how to chill - bes – business english study · regret is followed by the gerund (ing form) and is...

www.BusinessEnglishStudy.com 1

How to Chill Intermediate Level:

• Reading: Netflix & Binge Watching

• Business Vocabulary: Selected Idioms

• Pronunciation: /f/ /s/ / / / /

• 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


INTRODUCTION: Discuss these questions with a partner: What do you know about Netflix? What does ‘to chill’ mean?

Marc Randolph Netfl ix founders Reed Hastings

READING 1: Netflix Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings founded Netflix in 1998. The company developed from DVD rentals, to on-line 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 2019, Netflix had over 148 million global subscribers and added another 6 million by March 2019. These came from its aggressive expansion and helped to push the company value up by 7% and revenues to $16 billion. 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 2020. In a relaxed style, a company spokesperson said that regarding China, ‘our expectations are modest and long-term. We are chilled about it.’

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. How has Netflix developed since it started? 2. What original shows does Netflix produce? 3. What makes Netflix so popular? 4. What are the risks to Netflix? 5. What is happening in China? 6. What do you think are Netflix’s future opportunities and problems?


PRONUNCIATION: /f/ /s/ / / / /

EXERCISE 1: Say these sentences to practice /f/ /s/ / / / /

• Thick fingers are no good for this system.

• Thelma and Theo have found the file on satellite 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 lost faith in the formula.

EXERCISE 2: /f/ / / / / /s/ - Pronounce these words

Cough - Drought - Pharmacy - Differ - Plough - Laugh - Rough - Threw - Tough -

Paths - Those - Borough - Thames - Clothes - Netflix - Thrifty - Threat - Though -

Through - Edinburgh - These

‘Netflix & Chill’ This is a colloquial expression meaning to have casual sex with Netflix on the TV in the background.


COMPANY NAMES

Origins of the name ‘Netfl ix’ 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 1 below: Fans - DVD - own - postage stamp

LISTENING 1:

Listen to the audio and answer the questions. NOTE: questions they are not in order

1. What was the problem in the late 1990s? 2. What were the advantages of DVD over video? 3. How much money did they invest to start Netflix? 4. When was Netflix founded? 5. What experience did Randolph and Hastings have?


Which is correct? I wish I 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. e.g. I wish he would stop interrupting me. Other expressions which have a similar meaning but take the past tense: • Would rather e.g. I would rather you didn’t do that

• If only e.g. If only I knew what to do.

EXERCISE 1: Complete the following. 1. I ……………… study engineering than medicine. 2. I …………….. 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. e.g. I regret telling you the news. Regret is followed by the gerund (ing form) and is not used in the gerund itself. I am regretting saying that (incorrect) I regret saying that (correct)

EXERCISE 2: Imagine you are in these situations. Finish the sentences. More than one option is possible 1. You really l ike your fr iend’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 a holiday. I wish … 5. At lunch, you drink some wine and now you feel sleepy. I regret …


Binge Watching = do some intensely for a short period of time. Binge watching is the act of watching episodes of a TV show one after another.

EXERCISE: Insert regret / wish / if only into the gaps

READING 2: Binge Watching 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. A binge is classed as viewing between 2 and 6 episodes of a show in a continuous session. ………… it were easy to limit your viewing, but services like Netflix make it so easy to watch several episodes at once. Adults who watch more than 5 hours of TV a day double the risk of premature death compared to those who watch less. And it 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. When it 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 hard to resist.

SPEAKING PRACTICE In pairs, discuss what things you do that you regret doing or wish you hadn’t done e.g. I wish I had studied medicine at school. I 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?


BUSINESS IDIOMS

EXERCISE 1: Find the meaning of the underlined idiom from the l ist

1. It's a far cry from the days of 5-channel TV. A loud noise - less communicative - a long time since - a long distance

2. If 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 cry – 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. If you ……………. I will tell you the real reasons for my decision.


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 1. 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 15 hours per day.

