How to Chill Intermediate Level: * Reading: Netflix & Binge Watching * Business Vocabulary: Selected Idioms * Pronunciation: /f/ /s/ /@/ /0/ + Grammar: Wish and Regret + Functional Vocabulary: Asking for & Giving Opinions * Listening: Netflix Company History + Cultural Awareness Point: Soft Power + Role Play: Netflix - Future Growth Options www Business [Link] 1INTRODUCTION: Discuss this questions: What do you know about Netflix? What does ‘to chill’ mean? ‘Mare Randolph Netflix founders Reed Hastings READING I: Netflix Mare Randolph and Reed Hastings founded Netflix in 1998. The company developed from DVD rentals, to oneline streaming, to becoming a global TV network and content producer with original shows such as ‘House of Cards’ and ‘Orange is the New Black’ However, analysts believe that it is the convenience of streaming and the ease of use for customers that make Netflix popular, rather than its content. In January 2016, Netflix had over 75 million subscribers and added another 6 million by March 2016. These came from its aggressive expansion across the globe and helped to push the company value up by 7%. But there are risks to its growth, Netflix faces big competition from rivals such as Amazon Prime, and market saturation is also a problem. Netflix operates in most countries, but the biggest consumer market, China, remains out of reach, The company is hoping to start a service there in 2017, In a relaxed style, a company spokesperson said that regarding Chin: “our expectations are modest and long-term. We are chilled about it’ COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS How has Netflix developed since it started? What original shows does Netflix produce? What makes Netflix so popular? What are the risks to Netflix? What is happening in China? What do you think are Netflix’s future opportunities and problems? www [Link] 2PRONUNCIATION: /f/ /s/ /0/ /0/ EXERCISE I: Say these sentences to practice /f/ /s/ /0/ /0/ + Thick fingers are no good for this system. + Thelma and Theo have found the file on sotelite theory. *+ Ruth's clothes were found in the phone booth. +The thieves were rough, though they weren't a threat. + The fourth time they fought over the theme I ost faith in the formula. EXERCISE 2: /f/ /@/ /0/ /s/ or something else? Pronounce these words Cough - Drought - Pharmacy - Differ - Plough - Laugh - Rough - Threw - Tough - Paths - Those - Borough - Thames - Clothes - Netfix - Thrifty - Threat - Though - Through - Edinburgh - These ‘Netflix & Chil? This is a colloquial expression meaning to have casual sex with Netflix on the TV in the background. www [Link] 3COMPANY NAMES Origins of the name ‘Netflix’ The name is a combination of words. The Net is derived from the word Internet and Flix is a shortened version of the word flicks - a synonym for movie. SPEAKING PRACTICE In pairs, discus the origins of the names of these companies (check page 13 for the answers): Apple, Nike, Coca-Cola, Adidas, Lego, Google. Think of other company names and ask your partner why they are named, VOCABULARY - what do these words mean? You will hear them in Listening | below: Fans - DVD - own - postage stamp LISTENING I: Visit [Link] for the free MP3 listening file Listen to the audio about the origins of Netflix and answer the questions. NOTE: questions they are not in order What was the problem in the late 1990s? What were the advantages of DVD over video? How much money did they invest to start Netflix? When was Netflix founded? What experience did Randolph and Hastings have? eer www [Link] 4Which is correct? / wish ! would be like that - I wish I could be like that GRAMMAR PRACTICE - WISH & REGRET Wish This form can be used when referring to habitual action. eg. | wish he would stop interrupting me. Other expressions which have a similar meaning but take the past tense: + Would rather eg. | would rather you didn’t do that + tfonly eg; IEonly | knew what to do. EXERCISE |: Complete the following. Li study engineering than medicine. ZA you listen to what I'm trying to tell you. 3 you were in a position to make a decision. 4. The company it had accepted the offer. Regret This is use to express a past action that you wish was different. eg. | regret telling you the news. Regret is followed by the gerund (Ing form) and is not used in the gerund itself Jam regretting saying that (incorrect) | regret saying that (correct) EXERCISE 2: Imagine you are in these situations. Finish the sentences. More than one option is possible 1. You really like your friend’s new car. I wish 2. You arrive at the train station but the train has already departed. If only 3. You change jobs and then decide it was not the right decision. I regret 4, You're doing a boring task at work and think about being on holiday. wish 5. At lunch, you drink some wine and now you feel sleepy. I regret www [Link]Binge Watching = to binge means to do some intensely for a short period of time. Binge watching is the act of watching multiple episodes of a TV show one after another. Binge watching has become popular with the rise of online media services. ah eT etn EXERCISE: Insert regret / wish / if only into the gaps Do you ever watch multiple episodes of your favourite TV show and __ you hadn't? 60% of TV streamers regularly engage in binge watching, according to a recent survey conducted for Netflix. The survey defined a binge as viewing between 2 to 6 episodes of a show one after the other. it were easy to limit your viewing, but services like Netflix make it so easy to watch several episodes in one sitting. Adults who watch more than three hours of TV