PREVIEW ACTIVITY (I)

Work with a partner or group. Do the discussion and vocabulary activities below.

PART I Explain some differences you know about the two gaming systems below.

Xbox Playstation

Discuss the follow-up questions below...

1 Describe the appearance of each console.
2 Do you know which versions of Xbox came after the original Xbox?
3 Do you know what the Xbox “Kinect” is?

PART II Discuss if you agree or disagree with the statements below. Explain why / why not.

1 AGREE / DISAGREE The graphics are the most important feature of a video game.
2 AGREE / DISAGREE Video game players should limit themselves to one hour playing per day.
3 AGREE / DISAGREE Video games are a healthy hobby to take up for your mental health.

PART III Match the adjectives with their definitions below the context examples.

1 My friend, Roger, played video games the entire day on Saturday.

2 The shapes on the screen look more angular than circular.
3 I don’t like modern video games. I prefer more conventional video games.
4 Kevin spent over $600 on video games this month. He’s nuts!
5 Wow, your new TV is really sleek-looking. I can almost see my reflection in
the screen!

1 entire a. to have a really modern, shiny, and smooth surface

2 angular b. full, complete, or whole
3 conventional c. ordinary, standard, traditional
4 nuts d. crazy or stupid, not rational
5 sleek-looking e. having angles or sharp corners / not rounded
PREVIEW ACTIVITY (II)

PART I Choose the correct definition for each verb phrase below based on the context.

1 I put a fan next to my computer to keep it from overheating.

If you keep something from overheating, you... a. stop it from becoming too hot
b. make it become really hot

2 I enjoy playing video games but I don’t take them so seriously.

If you take something seriously, you... a. believe it’s impossible
b. believe like it’s very important

3 Sandy put many hours into thinking of a good gift for her husband.

If you put time into doing something, you… a. invest time into it
b. ask someone for more time

PART II Write a definition / synonym for the phrases below based on the context.

1 I can control my entertainment system using voice commands.

voice commands are...
2 I have a big dilemma - the video game competition I’m participating in is on the
same day as my brother’s wedding!
a dilemma is...
3 Sorry, I was on a phone call earlier. Now you have my undivided attention.
undivided attention means...

PART III Translate the word “sarcasm” to your native language. Then write your own definition
for “sarcasm” in English language. Explain why we use sarcasm in communication.

TRANSLATION:
sarcasm (n.)

ENGLISH DEFINITION:

PART IV Study the phrase below that you will hear in the video.

PHRASE: No way!
USAGE: used to say that you don’t believe something / someone, or to express “Not possible!”
EXAMPLE: JON: The new Xbox system is on 50% discount in the shopping mall today.
BOB: No way! I’m going there right now.
THE BIG BANG THEORY
‘PLEASE PASS THE BUTTER’

PREVIEW DISCUSSION QUESTION

Have you ever seen the sitcom, The Big Bang

Theory? If yes, explain the pot of the show.
If not, do you have a favorite sitcom?

VIEWING ACTIVITY

PART I Choose true or false according to the information in the video.

0:08 1 TRUE FALSE Xbox 2 was released after Xbox.

0:30 2 TRUE FALSE Sheldon controls his entertainment system using his Xbox
controller.
--- 3 TRUE FALSE Amy doesn’t care much about video games.

0:56 4 TRUE FALSE The large size of the Xbox One makes it overheat quickly.

1:07 5 TRUE FALSE You have to buy the Xbox Kinect separately from the gaming
console.

PART II Write a short answer according to the information in the video.

0:16 1 Sheldon says that the release of Xbox One doesn’t make sense. What is his reason?

0:49 2 How does Sheldon describe the physical appearance of the PS4 console?

1:15 3 When Sheldon says that Xbox 1 is still uses ‘DDR3 memory’, how does Amy respond?

1:46 4 What happens at the end of the video?

POST-VIEWING ACTIVITY (I)

PART I Explain and/ or write in your own words what you think the phrases in bold mean.

1 Amy pretends to be interested in video games, but she actually couldn’t care
less about the video game technology that Sheldon is talking about.

