Generation to Generation Module: Elder Interview  

The following are the questions at issue in the module:
▪ What is the role of an elder in a society?
▪ What can be learned from older generations?
▪ What can older generations learn from younger generations?

● Planning Guide due before class on Thurs, Feb 17, 2022

● Typed Q&A Interview due before class on Thursday, Feb 24, 2022
Assignment: You will be interviewing an elder in your life. Your objective is to gather interesting stories from
their life. You will need to ask probing questions and take notes while you chat. If you need to voice record the
conversation, please ask them for permission. We will be adding a few of their stories into your writing. A
visual photo will be a great addition. You might ask them for a photo from their own life (especially one that
matches one of their stories). Or, you might ask them to take a photo with you on the day of the interview.

● Expectations: 10 questions minimum 

● Interview Time Limit: 1 hour minimum (verify that time with them) 
● Mode of Interview:  Verbal (Phone, Facetime, Zoom, Skype, In-Person) not EMAIL!!!
● IMPORTANT:  Do not email them the questions. The focus is the real conversation!  
● Take notes while you talk.  Type up these notes after the interview.  

Introduction:  

● Be friendly and put them at ease. 

● Create a space of trust and friendly conversation. 
● Ideas:  weather, a family member, their pets, school, recent event 
● Thank them for their time.
● Explain purpose:  Tell them about our novella, the legend, the lessons, etc.  
 
Q&A Period:   

● Use Story Corps to help you choose your questions

● Internet Site: https://storycorps.org/participate/great-questions/
● Have 10-15 questions prepared, but let the conversation happen naturally. 
● Open-ended questions 
● Avoid questions that can be answered with a Yes/No (or one word) 
● Ask questions that prompt them to tell a story 
● If you can hear a story starting, encourage it naturally.  

● Tell them you will ask them questions about their life.  (“I would love to hear stories about your
life and the lessons you have learned.”)   
● Start with basic questions that are easier:  where they were born, their parents, family, school,
career, etc.  
● Then, move into questions that invite them to tell a story about their life. 
● When you listen, encourage the story by asking for more interesting details. 
● Also, use follow up questions that lead to conversations about wisdom and messages. 
 ● (For example, what was challenging about that experience?  How did you overcome the
challenge? What has led to your success?  What did you learn about yourself?  How would you have
done it differently?  
● Listen with genuine interest: make eye contact, use body language.  If on the phone, respond
with genuine interest: “That is a great story!”  “I love hearing this!” “I cannot imagine you doing
that. Would you do it again?”   
● Have fun with this process. 
● Ask follow-up questions and take notes!! (Avoid saying: “Ok, next question.”) 
● Try to let the conversation happen naturally. (“Tell me more about...”) 

Closing the Interview:  

● Knowing when and how to end an interview is very important. This will depend on the
relationship you have with the interviewee. With a grandparent or someone you are close to, the
interview may go much longer than with someone you do not know as well. 
● Read the room.  Is the interview going well?  Check in with them.  
● Make a plan for concluding your interview. Do not be too abrupt. You may want to wind down
with one final question. 
● Thank them!!!  When you are finished with the interview, remember to thank them. 

Follow Through: 

● Send them a card in the mail.   

● Deliver them some lunch/dinner. 
● Make a standing “date” with them. 
● Call them again to say hello; ask more about them. 
● Send them your final writing piece that includes them in it.
 
 The Elder Interview Planning Guide
Assignment:

You will type this planning guide. The goal is to prepare for ALL parts of your interview from beginning to
end. Please reach out to the person who are going to interview and get the initial information. Then, plan your
interview from the first to the last word and beyond!

Initial Information:

● Interviewer: Rainne Bangi
● Interviewee: Rory Bangi
● Relationship to Interviewee: Father
● Year Interviewee graduated from High School: 1980
● High School Mascot: no mascot
● Date of Interview: 2/9/2022
● Mode of Interview:  Choose one:  Phone Call, Video Call, In-Person 

Introduction: 
● Opening Greeting: Say hello and thank them for doing this interview. Also, ask if it is ok to
record the interview
● Opening Conversation Starter: Ask them about their day and how they have been doing lately.
Ask them about any recent stories.
● Purpose of Interview: Explain how we need to gather stories that are interesting and give out
lessons people can learn from. We are learning how people learn these lessons or get good advice.
● Explain class module Generation to Generation: The current module we are learning from is
Generation to generation. We wanna learn how elders help in society and how each generation can
learn from their advice.
● Tell them a little about Two Old Women: Two Old Women is a story about a mother and
daughter pair. The daughter, Wallis, Hears about a legend called Two old Women, a tale that has
been passed through generations from mother to daughter.

