BINGE WATCHING

Watch the video titled “What Binge Watching Does to Your Brain” by Vice.

WARM UP
Task 1: Answer the following binge watching trivia questions:

1. What is binge watching?

a. watching 1 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

Task 2: Discuss the following questions as a class.

a. In your own words, define “binge watching”.

b. What is your favourite show? Describe it, and say why you like it.

c. Do you think binge watching has become more popular in recent years? Explain.

d. Why has Netflix become so popular? Do you think its popularity will last forever?

e. Do you believe it is worth paying for a subscription to avoid adverts?

ESL Pals 1 General English

 COMMON PHRASES
Task 1: Complete the following exercises.

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. _________________________. 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. _________________________. 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 cry with laughter. I give it 5-stars!

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

4. _________________________. 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 rollercoaster of emotions!

5. _________________________. Get ready to have nightmares after watching this

terrifying series. Every episode made me jump out of my seat, there were so many
frightening scenes! The story is captivating too, and series 1 ended on a cliffhanger
so I cannot wait for series 2!

Task 2: Answer the following questions as a class.

a. If you aren’t hooked within the first 5 minutes, do you stop watching?
b. Tearjerkers are growing in popularity, why do people like sad TV shows?
c. Do you believe that TV series purposely end with cliffhangers? Why?
d. Name a film that made you cry with laughter.
e. Do you like shows that are nerve-wracking or do you prefer more relaxed shows?
f. Describe a show that takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions.

Task 3: Use the words and phrases to describe your favourite show.

ESL Pals 2 General English

 STREAMING SERVICE VOCABULARY
Task 1: Match the vocabulary from the video to the correct definition.

1. Streaming services a) list of names who worked to create the series.

2. Algorithms b) when people watch a series for many hours.

3. Sounds like a stretch c) a chemical in the brain that makes people feel good.

4. Dopamine d) online entertainment source for TV shows, movies.

5. Credits e) code and data used to tell a computer what to do.

6. Series marathon f) when something seems exaggerated / unrealistic.

Task 2: Complete the following using the words from task 1.

a. YouTube uses ___________________ to recommend content based on your taste.

b. I love watching movies and TV shows on ___________________ like Netflix and Hulu.

c. I know it ___________________ , but with the right algorithm, streaming services can
predict what shows you’ll like better than you can.

d. When we watch something we love on a streaming service, our brain releases

___________________, making us feel happy and satisfied.

e. After finishing a show, I like to stay and watch the ___________________ to see the
names of the talented people involved.

f. Last weekend, I organised a _________________ with my friends, where we watched

multiple seasons of our favourite show back-to-back.

Task 3: Practise using the words in a natural way by discussing the following questions.

● What is your favourite streaming service? Why?

● Do algorithms improve your viewing experience? Why?

● What is the purpose of the credits? Does anyone ever watch them?

● Do you think most people are unaware of the effects of dopamine?

● Have you ever organised a series marathon with friends?

● Do you know any myths or rumours about Netflix that sound like a stretch?

ESL Pals 3 General English

 WHAT BINGE WATCHING DOES TO YOUR BRAIN
Watch the video 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?
● What are the advantages of thinking of them as all-consuming algorithms?

“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.

● Do you know anyone who you think could be addicted to watching series?

“Binge watching marathons releases 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 one episode, or do you watch more? Explain.
● How does dopamine make you continue watching series?

“Streaming services found a way to exploit our psychological need to complete things”

● Does this apply to you? Do you often finish series that you don’t enjoy?

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

● Do you believe this has a negative effect on our real-life relationships? Explain.
● Can you name a fictional character who you identified with?

“Netflix’s biggest competitor is sleep”

● What tactics does Netflix use to make us choose another episode over sleep?
● Have you ever lost sleep because you stayed up watching a show?

ESL Pals 4 General English

 LET’S DEBATE
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 productive
activities. I think TV series are bad for people's personal and career development.”

