Interview question question
For my interview with a native Spanish speaker, I need to find out about their education. So if the person has gone through post-secondary education, I am going to ask What year did you finish your school?
Do I say ¿Qué año tú terminas escuela?
14 Answers
Creo que primero debes formular tus preguntas por escrito y luego preguntar.
Hay un mundo de preguntas para hacer de alguien nativo de inglés a español y viceversa.
También si preguntas el año en que terminó la escuela puede que digas específicamente el grado académico en caso que aún siga estudiando o no.
For example, my open answer to this question it would be:
¿En qué año terminas la escuela? - Ya la terminé, terminé en el 2013, en este año, después de haber pasado 4 años y medio la universidad, pero ahora ya me encuentro trabajando.
Greetings.
The problem with this is you may get an answer like: I finished school in 1987. Or, I finished school when I was 29. Is that useful to you? Probably not. The person may have taken years off before completing their education. I did and many other do as well.
It would be better to ask: How many years of education do you have? ¿Cuántos años de educación formal tienes? Do you have a degree? ¿Tienes un titulo? What in? ¿En que?
Thank you all so much for your help. I really appreciate it. i was able to do the interview tonight, and it was extremely helpful that you all were so quick to respond. Thanks again!
¿En qué año terminaste la escuela? / ¿En qué año terminaste tus estudios?
¿Cuál es tu país de nacimiento? OR ¿En qué país naciste?
I think that would work quite well. You appear to be following all grammar rules, and I can understand the sentence immediately. Ask away!
P.S.- - Do you know this person, or is it a stranger?
What country are you from? What is the country of your birth?
¿De dónde eres? ¿Dónde naciste?
These are very common ways of asking your two questions.
Well... if you know him really well, then you can relax because he'll probably give you plenty of grace for any mistakes. However, if you only sort of know him (like you know his name and some information about him but don't really know him) then try picking out the questions you are going to ask in advance. Then try picking a few answers he's likely to tell you.
Ex.--- ¿Cómo te va?
Possible answers: Estoy bien., Estoy asi asi.
This is a very simple question, with some very simple answers. And yet, you've already learned something about how he is feeling today. To make sure your questions and answers are right, try putting the Qs. and As. through a translator like the one on this website.
Buena suerte
P.S.-- This is in response to your comment on my earlier answer.
What about ¿Qué años tú estudias?
Hey actorgirl, is the person you are going to interview a good friend? Is it someone you meet every now and then? Or is it someone you were introduced to and never kept in touch with? The way you interview them might change depending on how well you know them (If you don't know them very well, you will need to use more formal Spanish).
That looks correct. Your grammar is great, and I can easily understand. Go with it!
P.S.-- You probably want to tell the person you're interviewing that this is for school. Otherwise, he may think you're a little bit on the dim side. Just a thought!
I am also asking what his country of origin is. ( I already know, but I have to ask). Anyways, that was not relevant. So should I ask
What country are you from? What is the country of your birth?
At the moment I have ¿Qué pais están tú desde?
That may not work as well. That comes out "What years did you study?". That may be a little bit confusing. Try "¿Cuándo fuiste a la escuela?" That comes out as "When did you go to school?", which might work better. Good suggestion though.
If I want to ask Where do you work ?, do I say Dónde tú trabajo? or Dónde tú trabajas? ?
Okay. thanks. I am having trouble knowing how to say "did" and make something past tense. I am just starting to learn that.
