| Level | Topic | Speakers | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficult | Video Game Systems | Man – Boy | 01:31 |
Pre-Listening Exercise
Video game systems are popular among children and teenagers, but how do children obtain these systems: they receive them as gifts, they earn money and buy them, or they borrow the systems from a friend?
Idioms
“be dying for something” = want something very much
“My daughter is dying to buy more video games, but she needs to save money for other things.”
“sore/bad loser” = someone who acts or behaves badly when they lose a game
“I don’t like playing him very much because he’s always a sore loser when I beat him playing video games. He’ll run off and be mad the whole day.”
Listening Exercise
Listen to the recording and answer the questions. (See transcript)
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
Here are some words and expressions that appear in the recording:
-
come up with (phrasal verb): think of an idea or answer
– We couldn’t come up with any ideas for the weekend, so we just stayed home and played video games. -
earn (verb): receive money as payment for work that you do
– I need to earn money to buy more video games. -
allowance (noun): an amount of money parents give children to spend
– My parents give me an allowance if I do all my chores. -
bit (noun): a small amount of something
– My son wants to work a bit longer before he buys a car. -
odd job (noun): not usual or regular work
– I had to accept a few odd jobs after I graduated before I found good steady work. -
stand (noun): a small outdoor store where things are sold
– I worked one summer at a fruit stand downtown to earn money to pay for college.
Post-Listening Exercise
Playing video games is growing in popularity, but finding the right game system at the right price can be challenging. Search the internet and compare two different game systems in terms of price, availability, variety of games, and overall playing experience. Assume that the game system will be used by an entire family with younger users as well as adults. Make recommendations based on the information you find.
Online Investigation
Online gaming is becoming very popular because it allows players to participate in online games from different parts of the world. Use the internet to do a review of an online role-playing or simulation game. In your review, discuss the objectives of the game, the number of players that can join at any one time, the intended audience (children, teens, or adults), and any cost associated with playing it.