continue to look at other job.s whLle·
you are waiting t o hear .
WEEK 10
D.
Job Responsibilities and Benefits
When you are offered a job , there are seve ral things
you nee d t o find out from your employer(Y L , SS) :
1 . Work hours
Find out which days you are to work and what
time you start and finish . Time is very important in the U.S . Employees are expected to be
at work at the required time . If you are fcequently
late or absent from work without a good reason,
you can lose your j ob .
2. Company rules
Many wo rk places have rules for employees .
These rules may include : how much time you
get for lunch or other breaks , what kind of
clothes you wear , whether you can smoke or eat
on the job . There may also be safety rules
and regulations which you need to know about.
3. Fringe benefits
(See HMH , 130 . )
Depending on the type of company you work f o r
and its policies , you also may be eligible
for several other kinds of c ompa nsation besides
your s alary. These are called ' fringe benefits 0
and include health and life insurance , unemployment compensation , retirement benefits , and
annual and si ck leave .
E.
On the job
Once you have started working , you may need to know
about (YNL , S6):
1. Time cl <DcR
Some companies use a time clock . A time clock
is a machine tha t records the amount of time
each employee has worked . Employees use the
�•
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
machine to record when they arrive at work
and when they leave . They do this by pl a cing
a card into the machine which then records the
time on it. This is called ' punching the time
car ' . Each employee has his or her own card.
Calling in
If you are going to be absent or late , always
let your employer know ahead of time . If necessary , call your employer or supervisor to tell
them you will be absent or late and to let
them know the reason.
Probationary period
Many companies have what is called a ' probationary period ' . This refers to the first several
weeks or months that a person works for an
employer. This is considered a ' trial ' period.
The employer evaluates you and your wo~k to see
if you a re a good employee.
Getting paid
Find out from your employer when and how frequently you will receive your pay . Also ask
if someone will be coming to give your pay to
your or if you must go to some central point
to pick it up.
The paycheck
You ma y be paid ei Lher every week , every two
weeks, or once every month. A paycheck usually
has two parts : one part , with your name and
the amount of money you earned , is the check
its~1f; the other part is called the ' stub '
or receipt and lists deductions that have been
made from your total pay.
Every employer makes certain deductions from
employees ' paycheck& There are usually three
deductions (YNL , 57) :
a) Social Security tax (F . I . C. A.)
b) state tax
c) federal tax
Companies which offer fringe benefits (such as
health insurance) to their employees usually
deduct a part of the cost ' of these benefits
from the employees ' paychecks .
Be sure you save all of your check stubs.
Cashing your paycheck
After you have received your paycheck, put' it
in a safe place .
s soon as possible , cash it
or deposit it in a bank. Don ' t sign your name
on the back until you are ready to cashit .
Union and guild dues
( See HMH , 130 . )
In some companies , employees may belong to a
union or guild. To belong to a union , you
must pay a fee , called dues.
�F.
Advancing in a Job
Bec ause man y refugees come into the U.S . with little
English and no job skills they can use right away ,
they usually begin as unskilled workers. However , it is
pn ssible to advance in a job or ot move from an
unsk illed to a ~kill e d job . This i s usually done
by acquiring additional skills through education or
training . (YNL , 59).
1. Learning a skill
M
ost areas of the U. S. have training programs
where you can learn a job skill. Some of these
prog rams are supported by the government.
Others charge tuition . Most of these programs
require some knowledge of English.
a) adult education
Many communities have skills training classes
for adults. These programs provide English
classes and vocational training for people
age 16 and over . The classes usually meet
in high schools in the evening . The re
is a tuition , but it ' s quite low .
b) community colleges
The tuition is usually higher than in
adult education classes . These courses
usually require a good knowledge of Engli sh .
c) vocational-technical schools
These schools specifically teach vocationaltechnical skills. Tuition for these schools
varies.
d) p rivat e schools
For more information about training programs ,
contact the state employment agency, Depar tment
of Employment Security.
2. CETA/ J ETPA
This is a federally funded program that gives
skill s training to students who are seriously
interested in finding skilled jobs (YNL , 62) .
3. Job Corps
This special vocational training program provides
youths aged 16 to 21 from low-income families
with opportunities to finish their high school
or college education and to study a skill at the
same time (YNL , 62).
G.
Changing Jobs
When you are with a company , you may look f or a
bette r job elsewhere and change to your new job
without making your employer angry . However, before
you leave your job (YNL , 63):
1. M
ake sure that you a re certain of another job.
