Interview a person who identifies him/herself as coming from a different cultural, religious, ethnic, racial or class background than you. Base your interview questions on that person’s educational and personal experiences while growing up. Then write a 2-3 page typed, double-spaced report with a brief discussion of the different group you interacted with. A thorough discussion of how the person differs from you (for instance, the values, beliefs, communication behaviors, assumptions, etc.). A brief description of your experience and a discussion of what you have learned from the interview.  Make sure to also answer the following questions:

1. How did the background and/or identity of my interview subject play a part in his/her educational experience?
2. How did the background and/or identity of my interview subject play a part in his/her personal experience growing up to be who they are today?
3. What information did you learn about the individual that surprised me the most?

When choosing your subject, remember that the object of this assignment is to discuss difference between individuals. The point here is to understand how a person’s identity played a part in his or her education and personal experience growing up. 

THE INTERVIEW: Issues of culture, religion, ethnicity, race, and class contribute to the multiple experiences that individuals encounter while attending school and while growing up. During your interview, try to identify the ways in which your interview subject has had educational experiences that were different from your own because of his/her background or identity. For example, you may interview a student who identifies themselves as coming from the working class, and who was tracked into lower tracked classes. Or you may interview a person who identifies as a member of a certain religion or denomination, or who comes from a different racial or ethnic background than you. Questions which focus on how this student experienced school and what their childhood was like should be the key elements of the interview. You may also need to gather information that helps support why you consider this person to be different than you. Remember that the central objective of this exercise is to identify difference and to understand how that difference affects one’s schooling and childhood.