Podcast Binge Watching British English Teacher

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GENERAL ENGLISH · LINGUAHOUSE PODCAST · PRE-INTERMEDIATE (A2-B1)
PODCAST:
BINGE-
WATCHING
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1CDT-M3DS-C7K
1 Warm up
Look at the definition and in small groups, answer the questions below.
binge-watching (phrase) - watching several episodes of a series on the same occasion
1. Which platform(s) do you usually use to watch series?
2. What series have you enjoyed recently?
3. How do you usually watch series: one episode at a time or binge-watching?
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PRE-INTERMEDIATE (A2-B1)
PODCAST: BINGE-WATCHING
2 Focus on vocabulary
Complete the following definitions with the missing vowels (a, e, i, o, u).
Group 1:
1. n _ rm (n) – what is expected to happen
2. a _ t _ m _ t _ cally (adv.) – something that happens without anyone taking any action
3. st _ _ dy (adj.) – even and regular
4. p _ st _ me (n) – an activity you do when you’re not working
5. b _ ck - t _ - b _ ck (adj) – one after the other
6. st _ ts (n) – short for statistics; official information
7. cl _ ffh _ ng _ r (n) - an event at the end of an episode that makes you want to keep watching
Group 2:
1. str _ _ m _ ng pl _ tf _ rms(phrase) - websites that show series and films
2. _ n | th_ | r _ s _ (phrase) – increasing, going up
3. d _ p _ m _ n _ (n) - a substance in your brain responsible for pleasure
4. gl _ b _ l tr _ nd (phrase) – something that happens all over the world
5. _ p _ s _ d _ (n) – one part of a series
6. k _ _ p | _ | b _ l _ nc _ (phrase) – have a situation where different things exist in equal amounts
7. s _ tt _ ngs (n) – the controls of a machine or a website
3 Listening to podcast
Part A: Listen to the first part of the podcast (00:00-03:02). Put the topics in the order they are
mentioned.
Angus’ favourite series
Binge-watching in the past and now
Binge-watching around the world
Information about how much people binge-watch
How streaming platforms encourage binge-watching
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Part B: Listen to the second part of the podcast (03:03-06:03) and say if the sentences below are true
(T) or false (F).
1. Over half of people in a study didn’t sleep to watch a series at least one time.
2. Most binge-watchers feel good about doing it.
3. Binge-watching reduces the production of dopamine.
4. Angus sometimes stops watching an episode before its end.
5. Streaming platforms don’t let you turn off auto-play.
6. People who binge-watch can remember more about a series than those who watch one episode
at a time.
7. Helen prefers to watch one episode at a time.
8. Angus doesn’t think he can watch just one episode.
Part C: Listen to the whole podcast again and complete the sentences with the words or numbers
below.
20 22 balance
Dark escape game
pandemic shorter turn off
1. Angus’ favourite series is called .
2. Americans watch on average hours of TV every week.
3. Binge-watching increased a lot during the .
4. Episodes of series have become , to give the viewer a feeling of

progress.
5. % of people in a survey had binge-watched a series while working.
6. Netflix found out that binge-watching provides an from real-life

issues.
7. Many people don’t know that you can auto-play on your streaming
platform.
8. Angus and Helen agree that binge-watching can be fun if you maintain a
with other activities.
9. The next podcast is about how many things in our lives have become a .

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4 Speaking practice
Imagine you have a friend who loves binge-watching series. Record a voice message talking about
the podcast. Mention the key points of the podcast and give advice about how they can keep control
of their binge-watching. Include the information below.
• statistics about binge-watching
• when binge-watching started
• what streaming platforms do to encourage binge-watching
• the problems with binge-watching
• the advantages of binge-watching
• what you can do to reduce your binge-watching
5 Talking point
In pairs, discuss the questions below.
1. What information did you find most surprising in this podcast?
2. What questions do you still have about this topic?
3. How much TV watching is too much?
4. What other advantages and disadvantages of binge watching can you think of?
5. Why do you think some platforms drop a whole season at once, while others post an episode per
week?
6. How do you think people will watch TV in the future?
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6 Extension activities/homework
Task A: Complete the extract from the script with the words below. Then listen again and check.
above all as for lot much of one

out per shall some that the to why
1
Helen: Hello, and welcome Angus and Helen’s podcast. I’m
Helen...
Angus: And I’m Angus.
Helen: Had a good weekend, Angus?

