Netflix is making some of its plans more expensive. The basic plan in the UK will now cost £1 more each month, and the premium plan will cost £2 more. This is happening even though Netflix has been doing well, with lots of new people signing up. The company is doing this because it feels strong and wants to make more money, even though there are other companies that also stream movies and shows.

Netflix has also been making more money by charging extra if more than one house uses the same account. They also made a cheaper plan that shows ads, and this plan made up about 30% of new people signing up in some countries. Some people are not sure if Netflix can keep growing like this. But Netflix thinks it has good shows and movies that will keep people watching. They also think they can make more money by getting more popular shows and movies from other companies.

Original news source: Netflix raises prices despite password crackdown success (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Each team takes turns choosing a word or phrase related to the article and acting it out without speaking. The other team has to guess what it is. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students take turns summarizing the main points of the article to their partner. Encourage them to use their own words and focus on the most important information.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of questions related to the article, such as “Do you think Netflix’s price increase is fair?” or “Would you be willing to pay extra for a plan without ads?” Have students walk around the classroom and ask their classmates the questions, recording their responses. Afterwards, they can share their findings with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Each pair is given a set of vocabulary words from the article. One student chooses a word and has to draw it while the other student tries to guess what it is. They can only use pictures, no words or gestures.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Have students think about the question “What do you think about Netflix’s decision to raise prices?” and write down their thoughts. Then, pair them up and have them discuss their answers with their partner. Finally, have a class discussion where students share their opinions.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is happening to the cost of Netflix plans in the UK?
2. Why is Netflix making the plans more expensive?
3. How has Netflix been making more money?
4. What is the cheaper plan that Netflix made?
5. Why are some people not sure if Netflix can keep growing?
6. What does Netflix think will keep people watching?
7. How does Netflix think they can make more money?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Netflix is (1)______ some of its plans more (2)______. The basic plan in the UK will now cost £1 more each month, and the premium plan will cost £2 more. This is happening even though Netflix has been doing well, with lots of new people signing up. The company is doing this because it feels strong and wants to (3)______ more money, even though there are other companies that also stream (4)______ and shows.

Netflix has also been making more money by charging extra if more than one house uses the (5)______ account. They also made a cheaper plan that shows ads, and this plan made up about 30% of new people (6)______ up in some countries. Some people are not sure if Netflix can keep growing like this. But Netflix (7)______ it has good shows and movies that will keep people watching. They also think they can make more money by (8)______ more popular shows and movies from other companies.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is Netflix?
2. Do you like watching movies and shows on Netflix? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if Netflix increased the price of their plans?
4. Do you think it’s fair for Netflix to charge extra if more than one house uses the same account? Why or why not?
5. What do you think about Netflix offering a cheaper plan with ads? Would you choose this plan? Why or why not?
6. Do you think Netflix will continue to grow and have more people sign up? Why or why not?
7. How do you decide which shows or movies to watch on Netflix?
8. What popular shows or movies do you think Netflix should add to their collection?
9. Have you ever shared your Netflix account with someone else? How did you feel about it?
10. How important is it for Netflix to have good shows and movies in order to keep people watching?
11. Do you think it’s a good idea for Netflix to get shows and movies from other companies? Why or why not?
12. If you could change something about Netflix, what would it be? Why?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Netflix
2. plans
3. expensive
4. basic
5. premium
6. money
7. shows
8. companies

Meanings:
(a) Ideas for what to do in the future
(b) The highest quality or most expensive option
(c) Something you use to buy things
(d) Costing a lot of money
(e) The most simple or basic option
(f) Other businesses that do similar things
(g) A company that lets you watch movies and TV shows
(h) TV programs or performances
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why is Netflix making some of its plans more expensive?
(a) To make more money
(b) To make people happy
(c) To lose customers
(d) To watch more shows

2. How much more will the basic plan in the UK cost each month?
(a) £2
(b) £1
(c) £3
(d) £4

3. How much more will the premium plan in the UK cost each month?
(a) £3
(b) £4
(c) £5
(d) £2

4. Why is Netflix charging extra if more than one house uses the same account?
(a) To make people happy
(b) To lose customers
(c) To make more money
(d) To watch more shows

