El Nino Interviewing

Materials

• notecards or tape recorder
• person affected by El Nino

Teach It!

Its time for your students to be the reporters.

1. This activity can be done in groups or by individuals. Divide the class however you want.
2. The assignment is for the student(s) to find someone affected by El Nino, interview them, and send us the interview so we can add it to our site.

Techniques

There are certain steps to take in interviewing. I'm sure you know how, but this will be a good reminder for you.

1. Choose a subject. Be sure to choose someone who is interesting and has something important to tell.
2. Write the questions. Go prepared to the interview. It is important for you to have questions ready because then the interview goes a lot smoother, you get all the information you need, and you don't waste your subject's time thinking of questions.
3. Bring a recorder. Sorry, but your memory just isn't going to cut it. A few days later, their words will be forgotten. So, bring a pencil to jot down the important facts and a few quotes, or a tape recorder to be sure you get everything.
4. Be professional. An interview isn't just a joke. You need to take it seriously. Dress nice, be polite, and be specific in your questioning. But still bring a smile with you. :)
5. Choose wisely. Once you have the information, choose the most important stuff. Be picky and choose the interesting things that you think people will want to hear. But don't just leave out parts of the story if the whole thing is important.