Interview Skills: Questions, Consent & Safety

Interviews bring stories to life — because they include real voices, real emotion, and real experience.
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to plan and record a simple interview using your phone, while keeping people safe and respected.

This is not about “getting content.”
It’s about building trust and telling stories responsibly.

What you will learn

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Ask stronger questions that lead to real stories (not yes/no answers)
• Get clear consent before recording and sharing
• Keep yourself and the interviewee safe (location, boundaries, sensitive topics)
• Record a clean interview audio clip on a phone
• Pull out 1–2 “best quotes” that can become part of your final story

1) The 3 rules of a good interview

Rule 1: Make the person feel safe

If they feel safe, they speak honestly.

Rule 2: Ask for stories, not opinions only

Opinions are fine, but stories are powerful.

Rule 3: Listen more than you talk

Your job is to guide, not to perform.

2) Consent: the non-negotiable step

Before you record, you must ask permission and make sure they understand:

Consent script (simple and clear)

You can say:

“Hi, my name is _______. I’m doing a learning project for YouthLearn Africa.
Is it okay if I record your voice for a short interview?
This recording will be used for (class only / my learning portfolio / possibly online).
If you change your mind, we can stop anytime. Are you comfortable?”

✅ If they say yes: record.
❌ If they hesitate: do NOT push. Thank them and stop.

Extra consent for photos/videos

If you also want to take a photo/video:
Ask separately (it’s a different type of permission).

3) Safety: protect the person and protect yourself

Choose a safe situation

• Record in a public but quiet place (or a safe home environment with permission)
• Avoid risky areas or late-night recording
• If you’re under 18, record with an adult nearby or in safe school/home spaces

Avoid harm

Do not interview someone about:

• trauma, abuse, illegal activity, or private medical issues
  unless you are trained and you have the right support systems.

Use “safe identity” options

If the topic is sensitive, offer choices:

• First name only
• No name at all
• Change the voice or keep it anonymous (summary instead of direct quote)
• Do not record; just take notes

4) Question types that unlock great answers

1. A) Warm-up questions (easy and friendly)

• “Please tell me your name (or what you want to be called).”
• “Where are you from?”
• “What’s a normal day like for you?”

1. B) Story questions (the best type)

These bring real moments:

• “Can you tell me about a time when…?”
• “What happened that day?”
• “What did you see/hear/feel?”
• “What changed after that?”

1. C) Meaning questions (the deeper layer)

• “Why does this matter to you?”
• “What do you wish people understood?”
• “What would you want to change?”

1. D) Closing questions (strong ending)

• “What gives you hope?”
• “What’s one message you want to leave with others?”

5) The best interview flow (10–15 minutes)

Use this structure:

1. Introduce yourself (10 seconds)
2. Ask for consent (20 seconds)
3. Warm-up (2 minutes)
4. Story moment (6–10 minutes)
5. Meaning + closing (2 minutes)
6. Thank them + confirm what will happen next

6) Recording tips (phone-first)

• Find a quieter corner (avoid roads/wind)
• Put phone on airplane mode
• Hold phone close to the speaker (15–25 cm)
• Do a 10-second test first
• Don’t touch the phone while recording

Pro tip: If background noise is unavoidable, move closer to the speaker.

Micro-Activity: Interview Practice (30–45 minutes)

You will do a short interview with someone you trust: a friend, sibling, classmate, or neighbor.

Step 1 — Choose a safe topic

Pick one:

• A skill they are proud of
• A small community challenge they have seen
• A moment that made them learn something important
• A local change they want to see

Step 2 — Ask 6 questions (use this exact list)

1. “Tell me about yourself in one sentence.”
2. “Can you describe a normal day in your life?”
3. “Tell me about a time when you faced a challenge related to this topic.”
4. “What happened, step by step?”
5. “How did that make you feel, and what did you learn?”
6. “What do you wish people understood or did differently?”

Step 3 — Pull out your best quote

After recording, listen back and write down:

• One powerful quote (1 sentence)
• One key message (what the interview is really about)

Interview Consent + Safety Checklist (use every week)

Before you record:

• ✅ I introduced myself clearly
• ✅ I asked permission to record
• ✅ I explained how it will be used
• ✅ I offered the option to stop anytime
• ✅ I avoided sensitive/harmful questions
• ✅ I chose a safe location
• ✅ I protected privacy (name/photo choices)

After the interview:

• ✅ I thanked them
• ✅ I will not post/share without permission
• ✅ I will not include private information that could harm them

Optional: Reflection (quick)

Write 2–3 sentences:

• What went well in your interview?
• What would you improve next time?