rebecca

 

All of you should have received approval on your graded  proposal. Please go in and see my comments before you proceed. You might  need to make some changes before you put the interview in place. 

This  week you are creating a plan with questions. I want you to design  questions will inspire your interviewee to open up and share  honestly. Here are some things you need to keep in mind:

1.  Create questions that put them at ease, not make them defensive.

Examples:

What is a positive aspect of your culture that is a favorite of yours and why? [good] 

Is there something that makes you cringe about your culture that I should know about? [bad] 

1. Work  toward the final question that gets them to reveal what it is about  their culture that we need to be aware of since “we” are from another  culture.
2. Leave room for them to expand on their answer – don’t create “yes”/ “no” questions or you will have little to report. 

Can  you remember a time when someone wasn’t sensitive to your culture and  that made communication awkward? If yes, can you share what happened? [good]

Did someone ever offend you from another culture when trying to communicate with you? [bad] 

 

Rebecca Felton

Prof. Boyer
Cultural Communications
April 5, 2026

Interview Proposal

Person:
I plan to  interview a parent from my childcare center, Ms. Linh Tran. She is  someone I have known for several years through my daycare business. She  brings her child daily, and over time we have built a respectful  relationship. As a childcare owner for the past 15 years, I have worked  with many families, but Ms. Tran stood out to me because of how  intentional she is about raising her child with her cultural values  while also adapting to life here.

Culture:
Ms. Tran is  originally from Vietnam, and her upbringing is rooted in strong family  structure, respect for elders, and discipline in children. In her  culture, children are expected to show a high level of respect and  obedience, and family decisions are often made with everyone in mind,  not just the individual. As an African American woman, I was raised with  strong family values as well, but there is more emphasis on  independence and allowing children to express themselves freely. Another  difference I have noticed is communication style. She tends to be more  reserved and thoughtful in how she speaks, while I am more open and  direct. These differences have always stood out to me while working with  her and her child.

Answer:
When I asked Ms.  Tran about the interview, she was quiet at first and said she wanted to  think about it. I understood that and gave her time without pressure.  The next day when she came to pick up her child, she let me know she was  willing to do it. She said she appreciated being asked and felt  comfortable since we already had a level of trust. Her response showed  me how important it is to be patient and respectful when approaching  someone from a different background.

How:
We agreed to sit down and talk at my  childcare center after hours once all the children are picked up. That  way, we are both in a familiar space where she feels comfortable. I will  take notes during the conversation, and if she is okay with it, I may  record it on my phone just to make sure I do not miss anything. I will  confirm everything with her once I receive approval.