2 Sheldon rambles on and on about all of the features and specs of Xbox and
Playstation.

3 Amy loses her temper after Sheldon rambles on and on about all of the
features and specs of Xbox and Playstation.

PART II Your teacher will take the role of Sheldon and read his lines out loud in the dialogue
below. Take the role of Amy and read each line out loud in a sarcastic tone.

SHELDON: The PS4 is more angular and sleek-looking.

AMY: No way!
SHELDON: Yeah, it’s true. But the larger size of the XBox One may keep it from
overheating.
AMY: Well, you wouldn’t want your gaming system to overheat!
SHELDON: You absolutely would not! And furthermore, the XBox One now comes
with a kinect, included.
AMY: Included!?
SHELDON: Yes! Not sold separately. Although, the PS4 uses cool new GDDR5 RAM,
while the Xbox One is still using the conventional DDR3 memory.
AMY: Why would they still be using DDR3? Are they nuts?!
SHELDON: See that’s what I thought! But then, they go and throw in an ES RAM
buffer.
AMY: Whoa whoa, wait a second! Who’s “they”?
SHELDON: Xbox!
AMY: You’re kidding!
SHELDON: No, I am not! And this ES RAM buffer should totally bridge the 100
gigabyte per second bandwidth gap between the two RAM types.
AMY: This is a nightmare! How will you ever make a decision?
POST-VIEWING ACTIVITY (II)

Study the adverbs “however” and “furthermore” that Sheldon uses in the video.

Sheldon explains that the name ‘Xbox One’ after ‘Xbox 360’ doesn’t make sense. Then he says...

However, with the Xbox One, I can control my entire entertainment system
“
using voice command.

We often use “however” to introduce a statement that shows contrast or the other side to what
has been said before. It functions the same as ‘but’. However is generally used to start a sentence.

The new Playstation console is beautiful. However, it’s quite expensive.

MORE EXAMPLES
I just bought an Xbox console. However, my controller is broken so I can’t play.

Sheldon explains the features of Xbox One. He talks about the large size of it, and then he says..

“ Furthermore, the XBox One now comes with a Kinect, included.

We use “furthermore” to make an additional point (which makes your opinion stronger).

MORE EXAMPLES
I love the new Playstation console. It looks modern, and the controller is nicely
designed. Furthermore, it holds a lot more memory than the Xbox One!

I don’t like playing video games. They’re too time-consuming. Furthermore,
it’s not good to sit behind the screen for many hours!

PART I Choose whether however or furthermore fit the sentences below.

1 I don’t play video games often. However , when I do play, I play really well.
2 I shouldn’t play video games. It’s not good for my back to sit for such a long time.
, I’m just much too busy to play these days.
3 Many people think that gaming is just a waste of time. , I have
learned useful good computer skills and improved my English playing video games online.
4 I love spending my Saturday afternoon playing video games. , my
girlfriend absolutely hates when I do that.
5 I really prefer video games which require physical movement. They’re fun and more interest-
ing. , you get a lot of good exercise!

6 Being a professional gamer is hard work. You have to practice a lot, travel for competitions,
and participate in many interviews. , you don’t have much free time.

7 I love the video game store in the city center. It has all of the new video game releases and
fair prices. , they always offer me great discounts.
QUIZ & REVIEW ACTIVITY

Work with a partner. Complete the quiz and review activities below.

PART I Questions. Discuss the answers to the questions below.

1. What doesn’t make sense about the name ‘Xbox One’ according to Sheldon?
2. What does Sheldon say about the size of the Xbox?
3. How does the PS4 look?
4. What does Sheldon’s girlfriend say at the end?
5. Explain the humor of the video clip.

PART II Vocabulary: Rewrite each sentence with a vocabulary word from the video in place
of the underlined terms.

1. Sheldon feels like Amy doesn’t think about video games in a serious way.

2. Sheldon says that Xbox didn’t invest so much time in the name ‘Xbox One’.

3. When Sheldon tells Amy that Xbox is still using conventional DDR3 memory, she
sarcastically responds, “Are they crazy?”

PART III Grammar: Explain the usage of ‘however’ and ‘furthermore’. Then write examples
using each.

PART IV Finish each sentence below using your own idea.

1 I went to the video game store today to buy a new game. However...

2 The graphics of my new video game are great and I love the special effects.
Furthermore...