Learning Log 6

Date: 2/1-2

Part: Page106-137

Reflection:

There was another small interlude between Anne and her mother. One night, Anne’s father was too busy to listen to her prayers, so he sent Anne’s mother to do it. However, when her mother asked for Anne’s permission, she simply rejected; so Mother cried. Everyone asked Anne to apologize, but she refused. I am surprised by the reason why Anne refused to say sorry. “I seem to be indifferent to Mother’s tears and Father’s glances, and I am, because both of them are now feeling what I’ve always felt.” She wanted both her parents to feel what she had felt when Mother treated her bad. I think this kind of behavior is called “An eye for an eye.” Only the reason why Anne did so was not for retaliating. She merely hoped her parents could understand her true heart. 

Learning Log 5

Date: 1/30-31

Part: Page78-106

Reflection:

Today I read nearly seven months of Anne’s diary, and Anne had her first birthday celebration in the Secret Annex. Hiding in a hermetical place was boring. Things Anne did in her pastime were reading books, chatting or arguing with other members, and observing people outside (peeking through the curtains) and the other seven people inside; I think the last item is the most interesting, and Anne really did well at describing what she saw. Provided she was a novelist, she must be a fantastic one. I like to observe people as well, especially on the train. I can see men from all walks of life and analyze them on the quiet. That’s really a lot of fun for me while traveling. The only a fly in the ointment is that I’m bad at writing it down. Anne could always give a vivid description, and I should take her as a model. 

Learning Log 4

Date: 1/27-29

Part: Page53-78

Reflection:

The relationship between Anne and her mother was abject. Anne’s mother wanted her to be a good wife and loving mother, but that’s not what Anne thought; she wanted to be more than that. Also, her mother always blamed her in front of everyone, which made her feel Humiliated. “Mama is always carping on me, especially on the table.” She stated more than twice that she loved Father a lot more, and she couldn’t stand Mother. It’s normal that a girl will have Electra complex. Yet in Anne’s case, she seemed too extreme. However, a year and a half later, she added her own comment: “I’m surprised at my childish innocence…I can understand the mood changes and comments about Margot, Mother and Father…It embarrassed me greatly to read the pages dealing with subjects that I remember as being nicer than they actually were.” I can see that she had already grown more mature. 

Learning Log 3

Date: 1/24-26

Part: Page32-53

Reflection:

The part I read today is mostly about clashes between the Franks and the Van Daans. Hiding in the Secret Annex, both of the two families had to be gingerly. It is possible that they would be nosed out by neighbors or workers downstairs only because of a little sound. Because of such atmosphere, the two families’ nerves were frayed. I think that’s why they squabbled that often. Besides, people living in an airtight space would feel extreme pressure. Anne once wrote: “Not being able to go outside upsets me more than I can say.” 

Learning Log 2

Date: 1/21-23

Part: Foreword-32

Reflection:

Foreword of The Diary of a Young Girl mentioned that there are two different versions of Anne’s diary: version A and B. The former is the original diary that she wrote to herself; the latter is the edited version. The motivation why Anne started to edit her diary is also mentioned: one day in 1944, Gerrit Bolkestein announced in a radio broadcast that he would like to collect eyewitness accounts of the suffering of Dutch people. At that year, Anne was only 15, starting to edit the diary she had kept since 1942. Thus it can be seen that Anne’s patriotism is strong. One of the plots in the movie also shows that Anne is a faithful patriot. Anne was persecuted because she was a Jew. However, she said to her father, “I don’t want to be a German.” 

Learning Log 1

Plan:

This winter vacation, I decide to read a novel: The Diary of a Young Girl. I will separate the whole book into 14 parts (about 25 pages per part). After finishing one part, I will write down my thought about that part. Doing this plan can help me in many ways. I can read and write English everyday, so I won’t be unfamiliar with English after this winter vacation. By doing so, I can also change what I thought into words, and this is the main point I want to improve. Four years in university, there must be many essay questions waiting there. No matter in English or Chinese, I want to strengthen my ability of getting my thought well in order and writing it down clearly. 

Movie Lovers? We Are!

Task Description:

Since both Shirley and I love watching movies, we decide to introduce the movies we like to each other. By task 10, we can not only share our feelings and opinions about movies, but also take task 10 as the final gift of this semester. Dear Shirley, let’s have fun!