3. Making something impossible or someone unable:

• This time the cost prevented us from signing the contract. • The manager refused to meet me.

4. Being unable to do something: • I’d like to visit the factory but I can’t (something is stopping me). • The salesman is incapable of discussing the project without blowing his

top.

Make Able - Possible

Be Able Make unable - Impossible

Be Unable to

Enable Can Prohibit Can’t Allow Be able to Prevent Not able to Permit Be capable of Stop/halt 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 To have no chance


EXERCISE 1: Fi l l the gaps with an appropriate verb from the table above in i ts correct form. NOTE: More than one answer is possible. 1. Photography in the research and development area is strictly …………….. 2. The restrictions are …………. us from entering the consumer market in China. 3. We offer over a million films and this …………… us to charge a premium rate. 4. Don’t blow your top, but the bank has not …………….. our overdraft. 5. We branched out so we ………………. spread the risk.

EXERCISE 2: Imagine imposing restrict ions on the Media Industry in your country. Write 5 sentences on what a company can or cannot do. 1. - 2. - 3. - 4. - 5. -

CULTURAL AWARENESS POINT: SOFT POWER

Using culture as a form of international influence is called: soft power .

In 2016 Russian Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky claimed that Netflix is part of an American strategy to influence the world culture. The plan 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?


Discuss: What are Netflix’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: Listen and answer the questions. 1. What helped Netflix in 2002? 2. What were its revenues in 2002? 3. What happened in 2005? 4. What happened in 2010? 5. What does Neil Hunt believe?

ROLE-PLAY: Netfl ix - 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.


AUDIO 1 – intermediate Netfl ix Netflix Intermediate level – listening 1 Netflix was founded by Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings in 1998. They were technology fans and had experience of developing and running successful websites. They had the idea of creating a website that made it easy for people to rent DVDs from home without having to visit the video shop. However, in the late 1990s the DVD player was an expensive luxury in America and few people owned one. On the plus side, the picture quality of a DVD was much better than video, they were smaller in size making storage easier, and it cost the price of a single stamp to send a DVD across the USA. Randolph and Hastings decided they had seen the future of home entertainment and invested $2.5 million to get the business started.

AUDIO 2 – intermediate Netfl ix

Listening 2 In 2002, Netflix became the leader in the DVD rental market when the cost of a DVD player dropped below $100. Sales revenues that year reached $150 million. In 2005, Netflix shipped over a million DVDs every single day and had more than 35,000 films in its library. In 2010, with better broadband availability, Netflix launched online streaming of movies and this made it one of the most visited websites in America. The rise of Netflix has affected the way audiences watch televised content. Head of products, Neil Hunt, believes that Netflix is a model for what television will look like in 2025. Netflix's subscription fee also eliminates the need for commercials.


LESSON PLAN – Netfl ix – Intermediate level Key objective – to practise Business English fluency INTRODUCTION: Ask students about Netflix. Teacher (T) - Students (SS) 5 mins READING 1: Go through reading and ask students to read out loud. Answer the comprehension questions that follow. (S) – (T) 10 mins PRONUNCIATION POINT: drill students on the different forms of saying /s/ /f/ /th/ Go through the examples and drill any errors. (S) – (T) 5 mins COMPANY NAMES: Ask students the origins of the company names listed. Elicit other company names with unusual origins and discuss. Teacher (T) - Students (SS) 10 mins LISTENING 1: Make sure they understand the meaning of the Vocabulary Words. Tell students they are going to hear a spokesman talking about Netflix’s origins. They need to answer the questions at the end. Play the listening. (T) - (SS) 10 mins GRAMMAR: Ask the question, which option is correct? (Could is correct) Ask the students if there is anything they regret? Go through the rules and do the exercises that follow. Ask students to read the questions and answers out loud. (S) – (T) 10 mins READING 2: Find out what the students think about binge watching. Do the reading - students read out loud, fill the gaps with a correct word. Engage in speaking practice that follows (S) – (T) 10 mins BUSINESS IDIOMS: Ask students to find the meaning of the underlined idiom and then fill the gaps. Teacher (T) - Students (SS) 10 mins FUNCTIONAL VOCABULARY: Ask the question, ‘what ability do you have? How can somebody tell you to stop doing something in a formal / informal style? Go through the examples and the exercises that follow. (S) – (T) 10 mins CULTURAL AWARENESS POINT: SOFT POWER Read the information and engage students in the Speaking Practice. (S) – (T) 10 mins LISTENING 2: Make sure they understand the meaning of the Vocabulary Words. Ask the question, what are Netflix’s future opportunities and problems? Tell students they are going to hear the 2nd part of the listening. They need to answer the questions at the end. Play the listening (SS) – (T) 10 mins ROLE PLAY: Split students into 2 groups and ask them to prepare to discuss the situation. Make sure they practice the grammar and vocabulary learnt in the lesson and to try and use the case study material in their argument. (SS) - (SS) 10 mins


