The first interview
Interview preparation
This is my first interview. About this interview, I want to learn more about different culture. As an international student, I have been studied in the U.S.A. for about two years. I study and live in a brand new country, so I want to know about the American culture. Although I felt great differences between Chinese culture and American culture, I still feel relaxed and exciting here. I decide to choose my interviewee form the United States. My first interviewee named LK. He lives in St. Cloud and he has learned in St. Cloud State University for 2 years. We had a meeting last week before the spring break. I prepared about 10 main questions and reserved a room at the library before. Later, I interview him in that room.
I had a successful interview with LK. We told a lot about differences between two countries. We discuss with this ten questions. He told me lots ofcharacteristic about America. After our interview, I know better about the different aspect of America. In a word, we had a wonderful talking. This is my first interview and I get much experience for the other interviews.
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its forty-eight contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capital district, lie between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The state of Alaska is in the northwest of the continent, with Canada to the east and Russia to the west, across the Bering Strait. The state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific. The country also possesses several territories in the Pacific and Caribbean.
At 3.79 million square miles (9.83 million km2) and with over 312 million people, the United States is the third or fourth largest country by total area, and the third largest by both land area and population. It is one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries. The U.S. economy is the world's largest national economy, with an estimated 2011 GDP of $15.1 trillion. Per capita income is the world's seventh-highest.
Transcript
Hao Xu = H
LK = L
H: Hi, LK.
L: Hello, Hao.
H: How are you today?
L: Not bad.
H: Nice. Let’s start the interview.
L: Alright.
H: Sure. We are all studying in this school and how you choose St. Cloud State University?
L: I was born in St. Cloud and this is the most important reason for me to choose St. Cloud State University. All of my families hope that I can study here because it’s close to home and very convenient. I also hope so. As a result, the dream comes true.
H: Wonderful. What your major?
L: My major is mechanical engineering. This is my second year in the university.
H: How do you choose this major?
L: It’s build on my hobby. I want to be an engineer in the future and I am interested in designing and machine.
H: How is your class going?
L: It’s pretty good. I just finish my exams last week.
H: How about your life on campus?
L: It’s a brand new life. The university life is totally different from high school. I live on campus and I have a lot of friends here including some international students. I come back home about once a month. I have a car and I drive home by myself. I feel comfortable and excited for studying here.
H: It sounds great. And how could SCSU do to make students stay on campus better?
L: I think SCSU has done very well to make students stay on campus. I just think it’s difficult to park sometimes because there are too many cars on campus. So I think if there could have more parking lots, it will become better.
H: Good idea! Is the car as the most common transportation in the America?
L: Sure. Almost most of people have their own car including some university students.
H: When did you start school?
L: I started school at 8 years old. After I graduated from primary school and high school, I went into university school.
H: Are you under a lot of stress in school?
L: I don’t feel too much stress on myself. I think this is only the process of growth. It’s useful for me to learn more knowledge.
H: How about your hobbies? Which sport do you like best?
L: Sport? Absolutely, my favorite sport is American football. I played with my friends each week. I watched the Super Bowl on time every year.
H: Cool. Can you describe famous sports in America?
L: Of course. In the USA, American football and basketball are the most famous sports. We have two famous unions in these two sports. There are NFL and NBA. American people like to watch the games and enjoy them very much.
H: I watch the NBA basketball games sometimes and I like it very much.
L: Really? Sometimes I watch the NBA basketball but actually I watch the NFL games more often.
H: Let’s talk about the food. Which country’s food do you like?
L: American food, of course. Sometimes I will choose to eat Chinese food and Italian food. They are all very delicious.
H: Do you cook by yourself or by other ways?
L: Most of all, I cook by myself. I can cook hamburgers and chicken wings. The rest of time, I will go to the restaurant.
H: I want to know about holidays in the USA. Which holidays people celebrate in America?
L: We celebrate Christmas, Easter Day and Thanksgiving Day. These are the most important holidays in the USA. Students need to go back home and celebrate holidays with their families
H: I also want to know some typical greetings in your culture.
L: When people need to greed someone, they say “Hi”, “Hello” or “How are you?”. On the other hand, people smile and shake their hands.
H: In Chinese, we say “Ni Hao”. It’s the same meaning of “Hello”.
L: “Ni Hao”? I know that. These are only two Chinese words I can speak. I think Chinese is very interesting but it’s too hard to learn.
H: Ha! I think so, too. In last part, I want to ask you something about your government.
L: No problem. The government in America is the democracy. People can go to vote and elect the leader.
H: Ok, I have got all answers about my questions. Thanks for having a interview with me.
L: You are welcome
H: It’s a great interview.
L: sure.
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