Teen Corner - marycontinigordon.weebly.com€¦ · The photo shows an Olympus DM-720 recorder with...

Teen CornerYour Family History: Where will it take you?

Recording Version

©MCG, FamilyHistorTeen, Recording, 2020 1

Grandma, what were some things you and your friends did when you were teenagers?

Well, we lived in the country, so we did things like have a star club.

Oh, and the Dairy Queen, we’d go there some nights.

Did you do stargazing without a telescope? How late were you allowed out?

Grandma still stargazes. Super Moon,

April 20, 2019, Author’s photo

Interviewing, Past, Present, and Future


1. Permission, Inviting

Permission:

If you are under eighteen, check with your parents or guardians about interviewing anyone in your family or anyone else.

Inviting: Once you have the go ahead, call and ask the person for an interview about family history.

• Ask if they are Okay with your recording the interview.

• If not but they are enthusiastic being interviewed, agree to do the interview unrecorded. You can record someone else later.

• In either event, say you have some preparation to do so will get back soon.

• If totally no, ask your parents or guardians for another suggestion. You can move to step # 2 in the meantime.


2. Options for Saving the Interview

The first option may be the most possible since you may need to buy some phone attachments for the others. If you choose this option, go back and select the guide for notes.

1. No recording, take notes and write a story

Recording, however, gives you a word for word record that be shared as audio, as printed transcript, or used to write a story.

2. Landline phone recording3. Cell phone recording 4. Online recording (Zoom, Skype)


Old and New Towers

So, Grandpa, tell me about what it was like when you were my age.

I lived across from an ancient tower. We loved exploring it inside….Later we were the first in Italy to get wind towers.

First? Are you sure? Back then?

Yes, first! But so many years later. I saw them when I went to Italy for a visit. Our town, even when I was little, always had lots of scientists.

How do you spell the name of your town?

HW notes: Lived in Italy, ancient tower, later wind towers, scientists. Castelluccio Val Maggiore [check spelling] Historic Tower, Castelluccio Valmaggiore,

Italy, Author’s photo, 2009.


Labeling, adding to notes

Old Tower-Wind Towers, Updated Notes

Margin Topics Unrecorded Interview NotesGrandpa’s Youth,

Old tower

Lived old town, Castelluccio Val Maggiore, Valmaggiore,

Italy [Looked up town on internet for spelling], played

outside tower, tried to scale walls, tried to get inside but

didn’t till visited Italy yrs. later. Could have been a Norman

tower, probably held grain. Visits to Italy,

New towers

Saw wind tunnels when visited, one of the first in Italy,

town had lots of scientists [Why did he bring up scientists.

Did that have something to do the wind towers. Ask him.]

I lived across from an ancient tower.

We loved exploring it …. [I couldn’t keep up here but remember.]

©MCGordon, FamilyHistoryNotes, 2020 6

You may decide to transcribe the interview word for word and share that. But besides being a backup, notes like these key you to an exact point you want to hear again while writing a story. Once your story is written, check with the person you interviewed, make any changes, and share it with family.

Wind towers near Castelluccio Valmaggiore, Author’s photo, 2009.



Recording,Equipment

• Phone: land line (stationary or remote) or cell phone

• Recorder• Pickup mic

Recording on landline or cellphoneTo record a phone interview, you will need a recorder capable of recording

over the phone and a telephone pickup microphone, There are many choices.

The photo shows an Olympus DM-720 recorder with Olympus TP-8 pickup.

Basically, connect the pickup to the recorder's phone jack, Insert the earbud

into your ear and place your ear on the phone with mic against the receiver.

The phone recorder and pickup together can be $100 or more. The recorder

can also be used for interviewing in-person as Amanda did when Grandma

came to visit.

• Record then download the recording to your computer immediately.

• Then as you listen, take notes including the time code every time the

topic changes. Note the topic. A time code on the screen of a recorder or

computer looks like this: 00:09:25 or on some systems if under an hour

09:25. Both mean 9 minutes, 25 seconds.

• Listen to the recording. Add key information that went too fast for you to

note.


Amanda’s Notes

Amanda’s Notes

Notice the timecodes for

recorded interviews.

