Interview Techniques

Prepare for the interview ahead of time by deciding what questions you want to ask. Try to give the person you are interviewing an idea of what you hope to find out.

Print and use this form [PDF] to plan the interview. It may be helpful to refer to this set of possible interview questions.

For each person you plan to interview, prepare separate interview forms to record the details you are expecting or hoping the interviewee will be able to provide.
Read about Chinese-Canadian history, culture, and geography in order to bring some background and context to the interview.
Try to be systematic. Focus on the interviewee herself at first. Then ask about her parents, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and great-aunts and great-uncles.
Ask simple, direct questions, for example:

Aunt Eva, can you please tell me when and where you were born?
Where appropriate, encourage the interviewee to expand on his or her answers. Ask "how", "why", and "what happened"?
Be careful not to badger or overwhelm the person you are interviewing. Try not to ask questions that start with "Do you remember. . . ?" Take a short break if the interviewee seems to lose interest or becomes tired.
Ask for spellings of names and surnames.
If the family member is vague or uncertain about dates, try to frame events within personal or historical events. For example, your aunt may recall shopping in Chinatown with her grandfather when she was around 10, which would have been in 1928. She may also recall that he died before her wedding in 1942. This means that he died between 1928 and 1942.
Ask to see any letters, diaries, certificates, or heirlooms the interviewee may have in his or her possession.

Photo banner: Detail from VPL Historical Photograph 70242