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Interview questions

Secondary level

grandmother and grandchildren talking on Skype

Suggested bank of interview questions to be asked -- over the telephone or via the internet -- by secondary age children.

Please feel free to add your own questions, or even add some of your own.

Family

  • What’s your name?
  • Do people call you by any other name?
  • Do you have a nick name?
  • When were you born?
  • Where were you born?
  • Do you have any sisters or brothers?
  • Who are they?
  • Can you tell me what your house was like when you were a child?
  • Can you describe any special memories you have of the house?

Pastimes and Hobbies

  • When you were younger, did you ever go fishing? Where did you go?
  • What did you catch?
  • What equipment did you use?
  • Did you help working on the croft?
  • In what way did you help out?
  • Did you ever sing in a choir?
  • Where were your choir practices?
  • Who was the choir conductor?
  • Did you play any sports, such as football?
  • Can you tell me a bit about where you played these sports and who played with you?
  • What else did you do in your spare time? Did you have any special hobbies?

Education

Primary school

  • Which primary teachers do you remember?
  • Can you tell me about a typical day in school?
  • Did you play any special games in the playground?
  • Do you remember any fashions or trends from primary school days?
  • Was any technology used in lessons, such as radio or TV?
  • Can you remember any programmes?
  • Did you take part in any after school activities?
  • Did you enjoy primary school?

Secondary school

  • Which secondary school teachers do you remember?
  • Can you tell me about a typical day in school?
  • Did you play any special games in the playground?
  • Do you remember any fashions or trends from primary school days?
  • Was any technology used in lessons, such as radio or TV?
  • Can you remember any of the programmes?
  • Did you take part in any after school activities?
  • Did you enjoy secondary school?

After leaving school

  • Where did you work after leaving school?
  • Did you go away to college or university?
  • If so, what did you do there?

Community

Church

  • Did you go to church in Back?
  • What are your memories of going to church then?
  • Did you go to Sunday school?
  • What are your memories of Sunday school?
  • Do you remember any special church events?

Social

  • Were you ever at a wedding when you were young?
  • Where was it?
  • Can you tell me what it was like?
  • What is your memory of funerals when you were young?
  • Were any special customs observed?

Village life

  • Who were your neighbours?
  • Did you know your neighbours well?
  • What was life like in the village?
  • Do you remember any special community events, perhaps at New Year? Or at other times?
  • Do you remember anything affecting the village, for example, the War?

Technology

  • Do you remember the arrival of electricity?
  • Do you remember the first water mains?
  • Can you remember when you first got TV?
  • What about the first phone in your house?
  • If you had no phone, how did you contact someone in an emergency?
  • Do you remember when your house first got a washing machine?
  • How were clothes washed before you got a washing machine?
  • What differences in technology have you seen over the last few decades?

Stories, myths and anecdotes

  • Do you remember hearing any stories about fairies or the supernatural?
  • Do you know any legends about the Back area?
  • Are there any other stories you have heard which should be remembered?