Worksheet 5 – Interviewing Skills

Imagine that you have chosen your topic for the group project, and you have to conduct an interview in
order to gather more primary resources for the research essay. Based on one of the topics and some
sample questions below, prepare and conduct an interview with another student in the class.

Role Play – Pair Work

Topic: 3-3-4 Academic Structure / Financial Tsunami / Wi-Fi Facilities
Student A: Interviewer
Student B: Government Official

Sample Interview Questions

1. What is your responsibility or job duty?
2. What do you see as the major concerns of the public?
3. Tell me what the government is doing about this concern.
4. What else do you think should or could be done?
5. Tell me about your experience or someone else’s experience who has worked with this problem.

Interviewer Transcript Comments Organization

(I) /
Government
Official (O)
I Hello. Are you __________________? I’m Tell the Opening
_______________________, a year one student from interviewee the
Hong Kong Community College (HKCC). I am writing purpose of the
a paper about the city and public concerns, so I am interview
coming to have an interview with you about
_____________________ [the chosen topic].

O Yes. How can I help you?

I Thank you. The first question I would like to ask you is Begin with Body
___________________________________ question (general to
_________________________________________? number 1 specific)

O __________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________

I __________________________________________ Question
__________________________________________ number 2 –an
__________________________________________ open-ended
__________________________________________ question
__________________________________________

CC 204 0 E ng lis h for Acad e mic S t udie s ( He al th C are) – S tudy G uide

O __________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________

I Why is that so? Can you give me some background to Further

this problem? questions for
clarification of
the official’s
answer
O Certainly. The official
_________________________________________ explains the
__________________________________________ reasons with
__________________________________________ supporting
__________________________________________ evidence.

I What happened to change that? Is the government doing Question

anything about this problem? number 3 –
follow-up
question asked
by the
interviewer
O __________________________________________ The official
__________________________________________ explains with
__________________________________________ examples.

I I would like to write them down first. The Jot down

government________________________________ important
__________________________________________ points and
__________________________________________ clarify the
wordings with
O Yes. That is right. the official.
I What else do you think should or could be done? Question
number 4 –
follow-up
question asked
by the
interviewer
O __________________________________________ The official
__________________________________________ explains with
__________________________________________ examples.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________

CC 204 0 E ng lis h for Acad e mic S t udie s ( He al th C are) – S tudy G uide

I Oh, I see. Do you have anything more you would like to Question
share, such as ________________________ number 5 –
_________________________________________ Ask the
_________________________________________ interviewee if
_________________________________________? there are
important
ideas that
he/she hasn’t
talked about
O Yes. The official
__________________________________________ explains with
__________________________________________ examples.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________

I Thank you! You have been very helpful. I thank you for Ask the Closing
your time and your answer to my questions. If I need a interviewee for
little more information, may I call you? permission to
follow up for
clarifications
or additional
questions
O Yes. Certainly. My pleasure to answer your questions. I
wish you success on your report.
--End--

Adapted from:
Spencer, C.M., & Arbon, B. (1997). Foundations of writing: Developing research and academic writing
skills. Lincolnwood, Illinois: NTC.

CC 204 0 E ng lis h for Acad e mic S t udie s ( He al th C are) – S tudy G uide