The Reading / Listening - Binge-Watching TV - Level 6

New research shows that binge-watching television can adversely affect your health. Binge-viewing involves excessive watching of back-to-back TV shows in a single sitting. It has become prevalent across the world with the advent of online streaming and downloading services. Researchers from the University of Michigan in the USA and the Leuven School for Mass Communication Research in Belgium surveyed 423 people aged 18-25 on their TV-viewing habits. Their research found that binge-viewing greatly interrupted sleep patterns. Co-author Professor Jan Van den Bulck said: "Our study signals that binge-viewing is prevalent in young adults and that it may be harmful to their sleep."

The researchers asked participants about their sleep quality, levels of fatigue and prevalence of insomnia. They also enquired about their frequency of binge-watching programs on televisions, laptops and desktop computers. Over 80 per cent of the participants reported binge-watching, with 20 per cent doing so several times a week. Binge-watchers are 98 per cent more likely to experience poor sleep quality. A researcher said: "Bingeable TV shows have plots that keep the viewer tied to the screen. We think they become intensely involved with the content and may keep thinking about it when they want to go to sleep." She said this caused people problems when trying to sleep.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Binge-Watching TV - Level 4  or  Binge-Watching TV - Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/checkup-medical-column-for-aug-18/news-story/9f016d4baf2e8f46c9b27b0eff5648a7
  • http://denver.cbslocal.com/2017/08/15/binge-watching-tv-shows-sleep-insomnia-study/
  • http://www.medicaldaily.com/binge-watching-turning-you-zombie-irl-421340


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. WATCHING TV: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about watching TV. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

       research / binge / excessive / prevalent / streaming / downloading / habits / sleep /
       fatigue / insomnia / frequency / laptops / several times a week / quality / content

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. BINGE-WATCHING: Students A strongly believe governments should stop binge-watching; Students B strongly believe that's a silly idea.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. EXCESSIVE: What are the dangers of these things and how can they be overcome? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Dangers

Dealing with them

Watching TV

 

 

Drinking

 

 

Eating

 

 

Studying

 

 

Shopping

 

 

Running

 

 

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. HEALTH: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "health". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. TV SHOWS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • nature
  • music
  • comedy
  • chat show
  • dramas
  • news
  • documentaries
  • sports

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Binge-watching involves looking at back-to-back TV shows.     T / F
  2. The advent of streaming has increased binge-watching television.     T / F
  3. Researchers looked at over 400 20-year-olds.     T / F
  4. Researchers say binge-watching is very common among young people.    T / F
  5. Over 80% of the participants said they binge-watched.     T / F
  6. Binge-watchers are 98% less likely to suffer from sleeping problems.     T / F
  7. 'Bingeable' shows generally have weaker plots.     T / F
  8. When people think about TV shows, they get to sleep more quickly.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. adversely
  2. excessive
  3. prevalent
  4. surveyed
  5. interrupt
  6. fatigue
  7. insomnia
  8. several
  9. content
  10. caused
  1. a number of
  2. widespread
  3. tiredness
  4. material
  5. negatively
  6. created
  7. obstruct
  8. extreme
  9. sleeplessness
  10. interviewed

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. binge-watching television can adversely
  2. excessive watching of back-to-
  3. It has become prevalent
  4. greatly interrupted sleep
  5. it may be harmful
  6. levels of
  7. televisions, laptops and
  8. doing so several
  9. plots that keep the viewer tied
  10. become intensely involved with the
  1. to their sleep
  2. patterns
  3. to the screen
  4. across the world
  5. fatigue
  6. times a week
  7. affect your health
  8. content
  9. desktop computers
  10. back TV shows

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
advent
surveyed
harmful
adversely
signals
services
excessive
interrupted

New research shows that binge-watching television can (1) ____________ affect your health. Binge-viewing involves (2) ____________ watching of back-to-back TV shows in a single sitting. It has become prevalent across the world with the (3) ____________ of online streaming and downloading (4) ____________. Researchers from the University of Michigan in the USA and the Leuven School for Mass Communication Research in Belgium (5) ____________ 423 people aged 18-25 on their TV-viewing habits. Their research found that binge-viewing greatly (6) ____________ sleep patterns. Co-author Professor Jan Van den Bulck said: "Our study (7) ____________ that binge-viewing is prevalent in young adults and that it may be (8) ____________ to their sleep."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
laptops
problems
insomnia
poor
content
participants
several
viewer