5. What percentage of new people signing up chose the cheaper plan that shows ads?
(a) 40%
(b) 30%
(c) 50%
(d) 60%

6. Are some people unsure if Netflix can keep growing like this?
(a) No
(b) Maybe
(c) Yes
(d) I don’t know

7. What does Netflix think will keep people watching?
(a) Good shows and movies
(b) Bad shows and movies
(c) No shows and movies
(d) Expensive shows and movies

8. How does Netflix think it can make more money?
(a) By losing customers
(b) By showing fewer shows and movies
(c) By making its plans cheaper
(d) By getting more popular shows and movies from other companies

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Netflix is raising the prices of some of its plans in the UK.
2. The premium plan will cost £2 less each month.
3. The basic plan will cost £1 more each month.
4. Netflix does not charge extra if multiple households use the same account.
5. Netflix is increasing prices to make more money.
6. Netflix does not offer a cheaper plan with ads, which many new customers have chosen.
7. Other companies also stream movies and shows.
8. Netflix has been losing new customers recently.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What is happening to the price of Netflix plans in the UK?
2. Why is Netflix making the plans more expensive?
3. How is Netflix making more money?
4. What is the cheaper plan that Netflix made?
5. How does Netflix think they can make more money?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is happening to the cost of Netflix plans in the UK?
The cost of Netflix plans in the UK is going up.

2. Why is Netflix making the plans more expensive?
Netflix is making the plans more expensive because they want to make more money.

3. How has Netflix been making more money?
Netflix has been making more money by charging extra if more than one house uses the same account.

4. What is the cheaper plan that Netflix made?
The cheaper plan that Netflix made shows ads.

5. Why are some people not sure if Netflix can keep growing?
Some people are not sure if Netflix can keep growing because there are other companies that also stream movies and shows.

6. What does Netflix think will keep people watching?
Netflix thinks good shows and movies will keep people watching.

7. How does Netflix think they can make more money?
Netflix thinks they can make more money by getting more popular shows and movies from other companies.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) making
(2) expensive
(3) make
(4) movies
(5) same
(6) signing
(7) thinks
(8) getting
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Netflix
Answer: (g) A company that lets you watch movies and TV shows

2. plans
Answer: (a) Ideas for what to do in the future

3. expensive
Answer: (d) Costing a lot of money

4. basic
Answer: (e) The most simple or basic option

5. premium
Answer: (b) The highest quality or most expensive option

6. money
Answer: (c) Something you use to buy things

7. shows
Answer: (h) TV programs or performances

8. companies
Answer: (f) Other businesses that do similar things
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why is Netflix making some of its plans more expensive?
Answer: (a) To make more money

2. How much more will the basic plan in the UK cost each month?
Answer: (b) £1

3. How much more will the premium plan in the UK cost each month?
Answer: (d) £2

4. Why is Netflix charging extra if more than one house uses the same account?
Answer: (c) To make more money

5. What percentage of new people signing up chose the cheaper plan that shows ads?
Answer: (b) 30%

6. Are some people unsure if Netflix can keep growing like this?
Answer: (c) Yes

7. What does Netflix think will keep people watching?
Answer: (a) Good shows and movies

8. How does Netflix think it can make more money?
Answer: (d) By getting more popular shows and movies from other companies
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Netflix is raising the prices of some of its plans in the UK. (Answer: True)
2. The premium plan will cost £2 less each month. (Answer: False)
3. The basic plan will cost £1 more each month. (Answer: True)
4. Netflix does not charge extra if multiple households use the same account. (Answer: False)
5. Netflix is increasing prices to make more money. (Answer: True)
6. Netflix does not offer a cheaper plan with ads, which many new customers have chosen. (Answer: False)
7. Other companies also stream movies and shows. (Answer: True)
8. Netflix has been losing new customers recently. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