February 8, 2012
Feb. 9: Interviewing A Classmate
We will spend most of tomorrow’s class time interviewing a classmate, so remember to:
1) Bring your laptop, phone, or other device that has enough memory to record a substantial amount of audio and has the capacity for easy playback and fast-forwarding, and preferably can be edit audio as well.
2) Make sure you read the Portelli and at least have a good idea of what the Foner is about, too. Please do carefully consider what the Portelli says before we start this exercise. Note that Sam and Christina have posted questions on the forum to help you think about both articles.
The questions I’d like you to consider asking your classmate are as follows. Keep in mind that some of these questions may not be relevant for some people, so you might have to be creative in adapting your questions.
1. How did your family become New Yorkers?
2. Would you consider you or anyone else in your family an immigrant?
3. Do you know what country or countries your family was from before coming to the U.S.?
4. Do you know why you or your family members left? Do you know when and what the situation was in the home country at the time?
5. Who made the trip? Who was left behind?
6. How did you or your family members get here? Did you/they stay somewhere else before arriving here?
7. Why was the U.S. the destination? Why not some other country?
8. Do you know what changes in lifestyle you or your family make when you came here?
9. Do you know what were your family’s hopes were when they came here? Have you realized these hopes?
Below are the pairings. We do have an odd number, so apologies to Sam, who was randomly selected to be stuck with me.
Chevey & Will Sarah A. & Jon F. Emily & Robin
Rachel & Chris John C. & Shivani Jon E. & Brienna
Ken & Paul Michael & Christina Danielle & Richard
Sara & Jon B. Sam & Brendan
