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Prince's 'Purple Rain' movie to become a musical (11th January 2024)

The Reading / Listening - Purple Rain - Level 3

The 1984 movie "Purple Rain" is going to be made into a musical on Broadway, New York. The film was based on the album of the same name made by the artist Prince. He also starred in it. This should encourage people to go to see the musical version. The producers of the new musical are excited about their project. They said: "It's been 40 years since Prince's legendary film took the world by storm. We can't think of a more fitting tribute to honour Prince and his legacy than with this stage adaptation of the beloved story." They added: "We can't wait for a new generation to discover 'Purple Rain' and…to experience its power once again, this time live."

"Purple Rain" the movie won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. Many critics believe "Purple Rain" is one of the greatest musical films. "Purple Rain" the album spent 24 consecutive weeks at number one in the USA's Billboard 200 music chart. It spent a total of 167 weeks on that chart. It contains the smash hit "When Doves Cry". The movie is about an aspiring singer and guitarist who was trying to become famous. The story shows his complicated home life, his battles with his musical rivals, and a new romance. Prince died in 2016 from an overdose of painkiller drugs. He sold over 100 million records worldwide. This makes him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Purple Rain - Level 0, Purple Rain - Level 1 or Purple Rain - Level 2

Sources

https://variety.com/2024/legit/news/prince-movie-purple-rain-stage-musical-branden-jacobs-jenkins-1235863878/
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/jan/08/prince-purple-rain-broadway-musical-branden-jacobs-jenkins
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_Rain_(film)

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. MUSICALS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about musicals. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
1984 / movie / purple rain / musical / album / project / tribute / stage / story / power
Academy Award / critics / number one / singer / guitarist / rivals / romance / drugs
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. ART FORM: Students A strongly believe musicals are better than movies; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. MOVIE OR MUSICAL: Is the movie or the musical better? Why? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	The Movie or the Musical?	Why?
Purple Rain
Titanic
The Lion King
Harry Potter
Elvis
Barbie

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. ALBUM: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "album". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. MUSICALS BASED ON…: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things to base a musical on at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Movies
History
Songs
Dreams
News
Biographies
Fairy stories
Novels

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	based on	a.	Persuade someone to do or continue to do something.
2.	album	b.	Used something as the foundation or starting point for something.
3.	encourage	c.	Very well known.
4.	legendary	d.	Suitable, appropriate, right or proper.
5.	fitting	e.	A collection of recordings issued as a single item on CD, record, or mp3.
6.	tribute	f.	All of the people born and living at about the same time, looked at as one group.
7.	generation	g.	An action, statement, or gift that shows thanks, respect, or admiration.

Paragraph 2

8.	critic	h.	Following each other one after another.
9.	consecutive	i.	Difficult to understand.
10.	chart	j.	A person who judges how good or bad a book, movie, restaurant, piece of software, etc. is.
11.	aspiring	k.	A weekly list of the current best-selling pop records.
12.	complicated	l.	A person or thing competing with another for the same thing, or to win.
13.	rival	m.	Having big hopes and ambitions.
14.	overdose	n.	The taking of a deadly or dangerous amount of a drug.

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

The movie 'Purple Rain' was made on Broadway in 1984. T / F
People are being encouraged to see the new musical. T / F
There was a storm when the 'Purple Rain' movie was released. T / F
The producers said the musical is a good way to honour Prince. T / F
The movie won an Academy Award for its songs. T / F
The movie Purple Rain spent over three years in the US music charts. T / F
"Purple Rain" contains the song "When Doves Smile". T / F
Prince is the best-selling music artist of all time. T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

encourage
version
excited
fitting
discover
critics
consecutive
aspiring
complicated
of all time

experts
suitable
complex
adaptation
back-to-back
ever
persuade
come to know
hopeful
delighted

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

He also starred
encourage people to go to see the
Prince's legendary film took the world
We can't think of a more fitting tribute
wait for a new generation to
the album spent 24 consecutive weeks
It spent a total of 167 weeks
his battles with his
an overdose
one of the best-selling music

discover 'Purple Rain'
by storm
of painkiller drugs
on that chart
musical version
artists of all time
at number one
to honour Prince
musical rivals
in it

