INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
Have you found [this summer program] helpful? How does it compare to last year?
Yea, it’s helpful. But not as good as last year, there’s more grown up students last year. These younger students, they play too much.
Do you think the program helps you get ready for the next school year?
Yea
What about for college?
Yea
How does it help you get ready for college?
I like being on campus. Helps me feel experienced, like I’ll be more comfortable when I go.
Cool. So how do you think it will be starting a new school next year? It’s your first year at [at your new school]*?
No. I’s was at [my old school]* freshman year, and [my new school]* last year and this year.
I see. How does [the new school]* compare to [the old school]*?
Is hard, you know. Like, I have to work harder. They more serious at [my new school]*. My first marking period’s horrible, but last marking period I made all As and one B
Awesome job! You mentioned before [a few weeks ago] that your favorite class is history. Why is that? What is it about history class you like?
It’s just like more interesting; like, I hate studying tiny little detailed stuff like in biology
Aw, but that’s my favorite subject! I love learning! What do you think learning is?
I don’t know. What’d you mean?
Well, when you go to school, you ‘learn’, right?
Yea, we learn ‘stuff’ that they teach you. But like you can learn not only in school; like street smarts, you don’t learn street smarts in school.
What do you mean by street smarts?
You know, like, to walk on the sidewalks and not in the street, and not talk to strangers.
Gotcha. So what are you looking forward to the most in college?
Heh. I don’t know.
Well what do you think will be the most fun in college?
Meeting new people, definitely meeting new people. I like meeting new people.
You don’t want to stay in Philly [for college], right?
No, I want to see other places and meet new people.
Ok. Well I have just a few more questions. What do you think about homework?
It sucks.
Ha OK. But do you think it helps you?
Yea, I guess. It helps me understand stuff from class.
Do you usually get all of your homework done?
Here? Nah, I do most of it here but like if I don’t I don’t do it at home.
What about at school normally?
Oh yea. I have to. They’re really hard [on you] at [at my school]*. There’s a lot of homework.
Do you have any support at home with homework? Do you have a quiet space and stuff?
Yea. I do it in my own room. My mom really pushes me; she’s always on my butt.
I know how that is! In general, what do you think about school?
Don’t like it. But I know I have to do it. I want to be a lawyer or [in] sports medicine. Like, if you want to have money and stuff like that of course you need to go to school.
Yea I understand that. So finally, since I’m gunna be a future teacher, do you have any words of advice for me? Like, what made your favorite teachers your favorite? What’s the difference between good and bad teachers?
Understanding. Like, get to know your students! Kids like that. And learn to compromise. Don’t be close to a student, and then like be really hard on them. And don’t be hypocritical, definitely don’t be hypocritical.
Cool, this was great! Thanks so much!
Have you found [this summer program] helpful? How does it compare to last year?
Yea, it’s helpful. But not as good as last year, there’s more grown up students last year. These younger students, they play too much.
Do you think the program helps you get ready for the next school year?
Yea
What about for college?
Yea
How does it help you get ready for college?
I like being on campus. Helps me feel experienced, like I’ll be more comfortable when I go.
Cool. So how do you think it will be starting a new school next year? It’s your first year at [at your new school]*?
No. I’s was at [my old school]* freshman year, and [my new school]* last year and this year.
I see. How does [the new school]* compare to [the old school]*?
Is hard, you know. Like, I have to work harder. They more serious at [my new school]*. My first marking period’s horrible, but last marking period I made all As and one B
Awesome job! You mentioned before [a few weeks ago] that your favorite class is history. Why is that? What is it about history class you like?
It’s just like more interesting; like, I hate studying tiny little detailed stuff like in biology
Aw, but that’s my favorite subject! I love learning! What do you think learning is?
I don’t know. What’d you mean?
Well, when you go to school, you ‘learn’, right?
Yea, we learn ‘stuff’ that they teach you. But like you can learn not only in school; like street smarts, you don’t learn street smarts in school.
What do you mean by street smarts?
You know, like, to walk on the sidewalks and not in the street, and not talk to strangers.
Gotcha. So what are you looking forward to the most in college?
Heh. I don’t know.
Well what do you think will be the most fun in college?
Meeting new people, definitely meeting new people. I like meeting new people.
You don’t want to stay in Philly [for college], right?
No, I want to see other places and meet new people.
Ok. Well I have just a few more questions. What do you think about homework?
It sucks.
Ha OK. But do you think it helps you?
Yea, I guess. It helps me understand stuff from class.
Do you usually get all of your homework done?
Here? Nah, I do most of it here but like if I don’t I don’t do it at home.
What about at school normally?
Oh yea. I have to. They’re really hard [on you] at [at my school]*. There’s a lot of homework.
Do you have any support at home with homework? Do you have a quiet space and stuff?
Yea. I do it in my own room. My mom really pushes me; she’s always on my butt.
I know how that is! In general, what do you think about school?
Don’t like it. But I know I have to do it. I want to be a lawyer or [in] sports medicine. Like, if you want to have money and stuff like that of course you need to go to school.
Yea I understand that. So finally, since I’m gunna be a future teacher, do you have any words of advice for me? Like, what made your favorite teachers your favorite? What’s the difference between good and bad teachers?
Understanding. Like, get to know your students! Kids like that. And learn to compromise. Don’t be close to a student, and then like be really hard on them. And don’t be hypocritical, definitely don’t be hypocritical.
Cool, this was great! Thanks so much!