2
Angus: Well, not to do with this weather, is there? So I watched
3
again first season of my favourite series, Dark.
4
Helen: That German one? Yeah, that’s a good . How many episodes
of the season did you watch?
5
Angus: All it! I binge-watched the whole season.
6 7
Helen: I had a feeling you’d say , and that’s
I asked. Because that’s the topic of today’s podcast. We’ll be looking into one of
many people’s favourite pastimes (Angus included): watching episodes back-to-back
8
hours.
9
Angus: Nice! I suppose you’ve done research then.
10
Helen: I have! Let’s start with some stats, we? I found
11
that Americans watch around 20 hours of TV a week,
and 38% of them spend that time binge-watching.
12
Angus: That’s a .
13
Helen: Also, the average time spent binge-watching is 4.2 hours
time.
14 15
Angus: I guess I’m average then. I can spend
day binge-watching. But you mentioned Americans. Is binge-watching a global trend?
Helen: Very much. According to the website Statista, people from countries
16
different as China, Argentina, Saudi Arabia and
Italy all love to binge-watch.
Task B: Follow your teacher’s instructions to play example, definition or first letter.

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TEACHER MATERIALS · PRE-INTERMEDIATE (A2-B1)
Transcripts
3. Listening to podcast
Part: -1-
Helen: Hello, and welcome to Angus and Helen’s podcast. I’m Helen...
Angus: And I’m Angus.
Helen: Had a good weekend, Angus?
Angus: Well, not much to do with this weather, is there? So I watched again the first season of
my favourite series, Dark.
Helen: That German one? Yeah, that’s a good one. How many episodes of the season did you
watch?
Angus: All of it! I binge-watched the whole season.
Helen: I had a feeling you’d say that, and that’s why I asked. Because that’s the topic of today’s
podcast. We’ll be looking into one of many people’s favourite pastimes (Angus included):
watching episodes back-to-back for hours.
Angus: Nice! I suppose you’ve done some research then.
Helen: I have! Let’s start with some stats, shall we? I found out that Americans watch around 20
hours of TV a week, and 38% of them spend that time binge-watching.
Angus: That’s a lot.
Helen: Also, the average time spent binge-watching is 4.2 hours per time.
Angus: I guess I’m above average then. I can spend all day binge-watching. But you mentioned
Americans. Is binge-watching a global trend?
Helen: Very much. According to the website Statista, people from countries as different as China,
Argentina, Saudi Arabia and Italy all love to binge-watch.
Angus: I get a feeling that it’s also on the rise?
Helen: Yes, you wouldn’t be wrong there. Our slightly older listeners will remember that binge-
watching is not a recent behaviour. About fifteen years ago, box sets were the thing:
you could buy a box with the DVDs or VHSs of your favourite series, and many people
already liked to watch them in one go. But of course, since streaming platforms became
popular, more and more people started binge-watching, especially during the pandemic.
Many people kept those habits afterwards.
Angus: I suppose that in part that’s because the streaming platforms encourage people to binge-
watch, right? Like in Dark, there’s always the cliffhanger at the end of the episode, that
key moment so you just have to keep watching.
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Helen: Oh, yes, cliffhangers are just one of the many tricks these platforms use. Also, you may
have noticed that episodes of series are becoming shorter and shorter. There was a time
that one hour was the norm, but nowadays more and more series have episodes that last
around 20 minutes each. That gives the viewer a stronger feeling of progress, of getting
something done. And of course, it’s easier to persuade yourself to watch another episode:
just another twenty minutes...
Angus: And then there’s also auto-play: the next episode comes on automatically, so you don’t
have to do anything.
Helen: Exactly. What these platforms are trying to do is make binge-watching accepted as a
normal behaviour. They promote binge marathons and binge racing, which is about being
among the first to finish a new season, as soon as it drops.
Part : -2-
Angus: But is binge-watching not normal behaviour then?
Helen: It depends on who you ask. I guess, as with most things in life, there are advantages and
disadvantages, and too much of it can be bad for you.
Angus: Like when you don’t sleep properly ...
Helen: Exactly. Unhealthy sleeping patterns, antisocial behaviour, and even poor work or
academic performance. A study from Morning Consult found out that 52% of people
interviewed had already stayed up all night watching a show at least once, 24% had
cancelled social plans to watch a show, and 22% had already binge-watched at work!
Angus: But there are also good things about binge-watching too, surely.
Helen: Of course. In a survey carried out by Netflix, 76% of people said it’s an escape from the
problems of real life. In another study, 73% of binge-watchers said they have positive
feelings about it. It’s all about what happens in our brain.
Angus: I read something somewhere about dopamine?
Helen: Exactly. Binge-watching produces in our brains a steady flow of dopamine, which is a
substance responsible for happiness and pleasure. It’s the same as when we use our
phones.
Angus: So what if we realise it’s getting a bit too much? What can we do to binge-watch less?
What I do sometimes is to stop watching about five minutes before the end of the episode.
So I don’t get to that cliffhanger. I find it easier to turn off the TV or the laptop then.
Helen: That’s a good one! Another very simple thing that not many people know is that you
can turn off autoplay in the settings so that the next episode doesn’t start automatically.
That seems like a small thing, but it gives the viewer more power: they have to make the
decision to watch another episode and take action to do it.
Angus: I might do that then. But after all, is it better to binge-watch or watch one episode at a
time?
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Helen: Well, I have some statistics on that too. According to a study by First Monday, people who
binge-watch remember less what they’ve seen than people who watch a series in the old
way, one episode at a time.
Angus: Well, I guess it’s all about keeping a balance with other things in your life, right?
Helen: Oh, yes. Binge-watching, especially with friends, can be a really fun experience.
Angus: You haven’t said yet how you prefer to watch a series, Helen.
Helen: Yeah... I have to say I’m more of a classic viewer. I prefer to watch one episode at a time,
then look forward to the next one. I mean, not like once a week, but maybe one a day?
But hey ... maybe I should try binge-watching, and you can try watching one episode a
day to see what it’s like.
Angus: No (laughing), not for me. I simply cannot do that!
Helen: (laughing) Well, we’ll finish here then, so that Angus can go back to his series!
Angus: And don’t miss next week’s podcast – not even to binge-watch your favourite series! We’ll
be talking about gamification: how many things in our lives are now like a game.
Helen: Can’t wait!
Angus: Me neither!
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Key
1. Warm up
5 mins.
Form small groups and ask them to discuss the questions. Then hold a brief class discussion to summarise findings,
especially regarding how they watch series (one episode at a time or binge-watching).
2. Focus on vocabulary
5 mins.
Ask students to complete the following words with the missing vowels. When correcting, drill the correct pronunciation
and ask them to use the words in different sentences.
Group 1:
1. norm 2. automatically 3. steady 4. pastime

