Ideas for Interview Questions
Please come up with your own as well; these are just IDEAS!
Remember:
This is the research for your two-part essay---comparing and contrasting (similarities and differences) between your adolescent (teenage) years, so ask a lot of questions about life as a teenager.
This is also the research for your presentation---about this person, so ask questions about other aspects of his/her life to share with the class. The presentation does not have to be about his/her adolescence, but you certainly can choose it to be if you want.
GENERAL QUESTIONS---could be used for presentation information
When and where were you born?
Were you born at home? Hospital? Doctor? Father present?
How many siblings do you have?
Did you get along with your siblings?
Did you live in the city or country?
What major national or world events do you recall from your life?
Any inventions during your life stand out?
What is the earliest memory of your house? Your town? Your family?
Where did your parent(s) work?
What are your most vivid memories of childhood? Anything unusual?
What relatives do you remember best?
Did you take any family vacations?
How were holidays spent? Do you have a favorite one?
Describe your favorite meal growing up.
How old were you when you got married? Is there anything different about your wedding than how weddings are now? What was your fondest memory of your wedding?
Where did our family originally come from before moving to the US? Why did they come here? Where did they settle, and what did they do when they first moved here?
Do you remember any interesting stories about our ancestors?
QUESTION IDEAS FOR ESSAY---adolescent years
Describe what school was like for you at my age (and in high school). What classes? How’d you get to school? Homework load? How many teachers? How else were schools different for you? Favorite classes/least fav. classes? Grades?
Did you ever get into any trouble at home or school? Punishments?
Involved in any clubs or activities?
Chores at home?
What did you do for fun—what’d you do with your friends?
Describe a typical weekday. Describe a typical Saturday. Describe a typical Sunday.
How’d you spend your summers?
How much was it for a movie? Gas? Milk? Pop? Candy bar? Houses? Cars?
Describe your first date. What was dating like then?
What was the fashion like? Hairstyles?
What cars were cool?
What music did you listen to at my age?
Do you have any embarrassing or funny moments from this period of your life?
Did you share a bedroom? How many bathrooms at your house? Did you get to shower daily?
Did you have pets?
What did you do that used to drive your parent(s) nuts?
Questions Ideas for Conclusion of Interview---could be presentation or essay info.
What are two things in your life you are especially proud of?
What in today’s society causes you the most concern? Why?
If you could do anything differently in your life, what would it be?
What advice, encouragement, or words of wisdom would you like to share with me and other teenagers?
What is your greatest hope for the future?
For you to think about after the interview:
Is this relative like me (or my parent or siblings) in any way?
What did I learn that was special about them?
What can I especially remember that I used to do with him/her?
What have I learned about this relative that I will cherish most and share with my own children some day?
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