Listen&Learn: The Diary of a Young Girl

Posted by: Jaksyn Peacock

The diary that reveals the tragic events experienced by Anne Frank and her family.

Pre-listening vocabulary

diary: a book where someone writes about the events of their life
annex: a small building connected to a main building
informant: a person who provides information to law enforcement
concentration camp: a place where Jews and other minorities were held prisoner during World War II
The Holocaust: the genocide of European Jews during World War II

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:20 — 1.8MB)

Gapfill exercise

The Diary of a Young Girl is a book made up of real diary entries from a girl named Anne Frank. The entries tell the story of Anne’s life as a Jewish during World War II. Anne first started in this diary when she was thirteen. Her writings told about her family, her thoughts on the war, and her hopes and dreams. For over two years, Anne and her family hid in an annex attached to a shop, in order to avoid being found by the Nazis. Part of her diary was written while her family was in . An informant reported the location of the Frank family to the German in 1944, and Anne, her mother, and her sister died in concentration camps in 1945. Anne’s father, Otto Frank, found and her diary after World War II was over. Today, Anne’s story is one that students often read in schools to learn about the horrors of the Holocaust.

Comprehension questions

[wp_quiz id=”19913″]

Discussion/essay questions

The Diary of a Young Girl is often read in schools to help students understand what European Jews went through under Nazi rule. Why is it important to teach this history in schools? What could happen if stories like Anne’s were forgotten?

Transcript

The Diary of a Young Girl is a book made up of real diary entries from a girl named Anne Frank. The entries tell the story of Anne’s life as a Jewish teenager during World War II. Anne first started writing in this diary when she was thirteen. Her writings told about her family, her thoughts on the war, and her hopes and dreams. For over two years, Anne and her family hid in an annex attached to a shop, in order to avoid being found by the Nazis. Part of her diary was written while her family was in hiding. An informant reported the location of the Frank family to the German police in 1944, and Anne, her mother, and her sister died in concentration camps in 1945. Anne’s father, Otto Frank, found and published her diary after World War II was over. Today, Anne’s story is one that students often read in schools to learn about the horrors of the Holocaust.

Written and recorded by Jaksyn Peacock for EnglishClub

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33 comments

abdolmonem says:

To student know about the history.
People forget the bad events of world war 2
English Club Indonesia says:

History is a part of human life from the past, whether it’s good or bad. The Holocaust is a condemnable event in modern human civilization. We learn about it in school in order to understand the negative impact it had and to try to avoid such events in the present and future. If this part of history is forgotten, we fear that society won’t learn from this mistake, and there’s a chance it might happen again.
MAGUI says:

This is an interesting and incredible story. I can´t imagine that horror.
Ezzeldein Heraika says:

Anne’s story is one painful thing in the history, but it’s useful for learning English and also learning from our mistake.
Alejandro Bernal Ordoñez says:

Excelence activity.
guesh Tesfay says:

thank you for help me everday my dear teacher
Caridadgomo says:

This story is necessary for everybody to know, I invite you to read the book,the Nazis did is impressive.
anne says:

It’s very important to teach this history in school so that many generations will understand that what Europeans Jews went through was inhuman. Also, this kind of treatment should never repeat in the future. Anne was very courageous because despite all these obstacles, she wrote this diary so that people can be aware of the kind of treatment Jews received.
Putri Alfiana Amalia says:

I’m done mrs
Sri Mulyani Widiyawati says:

Geniuss
azzamfathin says:

it was a great story
Nanou29 says:

It’s very important to teach this story in schools for new generations that have not known World War II, and above all the Holocaust
Often history seems to be very far from our daily concerns,but we have a duty of memory for all this people who have suffered so much during this period
Vanessa says:

Studying history is necessary to avoid repeating past mistakes.
Thanh Phuong says:

It is a living witness of history and it is necessary for every to understand history, and has been a living witness, never forgotten!
Sandra says:

Thank you so much.
Jocelyne says:

There is very important to preserve te memory of the history of the second was II. Anne Frank from diary dit this duty. Thanks to remember it.
Sunita says:

It’s interesting but feeling very sad after reading this story about a young girl Jewish teenager. I can imagine. She was a brave girl who wrote her story about hiding in an annexe attached to the shop with her family. If Ann dad didn’t give to publish her dairy we wouldn’t have a chance to read this story today. So Ann dad did the incredible job.
Alyssa says:

I love to study with this activity.Its great!!
Olga says:

this should never be forgotten!
Eva Alcaide says:

Wonderfull activity
Erica Soto says:

Lovely story well done by the young girl called Anne. I can imagine how scare she were on the annex knowing that those evil soldier from the NAZIS could come pick them. I wonder who the informant was, probably a civilian who wanted money and sold the family to the devil. She was a brave young girl and her family as well, I’m happy her father gave the book to a publisher and gave us a chance to know about the injustices done to humanity by those coward in those evil days. Thank you for giving us a taste of the Diary of Anne Frank. It made me sad and made my eyes tears SAD…
trương sang says:

Thank you for your story. I love your voice.
jinshan hu says:

This is a sad story. That is a dark period. Let us remember the history and hope piece in this world for the future.
Ja says:

Thank you for your sharing.
Angelo says:

It was really sad, but in the same time interisting and great to learn English and relive that story in this way.
Thanks a lot
Ramatoulie Sanyang . says:

This is so interesting but also sad ,and i adored the way that her dad published it out:)
Semahr says:

That was a good story specially those English is the second language, it helps you improve your listening so.
Thank you.
Regine Natan says:

It’s a pity to imagine a fourteen years old girl leaving in a concentration camp and dying there so young and intelligent. Her father did very well to make her diary known all over the world.
Christine PENNEC says:

it’s a terrible story but it’s true. Great!!
Angela says:

Important to read again Anne´s story
JOSE AGUIRRE says:

Because of the sounds differences between English and Spanish, the listenin practice is absolutely necessary for all of us native spanish speakers, so congratulations for your great idea of including this practice.

Thanks, Jose.
Carmen Ponce says:

Interesting story! This story narrate the horror of Holocaust.
The King Of Love From IRAN says:

Thank you,