Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Review of interview 1

My scorecard

The best interview:

Toure, Mohamed L. http://en191fl12s28mohamedto.blogspot.com/  I give 20 pionts to that interview.

He did well in preparation. He sepreate his tasks into 2 steps that clearly told us what he did before he take that interview. The whole blog presentation is organized, especially the Country report which shows the country that interviewee comes from. I can learn much through this interview. Also, he did well in deatiled all the conversation which makes me feel real, and we can see how confortable between interviewee and interviewer. I would like to see that picture which didn't come up.

The second best interview:

Carroll-Anderson, Nicholas S. http://en191f12s28nickca.blogspot.com/ I give 19 points to that interview.

He also did very well in preparation. I give 19 points because he has the longest inverview transcription. Although I didn't read all words, I can see he had a good period with his interviewee. Maybe he can put some picture in his blog which can catch reader's eyes.

The third best interview:

Alnawmasi, Sultan F http://en191f12s28alnawmasi.blogspot.com/ I give 18 points to that interview.

I like the country report in this interview. Although he didn't have the whole interview transcription and detailed all words, he has the new format which decribe what he had in interview conversation.

First interview

My first interview

Interview preparation

      I began my first interview right after I came back from Lutens. There were only 3 days left before the due time of first interview. I was a little worried. I sent emails to several people to check whether they have time to be my interviewee. Finally, Janvier Byiringiro agreed to be my interviewee. We decided the time and place for the interview. Before the interview, I download a software to my phone for recording. I brought a note book, pens, computer and my phone to the library when we meet. We started our interview at 2:10 p.m. on Monday.

How did you approach people?
Since Janvier and I were classmates in ESL lesson last semester, our conversation was just like a normal chat.

When, where, and how did you Conduct the Interview?
We started our interview at 4:10 p.m. on Monday, at my apartment.

Interview report

      The whole interview went very well. We talked a lot about Africa. I just know about Africa very little before. Africa is a mysterious area to me. After the interview, I knew a lot about Africa and the interview corrected some of my misunderstandings about Africa. I am so interested in African culture. I may go to Africa for travelling if I have chance. Janvier is a nice person. He answered each questions patiently. It was a pity that the interview had to be stopped after 30 minutes because Janvier had a work to do.

Country report

Rwanda is a country in central and eastern Africa. The population is about 11.4 million. Rwanda is a very small country. It’s more peaceful than some parts of the Africa which we saw from the news that have wars. 
Republic is in charge of the country. Most people are Christian and they celebrate Christmas.
The children’s life is regular. They do have many homework to do. They do not feel stressful until they enter high school. They start their school at 6. The only difference is that every students need to go home for lunch. T
he main transportation is taxi, motors and bus. They used to ride bicycles. 
There are much tranditional food in Rwanda such as Isombe and Fufu. 
The most popular sports in Rwanda is soccer. Almost every one likes it.





The main resources of Rwanda are Fish catch, Oil production and reserves and livestock resources.
Schools are run by the state and by Christian missions. Primary education is officially compulsory, but only 78% of children attended in 1997; just 12% go on to secondary schooling. 
Rwanda has a network of 34 hospitals and 188 health centers. At the end of 2001, 9% of the population was estimated to be HIV-positive.
Traditional arts and crafts are produced throughout the country, although most originated as functional items rather than purely for decoration. Woven baskets and bowls are especially common.




REFERENCE

Transcript

Yanjun: Let’s get started. Hi I am Yanjun Li, thanks for being my interviewee. Where are you from, Janvier?

Janvier: I am from Rwanda.

Yanjun: Oh, I know it. Would you please spell it to me? Sorry for that.

Janvier: That’s OK. R-W-A-N-D-A. It’s in the central of Africa.

Yanjun: In the central of Africa?

Janvier: Yes.

Yanjun:  What kind of government is in charge of your home country?

Janvier: Republic.

Yanjun:  How did it affect your life and how has democracy in America been a change?

Janvier: I would say ,for me, the government right now is fine. I have possible things to do, so I feel ok. It has fixed to my life. I would say I have good education. I am able to plan a business and then make it work in my home country. I do not know about democracy in America, it works fine. Things in America are pretty good.

Yanjun: ok. Well, when we watch the news, we can often see that there was a disorder in Africa and some wars took place in Africa.

Janvier: Right now, it ok now. Things are going well.

Yanjun: Are guns allowed in your country? When we watch news, we can see  some Africans carrying guns in their hands.

Janvier: No, we do not have wars. You are not allowed to have a gun if you do not have a permit. It does not mean everywhere.

Yanjun: So your country is peaceful by comparing to other areas?

Janvier: Yes, there is no way to carry a gun. We don’t need to.

Yanjun: OK? Can you describe a typical day for a child in your country?

Janvier: I would say, most of , how I grew up, wake up , have breakfast, go to school, then go back home for lunch and then go to school again, come back around 5, then play with my friends. We eat, like, around 7, then go to sleep.

Yanjun: You don’t have homework?

Janvier: Sometimes, not always.

Yanjun: Every one need to go home for lunch? Do the school provide lunch for studens?

Janvier: No, school does not provide food. Every one have to go home.

Yanjun: What religious holidays or other cultural events do you or others celebrate; can you explain your traditions for each?

Janvier: It depends on which religion you are in. For my home country, we mostly celebrate Christmas.

Yanjun: So, are you a Christian?
Janvier: Yes, I am a Christian.

Yanjun: Do you read Bible every day?