See SAMPLE INTERVIEWS

for these notes.


Cell phone considerations

Some reports are that you need to keep a cell phone plugged into power if the interview will be long. Test a 30-minute recording.

• You may see improvements in cell phone recording over the next few years.

• You can use the equipment already described.

• However, attachments and apps specifically for recording interviews can be found online or at consumer electronics stores.


Online recording

Online options include Zoom, Skype and more. • They include audio and/or video.

• It is possible to record.

• They are free in some situations.

Go to their sites for instructions on use and cost.


3. Test

• Test. First, with both people on the phone, test by each counting to ten. Playback and if OK move on to the actual interview.

• Restart, begin interview. Identify yourself and the person being interviewed, give the date, the locations. Ask the person you are interviewing to spell his or her name even with easy to spell names. (Is it Larson or Larsen?)


Amanda’s Interview Audio

This is the beginning of the interview. You

will hear many of the points here and the

next few slides. Time code 0:00-2:24.

Yes, she’s reading it.

See SAMPLE INTERVIEWS for audio clips.

4. Preparing the interview pieces

Think about what you will need to say at the start of the interview.

Identify yourself and the person being interviewed

Give the date, the locations.

Ask the person you are interviewing to spell his or her name even with easy to spell names. (Is it Larson or Larsen?)


Preparing: Topics and/or General Questions

• Topics: You could ask Grandma/Grandpa to make a list of topics to discuss. Whether they have a topic list or not, it is a good idea to have some topics with questions of your own. Questions fall into categories“:

• General questions: Your main questions should be open-ended. An open-ended question usually cannot be answered by more than one or two words. Sometimes it is a question stated as a polite request. Example: for the topic—teen years: Tell me anything you like about when you were my age.


Preparing: Specific Questions

• Specific questions: You may know of events, situations, hobbies, and more that you’d like to ask about. List those. You may need factual close-ended questions too, questions that can be answered with yes/no, true/false, a number, a place. However, you will usually want to know more so ask even more specifically so be prepared to ask: Exactly where was that? Or generally: Could you describe that place so we can picture it?

• Send when? You may send your questions ahead if the person interviewed would like.

• Expect the unexpected: Whether sent ahead or not, and even if the person you will interview did prepare topics, expect interviewees to add what comes to mind as they go along.


Preparing: Procedural Information

You will read this or something close to it. You will want to have this handy or write it out, especially if it has some special considerations.• I will be asking you some questions. Just say pass if

you’d rather not answer. • Do not tell me anything confidential or for which you

would like to remain anonymous.• I will share this with family and maybe even make it

into a book, website ,or movie someday.• I will send you a copy of the recording with a copy of

my notes—or ( if not recording) I will be taking notes and will send you a copy.


Preparing: Asking for Verbal Permission

May I have permission to record this interview with you

and share the recording and information

with family and others,

in any formats now and in the future?

[You asked earlier with a yes, but good idea to ask on the recording.]


Think About a Beginning TopicUsually general but could be special interest

Grandpa, can you talk about any of your favorite projects.

I just finished fixing the old TV from way before you were born, but I made it modern too.

How did you do that?TVs were furniture so I refinished the outside, then the I worked on the inside. I kept the old vacuum tubes, but I made it so it’ll connect to a DVD player. Now you can see old shows on a TV of that time. This was very tricky. I had to ….

You don’t have to have a beginning topic. You could ask a very general question even Tell me what you thin is most important for me to hear about. But a question like this is fun as a starter. It probably is important to Grandpa.

Late 1940s or early 1950s Stromberg Carlson TV. The DVD player on top for playing old shows like Howdy Doody.

Restoration and Photo by Mario V. Contini


Preparing the end of the interview

Sending: I will send you the audio and/or my notes.

Checking: I will call you to see if you have any changes, make them in the notes, and then ask you sign the official OK to use the notes and your recording.

Another interview: I may ask to interview you one or two more times. If I do, what should we talk about?

Referrals: Is there anyone else you suggest I interview? (Even if you do not interview anyone else, another family member may, so note the suggestions.)

Finally: Thank you for all the great stories.


