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Interviewing Tips
  • Ask an older person about his/her life or favorite story.
  • It isn’t always easy to get people to tell the good stuff, the interesting and juicy stuff. If you ask a lot of questions and show that you really want to learn about them, you may be rewarded with a good story that will become a rich memory. Learning about your grandparents makes everyone a winner!
  • Ask a lot of questions like “why?”
  • Ask questions that can’t just be answered with a “yes” or “no.”
  • If the person you are interviewing hesitates, ask him/her,“What happened then?”
Questions to get things started:
These are just some sample questions to get the interview going. You don’t have to ask them all, but it’s good to be prepared. You might get a full and interesting answer on your first question. You might think up some even better questions that grow out of your grandparents’ answers.
  • When you listen carefully, the right question will just come naturally.
  • Where were you born?
  • Where did you go to school? What did you like to do as a child?
  • What stories did you like as a child?
  • Would you please tell it to me? I’d love to hear it.
  • What were your first jobs? What were conditions like then?
  • Which job or jobs did you enjoy the most and why?
  • How did you meet the person you married?
    What was a memorable moment in your relationship?
  • Were you married more than once?
  • What was one of the best of the unexpected things that happened in your life?
  • What was one of your most exciting adventures or journeys?
  • What role did wars or other world events and natural disasters play in your life?
  • What are some of the major differences between life when you were a child or young adult and today?
  • Do you remember a funny thing that happened to you — that still makes you laugh?
  • Did you ever save anyone’s life? If so, who, why, when, and where?
  • Did anyone ever save your life? If so, who, why, when, and where?
  • What would you like me to always remember?



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