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

time
excited
starred
stage
version
discover
based
storm

The 1984 movie "Purple Rain" is going to be made into a musical on Broadway, New York. The film was (1) _____________________ on the album of the same name made by the artist Prince. He also (2) _____________________ in it. This should encourage people to go to see the musical (3) _____________________. The producers of the new musical are (4) _____________________ about their project. They said: "It's been 40 years since Prince's legendary film took the world by (5) _____________________. We can't think of a more fitting tribute to honour Prince and his legacy than with this (6) _____________________ adaptation of the beloved story." They added: "We can't wait for a new generation to (7) _____________________ 'Purple Rain' and…to experience its power once again, this (8) _____________________ live."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

chart
famous
critics
time
spent
drugs
smash
rivals

"Purple Rain" the movie won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. Many (9) _____________________ believe "Purple Rain" is one of the greatest musical films. "Purple Rain" the album (10) _____________________ 24 consecutive weeks at number one in the USA's Billboard 200 music (11) _____________________. It spent a total of 167 weeks on that chart. It contains the (12) _____________________ hit "When Doves Cry". The movie is about an aspiring singer and guitarist who was trying to become (13) _____________________. The story shows his complicated home life, his battles with his musical (14) _____________________, and a new romance. Prince died in 2016 from an overdose of painkiller (15) _____________________. He sold over 100 million records worldwide. This makes him one of the best-selling music artists of all (16) _____________________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) This should encourage people to go to see ______
     a. the musical version
     b. the musical vision
     c. the musical aversion
     d. the musical venison
2) It's been 40 years since Prince's legendary film took the ______
     a. world by storm
     b. world by thunder
     c. world by lightning
     d. world by tempest
3) honour Prince and his legacy than with this stage adaptation of ______
     a. the be lovely story
     b. the bill loved story
     c. the belove it story
     d. the beloved story
4) They added: "We can't wait for a new generation to ______
     a. discovery 'Purple Rain'
     b. discovers 'Purple Rain'
     c. discover 'Purple Rain'
     d. discovered 'Purple Rain'
5) and…to experience its power once again, ______
     a. this time alive
     b. this time live
     c. this time lively
     d. this time life

6) "Purple Rain" the movie won an Academy Award for Best ______
     a. Original Song Score
     b. Original Song Goal
     c. Original Song Point
     d. Original Song Run
7) It spent a total of 167 weeks ______
     a. on these chart
     b. on that charts
     c. on that chart
     d. one that chart
8) The story shows his complicated home life, his battles with ______
     a. his musical libels
     b. his musical rivals
     c. his musical rebels
     d. his musical arrivals
9) Prince died in 2016 from an overdose ______
     a. of pains killer drugs
     b. of pain kill the drugs
     c. of pained killer drugs
     d. of painkiller drugs
10) This makes him one of the best-selling music artists ______
     a. of fall time
     b. offal time
   c. of all time
     d. off fall time

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The 1984 movie "Purple Rain" is going to (1) ____________________ a musical on Broadway, New York. The film was based on the album of the same name made (2) ____________________ Prince. He also starred in it. This should encourage people to go to see (3) ____________________. The producers of the new musical are excited about their project. They said: "It's been 40 years since Prince's legendary film took the (4) ____________________. We can't think of a more fitting tribute to honour Prince and his legacy than with this stage adaptation of (5) ____________________." They added: "We can't wait for a new generation to discover 'Purple Rain' and…to experience its (6) ____________________, this time live."

"Purple Rain" the movie won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. (7) ____________________ "Purple Rain" is one of the greatest musical films. "Purple Rain" the album spent (8) ____________________ at number one in the USA's Billboard 200 music chart. It spent a total of 167 weeks on that chart. It (9) ____________________ hit "When Doves Cry". The movie is about an aspiring singer and guitarist who was trying to become famous. The story shows his complicated home life, his battles with (10) ____________________, and a new romance. Prince died in 2016 from (11) ____________________ painkiller drugs. He sold over 100 million records worldwide. This makes him one of the best-(12) ____________________ of all time.

Comprehension questions

When was the movie "Purple Rain" made?
Who starred in the movie "Purple Rain"?
How do the producers of the musical feel about it?
What did the producers say the movie took by storm?
Who do the producers hope will discover "Purple Rain"?
What did "Purple Rain" win an Academy Award for?
For how many weeks was "Purple Rain" in the US music charts?
What is the hit song mentioned in the article?
Who did the character in "Purple Rain" battle with?
How many records did Prince sell globally?

