Figuring out the interview questions
I got tons and tons of great ideas and questions from everyone I emailed and asked what I should ask the students at the California School for the Deaf (CSD). I got SO many great ideas that now I have 35 questions (and 4 group questions)! But that is down from 44 questions, so I guess that's a tiny bit better... I asked Rebecca (my German friend) and her friends 15 questions so this is a whole lot more. But I really think the questions I've narrowed down are really cool questions that I honestly do want to know!
Also, I know I'm going to have someone (not sure who yet) ask me all the questions that I asked the Publik Kreavitity Drama Krew (in Alexandra Township, Johannesburg, South Africa), Rebecca, her friends, her brother, and his friends (in Luebeck, Germany), and the students at CSD (in Fremont, CA, USA). Because I don't just want to ask them, I want to answer them to so all of the people I've interviewed can know that I'll be on the other side of the camera as well (and that I'll be nervous too). So, I know that I NEED to like the questions I come up with and I want to know how to be able to answer these questions. My test is if I can't come up with anything to say to answer the question, then no one else will get it either (and I
should understand the questions since I'm writing them).
So, this is what I'm obsessing over at the moment.. and also how everything will turn out tomorrow (filming at the school). I'm hoping my zen attitude of "going with the flow" and "whatever happens is meant to happen" will last until after I finish! : )
Oops, I just remembered all whole bunch of stuff I haven't done yet!!! I think I'm done with the questions (no, I don't think I'm ever done).
Your thoughts on what I should ask the students at the School for the Deaf
Here is the email I sent out to a number of people to ask for their input on what to ask the students at the School for the Deaf on Friday:
I hope all of you know about my Girl Scout Gold Award project documentary I'm working on at the moment! For those of you who don't know much about my documentary, it's called Connecting Youth to Youth. I've already filmed two out of three of the groups involved in the documentary. I went to South Africa to film the Publik Kreativity Drama Krew in September 2005 and I traveled to Luebeck, Germany in December 2005 to film my friend, her brother, and their friends. And this coming Friday (May 26th) I'm going to film students at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont, California.
I'm creating this documentary because I want people my age to be more aware of youth in other countries. I think youth and people in general would enjoy finding the many similarities they have with others in other countries and cultures and would be able to connect through their similarities. And also, I believe that youth need to be aware of the differences between everyone. These differences shouldn’t divide and separate people but create awareness of everyone’s uniqueness.
When I'm finished filming and editing I will distribute my documentary to youth organizations, schools, the Girl Scouts, and you!
So, I'm not just sending out an email to tell you about my project, I want your help! As I said before, this coming Friday (May 26th), I'm going to the School for the Deaf to interview and film some students there. I wanted to ask all of you for your input and thoughts about what I should ask and do with the students. What do you personally want to know about these high school students? Or let me put it this way, if you could ask them anything, what would you ask?
Here are examples of questions that I asked the Drama Krew in South Africa and the students in Luebeck, Germany:
What is one thing that you think makes yourself unique and different than other people?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
If you could, is there anything you would change about your school, city, or country?
Do you have friends in other countries? If you do, how did you meet them and how do you stay in contact with each other? If you don't, why not?
The questions that you come up with don't even have to be along these lines, I want to know what you really want to know about these students who happen to be deaf.
Also, what would you like to see me and the students do together? I'm going to be at the school for a couple of hours on Friday and I want to do some things other than interview, what do you want to see and find out about the students or the school? What do you want me to do with them?
There are two ways to tell me your thoughts. You can either email me back or you can post a comment on my blog for my documentary. All you have to do is go to the most recent post (it's obvious which one it is), click the button that says 'comments' and add your comment. Please put your name or some indication of who you are in the comment. Here is the address for my blog: http://connectingyouthtoyouth.blogspot.com/
If you want to know more about my documentary, please email me back!
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Cassie
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So here is where you can GIVE me your feedback! Just click the comments button right below this post! Thanks so much!