2 . Give your employer at least two weeks ' notice,
so he will have enough time to f ind someone to
replace you .
�Note the ' Sample Job Application ' (YNL , 64) .
Read t hrough and discuss ' Checklist ' (YNL , 65) .
IX .
Education in the United States (YNL Sec . 4 )
Read ' Background Notes ' (YNL , 68) .
Read through and discuss ' The Story of
~liss
L ' (YNL , 69).
Education for Children
Americans believe that everyone should be able
to get an education . There are many di fferent
kinds of educational oppo rtunities in the United
States ( YNL , 71) .
1. Public schools
Every child in the U. S . can get twelve
years (grades 1-12) of free public education .
Education is compul so r y. All children are
required by law to attend school . Parents
are responsible for seeing that their child
goes to school (YNL , 71) .
(See YNL , 72.)
2. Private schools
In additi on to the public schools , there are
many private schools in the U.S . These schools
usually charge money, called tuition , to attend
them . Many private schools are run by church
or religious groups ( Y L , 72 ) .
3. Speci a l educ ation
Physic a lly handicapped or mentally retarded
children also have a right to free public
education . Man y schools have special classes
or programs for these c hildren (YNL , 73) .
4. School for children under six
Most areas have schools for children who are
younger than six , sometimes as you ng as two .
These schools are usually called nursery schools
or pre-schools .
Child care programs are _a ometimes available to
t ake c a re of children while parents work . In
these programs , sometimes referred to as ' d a y
care ', children are fed , taken care of , and
given opportunities to play and learn . They
are for children under the age .1of t wo a nd for
other young children not enrolled in pre-school
( YNL, 73) .
5. Enrolling your child in school
It is important that you enroll your child in
school as soon as possible. You must first
find out which school your child should attend.
sk a friend, your sponsor , or your voluntary
agency to help you locate the right school.
�•
6.
7.
V
hen you have found the right school , call
the school to find out where and when you should
come to enrol l your child . Find out what
documents ~o bring with you. Documents which
you may be required to bring along with your
child include (YNL, 74):
a) I-94
b) any record of your child ' s age , such as
a birth certificate
c ) all of your child ' s available medical records,
or , in some schools , a form completed by your
doctor stating that the child has had a
physical examination
d) immunization r e c ords
e) a document such as a driver ' s license or
a letter that shows you reside in the area
served by the school
If your English is not good, you should bring
someone along to interpret for you and help in
completing any enrollment forms.
Things to find out about your child ' s school
During your first visit to your child ' s school ,
you should find out about (YNL , 75):
a) transportati on
b) months of attendance
c) hours of attendance
d) lunch
e) books
f) ESL and bilingual educatLon
(See ¥NL, 75.)
Aspects of the American school system
a) subjects
All public school s in the U.S. offer
cour ses in certain basic areas of study.
These usually include reading and writing ,
mathematics, history , science , and physical
education (YNL , 77) .
b) teachers
At the elementary leve l, usually one
teacher teaches all subjects to the class .
At the secondary level , different teachers
teach each subject .
c ) styles of learning
Americans believe in ' learning by doing '.
Students are encouraged to acquire knowledge
ac t ively rather than receiving it passively
from the teacher (YNL, 78).
d) counselo rs and nurses
Some schools have counselors and nurses (YNL , 78) .
e) evaluation
Students are evaluated in a number of
different ways. These evaluations are
usually based on attendance , completion
of assignments, tests , and participation
inc ass (YNL , 79).
�f) physical educ ation
Americans believe that an education should
develop the body as well as the mind.
For thi s reason , sports a nd physic a l activity
in schools are popular for both boys and
girls (YNL , 79).
g) sex educatuon
Many schools offer a class that gives
information on the human reproduction
system. Thi B class usually gives the
students information on family planning
a s well.
h) extracurricular activities
In addition to . regular school day activities,
most s chools off er a range of sports and
clubs after school (YNL , 80).
i) vocational education
Many schools offer courses in vocational
areas such as auto mechanics , shop and
carpentry , home economics, agriculture,
and clerical or secretarial skills (YNL , 81).
j) conduct in school
Students are expected to attend all classes
in which th{i'y are enrolled . If a student
is absent from school or arrives late ,
parents are usually required to send a
written note to the school explaining
the student ' s absence or lateness (YNL, 81).
The discipline or punishment may vary,
but physical punishment is not permitted
in most public schools in the U.S. (YNL, 81).
