Assignment Overview:
Points Possible: 25
Due: 9/4/14
Immigrant Interview Assignment
“Where are you from? Why did you
stay?”
Throughout this unit, students will investigate
the theme of immigration in order to gain
a greater awareness and empathy for
people from of other cultures, as well as become more informed . With this project, students will engage in
an authentic learning experience by uncovering an immigrant’s journey to
America.
Directions:
Students
will seek out an immigrant (relative, friend, or acquaintance) and uncover
his/her journey to the U.S. by conducting a thorough interview. Interviewees can remain anonymous, as long as
they are given a pseudonym (fake name)
on the paper. Students must ask at least
15
questions (5 required questions and 10 optional).
Required Questions:
1. Where are you from?
2. How did you get here?
3. What hardships have you faced
during your time here?
4. What successes have you achieved
during your time here?
5. Why did you stay?
Optional Questions:
Students may substitute optional questions with
their own.
1.
What
specific circumstances caused you to immigrate?
2.
Was
it a personal decision or one that someone else made for you?
3.
How
old were you?
4.
What
had you heard about the U.S. before you came? What stereotypes/expectations did
you have?
5.
Had
you seen pictures or photos of the U.S.? What did you think of them?
6.
What
had people told you about the U.S.?
7.
Were
your initial expectations accurate? Can you give me an example?
8.
Where
specifically in your former country did you live? (great time to pull out your
atlas)
9.
What
was your life like there?
10. What was going on historically?
11. Can you tell me about the
government in your native country before you left?
12. What year/date did you arrive in
(present city)?
13. Did you immigrate alone, or with
friends/other family members?
14. Can you share a memorable
experience with me about what is like, how you were feeling when you first
arrived?
15. Was it hard to leave or was it
exciting?
16. Did you experience any “culture
shock”? Was it hard to adapt? If so, what was challenging? Can you think of a
story or experience that will give me an idea?
17. Do you miss family
members/Friends? Are you in touch with them? How?
18. What possessions did you take
with you? What important things, if any did you leave behind?
19. How did you arrive? Method of
transportation? What route did you take?
20. Do you have a green card? How did
you obtain it? Are you an official U.S. citizen?
21. When did you become an official
citizen?
22. What did you have to do in order
to become an official citizen?
23. How did you wind up in Chicago?
24. Did you consider living anywhere
else?
25. Did you know anyone here when you
arrived?
26. How did people treat you? Do you
find people treat you differently now if you have been here for a while?
27. Who/What helped you get settled,
find a place to live, etc.?
28. Tell me about any language
barriers that you experience/or currently experience?
29. Did you know any English before
you arrived?
30. Was it difficult to communicate
when you first arrived?
31. What were your first 24
hours/days like?
32. Can you tell me how your life has
changed since you came to this country?
33. What sacrifices if any have you
made to live in the U.S.?
34. Are their specific things/people
that you miss? Who/what? Why?
35. What is the best thing about your
immigrant experience?
36. What has been most challenging or
difficult about your experience?
37. What kind of job did you have in
your home country?
38. What job(s) did/do you have in
the U.S.?
39. How did you go about finding a
job?
40. Did you bring any specific skills
with you that you were able to use here?
41. If you had no immigrated, what do
you think your life would be like today? Can you give me an example of how it might be
different?
42. Did you feel welcomed?
43. If you have children, were they
born in this country?
44. Do they speak your native language?
45. Do they know about your immigrant
experience/native culture?
46. How might you children’s lives
differ if you had not emigrated?
47. What might you life, your
family’s life, be like today had you not emigrated?
48. How has this country changed
since your arrived?
49. Can you tell me a story or give
me an example of how your country has changed since you’ve been here?
Tips for Conducting a Good
Interview
·
Make
sure the location you choose to conduct your interview is quiet and comfortable
·
Give
a list of questions to your interviewee, so they know what to expect.
·
Be
encouraging to your interviewee
o Look at your interviewee and
smile while they are talking.
o Be familiar with your questions
so that you can pay attention to your interviewee, NOT the paper in your hand.
·
Really
listen to what your interviewee is saying
o Make sure that they have answered
your question and that you have received the information that you are looking
for. If not, ask the interviewee to
elaborate.
o Pay attention for something that
you find interesting, so that you can ask a follow-up question. (Write it down if you need to, so that you
don’t forget to ask it!)
o Don’t be afraid to ask questions
that you might not have written down.
What your interviewee says might lead you somewhere unexpected.
·
Wait
for at least 3-5 seconds after you think your interviewee is done speaking to
ask your next question. They might
surprise you and have more to say.
·
Thank
your interviewee for their time. Be sure
to ask permission to contact them again if you need to clarify or get any
additional information.
·
Be
gracious and appreciative.
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