Context

Mastering the art of interviewing is a crucial skill, especially in a foreign language like English. An interview is not just a casual conversation, but a structured form of communication where one person asks specific questions and the other answers. This can be in a job context, a journalistic interview, or a research situation.

In the first paragraph, we deal with the essential definition of an interview in English. Now, consider a job interview scenario. Questions can range from "Tell me about yourself" to "What are your strengths and weaknesses?". In another scenario of a journalistic interview, questions can range from "What inspired you to write this book?" to "What challenges did you face while writing it?". Therefore, it is imperative to know the correct vocabulary and phrases to use in English when conducting or participating in an interview.

Mastering these skills not only helps expand vocabulary and improve fluency in English but also prepares students for future situations, such as job interviews in multinational companies, where English is the dominant language. Additionally, the knowledge acquired can be useful in various everyday situations.

In addition to its relevance to academic and professional life, learning how to conduct interviews in English can also cultivate a range of valuable socio-emotional skills in students. This includes time management, active listening ability, the art of formulating relevant questions, proactivity, problem-solving, and creative thinking.

We recommend the following resources to deepen knowledge about interviews in English:

1. BBC Learning English - English at Work
2. British Council - English for the Workplace
3. ESL Library - Job Interviews
4. Cambridge English - Preparing for an Interview

Practical Activity

Activity Title: Immersive Interviews

Project Objective:

To put into practice the knowledge acquired about conducting and participating in interviews in English, as well as to enhance socio-emotional skills such as teamwork, time management, communication, and creative thinking.

Detailed Project Description:

In this project, students will be grouped into teams of 3 to 5 members. Each team must select a topic of interest to its members and conduct a series of interviews in English related to that topic. The topics can vary widely, from hobbies and personal interests to current environmental, scientific, or social issues.

Once the topic is chosen, teams must conduct the necessary research to familiarize themselves with the topic and create a relevant interview question script in English. In addition, teams must identify and contact possible interviewees related to their topic. These may include classmates, family members, community members, teachers, and even experts in the field, if possible, always remembering to conduct the interviews respectfully and professionally.

For each interview, the team must prepare a brief introduction of the interviewee and the interview topic, conduct the interview in English, and then write a summary of the main findings and impressions.

Required Materials:

• Notebook for researching and drafting questions and summaries
• Pen and paper (or computer) to record answers during interviews
• Video camera or audio device to record interviews (optional but recommended for review and practice)

Detailed Step-by-Step for Activity Execution:

1. Form groups of 3 to 5 students.
2. Each group should select a topic of interest and research about it.
3. Develop a list of questions in English for the interviews.
4. Identify possible interviewees and schedule the interviews.
5. Conduct the interviews in English, recording the answers.
6. Transcribe the interviews and write a summary of the main findings and impressions.

The project's duration should be approximately one month, with each student dedicating 5 to 10 hours to complete the work.

At the end of the project, each group must produce a report in English. The report should include:

1. Introduction: Contextualization of the theme and relevance of the interview in English, objective of this project.
2. Development: Detailed description of the methodology used, the questions elaborated, received answers, and discussion on the results obtained. Also include the transcription of the interviews.
3. Conclusion: Recap of the main points, the learnings obtained, the difficulties encountered, the solutions developed, and the conclusions drawn about the project.
4. Bibliography: Indication of the sources used to carry out the project.

This report will be the final project deliverable and will be evaluated considering the quality of teamwork, fluency in conducting interviews in English, relevance of the questions, analysis of the results, and the conclusion drawn.