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Lorraine Mace |
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Write Away! October 2008 |
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Interviewing in Foreign Interviewing a subject for an article, or as an expert to quote in a non-fiction book, can be an intimidating event. If that interview is conducted in a foreign language, even if we are almost fluent, it adds an extra frisson of anxiety. The only way to lessen the trauma level is by thorough preparation. What do you want from the interview? If you properly analyse exactly what you need from the person being interviewed, it becomes so much easier to frame the right questions. Make a list of why you are conducting the interview. That sounds simplistic, but it’s essential. Why this person? Why now? What do you need from the subject? What is your reason for choosing this person as opposed to another? Only once you have done this should you arrange the interview. When you arrange the appointment with your subject you will want to clarify what it is you need from them. By having your motivation clear in your own mind, it is easier to explain it in a foreign language. Prepare your questions When interviewing, if something wasn’t understood in your home language it would be the easiest thing in the world to reword the question. But, under the stress of a foreign language interview, you might find that a task beyond your linguistic skills. Print out your questions and ask a native speaker to read them. Make sure that what you have written is actually what you want to ask. Now is not the time to inadvertently use words that are similar in English, but which have a completely different meaning. If possible, ask your reader to tell you in English what you have asked. A secondary benefit of this preparation is if, during the interview, you have difficulty making yourself understood, you can pass the printed question to the subject. Record every word Take a voice recording device with you. If you can find one with the option of setting the speed of playback, that is even better. Regardless of how good you believe your language skills to be, there will be sections that are difficult to understand. In English, and in context, you would probably have little difficultly deciding what had been said. In a foreign language you might need to listen several times at varying speeds before the meaning becomes clear. Another benefit is that one of your questions might open a related area, or even a previously unconsidered angle. Without the tape recorder it’s unlikely you would be able to translate this additional material.
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