Interviewing as Understanding: Principles and Modalities for Transforming a Qualitative Research Instrument into a Stage of the Integration Process for Immigrants

This chapter reports on a qualitative research within the MATH.E.ME. project undertaken by the GreekLangLab of the University of Thessaly, aiming at providing lessons in Greek Language, History and Culture for immigrants who are unemployed, mothers, with disabilities and illiterate immigrants. An initial stage of this project was the investigation of the needs of immigrants as learners in the perspective of their empowerment and integration. The semi-structured interview was transformed into a critical instrument to understanding people. This transformation is only possible by adopting a new way (cf. Kaufmann, L’entretien comprehensif. Armand Colin, Paris, 2000, 39 seq.) of constructing the research questions and other interview parameters, such as the plan, the guide and the sample; it is with an open and evolving way of designing the interview. In conducting the interview, focus on understanding means breaking the hierarchy between researchers and participants, keeping people present in the research (Mears, Interviewing for education and social research. The gateway approach. Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2009), showing empathy and commitment.