5. back-to-back 6. stats 7. cliffhanger
Group 2:
1. streaming platforms 2. on the rise 3. dopamine 4. global trend

5. episode 6. keep a balance 7. settings
3. Listening to podcast
Part A:
6 mins.
Ask students to read the list of topics, predicting what will be said about each one. Students then listen and put
the topics in order. Correct as a whole class, eliciting further details within each topic.
Sources:
https://wistia.com/learn/marketing/science-behind-why-we-binge-watch
https://instituteofliving.org/health-wellness/news/newsroom-detail?articleId-45110&publicid-469
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7344932/
Angus’ favourite series

Information about how much people binge-watch
Binge-watching around the world
Binge-watching in the past and now
How streaming platforms encourage binge-watching
Part B:
6 mins.
Students listen to the rest of the podcast and decide if the sentences are true or false. Before correcting as a
whole class, ask them to compare answers in pairs and try to remember other details.
1. T - 52%
2. T - 73% have positive feelings
3. F - produces a steady flow of dopamine
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4. T - about five minutes before

5. F - you can turn it off in the settings
6. F - those who watch one at a time remember more
7. T - one a day
8. T - he cannot do that
Part C:
10 mins.
Students read the sentences and try to complete them based on what they remember and where the words or
numbers fit. They then listen to the podcast again to check. When correcting, play the recording again and pause
at the key parts.
1. Dark 2. 20 3. pandemic
4. shorter 5. 22 6. escape
7. turn off 8. balance 9. game
4. Speaking practice
15 mins.
Tell students they are going to record a voice message about the topic of the podcast. Allow them some time
to prepare, but encourage them not to write down everything they’re going to say. Once they’re ready, they
can record themselves. Tell them they can either start again if they’re not happy with the result or record it in
parts. Once they’re ready, ask them to exchange messages with another student, who should listen to it and give
feedback.
5. Talking point
5 mins.
Students discuss the questions in pairs. Elicit some ideas as a whole class.
6. Extension activities/homework
Task A:
15 mins.
Ask students to complete the extract with one word in each gap. Encourage them to think of the missing word
based on what they remember from listening, as well as which words fit grammatically, and only then check
whether the word is in the box. They then listen again and check. After correcting, you can use the extract
to practise shadowing, i.e., play the extract one more time and students read out along with the speaker (not
afterwards).
1. to 2. much 3. the 4. one

