LISTENING UNIT 7

1 Make informed choices

2 Think and act

3 Improve children's

4 Educational games

5 Educational and entertaining

6 Headaches or epilepsy

7 Symptoms of depression

8 Addiction syndrome

9 They feel unwell

10 Consult a doctor

VOCABULARY

Spokesman = portavoce

Fear = paura

Span = periodo

Widely = ampiamente

Well-lit room = stanza ben illuminata

Benefit = beneficio

Headaches = mal di testa

Epilepsy = epilessia

Computer addict = vittima del computer

Harm = danno

To harm = danneggiare

To be absorbed = essere assorbito, coinvolto

To issue = emettere

To not exceed limits = non superare i limiti

To be committed to = impegnarsi a

SUMMARY

Listening 7 is about computers and video games. It is a radio programme where the participants discuss the topic of computer games. They are a radio interviewer, a spokesman of ELSPA and a caller.

The radio programme starts with the presentation of ELSPA. Firstly, ELSPA is an organisation that helps parents make informed choice about children's video games. In particular, ELSPA tries to convince parents there are some benefits in using computers. For example, the spokesman says video games could help children to think and act faster or to improve their attention span.

After that, the interviewer says computers introduce children to technology and the spokesman agrees with the radio interviewer and adds computers are the future.

The interview goes on with a question made by the radio interviewer who asks if exist any educational games. The spokesman answers there are some educational and at the same time entertaining games.

A caller joins the discussion and askes if is true that video games can cause problem such as headaches or epilepsy. The spokesman tells the caller there are cases of computer addicts who have been suffering from depression. Therefore, the caller explains her experience with her son who has been having terrible headaches. The spokesman advertises the woman that her son should play video games in a well-lit room, at the furthest distance from the screen and if the child continues to feel unwell, it is better to consult a doctor.