UIC Tutorium in Intensive English

Advanced Pronunciation Skills - Fall 2014

Day 13

IN-CLASS INTERVIEW
Time: 5-10 minutes (maximum)
Scenario:
A National Public Radio interview in which a talk show host interviews a person about an
interesting, controversial or emerging issue
Roles:
Each student will play the role of the interviewee and the interviewer during the course of this
round-robin role play.
Student #1: Interviewee
Chooses a topic about which she/he feels strongly and can make a persuasive case or an
issue/topic that she/he feels the audience would like to know about.
Works with the interviewer to develop the flow of the interview prior to the actual
presentation in class.
Prepares answers to various questions that can be anticipated during the interview and
also prepares for any questions from the audience.
Student #2:
Interviewer
Uses questions to elicit information from the person being interviewed about the subject,
including questions of clarification. The interviewers goal: that the radio audience
understands the position of the person being interviewed or the subject the person being
interviewed is discussing.
Works with the interviewee to develop the flow of the interview prior to the actual
presentation in class.
Invites members of the audience to ask questions of the interviewer.
Skills:

Introducing self, the topic, the interviewee, and that persons interest/expertise in this area.
Asking and answering questions (and even interrupting, if needed) always using appropriate
intonation.
Making an argument or describing an emerging or important situation, event, or process.
Using stress and intonation including appropriate thought groups and emphasis of focus
words to make a case about an important issue

Teams:

Shuyi interviews Emma

Emma interviews Phu
Phu interviews Jenny
Jenny interviews Yoshitomo
Yoshitomo interviews Shuyi

UIC Tutorium in Intensive English

Advanced Pronunciation Skills - Fall 2014
Day 13

Before class on November 11:

(1) Listen to one of the following interviews (from NPR). Note the pattern of give and take between
interviewer and interviewee. Also note the speakers intonation: how they use pauses, stress, and
intonation/pitch to make their points or to highlight information they think is important to their listeners.

http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=357194775&m=3572
33550 (0:00 - 4:30)
One Feminist Critic's Battle With Gaming's Darker Side
October 18, 2014 This week, Anita Sarkeesian, known for her series
critiquing the portrayal of women in video games, canceled a talk at Utah
State University after the school received a threat of a mass shooting.

http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=353269811&m=3541
06624&live=1 (at least 0:00 5:47)
All Tech Considered: How The Cold War And George Orwell
Helped Make The Internet What It Is
October 6, 2014 In The Innovators, Walter Isaacson explains that
Pentagon officials wanted a system the Russians couldn't attack,
and 1984 made the public wary of new technology's Big Brother
potential.

http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=351545257&m=3533
03124&live=1
Sting: How Do You Get Over Writer's Block?
October 3, 2014 After a nasty bout of writer's block that stretched on
for nearly a decade, Sting found inspiration by channeling the stories of
the shipyard workers he knew from his childhood.

(2) Choose a topic that you want to be interviewed on and come to class prepared to
talk to your partner about the flow of the interview.
November 11

(1) In-class review of what you learned about roles from listening to interviews and what elements you
are going to apply to your own role playing.
(2) In-class work to prepare for two roles: that of interviewee and interviewer.

Between Classes (November 11-November 13):

(1) Prepare to be interviewed, working on vocabulary to express your point, plus practicing for easy
response for anticipated questions.
(2) Clarify any remaining issues with your partners by e-mail.

November 13: INTERVIEWS!