Saturday, November 12, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Interview 2
Interview #2
ENGLISH191
Interviewer: Zhu Xian
Interviewee: Ileys Osman
Preparation of Interview
This is my second interview; I still used the first interview’s twelve questions. I wanted the same questions in both interviews with people from different countries, so that not only can we clearly understand different cultural characteristics in various countries, we also can summarize their same points. This time I interviewed people from Somalia. There is still war there, so before my interview, I had been concerned about Somali news and also searched some Somali information from the internet. I especially participated in the cultural night about Somalia last semester at the Atwood Center. The show was wonderful for me and was very fresh. I also tasted some Somali food. The Somali night gave me a deep impression and I still remember it clearly. So I have already known something about Somali’s culture, education, food, as well as the current situation. With this basic groundwork information, we would not be embarrassed during the interview. In this second interview, I chose a girl because I thought it was easier for me to talk with girls. Girls also have many similar habits that will make our communication become more intimate. Before the interview, I sent the questions of the interview to her on Facebook. Because I wanted her to know what kind of questions there were before I met her just like the last time I did the preparation. Although she is from Somalia, she has lived in the United States for 18 years, so she usually speech is like a naturalize American. I don’t want to miss any information so I prepared a record this time. For the interview, I printed off two copies of all my questions and I gave one to her when we met and I kept one myself.
Personal review
The interviewee is one of my friends and we have known each other since last semester. Both of us took SOC 268 last semester. We both sat together and often did homework after class. Her major is Ethnic Studies and this is her third year. She has one more year to graduate; she told me that she would stay here after graduation and become a graduate student. Racism is still the mainstream of societies problems and she would like to see an era of peace. Her home country still has one of the most harsh living conditions and she would like for her home country to make some contributions.
Process description
We had the interview in the library on October 7, 2011, at 6:00 p.m. We reserved a study room on the third floor. So we could have more space to communicate and not disturb others. Because I already did an interview once, this second interview let me accumulate some experiences. During the interview, I put the key word and the major record information below each question. Sometimes she said a word I didn’t understand. She would explaining to me patiently. During this interview, the process was very formal until we finish all of the questions.
Describe the interview
This is my second interview; compared to the first interview, this time I did more preparation. The main preparation of this interview was that I paid more attention to this country’s background. My interview questions were all related with education, government and family. However in Somalia, war still exists. This country’s education and government are not very mature. I know that the background information in my interview process and the interview summary is my job to describe and record, and not judge. For the interview, the most important thing is the interview preparation. For example, a few days before the interview I sent the questions to my interviewee. It not only can save time, but also can make the answer more clear. For sure, this interview let me know more about Somalia because before that, Somalia only gave me the impression of pirates off the coast Somalia. After this interview, I think Somalia is actually a very friendly country; we should give more help to this country. Also, Somali’s spirit is worth our admiration. There is a thing that makes Somali people proud of their country; how there were one people, one language, and one religion. It’s really hard to find a country speaking and practicing one religion.
Country report
Somalia, (1) “officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country’s territory. The internationally recognized Transitional Federal Government controls only a small part of the country. Somalia has been characterized as a failed state and is one of world.”
Geography:
(2)”Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian.
Ocean: east of Ethiopia
Coordinates: 1000 N, 4900 E
Total Area: 637,657 sq km
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north
Climate: is principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall
Natural Resources: uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, sait, natural gas, like oil reserves”
Economic: (3)”according to the CIA and the Central Bank of Somalia, despite experiencing civil unrest, Somalia has maintained a healthy informal economy, based mainly on livestock, remittance/money transfer companies and telecommunications. Due to a dearth of formal government statistics and the recent civil war, it is difficult to gauge the size or growth of the economy. For 1994, the CIA estimated the GDP at 3.3 billion. In 2001, it was estimated to be 4.1 billion. By 2009, the CIA estimated that the GDP had grown to 5.731 billion, with a projected real growth rate of 2.6%. According to a 2007 British Chambers of Commerce report, the private sector also grew, particularly in the service sector. Unlike the precivil war period when most services and the industrial sector were government-run, there has been substantial, albeit unmeasured, private investment in commercial activities: this has been largely financed by the Somali diaspora, and includes trade and marketing, money transfer services, transportation communications, fishery equipment, airlines, telecommunications, education, health.”