EXERCISE ANSWERS READING 1 - comprehension 1. From DVD rentals, to on-line streaming, to becoming a global TV network and content producer with original shows. 2. ‘House of Cards’ and ‘Orange is the New Black’ 3. The convenience of streaming and the ease of use for customers, rather than its content 4. Big competition from rivals such as Amazon Prime, and market saturation is also a problem 5. It remains out of reach but Netflix is hoping to start a service in China in 2020. 6. You discuss and decide. COMPANY NAMES Apple – Founder, Steve Jobs, liked the fruit. The name sounded fun, spirited and not intimidating. Nike – name of the Greek Goddess of victory Coca-Cola – named after two of its original ingredients: kola nuts and coca leaves. Adidas - the amalgamation of the founder's name, Adolf Dassler: Lego – abbreviation of the two Danish words ‘leg godt’, meaning ‘play well’. Google – misspelling of Googol: a one followed by one hundred zeros LISTENING 1: 1. The DVD player was an expensive luxury in the America and few people owned one. 2. Picture quality, storage size and shipping costs. 3. $2.5 million 4. 1998 5. They were technology fans and had experience of developing and running successful websites. GRAMMAR - Exercise 1: 1. I would rather study engineering than medicine. 2. I wish you would listen to what I’m trying to tell you. 3. If only you were in a position to make a decision. 4. The company wishes it had accepted the offer. Exercise 2: 1. I wish I had a car like yours. 2. If only I had arrived earlier 3. I regret changing jobs 4. I wish I were on holiday 5. I regret drinking wine with lunch READING EXERCISE 2: Wish – if only - regret BUSINESS IDIOMS 1. A long time since 2. Let me finish speaking 3. Diversified 4. Seriously believes 5. Became angry EXERCISE 2: 1. Whatever you do don’t get it into your head that this is the only solution. 2. These offices are a far cry from the single desk we started with. 3. The company branched out from its core business and now runs cinemas. 4. The customer blew her top when she got the bill. 5. If you hear me out I will tell you the real reasons for my decision. FUNCTIONAL LANGUAGE – Abili ty 1. Photography in the research and development area is strictly prohibited. 2. The restrictions are preventing us from entering the consumer market in China. 3. We offer over a million films and this enables us to charge a premium rate. 4. Don’t blow your top, but the bank has not approved our overdraft. 5. We branched out so we can spread the risk. LISTENING 2: 1. The cost of DVD players dropped below $100 2. $150 million 3. Netflix shipped over a million DVDs every single day and had over 35,000 titles in its library 4. With better broadband availability, Netflix launched online streaming of movies and this made it one of the most

visited websites in America. 5. Netflix is a model for what television will look like in 2025

Help us to improve the quality. If you notice any mistakes in this module please report the error to: [email protected]

how to chill - bes – business english study · regret is followed by the gerund (ing form) and is...

Documents