For the interview component of this project, your goal is to capture the interviewee's feelings and experience regarding the topic of coming of age; your questions should open up discussion and lead to interesting, detailed storytelling. It is ideal for him/her to talk at length about a particular anecdote, and your questions should help him/her elaborate.
Interview questions:
Setting up interview:
- explain project clearly. They must understand you will be recording them, then editing their words for performance.
- ask if it is okay to use their names or if they would like to remain anonymous
- set up interview at a convenient and open-ended time; it should not be rushed. You want to leave time for the unexpected
- have a variety of open-ended questions
- begin with more general, less-serious questions to get the interviewees comfortably talking, then get more specific
- you don't have to rigidly stick to your list of questions - depending on what is being said, you may eliminate some questions or have to add follow-ups to get the interviewee to be more specific or clear
- be sensitive to your interviewees; don't ask questions that are too personal or that might make them feel badly
- leave room for a range of emotions; have a balance of seriousness and light-heartedness
During the interview:
- be ready to record the interview on a video camera, camera with video feature, ipod or iphone, or other recording device. Make sure the recording device works! Test it at home. Bring a backup.
- be prepared with your questions; have them printed out.
- let your interviewees talk. Ask your questions, but don't interrupt or suggest words if they are struggling with them. This is not meant to be a conversation.
- Be an active listener. Watch and listen closely to your interviewees.
- Jot down notes: a rough outline of what they are saying, so that you can more easily find certain parts of the interview when you sit down to transcribe; new questions that come to mind as they speak; notes on their gestures and facial expressions.
- Thank your interviewees, and let them know that you will show them the finished product.
Activity:
In your notebook, list possible questions for your interview. You may also consult coming of age reflection questions. Have about 5-10 questions prepared.
813 Questions:
ReplyDeleteWhen and where were you born? What was it like?
What important moments or memories helped shape your life?
What specific age/year did you like best? Why?
What was the transition like after you moved to America?
What was the most defining moment that moved you from childhood to adulthood?
At what point did you feel grown up? Why?
How did you react/feel when ...(being placed in an interment camp)?
Who were your role models and how did they affect your choices in life?
How was your relationship with your parents (siblings, etc.) growing up?
Why did you decide to (come to America)?
What was your best middle/high school memory?
What was your first job? What was it like?
What were your favorite things to do as a kid?
How did your parents feel/react as a result of ...?
What have the schools you have gone to taught you other than academics?
What was your education like?
How do you envision your future?
How did you envision your future when you were younger and how does that compare to where you are now?
What were your goals when you were younger? How did you accomplish them? Goals now?
What were your dreams growing up? How have they changed?
What are some mistakes you made or regrets you have? What did you learn from them?
At what times did you rebel? Why? What was the result?
What important world events occurred when you were growing up? How did they affect you?
What were your greatest triumphs and regrets?
If you could go back in time, what would you tell yourself?
What were the most valuable lessons you learned while you were growing up?
What do you miss most about your childhood?
What advice do you have for young people growing up today?
807 Questions
ReplyDeleteHow would you describe yourself when you were a child and a teen?
What were others' expectations of you? What were your responsibilities?
How did your family affect the person you are now?
Who were some people you admired growing up? Why?
What are some regrets you have about growing up? Why?
812 Questions
ReplyDelete- Who is an important role model? Why? How did he/she affect you?
- Who is someone who had a negative or positive influence on your growing up?
- What is a great challenge you faced as a young adult? How did you try to overcome it?
- What were the highlights of your childhood?What were the difficulties? How did your childhood affect who you are now?
- When was the first time you thought of yourself as an adult? Why? Was there a particular event or person that made you realize this?
- How is adulthood similar and different from childhood?
- What were some difficult adjustments that you had to make? How did you deal with them? How did you change?
- What are some experiences with peer pressure that you had?
- What were your most important friendships like?
- What was the most embarrassing moment you had as a young adult or adult? Frightening? Humorous? Triumphant moment?
- What were some mistakes you made and what did you learn from them?
- What was your first job? What were your responsibilities?
- When did you first fall in love? Looking back, was it really love? How do you know?
- What friends do you have who you have been friends with since you were a child? Why?