Sources:
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalia
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Interview
Interview #1
ENGLISH191
Interviewer: Zhu Xian
Interviewee: Chen chen
After long consideration, I decided my first interview is on China as the topic; although I am an international student from China, but China has vast territories and abundant resources; each area has their own cultural characteristics. I come from the southern of China, but this time I interviewed someone come from the north of China. After this interview I hope not only to expand my own knowledge of Chinese northward culture and understanding of all aspects, can also show the China’s different region culture characteristics to the readers. In all questions, there are a few simple personal questions I already know about her, but I am prepared according to the normal process of interview to make it more formal, for example the interview’s name, as well as her home country. Because different people have different backgrounds, it will result in different answers. Those factors including family, age, school etc. My first interviewee is older than me, I usually call her sister when we meet each other, so I was guess for this question “ Tell me one thing that makes you proud of your country?”, the answer is likely to be the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997, or the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. For me, the answer should be 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the reason is since 1997 Hong Kong returns to China, and I was a little girl that would not so remember. The next question for her is about the food. There are big differences between south China and north China, people from the south like to eat rice and spicy foods, northerners like to eat noodles. I grew up in the south, when I travel to north China, the food I eat is all from the tourist recommendations. However, through this interview, I would like to know what kind of food the true north resident’s love and recommend. So before the interview I searched internet to find some foods from the north, for her certification. In order to make this interview smooth, when I was made appointment with her, I not only told her the interview time and the place, but also make a simple description of the interview, to save our time. On the interview, I printed off two copies of all my questions, I gave one to her when we met and I kept one myself.
Personal review
The interviewee she and my best friend come from the same place, I know her through my friend. She came to SCSU in 2008; her major is Teaching English as a Second Language. Now she is working on a master’s degree. During the summer holiday she will as a teacher teach international students English in IEC.
Process description
We have the interview in the library on 10/05/2011 at 2:00pm. We sit on first floor of the library. It is really quit and we will not disturb others. We meet each other first and start to have the interview. We both speak Chinese during our interview; because it’s easy to understand, so I can record her answer conveniently. I put the key words and the major record information below each question. When I came back home and finished translation, I met some words which I don’t know how to translate, I will call to ask her, because her major is English, she can help me to solve these problems.
Describe the Interview
I thought this is a really good interview. Also this is the first time that I have an interview with someone. To prepare the material from the beginning of interview appointment to the last interview, all the work is very formal according to the form. Also, the interviewee is really nice to me. She answered all of my questions and told me all her ideas. I can feel that everything she told me is the real feeling that she had. When I go back home to put all pieces of information together, something confused me, I ask for her help, she is very enthused. In this interview, I know more specific characters about north China, and know that people who are older than me how to look at her own country. I like to interview people because I can learn a lot of things from them. Also interviews can make me more confident; I know how to communicate with people very harmoniously. This not only can enrich my knowledge, but also improve my communication skills.
Interview transcription
Course: English 191
Interviewer: Zhu Xian
Interviewee: Chen Chen, Chinese
Time: 2:00pm, October 5th at first floor of the library
Xian: Good afternoon, how are you?
Chen: Good afternoon, I’m fine, and you?
Xian: I’m good. How’s going for this semester?
Chen: I am not as busy as last semester, because I just take 2 courses. How about you?
Xian: I am busy this semester, because I have 5 courses. There all need to write lots of paper.
Chen: Take it easy, you will be fine.
Xian: Thank you. Ok, can we start to the interview?
Chen: Yes, let’s start.
Xian: although we already know each other, let us do the formal interview. What is your name?
Chen: My name is Chen Chen.
Xian: where are you from?
Chen: I from north of China, the city called Tianjin.
Xian: Can you describe a little bit more about your hometown?
Chen: Sure. My hometown Tianjin which just next to the capital city of China-Beijing, it’s the economy and shipping center in the north of China. The climate is very comfortable; summer is the best season to travel here.
Xian: Oh, so it is the seaport city.
Chen: Yes, it is the seaport city.
Xian: The third question is please describing the education system of your country?
Chen: In my country before age7, kid go to pre-school, from age 7-12 elementary school, from age 13-15 junior high school, from age 16-18 senior high school, from 19-22 is university.
Xian: At age7, kids go to pre-school is kindergarten?
Chen: Yes, in American called kindergarten.
Xian: How has your culture influenced your people/family values?
Chen: People get influences from the subculture when they grow up, but people in China share similar views of values.
Xian: What is the form of government in your country?
Chen: Communist Party of China.
Xian: Tell me one thing that makes you proud of your country?
Chen: The diversity of Chinese culture.
Xian: Yes, China has 5000 years history, different period the culture is totally different and brightness.
Chen: the culture of China is colorful.
Xian: What places/sites would you recommend to tourists?
Chen: It depends on various preferences. There are many beautiful sightseeing in different urban and suburb areas in China.
Xian: I am from the south China and you from the north. Would you please recommend one place which located north China?
Chen: Sure, if you go to the north China, the capital city Beijing you should go to travel it. There are many old building. Of course, lots of people know Beijing. Except Beijing, you should go to Inner Mongolia. Because here is the vast prairie.
Xian: Can we ride the horses on the grassland?
Chen: Of course you can, here prepared many training horses for the tourists. It is very safe.
Xian: Oh I see, I like horse.
Chen: Most people go to Inner Mongolia and ride the horse. It can relax them.
Xian: What festivals do you celebrate in your country?
Chen: Based on the lunar calendar, we celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival, Labor Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-autumn Day, National Day, and New Year.
Xian: What’s the weather like in your hometown?
Chen: My hometown has significant season. It’s not too hot in the summer and not too cold in the winter.
Xian: Not as cold as here, I like the weather in your hometown. You know in the south of China, there are too hot during the summer.