Students are expected to work , learn , and
talte tests independently. Sharing answers
or looking at ano t her student ' s paper is
considered dishonesty and cheating (YNL , 81) .
8. The role of parents
Americans believe that parents should play
an active role in the formal education of their
children. Parents are occasionally invited to
observe their children in school and to discuss
their children ' s progress with the teacher (YNL , 82).
Schools usually send report cards home which
tell parents how their children are doing in school.
M
ost schools also have a Parent-Teacher Association
(PIA) (YNL, 82) .
9. Working and attending school
Many students also work while they are in school
(YNL, 83) .
10 . General Equivalency Diplomas (GED)
Adults who have not finished high school can
attend special classes , even while they work ,
and take a test to get their GED . This is
generally accepted as the equivalent of a high
school diploma.
�1 .
B.
Beyond high school
Free public education usually ends with high
school. After completing high school , a student
may decide to work or to attend a college or
a vocational/technical school . Things to keep
in mind about study after high school: (See YNL , 84) .
Education for Adults
Most Am ricans believe that you are never too old
to go to school . They respect adults who continue
their education .
dults a ften go to school parttime at the same time they are working. Some people
take a class that will help them get a better job.
Others take a class only out of interest ( YNL, 85).
1. Studying English
ow that you are in the U.S . you will probably
want to study English . Most places in the U. S.
have places where non-English speaking adults
can learn English . Some are free ; others
c harge tuition. You £ili1 study Engl ish~
while you are working. The practice you get
in using your English onthe j ob will be very
helpful (YNL , 85) .
a) Indochinese programs
The Indochinese Refugees Foundation ,offers
you free English classes and employment
services .
b) Voluntary agancies
c) churches
d) Indochinese Mutual Assistance Associations
e) adult education programs - high school
f) community colleges
g) commercial l anguage schools
2. Job skills training
Many refugees have skills that ma y not be directly
applicable to this country . Many places in the
U. S . have training programs that teach usable
job skills such a s typi ng , auto mechanics,
co oking, c a r~entry , and plumbing ( YNL , 86) .
Read through and discuss ' Checklist ' (YN , 8 7).
L
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Indochinese Refugees Foundation, Inc. Collection, 1957-1996
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Indochinese Refugees Foundation, Inc.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Indochinese Refugees Foundation, Inc. Collection, 1957-1996. UML 1. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Description
An account of the resource
The Indochinese Refugees Foundation, Inc. (IRF) provided services to Southeast Asian refugees that were resettling in Lowell, Massachusetts during the 1980s, due to the ramifications of the Vietnam War and the Khmer Rouge. This collection includes detailed reports, financial records, correspondence, and resources that reveal the extent of the IRF’s work assisting refugees and its members’ involvement in the Lowell community. <br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml1">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml1</a>.<br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site. <br />-------------------- <br />SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Monita Chea, Soumeng Chea, Christian Hernandez, Julia Huynh, Sam Kong, and Vivien Zhuo.
Relation
A related resource
<span>The collection finding aid, </span><a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml1</a><span>.</span>
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Life Skills Training guidebook, 1984
Subject
The topic of the resource
Community organization
Education
Lowell (Mass.)
Nonprofit organizations
Social service
Unemployed--Services for
Description
An account of the resource
Life Skills Training guide book was a 10 week course. In this program, students follow step by step instructions on how to purchase and own a home, travel, organize their finances, receive an education, and much more. Each week in the program comes with references to the texts used in the program.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Indochinese Refugees Foundation, Inc. Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Indochinese Refugees Foundation, Inc.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1984
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
52p.; 28 x 21.5
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
uml1_b03_f26_i001
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Documents
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Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991
Description
An account of the resource
<p><span>The George N. and Dorothea Tsapatsaris “A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia” collection contains artwork, stories, letters, and other documents created by Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ young Cambodian students from the years of 1987-1991. Topics range from Cambodian clothing, ceremonies, and every day activities to food recipes, leaving Cambodia, and living in Lowell, Massachusetts. Also included are several photographs of Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ students, classroom, and student work; a couple of newspaper clippings; and material related to the 1990 “Memories of Cambodia” exhibit. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on the Digital Commonwealth under the collection title "<a href="https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/collections/commonwealth:1n79h429p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia</a>."<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.<br /><br /><br />--------------------<br />SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton and Monita Chea.<br /></span></p>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991. UML 9. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cambodian children must wear a uniform to school
Subject
The topic of the resource
Cambodia
Children’s drawings
Children's writings
Clothing and dress
Education
Description
An account of the resource
Cambodian children must wear a uniform to school
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ouer, Bunrath
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1988-1989
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 p.; 21.59 x 27.94
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Image
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
mc_0045
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.