The researchers asked (9) ____________ about their sleep quality, levels of fatigue and prevalence of (10) ____________. They also enquired about their frequency of binge-watching programs on televisions, (11) ____________ and desktop computers. Over 80 per cent of the participants reported binge-watching, with 20 per cent doing so (12) ____________ times a week. Binge-watchers are 98 per cent more likely to experience (13) ____________ sleep quality. A researcher said: "Bingeable TV shows have plots that keep the (14) ____________ tied to the screen. We think they become intensely involved with the (15) ____________ and may keep thinking about it when they want to go to sleep." She said this caused people (16) ____________ when trying to sleep.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  New research shows that binge-watching television can adversely ______
     a.  affects your health
     b.  affected your health
     c.  affect your health
     d.  affective your health

2)  involves excessive watching of back-to-back TV shows in ______
     a.  a single's sitting
     b.  a single sitting
     c.  a singled sitting
     d.  a singlet sitting

3)  It has become prevalent across the world with the ______ streaming
     a.  advent of online
     b.  advent off online
     c.  advent of offline
     d.  advent off offline

4)  Research in Belgium surveyed 423 people aged 18-25 on their TV-______
     a.  viewing habit
     b.  view in habitual
     c.  viewing habits
     d.  view in habits

5)  Professor Jan Van den Bulck said: "Our study signals that binge-______
     a.  viewing is prevalence
     b.  viewing is prevalently
     c.  viewing is prevalences
     d.  viewing is prevalent

6)  The researchers asked participants about their sleep quality, ______
     a.  levels of intrigue
     b.  levels of frantic
     c.  levels of fatigue
     d.  levels of fragile

7)  their frequency of binge-watching programs on televisions, ______ computers
     a.  laptops and desktops
     b.  laptops and desktop
     c.  laptop and desktop
     d.  laptop and desktops

8)  Binge-watchers are 98 per cent more likely to experience ______
     a.  poor sleep quality
     b.  poor sleeps quality
     c.  poor sleeping quality
     d.  poor sleeper quality

9)  Bingeable TV shows have plots that keep the viewer ______
     a.  tried to the screen
     b.  tied to the screen
     c.  tide to the screen
     d.  tired to the screen

10)  We think they become intensely involved ______
     a.  with the content
     b.  with the contents
     c.  with the contented
     d.  with the consent

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

New research shows that binge-watching television (1) _________________ your health. Binge-viewing involves excessive watching of back-to-back TV (2) ___________________ sitting. It has become prevalent across the world with the (3) ___________________ streaming and downloading services. Researchers from the University of Michigan in the USA and the Leuven School for Mass Communication Research in Belgium surveyed 423 (4) ___________________-25 on their TV-viewing habits. Their research found that binge-viewing greatly (5) ___________________ patterns. Co-author Professor Jan Van den Bulck said: "Our study signals that binge-viewing is prevalent in young adults and that it may (6) ___________________ their sleep."

The researchers asked participants about their sleep quality (7) ___________________ and prevalence of insomnia. They also enquired about (8) ___________________ binge-watching programs on televisions, laptops and desktop computers. Over 80 per cent of the participants reported binge-watching, with 20 per cent doing (9) ___________________ a week. Binge-watchers are 98 per cent more likely to experience poor sleep quality. A researcher said: "Bingeable TV shows (10) __________________ keep the (11) ___________________ the screen. We think they become intensely involved with the content and may keep thinking about it when they want to go to sleep." She (12) ___________________ people problems when trying to sleep.

Comprehension questions

  1. How does new research say binge-watching TV can affect your health?
  2. How many sittings does binge-watching TV involve?
  3. How many young people did researchers look at?
  4. What did researchers say binge-viewing greatly interrupted?
  5. In what kind of people is binge-viewing prevalent?
  6. What levels did researchers ask participants about?
  7. What percentage of participants reported binge-watching TV?
  8. How much likelier is it for binge-watchers to have poor sleep quality?
  9. What do "bingeable" TV shows tie viewers to?
  10. What do binge-watchers think about when they want to sleep?

