British Bar Chat

Video Games

This month, Jimmy and Bobby are talking about videogames. Listen to their conversation and answer these questions. Remember you don’t have to understand every word. Just listen for the key words – the most important words in the conversation.

1. What does one of the speakers say in favour of videogames? 2. What does the other speaker say against videogames?

Bobby: Aw, my kid’s got this great new videogame. I was playing it last night. It’s great fun! You should try it sometime. Have you tried them? Jimmy: No, I think the videogames are really violent. I just can’t stand them. Bobby: Nah, they’re great! You know, for kids it’s good, too. They learn a bit of hand-eye coordination, teaches them tactics and things like that, you know, it’s great, I think they’re good. Jimmy: I’ve seen things about them in the magazines and the TV and they’re ripping people’s heads off, blowing up buildings with people inside. It’s horrible. Bobby: Yeah, but the kids know that’s just fantasy world they don’t think it’s real. They’re not going to actually go out and rip someone’s head off, are they? You know, what do you think? Jimmy: Yeah, but some of these kids who play these games are eight years old. I mean, you can’t be responsible for them at that age, can you? Bobby: Yeah, but it’s just a bit of entertainment. It’s a good way of keeping them quiet. You know, imagine you’re at home, you want to do a bit of cleaning or you’ve got a bit of work to do. Just get your kid playing on the game and, like I said, they’re learning something. They’re learning hand-eye coordination. They’re learning, you know, they learn tactics. They learn how, you know, to work in a team sometimes, if they’re playing with another player and things like that. I think it’s good, you know. Keeps them busy while it keeps the parents happy. Jimmy: What sort of skills are you teaching them? How to rip off somebody’s head? How to rip someone limb from limb? It’s disgusting! Bobby: Well, you never know, you might need to know that type of thing one day. G L O S S A R Y

I just can’t stand them exp I really hate them nah exp inform no hand-eye coordination n the ability to watch something and move your body/hands in order to perform a task tactics n strategies and plans you know exp people often use this expression in conversations to check that the other person is following things to rip someone’s head off exp to separate someone’s head from their body to blow up phr vb to use explosives to destroy something a fantasy world n an imaginary world that doesn’t exist I mean exp people often use this expression in conversations for emphasis entertainment n fun activities such as going to the cinema, doing sports, etc to keep someone quiet exp to ensure that someone doesn’t make any noise get your kid playing on the game exp tell your child to play the game; help you child to play the game to work in a team exp to work with other people in order to achieve a task to keep someone busy exp to give someone things to do so they don’t get bored to keep someone happy exp to make sure that someone is content skills n abilities to rip someone from limb to limb exp to pull someone’s arms and legs off