Media & Entertainment
A complete two-session B2 lesson built around the passive voice — the grammar of reviews, news, and "behind the scenes" talk — using film, music, and streaming as the theme. Includes a featured interactive reading on how we watch, audio scripts, answer keys, and a self-grading workbook.
Can-Do Statements
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Discuss films, shows, music, and books and give opinions about them.
- Use the passive voice across tenses (is filmed, was written, has been streamed, is being made).
- Describe how media is made and report entertainment news.
- Use key vocabulary — plot, genre, blockbuster, soundtrack, to binge-watch, box office.
- Read and understand an article about the streaming revolution and answer comprehension questions.
- Write a short film or series review using the passive.
Vocabulary & Phrases
This vocabulary set is shared across the lesson plan, the workbook flashcards, and the reading article.
Film, TV & Music
- a plot · a genre · a spoiler
- a blockbuster · the box office
- a soundtrack · a sequel
- to binge-watch · to stream
- a streaming service · a review
- a cast · a director · a fan base
Giving Opinions
- It was directed by…
- The plot is set in…
- It's based on a true story.
- I'd give it four out of five.
- It's well worth watching.
- No spoilers, but…
The Engine of the Lesson
The passive voice — when the action matters more than who does it.
1. Form — be + past participle
We form the passive with the right tense of be plus the past participle. We use it when the doer is unknown, obvious, or unimportant.
| present | Millions of shows are streamed every day. |
| past | The film was directed by a famous director. |
| present perfect | The song has been streamed a billion times. |
2. "by" tells us the doer (when we need it)
Add by + agent only when the doer is important or interesting.
| agent matters | The soundtrack was written by Hans Zimmer. |
| agent dropped | The trailer was released yesterday. (we don't care by whom) |
3. The present-continuous passive
For something happening right now, use is/are being + past participle.
Trap: only verbs with an object can be made passive. And don't forget the participle: "was wrote" → "was written".
How We Watch Changed Forever
A fresh, fact-based interactive article on the streaming revolution. It carries the lesson's vocabulary and passive structures, so it fits perfectly into Session 2 — or set it as homework.
What's inside
- A current article on how streaming overtook traditional TV and what it means for viewers.
- Self-grading comprehension questions with instant feedback and a score.
- A "film crew roles" sorting task and a vocabulary flashcard deck.
- A discussion box to extend the topic into speaking.
How to use it: project it for shared reading, or assign it for homework before the discussion. Students read, then tap Show My Score on the comprehension quiz and bring the result to class.
Open the Reading →Timed Lesson Stages
Each stage lists timing, teacher instructions, and the interaction pattern.
1. Warm-Up — Last Great Watch
Ask: "What's the last great film or series you watched? What was it about?" Quick pair-share, then collect a few genres and titles on the board.
Interaction: Pairs → whole class.
2. Vocabulary — Media Words
Present the shared vocabulary (plot, genre, blockbuster, soundtrack, binge-watch, box office). Match to meanings, then students use two to describe something they've watched.
Interaction: Teacher → class → individual.
3. Grammar — The Passive
Write "Someone filmed the movie in Italy" and turn it into "The movie was filmed in Italy." Build the rule (be + past participle), then practice across tenses and add "by + agent" only when needed.
- Concept check: "Do we know or care who did it? What's the focus?"
- Controlled practice: students do the workbook's passive and word-order tasks.
Interaction: Guided discovery → individual.
4. Speaking — The Pitch Meeting
The centerpiece (full instructions in the Activities section). Groups invent a new film or series and pitch it to "studio executives" using the passive (it's set in…, it was inspired by…).
Interaction: Small groups.
5. Wrap-Up
Each group shares their one-line pitch; the class votes for the one they'd watch. Set the reading article for homework if you'll discuss it next session.
1. Review — Active to Passive Race
Read active sentences ("They release new episodes on Fridays"); students race to give the passive ("New episodes are released on Fridays"). Fast passive fluency.
Interaction: Whole class.
2. Reading — How We Watch Changed Forever
Use the interactive reading page (linked above). Students read the article and complete the self-grading comprehension and the "film crew roles" sorter.
- Pre-reading: students guess whether streaming or traditional TV is now watched more.
- While reading: underline one fact that surprised them.
- After: compare, then tap Show My Score.
Interaction: Individual → pairs.
3. Listening — Talking About a Show
Play Audio 2 (script below). Students complete the workbook's listening task. Play twice.
Interaction: Individual → class check.
4. Writing — A Review
Students write a short review (80–100 words) of a film or series, using passive structures.
Model: "Last weekend I binge-watched a new crime series. It was filmed in Iceland and the haunting soundtrack was written by a well-known composer. The plot is set in a small fishing town where a mystery slowly unfolds. The whole season was released at once, so it's easy to binge. A second season is already being made. It's well worth watching — I'd give it four out of five."
- Target: 4+ passive forms, shared vocabulary, a clear recommendation.
- Students self-check against the workbook checklist, then review the flashcards.
Interaction: Individual.
5. Share, Score & Reflect
Students read their review to a partner, who decides if they'd watch it. Then they tap Show My Score in the workbook and show you the result.
Speaking Activities
The centerpiece is The Pitch Meeting. Rotate the games below across lessons.
The Pitch Meeting
Groups of 3–4. Goal: invent and pitch a new film or series, using the passive.
- Each group invents a new film or series. They decide the genre, where it's set, who it's directed by, and what it's based on.