Multiple choice quiz

1) How does new research say binge-watching TV can affect your health?
a) slightly
b) adversely
c) seriously
d) totally

2)  How many sittings does binge-watching TV involve?
a) 4
b) 3
c) 2
d) 1

3) How many young people did researchers look at?
a) 423
b) 324
c) 243
d) 432

4) What did researchers say binge-viewing greatly interrupted?
a) television
b) viewing habits
c) sleep patterns
d) the remote control

5) In what kind of people is binge-viewing prevalent?
a) children
b) young adults
c) TV addicts
d) actors

6) What levels did researchers ask participants about?
a) fatigue levels
b) high levels
c) sleep levels
d) viewing levels

7) What percentage of participants reported binge-watching TV?
a) around 80%
b) fewer than 80%
c) more than 80%
d) exactly 80%

8) How much likelier is it for binge-watchers to have poor sleep quality?
a) 98%
b) 88%
c) 78%
d) 68%

9) What do "bingeable" TV shows tie viewers to?
a) the screen
b) remote controls
c) endings
d) the Internet

10) What do binge-watchers think about when they want to sleep?
a) nicer televisions
b) actors
c) sheep
d) TV show content

Role play

Role  A – Documentaries

You think documentaries are the best TV shows. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their shows. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): news programmes, comedy shows or chat shows.

Role  B – News

You think news programmes are the best TV shows. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their shows. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): documentaries, comedy shows or chat shows.

Role  C – Comedy

You think comedy shows are the best TV shows. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their shows. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): news programmes, documentaries or chat shows.

Role  D – Chat Shows

You think chat shows are the best TV shows. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their shows. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why):  news programmes, comedy shows or documentaries.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'binge'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'watch'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • levels
    • computers
    • 20
    • 98
    • tied
    • caused
    • shows
    • back
    • services
    • 423
    • patterns
    • young

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Binge-watching television causes sleep problems

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'watch'?
    3. How important is TV to you?
    4. How much TV-watching is too much?
    5. What are the good and bad things about television?
    6. What are your favourite TV shows?
    7. How important is streaming for TV shows?
    8. Are viewing habits different for older and younger people?
    9. What experiences do you have of binge-watching?
    10. In what ways might TV harm our health?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'television'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What would life be like without television?
    5. How are your levels of fatigue and insomnia?
    6. Is it best to watch shows on TV or computers?
    7. Should governments do something about binge-viewing?
    8. What shows keep you glued to the TV screen?
    9. What do you do if you can't sleep?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    New research shows that binge-watching television can (1) ____ affect your health. Binge-viewing involves (2) ____ watching of back-to-back TV shows in a single sitting. It has become prevalent across the world with the (3) ____ of online streaming and downloading services. Researchers from the University of Michigan in the USA and the Leuven School for Mass Communication Research in Belgium surveyed 423 people (4) ____ 18-25 on their TV-viewing habits. Their research found that binge-viewing (5) ____ interrupted sleep patterns. Co-author Professor Jan Van den Bulck said: "Our study signals that binge-viewing is prevalent (6) ____ young adults and that it may be harmful to their sleep."

    The researchers asked participants about their sleep quality, levels of (7) ____ and prevalence of insomnia. They also (8) ____ about their frequency of binge-watching programs on televisions, laptops and desktop computers. Over 80 per cent of the participants reported binge-watching, (9) ____ 20 per cent doing so several times a week. Binge-watchers are 98 per cent more (10) ____ to experience poor sleep quality. A researcher said: "Bingeable TV shows have (11) ____ that keep the viewer tied to the screen. We think they become intensely involved with the content and may keep thinking about it when they want to go to sleep." She said this (12) ____ people problems when trying to sleep.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     reverse     (b)     adversely     (c)     conversely     (d)     adverse    
    2. (a)     recessive     (b)     excessive     (c)     successive     (d)     successful    
    3. (a)     solvent     (b)     invent     (c)     convent     (d)     advent    
    4. (a)     aging     (b)     aged     (c)     ages     (d)     ageless    
    5. (a)     great     (b)     greatly     (c)     greater     (d)     greatness    
    6. (a)     on     (b)     at     (c)     in     (d)     of    
    7. (a)     vague     (b)     vogue     (c)     fatigue     (d)     rogue    
    8. (a)     required     (b)     inquired     (c)     enquired     (d)     acquired    
    9. (a)     without     (b)     wither     (c)     within     (d)     with    
    10. (a)     likely     (b)     liked     (c)     likelihood     (d)     likeable    
    11. (a)     plots     (b)     pleats     (c)     pilots     (d)     plates    
    12. (a)     ceased     (b)     cased     (c)     caused     (d)     casted

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. rdvlyaees affect your health
    2. involves ecseisxev watching
    3. It has become eveprtaln across the world
    4. eydvrseu 423 people
    5. greatly rnetdertipu sleep patterns
    6. Our study nglasis that

    Paragraph 2

    1. The researchers asked sppianacirtt
    2. levels of fagieut
    3. their ryfeucneq of binge-watching
    4. doing so lrsavee times a week
    5. keep the irwvee tied to the screen
    6. become entnylsie involved

    Put the text back together

    (    )     excessive watching of back-to-back TV shows in a single sitting. It has become prevalent across

    (    )     prevalent in young adults and that it may be harmful to their sleep."

