Oral History And Legacy Interviewing with Adam Phillips

Oral History and Legacy Interviewing

with Adam Phillips

Three Session Workshop at Berkshire Community College:

Monday, Dec 4 at 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Thursday, Dec 7 at 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. &

Monday, Dec 18 at 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

(The last session has been rescheduled from 12/11)

In-person only.

Many of us are familiar with the thought that we simply must get Granny’s life stories before she goes, or the sad refrain that we wish we had (or maybe we are “Granny” ourselves!) Oral history interviews are a way to fill that need. Along the way, structured and recorded conversations help our interviewees feel heard, and can also be a precious gift to those who will someday be left behind.  However, many of us don’t have the technical knowledge or feel the self-confidence to conduct or facilitate those interviews. This hands-on, in-person course will give participants the straightforward and effective means to do so.

Using both formal and informal teaching formats, small groups, role playing and critical listening sessions, we will learn what oral history is and why it matters; we’ll delve into interviewing techniques, including how to frame neutral, open-ended questions, to stay both present and comfortable during those quiet moments without words. We will also learn how to use aids to memory and how to engage in the sort of active listening that results in unique, often intimate conversations that only that interviewer and that interviewee could possibly have. The course will also address nitty gritty concerns, like the best way to hold one’s smartphone for best sound quality, maximum physical comfort and unobtrusiveness, and how to make, preserve and lightly edit a broadcast quality audio recording that will last.

Adam Phillips is a newly retired radio journalist with 35 years experience doing in-depth, in-person interviews with both the famous and unsung for the Voice of America, NPR and other high level broadcast outlets (while garnering nearly 20 awards along the way). He has taught oral history workshops to professionals and amateurs alike. He recently moved with his family to the Berkshires, where he is starting two sister businesses FamilyLore.com and CompanyLore.com.

Cost: $30 for OLLI at BCC members,
           $35 for non-members