“I think that TV series are a great educational tool. I enjoy watching 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
people aren’t socialising as often as they used to due to their addiction to TV. It seems
that people are prioritising their 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 as it enables people to reflect on their actions. Also, everybody
watches them, 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!”

ESL Pals 5 General English

 LET’S DESCRIBE SHOWS
Work with a classmate to describe shows using the phrases from today’s class.

1. Classmate A names a famous show.

2. Classmate B writes or says three sentences to describe the show.
3. Classmate B must use three different phrases in each sentence.
4. Take turns being classmate A and classmate B.

Use the following phrases in your answers.

edge of my seat nerve-wracking twists and turns tearjerker

twists and turns cry with laughter put yourself in the shoes hooked

nightmares jump out of my seat rollercoaster of emotions cliffhanger

WOULD YOU RATHER?

Have fun while discussing the following questions. Would you rather…

have a free streaming service with ads or pay a subscription and have no ads?

never watch a TV show again or never listen to music again?

watch a movie at the cinema or stream a movie at home?

watch YouTube videos or browse through social media posts?

read a physical book or listen to an audiobook?

ESL Pals 6 General English

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.

1. Increases Social Connections. Binge 4. Fulfilling. While binge-watching, the

watching creates a sense of community viewer can feel the joy of full immersion
around a show. It is called “a shared (otherwise known as “the zone”) which is
cultured area” by experts. This mutual a great feeling like staying up the entire
ground allows viewers to talk about the night to complete a book or a project.
show with everybody from a coworker to
the stranger in line at the grocery store. 5. Makes One Attentive. Shows created
People who feel lonely and isolated find it for binge watching are usually
easy and relatable in this shared area. sophisticated with complex storylines,
They also find space to share personal connections, and dimensional characters.
views. According to journalist and media theorist
Steven Johnson, watching this kind of
2. Strengthens Relationships. Romantic show makes viewers smarter, as they are
relationships or friendships also can be concentrating for long periods and
strengthened by binge-watching as it process complex information.
creates a shared interest to do together.
Also, a series is a good conversation 6. Saves Money. Taking a family of four
starter and is an easy way to share time (two adults, two kids) to the cinema costs
together. $60 in tickets. Add costs of foods or
snacks and you’re looking at least $80 for
3. Can Reduce Stress. According to 2 hours of fun. A Netflix subscription
psychiatrists, binge watching releases costs $8.99 per month, there are millions
dopamine within the brain, which creates of users who are taking advantage of
a sense of enjoyment and might allow hours of recreation - and they are paying
people to relax and relieve stress. about ten percent of the value of one
Finishing a series will give viewers a dinner and cinema.
feeling of control and power, which might
Adapted from honestprosandcons.com. Link: Article
be helpful if viewers don’t feel in control
during their daily lives.

ESL Pals 7 General English

On a separate piece of paper, write detailed answers to the following questions:

1. How does binge-watching contribute to a sense of community and shared culture?

2. In what ways can binge-watching strengthen romantic relationships or friendships?

3. How does binge-watching contribute to stress reduction, and what role does
dopamine play in this process?

4. What is the significance of the "joy of full immersion" experienced during

binge-watching and how does it compare to other immersive activities?

5. How does watching shows designed for binge-watching enhance viewers'

attentiveness and cognitive abilities?

6. What are the cost benefits of binge-watching compared to traditional forms of

entertainment like going to the cinema?

7. How does binge-watching provide a platform for individuals to share their personal
views and perspectives with others?

8. What impact does binge-watching have on individuals who feel lonely or isolated,
and why is it relatable for them?

9. How does binge-watching create opportunities for conversation and connection

with people from various walks of life?

10. In what ways can binge-watching be considered a form of escapism and control for
individuals who feel powerless in their daily lives?

11. How does the availability of millions of users taking advantage of hours of
recreation through affordable subscriptions like Netflix change the entertainment
landscape?

12. How does binge-watching compare to other activities in terms of its potential to
make viewers smarter and improve their cognitive abilities?

ESL Pals 8 General English

 WRITING TASK

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

ESL Pals 9 General English