1980-1989
Cambodians
Drawings
Joseph G. Pyne Arts Elementary School
Manuscripts
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PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991
Description
An account of the resource
<p><span>The George N. and Dorothea Tsapatsaris “A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia” collection contains artwork, stories, letters, and other documents created by Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ young Cambodian students from the years of 1987-1991. Topics range from Cambodian clothing, ceremonies, and every day activities to food recipes, leaving Cambodia, and living in Lowell, Massachusetts. Also included are several photographs of Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ students, classroom, and student work; a couple of newspaper clippings; and material related to the 1990 “Memories of Cambodia” exhibit. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on the Digital Commonwealth under the collection title "<a href="https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/collections/commonwealth:1n79h429p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia</a>."<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.<br /><br /><br />--------------------<br />SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton and Monita Chea.<br /></span></p>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991. UML 9. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cambodian children must wear a uniform
Subject
The topic of the resource
Cambodia
Children’s drawings
Children's writings
Clothing and dress
Education
Description
An account of the resource
Cambodian children must wear a uniform
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987-1990
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 p.; 21.59 x 27.94
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Image
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
mcii_0005
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
1990-1999
Cambodians
Drawings
Joseph G. Pyne Arts Elementary School
Manuscripts
New Year
-
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991
Description
An account of the resource
<p><span>The George N. and Dorothea Tsapatsaris “A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia” collection contains artwork, stories, letters, and other documents created by Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ young Cambodian students from the years of 1987-1991. Topics range from Cambodian clothing, ceremonies, and every day activities to food recipes, leaving Cambodia, and living in Lowell, Massachusetts. Also included are several photographs of Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ students, classroom, and student work; a couple of newspaper clippings; and material related to the 1990 “Memories of Cambodia” exhibit. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on the Digital Commonwealth under the collection title "<a href="https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/collections/commonwealth:1n79h429p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia</a>."<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.<br /><br /><br />--------------------<br />SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton and Monita Chea.<br /></span></p>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991. UML 9. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cambodian collage
Subject
The topic of the resource
Animals
Buddhist monks
Cambodia
Children’s drawings
Education
Food
Games
Description
An account of the resource
Cambodian collage
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Thet, Toeu
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987-1990
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 p.; 21.59 x 27.94
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
mcii_0136
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
1990-1999
Cambodians
Drawings
Joseph G. Pyne Arts Elementary School
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991
Description
An account of the resource
<p><span>The George N. and Dorothea Tsapatsaris “A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia” collection contains artwork, stories, letters, and other documents created by Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ young Cambodian students from the years of 1987-1991. Topics range from Cambodian clothing, ceremonies, and every day activities to food recipes, leaving Cambodia, and living in Lowell, Massachusetts. Also included are several photographs of Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ students, classroom, and student work; a couple of newspaper clippings; and material related to the 1990 “Memories of Cambodia” exhibit. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on the Digital Commonwealth under the collection title "<a href="https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/collections/commonwealth:1n79h429p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia</a>."<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.<br /><br /><br />--------------------<br />SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton and Monita Chea.<br /></span></p>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991. UML 9. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Cambodian school
Subject
The topic of the resource
Cambodia
Children’s drawings
Children's writings
Clothing and dress
Education
Description
An account of the resource
Cambodian school
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Yan, Chantha
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1987-1990
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
1 p.; 22.86 x 30.48
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
mcii_0160
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
1990-1999
Cambodians
Drawings
Joseph G. Pyne Arts Elementary School
Manuscripts
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991
Description
An account of the resource
<p><span>The George N. and Dorothea Tsapatsaris “A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia” collection contains artwork, stories, letters, and other documents created by Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ young Cambodian students from the years of 1987-1991. Topics range from Cambodian clothing, ceremonies, and every day activities to food recipes, leaving Cambodia, and living in Lowell, Massachusetts. Also included are several photographs of Dorothea Tsapatsaris’ students, classroom, and student work; a couple of newspaper clippings; and material related to the 1990 “Memories of Cambodia” exhibit. <br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on this site.<br /><br />Part of the collection is accessible on the Digital Commonwealth under the collection title "<a href="https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/collections/commonwealth:1n79h429p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia</a>."<br /><br />View the collection finding aid for more information, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.<br /><br /><br />--------------------<br />SEADA would like to thank the following individuals for their work in making this collection available online: Etsuko Benton and Monita Chea.<br /></span></p>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection, circa 1987-1991. UML 9. Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
