In this course, we will embark on a semester-long oral history project centered on an elder whose life experiences we find meaningful. Through identifying, interviewing, transcribing, and translating these personal narratives, we will help preserve a part of the past and connect with another generation.
We will begin the course by studying theories and best practices of oral history; familiarizing ourselves with the processes and challenges of interviewing. Next, we will conduct and record interviews with our chosen elders, learning the different ways to transcribe recorded conversation and identify themes within an interview. In the second half of the course, we will learn the basics of translation. We will work together to translate the interviews from Darija to English and curate finalized versions of each interview. In the final week of the course, we will display our translations, both digitally and in print for the ALC community.
Helen Heston
Helen Heston holds an undergraduate degree in History. She is challenged and interested in the role of memory and first hand experience in historical narratives. She speaks Darija and English fluently and enjoys exploring the nuances of language choice and self-expression. She holds an MA in Applied Linguistics and has over eight years’ teaching experience in Morocco.