Multiple choice quiz

1) When was the movie "Purple Rain" made?
a) 1983
b) 1984
c) 1985
d) 1986
2) Who starred in the movie "Purple Rain"?
a) King
b) Queen
c) Princess
d) Prince
3) How do the producers of the musical feel about it?
a) happy
b) good
c) excited
d) nervous
4) What did the producers say the movie took by storm?
a) the world
b) New York
c) rain
d) Alaska
5) Who do the producers hope will discover "Purple Rain"?
a) a record label
b) a new generation
c) Hollywood
d) Bollywood

6) What did "Purple Rain" win an Academy Award for?
a) best original song score
b) best actor
c) best cinematography
d) best special effects
7) For how many weeks was "Purple Rain" in the US music charts?
a) 165 weeks
b) 166 weeks
c) 167 weeks
d) 168 weeks
8) What is the hit song mentioned in the article?
a) When Doves Cry
b) When Pigeons Coo
c) When Ducks Quack
d) When Owls Hoot
9) Who did the character in "Purple Rain" battle with?
a) his record producer
b) his demons
c) himself
d) his musical rivals
10) How many records did Prince sell globally?
a) exactly 100 million
b) just under 100 million
c) over 100 million
d) around 100 million

Role play

Role A – Movies
You think movies are the best things to base movies on. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): biographies, news stories or novels.

Role B – News Stories
You think news stories are the best things to base movies on. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): movies, biographies or novels.

Role C – Biographies
You think biographies are the best things to base movies on. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): news stories, movies or novels.

Role D – Novels
You think novels are the best things to base movies on. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): biographies, news stories or movies.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'movie'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'musical'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• Share your findings with your partners.

• Make questions using the words you found.

• Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

•Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

based

starred

project

storm

fitting

power

won

believe

24

167

2016

time

Student survey

Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

(Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Discussion - Purple Rain

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'movie'?
What do you know about the singer and musician Prince?
What do you think of purple rain?
What do you think of musicals?
Which are better, musicals or movies?
What musicals have you been to see?
Would you like to go to see 'Purple Rain' the musical?
What movies are popular in your country?
What musical or movie would you like to be in?

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'musical'?
What do you think about what you read?
What is your favourite song from a musical?
What are the differences between going to see movies and musicals?
Are movie theatres or theatres for musicals better?
Would you prefer to be a singer or a guitarist?
What rivals do you have?
What would you like to know about Prince?
What questions would you like to ask the musical's producers?

Discussion — Write your own questions

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

The 1984 movie "Purple Rain" is going to be made (1) ____ a musical on Broadway, New York. The film was based (2) ____ the album of the same name made by the artist Prince. He also starred in it. This should encourage people to go to see the musical (3) ____. The producers of the new musical are (4) ____ about their project. They said: "It's been 40 years since Prince's legendary film took the world by storm. We can't think of a more (5) ____ tribute to honour Prince and his legacy than with this stage adaptation of the beloved story." They added: "We can't wait for a new generation to discover 'Purple Rain' and…to experience its power once again, this time (6) ____."

"Purple Rain" the movie (7) ____ an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. Many critics believe "Purple Rain" is one of the greatest musical films. "Purple Rain" the album spent 24 (8) ____ weeks at number one in the USA's Billboard 200 music chart. It spent a total of 167 weeks on that chart. It contains the (9) ____ hit "When Doves Cry". The movie is about an aspiring singer and guitarist who was trying (10) ____ become famous. The story shows his complicated home life, his battles with his musical rivals, and a new romance. Prince died in 2016 from an overdose (11) ____ painkiller drugs. He sold over 100 million records worldwide. This makes him one of the best-selling music artists of all (12) ____.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) into (b) onto (c) unto (d) as to
(a) at (b) by (c) on (d) of
(a) vision (b) aversion (c) version (d) evasion
(a) excitement (b) exciting (c) excites (d) excited
(a) fasting (b) faulting (c) fitting (d) fastening
(a) enliven (b) live (c) lively (d) livelihood
(a) beat (b) won (c) triumph (d) victory
(a) attractive (b) consecutive (c) creative (d) festive
(a) punch (b) hit (c) smash (d) break
(a) by (b) for (c) at (d) to
(a) in (b) on (c) at (d) of
(a) being (b) things (c) place (d) time

Spelling

Paragraph 1

go to see the musical ieosrvn
We can't think of a more fitting itebtru
honour Prince and his cylaeg
this stage aatodtpani of the beloved story
a new riotgnenae
ereeipxenc its power