a day double the risk of premature death compared to those who watch less. Binge watching can be a solitary activity with over 60% of binge watchers sitting alone. Some people argue that binge watching is harmless, but the isolation and physical problems associated with inactivity and snacking are dangerous elements. When binge watching becomes an issue you start to neglect your work and your personal relationships. People often binge watching sessions, but the desire to sit through just one more episode is often too hard to resist. SPEAKING PRACTICE In pairs, discuss what things you do that you regret or wish you hadn't done e.g. | wish I had studied medicine at school. | regret eating all that popcorn. How can a person break the habit of binge watching? What else becomes a problem if you binge on it? How can you achieve a balance between entertainment and addiction? www [Link] 6BUSINESS IDIOMS EXERCISE |: Find the meaning of the underlined idiom from the list I. It's a far ery from the days of S-channel TV. A loud noise - less communicative - long time since - a long distance 2. only he would stop talking and hear me out. Let me listen — ask me my opinion — let me go - let me finish speaking 3. They started with DVD rentals but have branched out into production. ‘Swapped - diversified ~ sub-contracted ~ delivered — face obstacles 4, He's got it into his head that production is the solution, but that’s short sighted, The answer — a mental problem ~ a possible idea - seriously believes 5. The boss blew his top when he saw the sales figures. Laughed loudly — became angry — started to ery — began sneezing EXERCISE 2: Put the correct idiom in the gap 1. Whatever you do don’t ‘that this is the only solution. 2. These offices are from the single desk we started with. 3. The company from its core business and now runs cinemas. 4. The customer when she got the bill. 5. Ifyou I will tell you the real reasons for my decision. www [Link]FUNCTIONAL LANGUAGE PRACTICE: Ability & Inability EXAMPLE SENTENCES * Great businessmen are capable of leading as well as managing + The company is unable to accept returned products unless they are damaged + Banks are permitting customers to switch accounts without charge * Clients are allowed to test the product before buying. USES I. Making someone able or something possible: * Fast Internet speeds allow us to stream films in seconds. 2. Being able to do something: + Julia can confirm an order without asking for permission. * He is capable of working 1'5 hours per day. 3. Making something impossible or someone unable: + This time the cost prevented us from signing the contract. + The manoger refused to meet me. 4. Being unable to do something: + Pd like to visit the factory but 1 can’t (something is stopping me). + The salesman is incapable of discussing the project without blowing his top. Make Able - | Be Able Make unable - Be Unable to Possible impossible Enable Can Prohibit Can't Allow Be able to Prevent Not able to Permit Be capable of Stopihatt Unable to Give permission Know how to. Refuse permission to Be incapable of Granted Be possible to Forbidden Be impossible to Approved Should be able to Banned Te have no chance www [Link]EXERCISE |: Fill the gaps with an appropriate verb from the table above and put it in the correct form. NOTE: More than one answer is possible, Photography in the research and development area is strictly 1 2. The restrictions are us from entering the consumer market in China, 3. We offer over a milion films and this us to charge @ premium rate. 4. Don't blow your top, but the bank has not our overdraft. 5. We branched out so we spread the risk. WHAT NOT TO WATCH EXERCISE 2: Imagine imposing restrictions on the Media Industry in your country. Write five sentences on what a company can or cannot do. CULTURAL AWARENESS POINT: SOFT POWER Using culture as a form of international influence is called: soft power. In 2016 Russian Minister of Culture Viadimir Medinsky claimed that Netflix is part of an ‘American strategy to influence the world culture. The pian is to enter every home, get into every television, and through that television, into the head of every person and promote the ‘American way of life. SPEAKING PRACTICE * What do you think of the claim by Vladimir Medinsky? + What is hard power? + Which is more effective, soft or hard power and why? www [Link] 9Discuss: What are Netfix’s future opportunities and possible problems? VOCABULARY - what do these words mean? You will hear them in Listening 2 below: streaming — commercials — broadband LISTENING 2: Visit [Link] for the free MP3 listening file Listen to the audio about the growth of Netflix and answer the questions. 1. What helped Netflix in 20027 2, What were its revenues in 2002? 3. What happened in 2008? 4, What does Neil Hunt believe? 5, What were company revenues in 2015? ROLE-PLAY: Netflix - Future Growth Options Netflix wants to enter new markets with diversification. The Creative Team and the Management Team meet to discuss the options. Creative Team — you want to develop an Internet search platform because you believe that it will enable you to identify and target new customers. Management Team - you see opportunities in buying state owned TV companies in foreign countries. If you gain permission to buy the public channels you believe you can open up new markets for programmes and sales revenues. EXERCISE: Discuss your strategy as a team and then present your ideas to the class. Debate the topic and use the Functional Vocabulary, Grammar, Idioms and Pronunciation from this module. www [Link] 10