An Official OK

For a simple permission form

(sometimes called a release form)

GO TO SAMPLE INTERVIEWS

5. Conducting the Interview

Use your topics and questions but be ready to let

Grandma/Grandpa talk about other things that matter

ton her. Ask about what you do not understand. Listen

a lot.

Here’s a small snippet with something probably not on

your list.


Not on the List

Birds?Yes, every year a bird makes a nest right where I don’t want it!

Well, Grandma, why do you let it?I love birds and so does Grandpa. He had a falcon when he was a teenager in Italy.

A falcon? What for? Wasn’t that scary for him?

You’ll have to ask him, but as he tells it, scary—I don’t think so. He always says that if he could be anything else, he’d be a bird.

Why a bird?Because he could fly everywhere and see everything below.

Why would she have brought this up? After listening a bit, What else could you ask? When or how could you move to the next topic?

Grandma’s Wild Birds— a dove not a

falcon, Author’s, Photo, 2018©MCG, FamilyHistorTeen, Recording, 2020 22

• Family History• Audio

• Gma Int1• Gma Int2

• Int Notes• Grandma

• Gma Int1

• Gma Int1 final

• Grandpa• Etc.

• Permission Forms• Visuals• Other

6. Saving the Recording ImmediatelyCardinal rule: Save and Backup.

The recording

• Download to computer immediately.

• Save to a jump drive you may send to person interviewed

• Save to a backup drive.

The notes

• Insert time codes

• Add what you remember that went too fast for you to write down.

Computer Files CreatedBefore the Interview


7. Listening to the Audio and/or Editing

Make changes right on the notes.

Audio editing is possible

• With permission

• And the right equipment and/or software.

Recording Equipment

While I am not suggesting one product over

another, search online for

corded Phones

digital phone recorders

and related equipment.

You will see recording equipment options for

landlines or cell phones.


8. Sending Audio and/or Notes

You can send in several ways deepening on file size.

• Small files—less than 20 megabytes: Email but the larger the file the more it may send and/receive slowly.

• Large files:• On a jump drive in the mail• Through a service like Dropbox

Make sure whoever you interviewed knows how to use whatever/however you send. Suggest they call you for help of they have any trouble.


Amanda’s Interview Audio

For a sample part of a real grandma/teen

recorded interview, section 24:00-35:00 in

the timecoded notes

See SAMPLE INTERVIEWS for full audio.


9. Making Changes in the Notes

Check with the person you interviewed for any changes/corrections. The changes can be made as most convenient for the interviewee which may be:

• On a printout and sent to you by mail

• On an electronic copy in red or ALL CAPS and emailed to you

• Or dictated to you on the phone.

Make the changes to the notes you will save as soon as possible, mark the notes as updated, and send a corrected copy.


10. Sharing the Finished Product

First, remember that you asked for visuals. Incorporate those in any print or electronic medium you decide to use. You may have gotten them directly from Grandma/Grandpa, found them in family albums on boxes, or created them yourself. Here are some sharing ideas to start; add your own:

• Email: Send notes and/or write a story, skit, poem, or song to send by email

• Groups: Play the audio, read the story, skit or poem at a family get together. Sing the song.

• Online: Start a family website or blog with information from and what you created from the audio and your notes.

• Your ideas …


11. Interviewing Again for More Information• Grandma, last time I forgot—Could you tell me about your

high school activities,?Well, there were a lot, but my favorite? I was busy doing school plays and little theater too? I was so scared at tryouts for a musical, but to my surprise I had a decent voice and got the part! Your aunts had good parts too in that same musical!

• Can you tell me about that part and what it was like to rehearse and then do it in front of a lot of people? What parts did your sisters play? What about your brother?

I have a cast photo. Let me send it you and then we can talk about this. I can show you who is who. You’ll get a sense of what a big production that was. Some of us flew in!


Grandma in Wizard of OZ, Early 1960s. She’s in a big hat.

Can you guess the aunts—in leading roles too?


12. Question Samples


See SAMPLE INTERVIEWS

One Interview

Starter for Full History

NOW YOUR INTERVIEW AND STORY

Wherever it takes place.!

The same Super Moon through Desert Thicket


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