BINGE WATCHING - EslPals

BINGE WATCHING

Watch the v ideo titled "What Binge Watching Does to Your Brain" by Vice

WARM UP

Answer the following binge watching trivia questions

1. What is binge watching? a. watching 1x episode per day b. uncontrolled watching of a series.

2. What percentage of millennials have engaged in binge watching?

a. 67%

b. 75%

c. 90%

3. As of summer 2020, how many subscribers does Netflix have?

a. 150 million

b. 75 million

c . 400 million

4. How many hours of advertising does Netflix save you per year?

a. 50 hours

b. 160 hours

c. 30 hours

Questions In your opinion, why do millennials binge watch so often? Why has Netflix become so popular? Do you think its popularity will last forever? Do you believe it is worth paying for a subscription to avoid adverts?

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COMMON PHRASES

Complete the following exercises below.

a) Match the genre from the box to the correct review (1-5). b) Discuss the phrases in bold with your teacher.

Comedy

Thriller

Drama

Horror

Romance

1. T hriller I was on the edge of my seat while watching this series. The nerve-wracking events took many twists and turns. Each episode had numerous exciting incidents, and the season finale was completely unexpected. I highly recommend watching it!

2. Comedy This series will have you rolling on the floor laughing as there are many great jokes and funny situations. The main character tells hundreds of jokes that will make you c ry with laughter. I give it 5 stars as it is a must-watch!

3. Romance Forget `happily ever after' and `love at first sight'. This series is a tearjerker which shows the heartbreak of a married couple going through a divorce. You will be hooked on this series from the first minute!

4. D rama Put yourself in the shoes of a young man as he deals with many different social issues such as divorce, debt and mental illness. This series shows the best and worst of humanity, a r ollercoaster of emotions! Very watchable!

5. H orror Get ready to have nightmares after watching this terrifying series. Every episode made me jump out of my seat as there are many frightening scenes! The story is captivating too, series 1 ended on a cliffhanger s o I cannot wait for series 2!

Now, answer the following questions:

If you aren't h ooked within the first 5 minutes, do you stop watching? Tearjerkers are growing in popularity, why do people like sad TV shows? Do you believe that TV series purposely end with c liffhangers? Why?

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STREAMING SERVICE VOCABULARY

Match the vocabulary from the video to the correct definition.

1. Streaming Services D 2. Algorithms E 3. Sounds Like a Stretch F 4. Dopamine C 5. Credits A 6. Series Marathon B

a) l ist of names who worked to create the series. b) when people watch a series for many hours. c) a chemical in the brain, makes people feel good. d) online entertainment source for TV shows, movies. e) code and data used to tell a computer what to do. f) when something seems exaggerated / unrealistic.

Questions What is your favourite s treaming service? Why? Do algorithms improve your viewing experience? Why? What is the purpose of the credits? Does anybody ever watch them?

VIDEO ACTIVITY

Watch the v ideo again, then read and discuss the quotes from the video.

"We should think of streaming services as faceless all-consuming algorithms trying to sell you more of what they've already gotten you addicted to"

Do you agree? Or do you think streaming services have some positive influence?

"Binge watching has essentially made you an addict and I know that sounds like a stretch but it's kind of true"

How is binge watching addictive? Explain.

"Binge watching marathons release dopamine in the brain, and when you're engaged in any activity that triggers a release of dopamine... your brain tells you not to stop"

Are you able to stop after watching 1x episode or do you watch more? Explain.

"Streaming services have found a way to exploit our psychological need to complete things"

Does this apply to you? Do you finish books / series that you don't enjoy? Explain.

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"Our brains project real emotions onto characters and events that we're invested in or identify with"

Do you believe this has a negative affect on our real-life relationships? Explain.

"Netflix's biggest competitor is sleep" What tactics does Netflix use to make us choose another episode over sleep?

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DEBATES

Read the debates, then discuss which side you agree with. Explain your reasoning.

1. Are streaming services educational? "I believe that watching TV shows is a waste of time and a huge distraction. I don't even have a TV in my house. I prefer to spend my time studying or concentrating on other productive activities. I think TV series are bad for people's personal & career development."

"I think that TV series are a great educational tool. I enjoy watching many documentaries which enable me to learn about many different topics. But most importantly, Netflix is a great way to improve my language level as I can watch series in many different languages".

2. Are streaming services ruining social interactions?

"In my opinion, TV series are having a negative impact on social interactions. I believe that people are not socialising as often as they used to due to their addiction to TV. It seems that people are prioritising their fake, virtual relationships over their real-world relationships."

"TV series are very important in modern life. I believe that they hold a mirror up to society which is positive because it enables people to reflect on their actions. Also everybody watches TV series so they encourage conversations which can build strong relationships."

3. Should TV series be released at once or weekly?

"For me it's great when a full series gets released because I love spending a weekend on the sofa just watching the whole thing! The reason I love doing this is because I enjoy being immersed in another world as it allows me to switch off from reality"

"I wish Netflix would release episodes weekly. I think it would be better this way because it would prevent people from becoming addicted. Also, I don't think people appreciate a series when they binge watch it. When you watch a series with weekly episodes, the suspense builds and you enjoy it more!"

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HOMEWORK

Read the article titled "Pros and Cons of Binge-Watching" by Bishakha.

PROS OF BINGE WATCHING

Read the article below and then complete the exercises that follow.

The Pros of Binge Watching a Series

1. Increases Social Connections Binge-watching creates a sense of community around a show. It is called "a shared cultured area" by experts. This mutual ground allows viewers to talk about the show with everybody from a coworker to the stranger in line at the grocery store. People who feel lonely and isolated find it easy and relatable in this shared area. They also find space to share personal views.

2. Strengthens Relationships or Friendships - Romantic relationships or friendships also can be strengthened by binge-watching as it creates a shared interest to do together. Also, a series is a good conversation starter and is an easy way to share time together.

3. Can Reduce Stress - According to psychiatrists, binge-watching releases dopamine within the brain, which creates a sense of enjoyment and might allow people to relax and relieve stress. Finishing a series will give viewers a feeling of control and power, which might be helpful if viewers don't feel in control during their daily lives.

4. Fulfilling - While binge-watching, the viewer can feel the joy of full immersion (otherwise known as "the zone" ) which is an incredible feeling like remaining up the entire night to complete a book or assignments/projects.

5. Makes One Attentive - Shows created for binge-watching are usually additionally sophisticated with complex storylines, connections, and multi-dimensional characters. According to journalist and media theorist Steven Johnson, watching this kind of show makes viewers smarter, as they are concentrating for long periods and process complex information.

6. Saves Money - Taking a family of four (two adults, two kids) to a cinema hall costs $60 in tickets. Add costs of foods or snacks and you're looking at least $80 for 2 hours of fun. A Netflix subscription costs $8.99 per month, there are millions of users who are taking advantage of hours of recreation - and they are paying about ten percent of the value of one dinner and cinema.

Adapted from , The 10 pros of binge watching by Bishaka. Link: Article

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Article Questions:

Do you agree with the benefits mentioned in the article? Explain. Do you disagree with any of the points raised in the article? Can you think of any benefits of binge watching?

WRITING TASK

Name 5 negatives of binge watching, providing an explanation and example for each point. You may use the article link for guidance - a rticle.

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