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Pre-Production

Lesson 22: Interview Tips & Tricks

Pre Production/ Lesson 22

Materials: What's Your Story: Interview Tips and Tricks (Ep.5) on Vimeo video;

Mirrors (handheld or large mirrors on the wall - have students bring a small mirror from home or their locker if needed) or the Cameras on the Chromebooks, paper, pens or markers;

Making a Plan Sheet: https://s3.amazonaws.com/cwktv.content/HATC/HATC_Year_2/HATC+Making+a+Plan+HATC.pdf

Schedule:https://s3.amazonaws.com/cwktv.content/HATC/HATC_Year_2/HATC+Interview+Schedule+and+Interview+Tips.pdf

[Based on available time, please feel free to extend interview practice by one class period if needed. Students never get enough time to practice this important skill!]

T: Welcome to Lesson 22 where we will continue learning about and practicing interviewing. We will also revisit the SEL concept, self-awareness.

(1 minute)

Total Lesson Time: 71 minutes

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Self-Awareness

Self-Management

Social-Awareness

Relationship Skills

Responsible Decision-Making

CASEL 5 Competencies

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) FOCUS

Remember to access and practice your SEL Competencies as you film and edit your stories!

Pre Production/ Lesson 22

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Essential Questions

What are some effective tips and tricks for conducting and producing good interviews?

What are the elements of self-awareness as an SEL competency? How can we promote self-reflection and self-acceptance as a self-awareness practice?

Pre Production/ Lesson 22

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Inclusive Opener

Coles and Darion explain Interview Tips and Tricks

Episode 5

Pre Production/ Lesson 22

VIEW:

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Interview Techniques

�Use the questions that you’ve drafted for the Make Our Plan document to complete a mock interview with one of your group members:

The remaining group members should provide feedback on the interview.

Was there enough pause during speaking turns?
Did the interviewer have a relationship with the interviewee that supported the interview? Did it feel authentic?
Did the positioning of each person (interviewer and interviewee) allow for a good interview?
Any other questions that might make your interview more powerful?

Pre Production/ Lesson 21

T: In your production groups, please select two people to participate in a mock interview. Take out your Making a Plan Sheet and choose one of the interview subjects you listed in the first lesson on interviewing. Role Play and one person will be the HATC interviewer and the other person is the interviewee. Interviewees: remember to think like the interviewee and how that person may be nervous, how they may drop clues or addtl info that could lead to a follow up question by the interviewer and more. Interviewers: Listen carefully so this is a natural flow and dialogue. And Remember Coles and Darion’s Tips! Time to Practice!

Interviews: If there are questions listed, use those or use questions from the required list to get you started. Remember, we are practicing tips today for good interviews!

T: The remaining members of the team will listen to the interview and once done should provide feedback on the interview. You may use the following questions to guide your evaluation of the interview and they are also listed on Your Making a Plan sheet for easy reference.

Was there enough pause during speaking turns?
Did the interviewer have a relationship with the interviewee that supported the interview? Did it feel authentic?
Did the positioning of each person (interviewer and interviewee) allow for a good interview?
Any other questions that might make your interview more powerful?

T: Interviewer and Interviewee: you have 3 minutes to conduct your interview. Others listen in and be prepared to give feedback. Go!

[If possible, have 2 pair of students in each team practice using 2 different sets of questions; if you would like to extend this to one more day, please do so and add in an extra practice day and discuss the interview tips and tricks more in depth - see below]

TIPS AND TECHNIQUES FOR GOOD INTERVIEWS

1. How to Prepare for an Interview

•Always prepare your questions in advance. Write them down. You don’t have to follow the written questions, but it’s good to have them as a guide for your interview or a reminder of what you wanted to ask.

•Always ask questions that will result in answers that are complete sentences or ideas.

•For Example: Never ask questions that can be answered by saying either Yes or No.

•Ask questions that start with "Why do you like..."

•Ask questions that start with "How do you think that happened..."

•Ask questions that start with "What was the reason..."

2. How to Conduct a Good Interview

•Be a good listener. Listen closely to your interviewee's answers. Make eye contact. Try to have a conversation rather than just asking a list of questions. People respond better to someone who truly listens to them, not someone who asks one question and moves onto the next one with-out hearing the answer. Stay quiet because you don’t want your voice or movements “stepping on” their answers.

(EXTRA TIP: Ask your interviewer to use some of your question in their answer to avoid half-sentence responses or answers that begin with because)

•Make sure that the person you are interviewing waits to start answering the questions until after you finish asking the question. There must be a space of silence between your questions and their answers.

