German Student Asks Government For Test Questions In Advance

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Transcript

Audio Time: 59 sec

Level: Upper Intermediate and up

Vocabulary:  To help learners fully understand the audio and transcript, most vocabulary that might be unknown for this lesson’s level is provided. Vocab in bold is more useful for learners at the lesson’s target level. Try to choose 8 to 10 new words to learn from the story (in general, it’s best to try to learn no more than 8-10 new words a day).

Definitions are written with the help of various sources including  Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary

In advance: before a future event or time.

Standardized tests: a test that is given in the same form and way to students. Usually many 

students take this test in order to know the skill level of the students.

Highlight: something (such as an event or a detail) that is very interesting, exciting, or important : the best part of something.

Ahead of time: Before the appointed time.

Freedom of Information Request: A request to the government to gain access to governmental documents.

Submit: to give (a document, proposal, piece of writing, etc.) to someone so that it can be considered or approved.

Genius: (slang) a great idea.

A for effort: to receive praise for trying to do something.

Joyful Opera Performed In Nazi Concentration Camp Revived In Chicago

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Transcript

Audio Time: 5 min 9 sec

Level: Intermediate

Vocabulary:  To help learners fully understand the audio and transcript, most vocabulary that might be unknown for this lesson’s level is provided. Vocab in bold is more useful for learners at the lesson’s target level. Try to choose 8 to 10 new words to learn from the story (in general, it’s best to try to learn no more than 8-10 new words a day).

Definitions are written with the help of various sources including Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary

Concentration camp: a type of prison where large numbers of people who are not soldiers are kept during a war and are usually forced to live in very bad conditions.

Resistance: effort made to stop or to fight against someone or something.

Occupied: controlled by foreign soldiers or a foreign government.

Run-through: an activity in which you quickly do or read all the different parts of something especially in order to practice or prepare for something (such as a performance).

Chronicle: to describe a series of events in the order that they happened.

Tread: to walk.

Fairytale: a simple children's story about magical creatures.

Conquer: to defeat (someone or something) through the use of force.

Ghetto: a part of a city in which members of a particular group or race live usually in poor conditions.

Scaled-down: to reduce in size.

Smuggle: to move (someone or something) from one country into another illegally and secretly.

Discussion questions:

1. Why does the story call this opera “a symbol of hope and resistance” against ‘Nazi propaganda…during World War II”?

2. Why do you think the Nazis didn’t catch on to the true meaning of the story?

3. How can we help people to remember important historical events like the holocaust (genocide) of WWII?

4. How can humor and satire be a weapon against powerful people and forces in society?

5. What can we do to prevent holocausts like the one in WWII from happening in the future?

6. Can art help us to tell important stories from history more effectively?