- They prepare a 60-second pitch packed with passive structures: "It's set in…, it was inspired by…, the soundtrack is being written by…"
- One group plays "studio executives" and asks questions; the pitching group answers in role.
- After all pitches, the class votes for the project that should be "greenlit" (approved to be made).
More Activities (rotate these)
Active to Passive Race
You read an active sentence; teams race to say the passive version correctly. First correct answer scores. Fast, competitive transformation practice across tenses.
Genre Taboo
Describe a film genre (thriller, rom-com, documentary, sci-fi) without saying it or three taboo words. Teammates guess. Fast vocabulary recall through paraphrasing.
Two-Star / Five-Star
One student loved a film; their partner hated it. They debate it for two minutes, defending opposite reviews. Great for opinion language and persuasion.
Passive Detective
Show sentences with passive errors ("It was wrote by…", "The film filmed in 2020"). Teams race to fix each one and explain the rule. Sharpens accuracy.
Audio & Transcripts
Tap a transcript to open it. Add your recording in the player, and use the same file in the student workbook's Listening task.
Audio 1My Favorite Film (model)+
Speaker: My favorite film is a science-fiction movie that was released a few years ago. It was directed by a director I really admire, and the soundtrack was composed by an amazing musician. The story is set in the future, and the whole thing was filmed in New Zealand. It was praised by critics and loved by fans — it even won several awards. A sequel is being made now, and I can't wait. It's well worth watching, even if you don't usually like sci-fi.
How to use: Play once as a model before the speaking activity. Ask students to catch all the passive structures ("was released, was directed, is being made"). Then they describe a favorite the same way.
Audio 2Talking About a Show (listening task)+
Liam: Have you seen that new series everyone's talking about?
Zoe: The crime one? Yeah, it was filmed in Iceland, wasn't it?
Liam: Yes! And the soundtrack was written by a famous composer.
Zoe: I binge-watched it last weekend. The whole season was released at once.
Liam: Same. A sequel is being made, apparently.
Zoe: Really? Where did you hear that?
Liam: It was announced online yesterday. Filming starts next year.
Zoe: I can't wait. The first season was watched by millions.
Liam: No spoilers, though — my brother hasn't finished it yet.
How to use: This is the source audio for the workbook's Listening task. Two voices work best. Play for gist first ("What kind of show?"), then for detail. Notice the passive forms ("was filmed, was written, is being made").
Audio 3Pronunciation — weak "was/were" (optional)+
Listen-and-repeat. In the passive, "was/were" is usually weak and unstressed; the participle carries the stress.
It was FILMED in Iceland. — They were RELEASED last year. — A sequel is being MADE.
How to use: B2 students often over-stress "was/were". Drill the weak forms so the participle stands out and their passives sound natural.
Workbook & Reading Answers
These match the self-grading workbook and reading page. Both grade automatically; keys are here for board correction.
Workbook Reading — Teaser
- In 2025, streaming passed broadcast and cable for the first time. What share did it reach by December? — 47.5%
- Streaming viewing has grown by about 71% in four years.
- Which platform overtook Netflix in daily viewing time? — YouTube
Listening — Fill in the Blank (Audio 2)
- The series was filmed in Iceland.
- The soundtrack was written by a famous composer.
- The whole season was released at once.
Listening — Multiple Choice (Audio 2)
- What is being made now? — b) a sequel
- Why does Liam ask for no spoilers? — c) his brother hasn't finished it
Grammar — The Passive
- The film was directed by a famous director.
- Millions of shows are streamed every day.
- A sequel is being made at the moment.
- The book was written in 1998.
- The award was given to the best actor last night.
Word Order
- The movie was filmed in New Zealand.
- The song has been streamed millions of times.
Reading Page — Comprehension
- By December 2025, what share of TV viewing was streaming? — 47.5%
- Streaming viewing has grown by how much in four years? — about 71%
- Which platform overtook Netflix in daily viewing time? — YouTube
- What is "binge-watching"? — watching many episodes in a row
- Broadcast and cable viewing have… — b) fallen sharply
- The article's main message is… — c) the way we watch has changed completely
Reading Page — Who Does What? (sorter)
- Makes the film: a director, a screenwriter, a composer
- Watches / reacts: a critic, a fan base, a viewer
Common Student Errors
Watch for these at B2 and correct gently in the moment.
| Typical Error | Correct Form | Why & How to Fix |
|---|---|---|
| "It was wrote by King." | "It was written by King." | Use the past participle, not the past simple. |
| "The film filmed in 2020." | "The film was filmed in 2020." | The passive needs the verb "be" + participle. |
| "A sequel is making now." | "A sequel is being made now." | Present-continuous passive = is/are being + participle. |
| "The movie was happened in 1999." | "The movie happened / was set in 1999." | "happen" has no object → can't be passive. |
| "It has been streamed by millions of times." | "…streamed millions of times." | "by" introduces a doer, not a number. |
| "a good news about the show" | "good news about the show" | "news" is uncountable → no article. |
Extension & Homework
In-Class Options
- Write five "behind the scenes" facts about a film, all in the passive.
- Turn a news headline into a passive sentence ("Studio announces sequel" → "A sequel has been announced").
- Use the workbook flashcards to quiz a partner on the vocabulary.
At-Home Practice
- Read the interactive article and complete the comprehension quiz; bring your score.
- Watch something new and write a short passive-rich review (100 words).
- Finish any workbook tasks and review the flashcards.
How to Measure Success
Ready to run the lesson?
Open the student workbook (self-grading, with flashcards) and the interactive reading article. No login.
Open the Student Workbook Open the Reading