    (    )     and desktop computers. Over 80 per cent of the participants reported binge-watching, with 20 per cent doing

    (    )     screen. We think they become intensely involved with the content and may keep thinking about it when they want

    1  )     New research shows that binge-watching television can adversely affect your health. Binge-viewing involves

    (    )     the world with the advent of online streaming and downloading services. Researchers from the University of Michigan

    (    )     so several times a week. Binge-watchers are 98 per cent more likely to experience poor sleep

    (    )     quality. A researcher said: "Bingeable TV shows have plots that keep the viewer tied to the

    (    )     to go to sleep." She said this caused people problems when trying to sleep.

    (    )     insomnia. They also enquired about their frequency of binge-watching programs on televisions, laptops

    (    )     their TV-viewing habits. Their research found that binge-viewing greatly interrupted sleep

    (    )     patterns. Co-author Professor Jan Van den Bulck said: "Our study signals that binge-viewing is

    (    )     in the USA and the Leuven School for Mass Communication Research in Belgium surveyed 423 people aged 18-25 on

    (    )     The researchers asked participants about their sleep quality, levels of fatigue and prevalence of

    Put the words in the right order

    1. can   Binge-   adversely   affect   watching   your   television   health   .
    2. a   TV   to   of-   single   shows   back-   sitting   in   back   Watching   .
    3. has   prevalent   the   It   become   across   world   .
    4. patterns   Research  viewing   found   interrupted   that   sleep  binge-  .
    5. viewing   signals   is   that   prevalent   binge-   Our   study   .
    6. quality   asked   about   sleep   Researchers   participants   their   .
    7. frequency   They   of   enquired   binge-   about   their   watching   .
    8. have  shows  TV  screen  the   to   tied  viewer  the  keep  that   plots   .
    9. They   intensely   with   content   become   involved   the   .
    10. to   said   people  trying   She  caused  when   sleep   this   problems   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    New research shows that binge-watching television can adverse / adversely affect your health. Binge-viewing involves excessive / inclusive watching of back-to-back TV shows in a singles / single sitting. It has become prevalence / prevalent across the world with the advent / advert of online streaming and downloading services. Researchers from the University of Michigan in the USA and the Leuven School for Mass Communication Research in Belgium surveyed / surveyor 423 people aged / ages 18-25 on their TV-viewing habits. Their research found that binge-viewing greatly / grate interrupted sleep patterns. Co-author Professor Jan Van den Bulck said: "Our study signals that / what binge-viewing is prevalent in young adults and that it may be harmful / harmfully to their sleep."

    The researchers asked participants about their sleep qualify / quality, levels of fatigue and prevalence of insomnia / insomniac. They also enquired about their frequency / frequently of binge-watching programs on televisions, laptops and desktop computers. Over 80 per cent of the participates / participants reported binge-watching, with 20 per cent doing so / such several times a week. Binge-watchers are 98 per cent more likelihood / likely to experience poor sleep quality. A researcher said: "Bingeable TV shows have plates / plots that keep the viewer tied / tiered to the screen. We think they become intensely / intense involved with the content and may keep thinking about it when they want to go to sleep." She said this causal / caused people problems when trying to sleep.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    N_w r_s__rch sh_ws th_t b_ng_-w_tch_ng t_l_v_s__n c_n _dv_rs_ly _ff_ct y__r h__lth. B_ng_-v__w_ng _nv_lv_s _xc_ss_v_ w_tch_ng _f b_ck-t_-b_ck TV sh_ws _n _ s_ngl_ s_tt_ng. _t h_s b_c_m_ pr_v_l_nt _cr_ss th_ w_rld w_th th_ _dv_nt _f _nl_n_ str__m_ng _nd d_wnl__d_ng s_rv_c_s. R_s__rch_rs fr_m th_ _n_v_rs_ty _f M_ch_g_n _n th_ _S_ _nd th_ L__v_n Sch__l f_r M_ss C_mm_n_c_t__n R_s__rch _n B_lg__m s_rv_y_d 423 p__pl_ _g_d 18-25 _n th__r TV-v__w_ng h_b_ts. Th__r r_s__rch f__nd th_t b_ng_-v__w_ng gr__tly _nt_rr_pt_d sl__p p_tt_rns. C_-__th_r Pr_f_ss_r J_n V_n d_n B_lck s__d: "__r st_dy s_gn_ls th_t b_ng_-v__w_ng _s pr_v_l_nt _n y__ng _d_lts _nd th_t _t m_y b_ h_rmf_l t_ th__r sl__p."

