Language in Use 235-236
Like J8, this unit is concerned with how people interact in a given situiation.
In this unit, however, the focus is on the way in which the form of a question
determines the possible range of answers. Its aim is to show how the television
interviewer uses this basic fact of language to control the course of an interview.
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[1] In preparation for this unit, the class need to have watched recently
a number of television interviews. The aim of this session is to get the class
to decide on a list of headings for making a report on television interviews.
They might include such things as:
(a) the context, that is the programme in which it occurred, and its assumed
audience
(b) the identity and status of the subject of the interview, including his role,
e.g. eye-witness, expert
(c) identity, status, role of interviewer
(d) setting, i.e. live or filmed, scripted or impromptu, etc.
(e) relationship between interviewer and interviewee.
[2] For this session, the class need to have watched at least one interview with the headings from [1] in mind. In discussion, build up on the board a profile of what the class finds typical in the interviews they have watched. The focus should be upon the part played in the interviews by the features listed in [1]. In particular, the kinds of question asked should be considered and their effect in the total context of the interviews examined. It is useful if at least some of the class have watched the same interview, as disagreements about the effect of particular ways of questioning can prove very fruitful in discussion.
[3] The aim of this session is to make use of the insight so far gained by asking the class, working in groups, to prepare and present short television interviews. After they have been presented, the class should consider how effective they were and how well the interviewer achieved his objective. There should be specific reference to the headings worked out in session [1]. In particular, the class should watch for any case where the person interviewed succeeds in running the interview the way he wants it and consider how he is able to do this.