Carrying out a recording

Getting started:
It’s best to think about the sort of things you’d like to ask but not be too rigid by having the equivalent of a clipboard of questions. Remember, it’s not the interviewer’s voice that is the important part of a recording, they’re just there as the vehicle to ask gentle questions to start the flow of memories – it’s the interviewee who needs to be heard!

It’s a good idea when approaching someone to be reassuring and friendly, this isn’t a tabloid newspaper interview after all. Explain that it’s more in the form of an informal chat. Some people are reticent, particularly about being recorded and need coaxing and reassuring.

Topics of conversation:
At St Levan we found that initially a chat with a person about their life from childhood onwards was a good way to get things flowing.

It not only gave the person confidence to speak happily about their lives but in the process a number of topics emerged, such as schooldays, family, starting work, war experiences, marriage and, very importantly, anecdotes. Often other themes will emerge and then you can always go back another day and explore that.

Exploring information:
Each community is unique and there will be certain strands of information that should be explored. At St Levan we began by exploring the parish’s links with the former telegraph station and then moved on to the Coastguard service because there were two stations here and many of the local men served as auxiliaries. Local industry is, of course, a topic to be explored – here we had farming and fishing.

At home:
Interviewing in a person’s home is often best because they’re relaxed. Take the time to chat before you get started. Make the person feel comfortable and relaxed. We found that chatting before the interview, as a sort of short rehearsal, gave an insight into the sort of things the person might be likely to talk about. If they forget something they earlier spoke about you can always come back with something like: ‘Didn’t you say you were in the Land Army,” or whatever is the relevant topic thus provoking further reminiscence.

Simple questions:
Try not to ask hard questions but keep your questions simple and clear. A question such as: “Was it fun growing up in such a large family?” Is much nicer than say: “It must have been hard to be part of such a large family.”

The interview needs to flow, not be a question and answer session. Often an interview will take unexpected turns and a whole new stream of information will appear and then it may be necessary to go back another day and talk about that.

A gentle prod in the form of a question such as “How did you feel about that?” or “Why did you decide to go farming?” helps keep the conversation flowing whereas flat, direct questions often just elicit flat, direct answers.

Some people take a bit of ‘warming-up’ before they become accustomed to the interview and so be patient and try to keep the conversation going until you find a topic that engages them.

Sit and chat:
And when you’ve finished the recording take the time to sit and chat, talking a little about yourself so that the person can feel reassured that they know something about you in return.

For an elderly person who may not see many people in a day this is valuable time when there’s some company and someone who’s interested in them. Do also explain what you will be doing with the recording and whether you’d perhaps like to come back and talk to them again. At the St Levan project we have built up firm friendships with a good many people.

When you get back to your base, clearly mark the disk with the name of the interviewee and the date.


Image: Listening to wartime memories

Top

Home | Site Map