Relation
A related resource
The collection finding aid, <a href="https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://libguides.uml.edu/uml9</a>.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
A typical day in Cambodian village
Subject
The topic of the resource
Cambodia
Children’s drawings
Children's writings
Education
Description
An account of the resource
A typical day in Cambodian village
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Yan, Lay
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Tsapatsaris, George N. and Dorothea. A City of Refugees, the Memories of Cambodia Collection
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1989-05
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
UMass Lowell Library makes this material available for private, educational, and research use. It is the responsibility of the user to secure any needed permissions from rightsholders, for uses such as commercial reproductions of copyrighted works. Contact host institution for more information.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
5 p.; 21.59 x 27.94
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Image
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
mcii_0161
mcii_0162
mcii_0163
mcii_0164
mcii_0165
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell, Massachusetts
1980-1989
Cambodians
Drawings
Joseph G. Pyne Arts Elementary School
Manuscripts
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Lowell Sun Photography Collection - Southeast Asian Cultures and Persons
[1983-1990]
Subject
The topic of the resource
Restaurants
Supermarkets
Markets
Dancer
Laotian
Khmer
Phillipine
Food
Vietnamese
Harvard University
Cowbells
Musicians
Tourism
Laotian
Indonesian
Princes
Buddhist
Cambodian Photographers
Students
Buddhist Chants
Posters
Intimate partner violence
Laotian
Cambodian
Speakers
College Professors
Carpenters
Family
Brothers and Sisters; Siblings.
Memorial Service
Filipino Americans; Filipino American women
Items, Thailand
Entertainers
Food Industry and Trade -- Employees
Businessmen
Children
Thai
Description
An account of the resource
<p>The Lowell Sun Photography Collection - Southeast Asian Cultures and Persons Collection documents the rich cultural tapestry of Southeast Asian communities in Lowell, including Cambodian, Thai, Vietnamese, Laotian, and people of the Philippines. These diverse images are drawn from the annual National Folk Festival events, as well as from photographs showcasing Southeast Asian children, students, entertainers, dancers, musicians, doctors, entrepreneurs, and women's rights advocates, highlighting their engagement with the Lowell community.<br /><br />This digital collection is only a small sample of the much larger Lowell Sun Photography Collection, owned by the Lowell Historical Society, housed at the Center for Lowell History. The overall collection contains over 20,000 images, most which can only be accessed in person, by appointment, at the Center. These images were originally captured by Lowell Sun photographers to accompany newspaper stories. Photographers frequented local businesses and events to capture what life looked like in Lowell at the time.<br /><br /><strong>Please Note</strong>: The selection of images in this digital collection was primarily based on the probability of featuring members of the Southeast Asian community, primarily determined by their names. In cases where a direct link to Southeast Asian culture was less evident, photos were chosen based on naming conventions specific to their respective cultures. We understand that this method may not always be accurate, and welcome any feedback as to images that may be unrelated. Images include members of the Cambodian, Thai, Vietnamese, Laotian, and people of the Philippines communities, among others.<br /><br />If you are interested in seeing the many other images in this collection that have not been digitized, please contact the Center for Lowell History to make an appointment.</p>
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Digitized from Lowell Sun Collection, owned by the Lowell Historical Society, housed at the Center for Lowell History.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Bridgeford, Bill
Brow, David
Cauchon, Bradley
Donovan, Dan
Gregory, David
Hunt, Richard
Malakie, Julia
Pigeon, Mike
Whitaker, Robert
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1983-1990
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
UMass Lowell, Center for Lowell History
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted: This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Relation
A related resource
1st Floor Filing Cabinets 001 - 024, 1B Section 1
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
JPEG
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Image
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell (Mass.)
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LowellSun_
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Vietnamese dragon head at Leblanc School
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1988-02-10
Description
An account of the resource
Working on dragon head for Vietnamese New Year Festival. Judy Melo and Alycia Ryder (students).
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Wallace, Robert
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Digitized from Lowell Sun Collection, owned by the Lowell Historical Society, housed at the Center for Lowell History.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Education
Vietnamese New Year
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
UMass Lowell, Center for Lowell History
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted: This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Relation
A related resource
Item located in Drawer 19, Folder: Schools--Leblanc School
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
JPEG
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LowellSun_LeblancSchool_002_
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lowell (Mass.)