Paragraph 2

risctic believe "Purple Rain" is one of the greatest
24 icteovunces weeks at number one
It ioactnsn the smash hit "When Doves Cry"
an agripnis singer and guitarist
his opedatcmcil home life
an deerosov of painkiller drugs

Put the text back together

(...)   chart. It contains the smash hit "When Doves Cry". The movie is about an aspiring singer and
(...)   discover 'Purple Rain' and…to experience its power once again, this time live."
(...)   storm. We can't think of a more fitting tribute to honour Prince and his legacy than with this stage adaptation
(...)   believe "Purple Rain" is one of the greatest musical films. "Purple Rain" the album spent 24 consecutive
(...)   weeks at number one in the USA's Billboard 200 music chart. It spent a total of 167 weeks on that
(...)   guitarist who was trying to become famous. The story shows his complicated home life, his battles
(...)   with his musical rivals, and a new romance. Prince died in 2016 from an overdose of painkiller drugs. He sold
( 1 ) The 1984 movie "Purple Rain" is going to be made into a musical on Broadway, New York. The film was based
(...)   of the beloved story." They added: "We can't wait for a new generation to
(...)   project. They said: "It's been 40 years since Prince's legendary film took the world by
(...)   go to see the musical version. The producers of the new musical are excited about their
(...)   over 100 million records worldwide. This makes him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
(...)   on the album of the same name made by the artist Prince. He also starred in it. This should encourage people to
(...)   "Purple Rain" the movie won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. Many critics

Put the words in the right order

into going a made musical . to It's be
the Based same the album of on name .
Prince's took film world legendary the by storm .
a can't fitting of more tribute We think
a discover for new Wait generation Rain" . "Purple to
is one Rain" the believe of Critics greatest . "Purple
consecutive weeks 24 number spent at one . It
about an The is movie singer . aspiring
home story complicated his The shows life .
of music artists The best-selling all time .

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The 1984 movie "Purple Rain" is going to be made into / onto a musical on Broadway, New York. The film was based on / of the album of the same name made by the artist Prince. He also starred / stared in it. This should encourage people to go to see the musical vision / version. The producers of the new musical are excited / exciting about their project. They said: "It's been 40 years since / for Prince's legendary film took the world by storm / thunder. We can't think of a more fattening / fitting tribute to honour Prince and his legacy than with this stage adaptation of the belove / beloved story." They added: "We can't wait for a new generation to discover 'Purple Rain' and…to experience its power once again, this time lively / live."

"Purple Rain" the movie won / beat an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. Many criticisms / critics believe "Purple Rain" is one of the greatest musical / musically films. "Purple Rain" the album spent / used 24 consecutive weeks at number once / one in the USA's Billboard 200 music chart. It spent a total of 167 weeks on that charts / chart. It contains the smash hit "When Doves Cry". The movie is about an aspiring / aspect singer and guitarist who was trying to become famous. The story shows his complicated house / home life, his battles with his musical rivals, and a new romance. Prince died / death in 2016 from an overdose of painkiller drugs. He sold over 100 million records worldwide. This makes him one of the best-selling music artists of every / all time.

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

Th_ 1984 m_v__ "P_rpl_ R__n" _s g__ng t_ b_ m_d_ _nt_ _ m_s_c_l _n Br__dw_y, N_w Y_rk. Th_ f_lm w_s b_s_d _n th_ _lb_m _f th_ s_m_ n_m_ m_d_ by th_ _rt_st Pr_nc_. H_ _ls_ st_rr_d _n _t. Th_s sh__ld _nc__r_g_ p__pl_ t_ g_ t_ s__ th_ m_s_c_l v_rs__n. Th_ pr_d_c_rs _f th_ n_w m_s_c_l _r_ _xc_t_d _b__t th__r pr_j_ct. Th_y s__d: "_t's b__n 40 y__rs s_nc_ Pr_nc_'s l_g_nd_ry f_lm t__k th_ w_rld by st_rm. W_ c_n't th_nk _f _ m_r_ f_tt_ng tr_b_t_ t_ h_n__r Pr_nc_ _nd h_s l_g_cy th_n w_th th_s st_g_ _d_pt_t__n _f th_ b_l_v_d st_ry." Th_y _dd_d: "W_ c_n't w__t f_r _ n_w g_n_r_t__n t_ d_sc_v_r 'P_rpl_ R__n' _nd…t_ _xp_r__nc_ _ts p_w_r _nc_ _g__n, th_s t_m_ l_v_."

