1. The Phantom of the Opera
Reading and Speaking Skills
The Phantom of the Opera

2. Pre Reading
TASK:
Step 1: With a partner, look at the chapter titles on the contents page. Write notes predicting what they are about.
Step 2: Present your ideas to another group.

3. Pre Reading
QUESTION: Why is he wearing a mask? What happened to him? With a partner, think of three possible reasons.
TASK: With your partner, write the ‘doctor’s report’ explaining what happened to the man in the mask. You can only use ten sentences. The most horrible story wins!!!

4. Chapter.1 TASK: Think of opposite adjectives to describe people.
Imagine you are the Theatre Ghost. Finish this sentence two times about yourself:
“People think I’m ……, but really I’m ……”
NEXT, walk around the class presenting yourself as the one ‘real’ Theatre Ghost! Tell the class all about yourself, and explain why you’re not just a scary phantom!

5. Chapter.2: TASK STUDENT A:
Think of three reasons you should keep box 5 empty.
NEXT, role play a discussion with your partner (you are both managers). Explain why you are right and they are wrong.
STUDENT B:
Think of three reasons you should sell tickets for box 5.
NEXT, role play a discussion with your partner (you are both managers). Explain why you are right and they are wrong.

6. Chapter.3
Question: In a group, think of 5 adjectives to describe Christine Daae. If your words are different to the other groups’ words, you will get 1 point.
TASK: In groups, write and present a report about Christine’s first performance.
Student A: Reporter
Student B: Theatre Critic (positive opinion)
Student C: Theatre Critic (negative opinion)
Student D: A member of the audience
Begin: Last night, a new opera star wowed
a Parisian audience...

7. Live from outside the Opera

8. Chapter.4
Question: Look at the sentence below. Which words should be stressed?
“I say that the directors of the Opera House are fools!”
How does changing the stressed word(s) change the meaning?
TASK: With a partner, underline the words you want to stress in Chapter 4’s dialogue. Then, act out the dialogue.

9. Chapter.5 Question: With a partner, list Christine’s problems.
TASK part.1: With a partner write a letter from Christine to an Agony Aunt (Problem Page). Give the letter to another group to read. Think of advice to give Christine.
TASK part.2: Take turns being the Agony Aunt. Phone Christine to give her advice about her problems. Sit back to back.

10. Chapter.6
Question: With a partner, summarize chapter 6 in three sentences. TASK: In groups, imagine you are CNN reporters at the Paris Opera House on Friday night when the disaster happens. Script and present a live news report to broadcast.

11. OPERA CHANDELIER CRASHES – LATEST!

12. Chapter.7
Question: With a partner, think of 5 adjectives to describe the Phantom’s house. If your words are different to the other groups’ words, you will get 1 point.
TASK: In groups, design the Phantom’s house. Then you will try and sell the house to your classmates.

13. Chapter.8
TASK part 1: With a partner, think of five possible reasons why Christine is missing.
TASK part 2: Walk around the classroom sharing your ‘gossip’ with other students. If you like an idea, you can steal it!

14. Chapter.9
You and your partner are designing a computer game called «The Phantom’s House» in which the player has to reach his house from the front of the theatre.
Plan a route and a series of challenges that the player has to deal with on the way.
Example: You go across a lake and have to avoid being attacked by sharks.
Try and sell your game to the rest of the class!

15. The Phantom’s house is somewhere here.....

16. Chapter.10
TASK:
Where have Raoul and Christine gone? Imagine where they are and what happened at the end of the story.Write a postcard from them to the Persian. Begin:
Hi! Sorry we didn’t get in touch with you before we left, but you see...