5. of 6. that 7. why 8. for
9. some 10. shall 11. out 12. lot
13. per 14. above 15. all 16. as
Task B:
10 mins.
Put students in small groups and assign either A or B to each (in equal numbers). Hand out the word lists, reminding
them not to read them out loud or let other groups see them. Students work together to write an example sentence
and a definition for each of the words in their box. Then put students in pairs (student A with student B). Student
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A chooses a number from 1-5. Student B asks Example, definition, first letter. Student A chooses which one they
want, Student B says it, and Student A has one guess at the word. If they are correct, they get 5 points. If they
are wrong, they can get another piece of information and another guess, worth now 3 points. If they still can’t get
it, then the last piece of information is given and a correct guess is worth 1 point. They then swap roles and start
again.
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HEAAADERLOGORIGHT

GENERAL ENGLISH · LINGUAHOUSE PODCAST · PRE-INTERMEDIATE (A2-B1)

binge-watching (phrase) - watching several episodes of a series on the same occasion

1. Which platform(s) do you usually use to watch series?

2. What series have you enjoyed recently?

3. How do you usually watch series: one episode at a time or binge-watching?

FOOOOTERRIGHT Learn without forgetting! 1/5

1. n _ rm (n) – what is expected to happen

3. st _ _ dy (adj.) – even and regular

4. p _ st _ me (n) – an activity you do when you’re not working

5. b _ ck - t _ - b _ ck (adj) – one after the other

6. st _ ts (n) – short for statistics; oﬃcial information

1. str _ _ m _ ng pl _ tf _ rms(phrase) - websites that show series and ﬁlms

2. _ n | th_ | r _ s _ (phrase) – increasing, going up

3. d _ p _ m _ n _ (n) - a substance in your brain responsible for pleasure

4. gl _ b _ l tr _ nd (phrase) – something that happens all over the world

5. _ p _ s _ d _ (n) – one part of a series

6. k _ _ p | _ | b _ l _ nc _ (phrase) – have a situation where diﬀerent things exist in equal amounts

7. s _ tt _ ngs (n) – the controls of a machine or a website

Angus’ favourite series

Binge-watching in the past and now

Binge-watching around the world

Information about how much people binge-watch

How streaming platforms encourage binge-watching

FOOOOTERLEFT Learn without forgetting! 2/5

2. Most binge-watchers feel good about doing it.

3. Binge-watching reduces the production of dopamine.

4. Angus sometimes stops watching an episode before its end.

5. Streaming platforms don’t let you turn oﬀ auto-play.

7. Helen prefers to watch one episode at a time.

8. Angus doesn’t think he can watch just one episode.

1. Angus’ favourite series is called .

2. Americans watch on average hours of TV every week.

3. Binge-watching increased a lot during the .

4. Episodes of series have become , to give the viewer a feeling of

5. % of people in a survey had binge-watched a series while working.

6. Netﬂix found out that binge-watching provides an from real-life

FOOOOTERRIGHT Learn without forgetting! 3/5

• statistics about binge-watching

• when binge-watching started

• what streaming platforms do to encourage binge-watching

• the problems with binge-watching

• the advantages of binge-watching

• what you can do to reduce your binge-watching

1. What information did you ﬁnd most surprising in this podcast?

2. What questions do you still have about this topic?

3. How much TV watching is too much?

6. How do you think people will watch TV in the future?

FOOOOTERLEFT Learn without forgetting! 4/5

above all as for lot much of one

Helen: Had a good weekend, Angus?

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Angus: And I’m Angus.

Helen: Had a good weekend, Angus?

Angus: All of it! I binge-watched the whole season.

Angus: Nice! I suppose you’ve done some research then.

Angus: That’s a lot.

Angus: I get a feeling that it’s also on the rise?

Angus: But is binge-watching not normal behaviour then?

Angus: Like when you don’t sleep properly ...

Angus: I read something somewhere about dopamine?

Angus: No (laughing), not for me. I simply cannot do that!