Oral History: how to focus and structure a life history interview II

Correct answer: All of these themes and many more should shape your interview.

Structuring your interview around chronological themes does not mean that in the course of the interview the interviewee may not jump from the past to the present occasionally. On the contrary, having a flexible chronological structure as a baseline allows the oral history conversation that takes place between interviewer and interviewee to telescope in and out of past marking events to reflect about the impact of such experiences in the present. Inevitably, chronology and theme are sequentially connected in Western culture. For example, we tend to group key themes in our lives according to age or progressive life stages such as childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age, which are linked to the themes of family life and family making, education and employment history and retirement. Migrant life stories on their part, have the added focus on force or voluntary displacement and their social and cultural dimensions of migration, which contribute to shaping individual and collective identities in particular ways, which the interview should explore in depth.

Here are two handouts (including a list of topics) that will help you to document a rich life history interview.

Topics for a life history interview 1/2

Topics for a life history interview 2/2

• "Describe your family"
• "What did your father do?"
• "Did you have a religious upbringing?"
• “How did your parents meet?”
• “Do you have brothers and sisters?”

• "Do you remember your first day at school?"
• "What are your earliest childhood memories?"
• "Did you have a religious upbringing?"
• “Do you have brothers and sisters?”
• "What language was spoken at home?" 

• "Did you have any hobbies?"
• "Do you remember your first day at school?"
• "What was your adolescence like?"
• "What kind of activities did you do with your friends during your teen years?"
• “What did you do during your spare time?
• “Do you have children?”
• "What language was spoken at home?"
• "What was your favourite food?" 

• "Did you have any hobbies?"
• "How did you get to work?
• "What types of jobs did you have?"
• “Did you require qualifications to get your first job”?”
• “What did you do during your spare time?
• “Do you have children?”
• “Could you describe a typical working day?”
• “What do your grandchildren call you?”
• “Where did you meet your partner / spouse”?
• "What language was spoken at home?"
• "What was your favourite food?" 

• “What do your grandchildren call you?”
• "What kinds of activities do you do now that you are retired?
• As you look back , what have been the most important events in your life?