I can’t concentrate well when there’s silence around me. There’s exceptions, of course, but usually I need to have some background music or the TV on. It helps that there’s a German TV station that replays the same sitcoms over and over and over throughout the day. I already know all the episodes, so I can just very comfortably having it on in the background without feeling like I have to pay attention and without feeling distracted. It also works for me if there are just enough people around me who create some kind of background noise. But complete silence is some kind of no go. I mean, of course if I have to study and need lots of concentration and focus, I can’t have the TV on. But with everything else, it works quite well.