Janvier: No, if I could, I would. Sometimes, I am lazy.

Yanjun:  Do you have any daily rituals in regards to your religious beliefs?

Janvier: No, it depends on you.

Yanjun: What are the typical greetings in your culture and what do they mean?

Janvier: We say hello to others.

Yanjun: Do you speak French?

Janvier: Yes, we speak French. We have native language also. We have 4 languages.

Yanjun: Wow, that’s cool. What different modes of transportation are used in your country?

Janvier: The main one is taxi. Motor, bus also. In the past, people rode bicycles, but now, kind of no.

Yanjun: I heard that women can not drive a car in Africa?

Janvier: That’s not true.

Yanjun: Or in Arab countries?

Janvier: Yep, in Arab countries.

Yanjun: Which country`s food do you like the most?

Janvier: Here?

Yanjun: Yes, here.

Janvier: It depends. Sometimes I eat Chinese food and Mexican food because they have rice. Rice is the main food in Africa.

Yanjun: You don’t like American food?

Janvier: No, it’s always fast food and I do not like it.
 
Yanjun: Which kind of food do you like most in your country?

Janvier: We have a lot of food. We have Isombe and Fufu?

Yanjun: Can you spell it to me?

Janvier: I-s-o-m-b-e, F-u-f-u. They are made with rice.

Yanjun: What’s the famous sports in your country? Soccer?

Janvier: Yes, everyone like soccer but I don’t like it. I play basketball. Most people like soccer.

Yanjun: I go to the stadium almost every day to play basketball, I never saw you before.

Janvier: Yes, I never saw you too. That’s strange. Maybe we may meet someday.

 Yanjun: At what age do you start school?

Janvier: 6.

Yanjun: Do you feel stressful in school?

Janvier: It depends on what you usually do. When you grow up, kind of. It’s fine, not so stressful. But during high school it’s really really stressful.

Yanjun: What could SCSU do to make your stay on campus better?

Janvier: I would say it’s better to provide more events and more international foods for international students.

Yanjun: Mm, that’s all. Thank you so much.

Janvier: You are welcome. Do you have class next?

Yanjun: Yep,  at 6.

Janvier: I have to go to work right now. See you tomorrow.

Yanjun: See you. Thanks again.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Find the book


My classmate Jonathan just pulled out a random book which title is “How to talk Minnesotan: A visitor’s Guide”. He was automatically interested because he as an international student, he wanted to accommodate himself to country. I pick the first sentence from page 15 which is: "The Minnesota Salad is an appetizing complement to any hot dish and is composed of Jell-O in any flavor, miniature colored marshmallows, canned fruit cocktail, and a generous dollop of cool whip on top" (1)

My classmate Elena chose the book named “Loud and Clear: How to prepare and deliver effective business and technical presentations”. Because she wants to be a successful businesswoman, then she found this book might helpful for her future. “A costly plan of action may prove to be the ideal solution in given situation"(2)

"For instance, the foreign aid appropriations legislation for 1991 declared in part that the purpose of DFA was "to help the poor majority of men and women in sub-Saharan Africa to participate in process of long-term development through economic growth that is equitable, participatory, environmentally sustainable, and self-reliant.""(3) It picked from my classmate Loris’s book which named “U.S. Economic Policy Toward Africa”. It also grab my attention. American aid had been mostly the strategic action to rebuild the economy of Africa. However, the policies of U.S. Economy were not really approved.

"One of the greatest and most persistent themes in mythology is cosmogony-an explanation for the creation and maintenance of the universe."(4) My classmate Hassan interested in Greek and Roma culture. It also attracted me so much.

Mostafa was enjoying reading about Mythologies of the world, so he picked this book. I was also interested in this topic than I star to scan this book. "Many different names have been included in the muster roll of the Argo, the ship sailed by Jason in his quest for the Golden Fleece."(5) This is the first sentence from page 15 that I’d like to show.

Work Cited

(1)Mohr, Howard. (August 4th, 1987). How To Talk Minnesotan: A visitor's Guide. New York, USA: Penguin Group.
(2)Morrisey, G. (April 1997, fourth ed.). Loud and Clear: How to prepare and deliver effective business and technical presentations, New York, USA: Addison-Westly Publishing, Inc.


(3)Herbst, Jeffrey Ira. U.S. Economic Policy Toward Africa. New York, USA, 1992.

(4)Michael McKenzie et al. Mythologies of the World. Italy, 2001.

(5)Kathleen N. Daly. Greek & Roman Mythology A to Z. New York City, USA, 2004.


Five books from classmates

1.http://en191f12s28bingzhe.blogspot.com/
He choose this book because he is interested in his country history.

2.http://shaohuasun.blogspot.com/
The reason why he choose this book is he likes the book that introduces different kinds of sharks.

3.http://shonibaremas19902802.blogspot.com/
The reason of selected this book is it talks about the old story of his country which he never known.

4.http://en191f12s28nickca.blogspot.com/
He likes thrilers and that book is in a section dedicated to being of interest to students. So he brought back from the library.

5.http://yangquen191f12s28.blogspot.com/2012/09/china-in-post-deng-era.html
The title of this book is "CHINA IN THE Post-Deng Era." He likes doing research on Chinese history and Policy so he choose this book which mostly talked about China ruled by Deng XiaoPing in Hongkong 1998.

I find out all of the these five books they are chose due to readers are interested in these topics. I think the interested is the most important element for people to choose the book. They may choose the books which related to their hometown or hobbies only. And the books are in APA style.