"P_rpl_ R__n" th_ m_v__ w_n _n _c_d_my _w_rd f_r B_st _r_g_n_l S_ng Sc_r_. M_ny cr_t_cs b_l__v_ "P_rpl_ R__n" _s _n_ _f th_ gr__t_st m_s_c_l f_lms. "P_rpl_ R__n" th_ _lb_m sp_nt 24 c_ns_c_t_v_ w__ks _t n_mb_r _n_ _n th_ _S_'s B_llb__rd 200 m_s_c ch_rt. _t sp_nt _ t_t_l _f 167 w__ks _n th_t ch_rt. _t c_nt__ns th_ sm_sh h_t "Wh_n D_v_s Cry". Th_ m_v__ _s _b__t _n _sp_r_ng s_ng_r _nd g__t_r_st wh_ w_s try_ng t_ b_c_m_ f_m__s. Th_ st_ry sh_ws h_s c_mpl_c_t_d h_m_ l_f_, h_s b_ttl_s w_th h_s m_s_c_l r_v_ls, _nd _ n_w r_m_nc_. Pr_nc_ d__d _n 2016 fr_m _n _v_rd_s_ _f p__nk_ll_r dr_gs. H_ s_ld _v_r 100 m_ll__n r_c_rds w_rldw_d_. Th_s m_k_s h_m _n_ _f th_ b_st-s_ll_ng m_s_c _rt_sts _f _ll t_m_.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

the 1984 movie purple rain is going to be made into a musical on broadway new york the film was based on the album of the same name made by the artist prince he also starred in it this should encourage people to go to see the musical version the producers of the new musical are excited about their project they said its been 40 years since princes legendary film took the world by storm we cant think of a more fitting tribute to honour prince and his legacy than with this stage adaptation of the beloved story they added we cant wait for a new generation to discover purple rain and to experience its power once again this time live

purple rain the movie won an academy award for best original song score many critics believe purple rain is one of the greatest musical films purple rain the album spent 24 consecutive weeks at number one in the usas billboard 200 music chart it spent a total of 167 weeks on that chart it contains the smash hit when doves cry the movie is about an aspiring singer and guitarist who was trying to become famous the story shows his complicated home life his battles with his musical rivals and a new romance prince died in 2016 from an overdose of painkiller drugs he sold over 100 million records worldwide this makes him one of the bestselling music artists of all time

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

The1984movie"PurpleRain"isgoingtobemadeintoamusicalonBroad
way,NewYork.Thefilmwasbasedonthealbumofthesamenamemadeb
ytheartistPrince.Healsostarredinit.Thisshouldencouragepeopletogo
toseethemusicalversion.Theproducersofthenewmusicalareexciteda
bouttheirproject.Theysaid:"It'sbeen40yearssincePrince'slegendary
filmtooktheworldbystorm.Wecan'tthinkofamorefittingtributetohono
urPrinceandhislegacythanwiththisstageadaptationofthebelovedstor
y."Theyadded:"Wecan'twaitforanewgenerationtodiscover'PurpleRa
in'and…toexperienceitspoweronceagain,thistimelive.""PurpleRain"t
hemoviewonanAcademyAwardforBestOriginalSongScore.Manycriti
csbelieve"PurpleRain"isoneofthegreatestmusicalfilms."PurpleRain"
thealbumspent24consecutiveweeksatnumberoneintheUSA'sBillboa
rd200musicchart.Itspentatotalof167weeksonthatchart.Itcontainst
hesmashhit"WhenDovesCry".Themovieisaboutanaspiringsingerand
guitaristwhowastryingtobecomefamous.Thestoryshowshiscomplica
tedhomelife,hisbattleswithhismusicalrivals,andanewromance.Princ
ediedin2016fromanoverdoseofpainkillerdrugs.Hesoldover100millio
nrecordsworldwide.Thismakeshimoneofthebest-sellingmusicartists
ofalltime.

Free writing

Write about Purple Rain for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

Musicals are better than movies. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Homework

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MUSICALS: Make a poster about musicals. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. MORE MUSICALS: Write a magazine article about companies putting on more musicals than movies. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on musicals. Ask him/her three questions about musicals. Give him/her three of your ideas. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

$US 9.99

Answers

(Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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