Chen: You should come to north during the summer, especially in Tianjin, where near the sea, so it’s really comfortable.
Xian: Yeah, next time I back China, I should recommend my parents all go to north for travel during the summer.
Chen: I t will be really nice, because you also can go to Haerbing, where you also can see the ornamental ice sculptures.
Xian: Really? We can watch the ornamental ice sculptures on the summer?
Chen: Sure, Haerbing is famous as the ornamental ice sculptures, especially on the winter.
Xian: You make me so exciting now.
Chen: Me too, I am homesick.
Xian: Hahaha, we also can enjoy the snow here. Right?
Chen: Yeah, plenty snow here.
Xian: What is a type of sport in your country?
Chen: Soccer, Ping-Pong, swim, gymnastics, and basketball are the popular sports in China.
Xian: Especially ping-pong. Lots of Chinese people are good at ping-pong. How about you?
Chen: Yes, I learn a little bit when I was a little girl. But I still remember some skills; I just need time to use it.
Xian: OK, next time we can play it together. Next question is what’s traditional food in your country?
Chen: Chinese food has a variety of choices depending on the regions. Dumplings and noodles are very popular in north China.
Xian: Oh, dumplings and noodles. How often you eat them? Because in the south we usually eat rice. Rice is our main food.
Chen: Like rice is your main food, dumplings and noodles are our main food too. We usually eat Xiancai with dumplings and noodles.
Xian: Do you eat spicy food?
Chen: No, I can’t eat spicy food. Our food taste sweet.
Xian: Dabing is famous in your hometown? Because I search the internet, they said north people like Dabing.
Chen: Actually this is a mistake; most people had asked me this question. Dabing is popular at the old period, because the people are not rich, no food to eat, and they have to work every whole day. So they eat Dabing to appease his hunger. Because the weight of the Dabing is very big, people can eat a full day. But nowadays people’s life is getting better and better, so less people will eat it oftently.
Xian: Oh, so Dabing has a specific function in the past.
Chen: Yes.
Xian: Thank you, I thought Dabing is popular in the north.
Chen: It is popular, but in the past.
Xian: Now people will eat Dabing to memorize the past.
Chen: Yes.
Xian: Ok, our last question is what do most women do after they get married in your country? (House wife, working)
Chen: Nowadays, most women have to work 40 hours a week as men do. Men and women share equal responsibilities of housework.
Xian: Yes, I agree that, and I think in most country men and women share equal share responsibilities of housework.
Chen: Yes. This is related with the social development and social systems.
Xian: OK, I think we finished all the questions, thank you so much. It’s really glad to interview you.
Chen: You are welcome. If you have any problem about the translation just let me know.
Xian: Ok, thank you.
Country report:
As is well known to us all,China is one of four ancient and civilizational countries in the world. In fact ,It has a more long history than we have ever known. Because of this, many ancient architectures and all sorts of historical books are often found in different places in china . In china ,It's easier for you to find a person than you can in any countries.that is,China has the largest number of population on the Earth,which,however,also puts great burden on our country.
There are fifty-six peoples in our country.We get along well with each other and often disasters can draw us more together. besides, chinese food is very famous for its good tast and nutrition. many people in other countries are fond of it and try their best to cook it.Every year,plenty of foreigners from different countries come china to have a sightseeing.here you can look around lots of places of interest.
I really hope our country will become more and more flourishing and pople will live a happier and happier life.
Geography:
(1)"the People's Republic of China is the second lagest country in the world by land area after Russia and is either the third or forth largest by total area, after Russia, Canada and, depending on the definition of total area, the United States."
North China
(2)"It is defined by the Chinese government to include the municipalities of Beijing and Tianjin, the provinces of Heibei and Shanxi, and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Beijing also known as Peiking is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world. With a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China’s laegest state-owned companies. The metropolis, located in northern China, borders Heibei province to the north, west, south, and a small section to the east, and Tianjin Municipality to the southeast.Governed as a municipality under the direct administration of the national government. Beijing is divided into 14 urban and suburban districts and two rural counties. It is a major transportation hub, with dozens of railways, roads and motorways passing through the city, and the destination of many international flights to China."
Source:
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Topic: Subject Guides --Geography
Group 2, Chen Hanqiong , Brice, Shen JiaLun, Zhu Xian.
I will introduce the easy way about how to find the exactly location you want to find in the map, and present the difinition about the human/ physical geography.Find Facts, Definitions, Overviews
(1)Collins World Atlas Gazetter
The Collins World Atlas Gazetteer features 90,000 locations. The maps are presented in a highly accessible style and provide comprehensive coverage of the world.
(2)Dictionary of Human Geography
Guide to the concepts, terms and theories used in human geography.
(3)Dictionary of Physical Geography
This comprehensive dictionary covers the whole field of physical geography includes coverage of geomorphology, climatology, biogeography, hydrology, the Quaternary and the human impact.
(4)Geography of the world
Details each country's physical geography, people, climate, culture, and landscape.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)