    Th_ r_s__rch_rs _sk_d p_rt_c_p_nts _b__t th__r sl__p q__l_ty, l_v_ls _f f_t_g__ _nd pr_v_l_nc_ _f _ns_mn__. Th_y _ls_ _nq__r_d _b__t th__r fr_q__ncy _f b_ng_-w_tch_ng pr_gr_ms _n t_l_v_s__ns, l_pt_ps _nd d_skt_p c_mp_t_rs. _v_r 80 p_r c_nt _f th_ p_rt_c_p_nts r_p_rt_d b_ng_-w_tch_ng, w_th 20 p_r c_nt d__ng s_ s_v_r_l t_m_s _ w__k. B_ng_-w_tch_rs _r_ 98 p_r c_nt m_r_ l_k_ly t_ _xp_r__nc_ p__r sl__p q__l_ty. _ r_s__rch_r s__d: "B_ng__bl_ TV sh_ws h_v_ pl_ts th_t k__p th_ v__w_r t__d t_ th_ scr__n. W_ th_nk th_y b_c_m_ _nt_ns_ly _nv_lv_d w_th th_ c_nt_nt _nd m_y k__p th_nk_ng _b__t _t wh_n th_y w_nt t_ g_ t_ sl__p." Sh_ s__d th_s c__s_d p__pl_ pr_bl_ms wh_n try_ng t_ sl__p.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    new research shows that binge-watching television can adversely affect your health binge-viewing involves excessive watching of back-to-back tv shows in a single sitting it has become prevalent across the world with the advent of online streaming and downloading services researchers from the university of michigan in the usa and the leuven school for mass communication research in belgium surveyed 423 people aged 18-25 on their tv-viewing habits their research found that binge-viewing greatly interrupted sleep patterns co-author professor jan van den bulck said "our study signals that binge-viewing is prevalent in young adults and that it may be harmful to their sleep"

    the researchers asked participants about their sleep quality levels of fatigue and prevalence of insomnia they also enquired about their frequency of binge-watching programs on televisions laptops and desktop computers over 80 per cent of the participants reported binge-watching with 20 per cent doing so several times a week binge-watchers are 98 per cent more likely to experience poor sleep quality a researcher said "bingeable tv shows have plots that keep the viewer tied to the screen we think they become intensely involved with the content and may keep thinking about it when they want to go to sleep" she said this caused people problems when trying to sleep

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Newresearchshowsthatbinge-watchingtelevisioncanadverselyaf
    fectyourhealth.Binge-viewinginvolvesexcessivewatchingofback-to-
    backTVshowsinasinglesitting.Ithasbecomeprevalentacrosstheworl
    dwiththeadventofonlinestreaminganddownloadingservices.Researc
    hersfromtheUniversityofMichiganintheUSAandtheLeuvenSchoolfor
    MassCommunicationResearchinBelgiumsurveyed423peopleaged18
    -25ontheirTV-viewinghabits.Theirresearchfoundthatbinge-viewin
    ggreatlyinterruptedsleeppatterns.Co-authorProfessorJanVandenB
    ulcksaid:"Ourstudysignalsthatbinge-viewingisprevalentinyoungad
    ultsandthatitmaybeharmfultotheirsleep."Theresearchersaskedparti
    cipantsabouttheirsleepquality,levelsoffatigueandprevalenceofinso
    mnia.Theyalsoenquiredabouttheirfrequencyofbinge-watchingpro
    gramsontelevisions,laptopsanddesktopcomputers.Over80percento
    ftheparticipantsreportedbinge-watching,with20percentdoingsose
    veraltimesaweek.Binge-watchersare98percentmorelikelytoexp
    eriencepoorsleepquality.Aresearchersaid:"BingeableTVshowshave
    plotsthatkeeptheviewertiedtothescreen.Wethinktheybecomeintens
    elyinvolvedwiththecontentandmaykeepthinkingaboutitwhentheyw
    anttogotosleep."Shesaidthiscausedpeopleproblemswhentryingtosl
    eep.

    Free writing

    Write about binge-watching TV for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Television does more harm than good. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. WATCHING TV: Make a poster about watching TV. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. BINGE-VIEWING: Write a magazine article about binge-watching TV. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on binge-watching TV. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on it. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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