ABSTRACT
This chapter assumes project planners have already completed the sequence of steps which lay the groundwork for the interviewing phase of a project. It discusses pre-interview tasks and shows how thorough work at this stage will greatly improve the quality of oral history interviews. The chapter explains develop background research materials for interviewers and create a timeline for the project's focus as appropriate and also identify potential interviewees and contact them about the project. Training project interviewers is critical to the success of an oral history project. The chapter suggests workshop agenda for training community oral history interviewers. Ideally, all interviewers are people who can pleasantly engage with someone who may be a stranger. Finally, understand the importance of training workshops addressing issues related to cross-cultural communications in the broadest sense. Interviewers who have been appropriately trained will understand that social, cultural, and personal differences may set them apart from their interviewees.
