keepers of family and tribal history and are responsible for passing down knowledge from the past. One of the most meaningful ways you and your children can honor your older relatives and preserve family traditions is to interview and record their stories. Even if there are painful memories in your family's past, such as war, family rifts, or the loss of loved ones, talking about these difficult stories together can often help heal generational wounds. Children older than age ten do best with the actual interviewing, but you can include children as young as six in the process.
MATERIALS
Paper and pen for creating outlineAudiotape recorder with microphone
Extra cassettes
Video camera with videotapes (optional)
Watch or clock for timing cassettes
1. The first step is to choose the best person to interview. Who is the most reliable source in the family? The best storyteller? Choose someone who has an accurate memory and lots of stories to tell. When you ask your interviewee if he would like to participate, be sure to outline for him in detail what the interview will entail.
2. Plan to conduct the interview in the person's home or a place where the interviewee feels comfortable. If your narrator has a sight or hearing impairment, ask him how you can best accommodate him. Try to choose a day without other pressing responsibilities so you can devote as much as an hour, with a couple of breaks, to recording.
3. In advance, gather some background information about the interviewee, such as where he grew up, the work he did and how he met his spouse. With your kids, prepare an outline of open-ended questions that will encourage thoughtful responses and lively anecdotes. If you know painful stories might come up, help your child craft a question diplomatically so the interviewee is not affronted and can, if he prefers, decline to answer. (For example, instead of "How did you get shot fighting in World War II?" try "What do you remember about the day you were injured in World War II?") Be sure to include questions on topics you know he will enjoy talking about, such as his hobbies or travels. Consider having objects such as photo albums to show and discuss in the interview. When you are done, order your questions in whatever logical way you can to get a flowing conversation--chronologically is usually best--but be sure you are leading with easy questions. You want to give yourself and your kids, as well as the interviewee, a chance to warm up. Mark several places where everyone can stop to take a break.
4. Most people are more at ease being audiotaped than being videotaped. Be sure your interviewee is comfortable with what you have chosen and set up and test your equipment before you start. Review which child is going to ask the questions and which is going to handle the equipment. Consider giving each child three or four questions to ask in a row and then switch. Remind your child, too, that a good interviewer is a good listener--and she can digress from the questionnaire to follow up on something that has been said.
5. Make duplicate tapes after the interview, label them carefully, and store them in their containers in a cool dry place. If you are really ambitious, you can transcribe the interview and print a booklet that goes along with the tapes. Share your final project with family and friends.
TESTER'S TIPS: Our testers found that prepping your interviewee with the questions beforehand made for a less natural conversation and fewer interesting asides.