•Make sure that you wait to ask a question until the person you are interviewing is finished talking.

•Always respond non-verbally to the person you are interviewing while they are talking. Avoid saying "Uh huh," "yeah," "OK," etc. Maintain eye contact and nod but avoid responding as you would in a regular conversation unless you want your response to be part of the documentary.

(15 minutes)

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Engaging Strategies

Finalizing the Interview

Complete your final interview list
Make your interview schedule (Interviews may be scheduled starting the week of_____________)
Determine how you will contact your interview subjects to finalize a date and time for the 5-8 minute interview (email, text, in person, phone call)

Pre Production/ Lesson 22

Materials: Making a Plan Sheet:https://s3.amazonaws.com/cwktv.content/HATC/HATC_Year_2/HATC+Making+a+Plan+HATC.pdf Interview Schedule:https://s3.amazonaws.com/cwktv.content/HATC/HATC_Year_2/HATC+Interview+Schedule+and+Interview+Tips.pdf

T: In today’s lesson we will work on finalizing the interviews for your documentary. This will include using the Interview subjects and questions and Interview schedule and tips sheet to complete your final interview list and to make your interview schedule. Your interview schedule is a proposed draft as you must check with the interview subject first on what time he/she is available. These interviews will need to be conducted during this class period. So plan accordingly.

[NOTE: ENSURE STUDENTS KNOW TO SCHEDULE THEIR INTERVIEWS TO START NO SOONER THAN A WEEK OUT AT THIS POINT TO ENSURE ALL PRE-PRODUCTION ITEMS ARE COMPLETED, INCLUDING PRODUCTION ROLE ASSIGNMENTS. EACH TEACHER WILL DELIVER LESSONS AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN TIME SO YOU WILL NEED TO PROVIDE A DATE FOR APPROXIMATE INTERVIEWS TO BEGIN, i.e. “Interviews should be scheduled the week of________”]

Please note that the Tips and Tricks for selecting good interview subjects and tips to use when you are interviewing are located on both documents. Ready to review at anytime. Make adjustments to your subjects and questions if needed and these are due to be completed today.

T: First read over the Tips and Tricks at the bottom of the Interview Schedule. Do so silently. Discuss in your teams if needed.

T: Now you are going to work in parallel tracks on finishing up interviews. First the Schedule: 1-2 team members work on the schedule and list the subjects (you need 2-4). You will be responsible for scheduling these for your team and it most likely will need to be done during this period as your team is together at this time. The confirmed schedule is due by the next lesson, lesson 23! You will need to contact your subjects outside of this class so make plans to do so. Ok?

Remember, it takes time to ensure your equipment is on point, including lighting and audio. Audio has to be turned up and the mic facing in the correct direction (toward the speaker!), don’t shoot in the sun, and let your interview subject know they need to plan on 15 minutes with you for the 5-8 minute interview.

T: While 1-2 team members are working on the schedule, the others on the team are finishing writing the 5 questions for each interview subject. This is important so give it your best effort.

T: This is how we will finish the day and I’ll come around to check progress and give guidance. Get going!

(25 minutes)

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Self-Awareness

Self-Management

Social-Awareness

Relationship Skills

Responsible Decision-Making

CASEL 5 Competencies

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) FOCUS

Self-Awareness - Involves the ability to recognize one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior.

Self-awareness involves accurately assessing one’s strengths and limitations, having a well-grounded sense of confidence and optimism, and having a growth mindset.

Pre Production/ Lesson 22

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Engaging Strategies

Mirror Exercise

Objective - Promote self-reflection and self-acceptance by looking at yourself and expressing positive affirmations.

Hold up a mirror or open the camera on your ChromeBook facing you - look at your reflection for two minutes.

Write down 3 positive affirmations about yourself on a piece of paper.

Share your affirmations with a partner or the class.

Pre Production/ Lesson 22

[First, talk with students about the concept of self-image and the importance of positive self-talk].

T: For this activity, each person should hold up a mirror or open the camera on their ChromeBook showing your face (give 2 minutes to get items out and ready). Now take 2 minutes to and look at your reflection. What good things do you know about this person you are looking at - beyond the physical. Next, write down three positive affirmations about yourself on a piece of paper (ex; I am kind, I am capable, I am creative, etc.).

T: Select a partner from your Production Team and share your affirmations.

T: Once you have shared with your partner, then you will select a new partner and each share again.

[Do as many rounds as time permits, cross-sharing with other production teams if desired]

(15 minutes)

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Reflective Closure

Pre Production/ Lesson 22

Consider the affirmations that were shared today.

How can positive self-talk impact self-esteem and confidence?