Q&A Period: 
● List 10-15 Questions 
● Include the answers that you collected from them during and after the interview
● What was you like growing up?
● While he was growing up into his own person he became interested in many things. One of the
things included punk rock and new wave songs. He was rebellious and hated authority but still was
able to maintain good enough grades. When he was a child, he was very sickly and usually stayed in
the hospital. During his time in the hospital that's when he got into reading medical books.
● Who were the closest people in your life while growing up?
● During his teen years, his closest friends were Michael, Richard, Arthur, and my uncle Alfred.
These friends were also into the punk rock scene and would listen to music together. It was my dad
who was the one who influenced them, gave them new music and told them what to listen to.
● Did you look up to someone when you were young?
● When he was younger he looked up to mostly the band he liked because he was into music.
Some bands that influenced him are the Cure, U2, the Smiths, Echo and the Bunnymen, and the Sex
Pistols. These bands were all of the bands that came in the 80s.
● What is a piece of advice you always stand by?
 ● “Life is so short, make it count,” is what he said. He added that it differs when you are young.
When you are young you should do what you love.
● Do you remember any funny stories from when you were younger?
● There were many funny stories between him and his friends. They made inappropriate jokes.
One such Joke was when they were watching a parade on the sidelines. As my dad was watching the
parade, his friends pulled his pants down in public. He and his friend group had their own sense of
humor and though many may not understand it, it made his group laugh all the time. They would
even make complicated stories only they would understand.
● Looking back now, do you have any regrets?
● Looking back now, he had no regrets. He had as much fun as he could even without all of the
modern technology. They only had a few things, but it was enough to make them happy and to share
their memories.
● Did you know who you wanted to be when you grew up? Have you achieved it?
● When he was a child his first dream job was to be a Newscaster. Though he did not achieve that
he also had other jobs he was interested in such as being a DJ. Though not being a professional DJ,
he was able to be the DJ for his junior prom. He even had his own band called, Ventolin. Currently,
he is relatively happy with his current job, a nurse.
● What are some memories you will never forget?
● One of his fondest memories was being able to organize a concert in Davao city. This was one of
the biggest concerts in Davao during that time. He cannot play any instruments or sing, but he was
able to still be involved in the music scene through other outlets. Through this, he was able to
connect to even more people in the music scene. Another fond memory was when he met my
mother. He said when he met her he was friends with her first. It later changed into him having a
crush on her.
● Is there anything you want to say to your past self now?
● He has nothing to say to his past self, he said the past is past. Nonetheless, he had fond memories
of himself and the people around him.
● Did you ever feel scared when transitioning through life?
● There was always that normal amount of fear he had such as going to college since it is a
different place. Still, he was able to meet a new set of people in college. Music was the thing that
always connected him to others even though there were not many ways to get new music for cheap.
● Do you think you changed as a person?
● He thinks he has changed a lot as a person. He was very shy and insecure when he was young
and it was until an upperclassman in college, James, helped him change. James, as a mentor, helped
him realize he can do anything he sets his mind up to.

Close: 
● “This has been so interesting. I never knew (that music influenced your life that much).  
● “Before we end today, can I ask you one last question: Who gave you the best advice when you
were younger?.” James built his self-confidence and allowed him to connect with people through the
concert he pulled because the concert met many ppl he has never met before. Though he was a good
mentor, he was a bit paranoid.
● Be thankful and gracious: Say Thank you once again and explain how grateful I am for them to
make the time. Say it was great interviewing them. Ask them if we can get food together soon.

Follow-through:    
● I will follow through by going to make food together. We made beef steak and rice together and
continued to talk some more. Once I am done writing this assignment, I plan to send this to him.
 
After the Interview: A Quick Reflection 
● Write a thoughtful response (8-10 sentences) about your experience completing this interview.   

This interview was very eye-opening to me. I learned more about my dad through this and made me realize
through our teenage years we go through similar things. When we are passionate about something we will
surround ourselves with it and if we cannot do it directly, we can find other ways to still connect to it. It also
made me realize how it is easy to get connections through the things you love and those things can drive you as
a person. It can still influence your daily life even as you grow older. When getting advice or looking up to
others, it does not have to be someone ten years older, it can simply be an upperclassman. Another thing I
realized is that even with fewer items today, connections with others are what make memories. One last thing I
learned is that, even though you love something, life can go a different way than expected or wanted.