Process Description
1. Describe the preparations.
When I start to prepare my first interview, I choose My as one of my three interviewees already. Since I didn't not contact with her any more after last semester, and I'm not sure about her email address. Therefore, I try to find her email address in my inbox, and mail the message to her at begging. Then, I waited her reply, but there is no response for a long time. So, I contact with my ESL 101's teacher to confirm her email, and sent the same message again after my second interview. Finally, I got her reply, and we start to talk more about my interview. Because, My was sick on the day of interview, so we changed it to Monday. The questions in my third interview seems a little different when I compared it with my other two interviews, as My is one of classmates of ESL101's class in the last semester, so I know more about her. But I also wrote an outline step by step and shown it to her during the interview, so that it could remind me which kind of questions that I could ask in the next, meanwhile, it might also help her to think about the next aspect during the time I wrote some notes about her answers. I controlled the time of interview, as I found that My still did not felt well during the interview.
How did you approach people?
Because My is one of my classmates in the last semester, so we known each other. I confirmed her email address with my teacher, and sent message to her.
When, where, and how did you conduct and record the interview?
I made an appointment with My at 3:30pm, April 4th. Then we meet with each other in a coffee shop which is located in the first floor of library. In this time, I also use pen to record the key words during the interview, and stated to write my transcript as soon as possible. So, it could help me to remind the every step in the interview.
Whom did you interview?
My Quach, a Vietnamese girl studied in SCSU at the second semester. She has studied in the US for more than three year. She told me that she felt more freedom when she studied and lived here.
Personal Review
Describe the interview. What did surprise you?
After I finished my transcription of this interview, I found that it would be the shortest interview in my three interviews, but I still like it. Though her words, I could find many differences when I compared it with my other two interviewees. Such as weather, my previous two interviewees said that there are just two seasons in their living area, which are summer and winter, while My told me that there are four seasons in her hometown. Such as family members, my previous two interviewees have more than two brothers or sisters in their family, while My mentioned that the capital city of Vietnam allowed to have just two children. Such as entertainment in the free time, my previous two interviewees told me that they would like to go out with their friend and sang KALAOK, while My prefer to have a travel with her family members when she stayed in Vietnam. Such as how often do they go back home, my second interviewee said that she would like to graduated from SCSU as soon as possible, while My said she would like to go back home every summer vacations. The interview gives an opportunity to know more about the people from a country, let me know about their living situation in the US. I am also very glad that I have chance to communicate with other international students.
Transcript of the Third Interview
Course: English 191
Country: Vietnam
Interviewer: Beibei Wei
Interviewee: My, Quach
Date: April 4th 2011
Me: Hi, My, Long time no see, how is everything going?
My: I am sick, and that is why I changed our interview date.
Me: Oh... How do you feel now?
My: I feel better than yesterday.
Me: That's good!
Me: First of all, thank you for coming, and to be my interviewee. This is the brief outline of my interview, and it includes what kind of questions that I would ask to you. Is that ok?
My: Yes, that would be fine.
Me: We just have one month for studying in this semester. So what do you think of this semester?
My: I think that everything is fine. I took COB111, ESL202, Chinese class, and human relation.
Me: Wow, you learnt Chinese? I don't know this university has Chinese class, that's sounds good.
Me: After this semester, we will have more than three month for summer vacation. Will you stay here or go back home?
My: I will go back home and stay here until the next semester begins.
Me: So, did you bought the air ticket already?
My: Not yet, but I plan to buy it in these days.
Me: I think you'd better to buy it as soon as possible, because the price would be much more expensive when the summer vacation is coming.
Me: Do you have any plan for this summer vacation?
My: No, I am not sure what to do in the vacation. Maybe I will travel to another city with my family, or going outside for fun with friends.
Me: Do you like to sing KALAOK as a way for fun with your friends?
My: No, I don't like singing KALAOK.
Me: How often do you go back home?
My: I would like to go back Vietnam every summer vacation. So compared someone who study here for 4 years, and go back Vietnam after graduation, I felt that I did not miss my home so much. While, I enjoyed the time I stay at home.
Me: As I know, the Vietnam family could have more than one child. So, how many brothers or sisters do you have?
My: I just have one younger brother, and there are four members in my family. We are allowed to have only two children at most in my living area.
Me: Oh, it sounds different with my other two interviewees, because they have more brothers or sisters. How is the relationship with your younger brother?
My: I think that we have very good relationship with each other. We always play together every day when I stay at home.
Me: Could you describe something about your own country? Such as its location, weather, and food.
My: Vietnam is a small country. There are four seasons in a year in my hometown .It is hot in the summer, and dry in the winter. I think the traditional food includes egg
Roll and Pho.
Me: As I know, the weather between the north side and the south side of Vietnam are different, right?
My: Yes. Because of the different location, south side of Vietnam just has two seasons, which are summer and winter.
Me: What kind of food do you usually eat in festival?
My: Well, I don't know how to say in English, but I can describe it. It is a kind of rice dish which is made of sweet rice, meat, and bean, and we use a piece of leaf to pack them. It tastes a little sweet.
Me: Oh, I know that. We also have this kind of food in China; we usually eat it in the dragon boat festival. Chinese people call it zongzi, and we have saline and sweet taste.
Me: My, could you say something about yourself? Like your full name, how long have you been in the US, and your major.
My: My name is My, Quach, I have been in the US for more than 3 years, but this is my second semester in SCSU. I came here by a transfer program, so I studied in a high school in St. Paul for two year. Pre-business is my present major, and I want to focus on marketing aspect.
Me: Why do you choose this major?
My: I think there is no reason about it. I just felt that I like it, and I am interested in marketing. When I first came here, I decided to learn it already.
Me: That's great! As you mentioned that you have studied in the US for 3 years. Did still remember the first impression when you came here?
My: I felt very exciting. I can't speak English at the first time that I came here. I have some English class like ESL, and teachers taught us very beginning English, such as A,B,C,D etc.
Me: Wow, you're so brave! I think that I would not stay in a place which I cannot speak the local language.
Me: What do you think of the high school system between the Vietnam and the US? What is the main difference?
My: I felt more freedom when I studied here. I can choose my favorite classes in every semester, I can wear any styles as I like, and I can also say my own opinions in the class, even though it might be different with teacher.
Me: You have been here for a long time, what is your opinion of the American diet? Do you like it?
My: To me, American food is ok. I also eat some American food in my own country, such as paste, pizza, and KFC. While, I will also miss rice sometimes, as I can eat it as breakfast, lunch, and dinner when I lived in Vietnam.
Me: Yes, I think that the people from Asian country would prefer to eat rice or noodles.
Me: At last, could you use some simple sentences to describe your life now?
My: Now, I feel more comfortable to stay here. I will miss my home sometimes, even though I could go back home every summer. And every time when I missed my family, I felt that I cannot do anything, as it has so long distance between the US to the Vietnam. It will spend me almost 20 hours by air.
Me: You can also contact with your family members by the Internet.
Me: Ok, Here is my entire interview. Thank you for coming and to be my interviewee.
My: You are welcome.
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