PSLE Oral – Unpacking the 2022 PSLE Oral

The English oral component comprises 30 marks; 10 for reading and 20 for Stimulus-based conversation. Scoring well in the oral component for PSLE can significantly help a student with his or her overall AL score for English.

In school, students are taught a technique to answer Stimulus-based conversation questions (SBC questions). This can be PEARS, PEEL, or TREES approach. Basically, a student is required to give responses, elaboration, experiences, and conclusions. At TF, our students are taught the TREES approach.

• T – thought
• R- reasons
• E- elaboration with examples
• E- experiences
• S- suggestion/ opinion/ conclusion

Not all questions require the full TREES approach when answering. Certain questions such as “Tell me about a time you helped someone” requires a student to give an Experience and end off with an Opinion about that experience. “Do you think that Singaporeans are polite on the MRT?” requires a student to give an Opinion with examples and end off with an Experience.

Thus, simply having an approach is not enough. The student also needs to know how to use it correctly and this requires practice. Unfortunately, with the elimination of the full SA1 for the P6s this year, many students do not have the Oral testing practice during the mid-year examinations.

Let us now take a look at the 2022 PSLE Oral Day 1 SBC Theme. My 2022 P6 students were very happy last year as we covered the themes in our tuition classes on both Day 1 & Day 2 of the PSLE oral. On top of that, some schools had tested their students on the theme of Recycling for their SA1 Oral so those students felt very confident handling the theme on Day 1.

Below is the poster of the Day 1 oral. Using the TREES approach, we will answer the following questions.

2022 PSLE Oral Day 1 SBC

Q1: Look at the poster. Would you participate in this recycling activity?

Thought:

Yes, I would definitely participate in this recycling activity.

Reason 1 & Elaboration

This is a meaningful activity that can help our environment. Instead of throwing away our worn-out sports shoes or shoes that are too small for us, we can recycle them and turn them into new materials. My father and older brother run every weekend for long distances and their sports shoes get worn out quickly. I believe that we have a few pairs of shoes at home, waiting to be thrown away. My neighbours, who are also runners, have worn out running shoes as well. We can pack those shoes and send them to the community centre to be recycled.

Reason 2 & Elaboration

The shoes collection period is also over two months, from 1 October to 30 November. This will give me a lot of time to send the shoes to the community centre. My PSLE will be over in early October and I will have free time on my hands. I can use that time to collect old sports shoes and make my way down to the collection points.

Reason 3 & Elaboration

The Collection points at the community centres are also accessible to everyone as there is a community centre in every district. Therefore, everyone can drop off their old sports shoes. My community centre is about a ten-minute walk from my home so I do not need my parents to drive me there. I can get there on my own.

Experience

Last year my school organised a talk about recycling. Officers from the National Environment Agency came to our school to talk about the importance of recycling in Singapore. They also shared with us that many Singaporeans are still not making an effort to recycle. Only 22% of homes recycle. Some recycle wrongly by throwing food waste into the recycling bins, thus contaminating the recycled materials. The officers showed us the correct way to recycle our waste products. I found the talk very informative and it motivated me to keep up my recycling efforts.

Opinion

In my opinion, all children should make the time and effort to practise recycling, especially in a small country like Singapore.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I will participate in this activity.

Q2: Besides shoes, what kinds of things can you donate or recycle

Reason 1 & Elaboration

Besides shoes, we can recycle newspapers, paper, tin cans, and plastic bottles. We take recycling seriously at home. My sister and I have three containers to recycle paper, plastic, and metal products. The last person to finish drinking from the can or the plastic bottle has to wash it and recycle it. Then, once a week, we will head to the recycling bin near our block and place these in the correct recycling bin.

Reason 2 & Elaboration

My mother loves to shop so she has many clothes in her closet. Every six months, she will take the clothes that she no longer wants and any of our clothes that we have outgrown and pack them neatly. Then, she will donate them to organisations that resell these clothes for charity.

Reason 3 & Elaboration

Aside from donating or recycling, many people nowadays upcycle their belongings. Unwanted items are transformed into different objects that can be used around the house or garden or even in school. My sister, who is very creative, upcycles her old belongings and turns them into beautiful gifts for friends. She once upcycled my mother’s old shopping bags into letter holders.

Experience

My school organised a book donation and recycling activity last year as well. The primary 5 students were placed in charge of this activity. Students were asked to bring along used textbooks, magazines, and assessment books. The P5 students set up collection points at various parts of school. We put a large box outside the canteen, at the general office, and outside the school library. At the end of the day, the P5 leaders would collect the books and magazines at the collection points. At the end of the week, some P5 students had to separate the books and magazines which were in good condition and put them aside to be given away to a charitable organisation. At the end of the month, we sent all the unwanted books and magazines to a recycling plant.

Suggestion

I suggest that instead of throwing away unwanted clothes, books, or magazines, we can donate them to charity or even upcycle them and give them a new lease on life.

Q3: Do you think it is important to take care of the environment?

Thought:

Yes, I do think it is very important to take care of the environment.

Reason 1 & Elaboration

If we do not recycle or dispose of our waste correctly, we are polluting our land and seas. This in turn endangers the animals that live in those areas. I have read news articles and watched videos on social media, about sea creatures swallowing plastic bags which are polluting the sea. These sea creatures mistake plastic bags for food and swallow them, causing them to die.

Reason 2 & Elaboration

Singapore’s landfill in Pulau Semakau is filling up too quickly. It is estimated that there will be no more space in Pulau Semakau by 2035. We are using too much plastic and not recycling our waste and very soon Singapore won’t have space for another landfill. We should learn to reduce and recycle products that are not biodegradable. The government hopes that the recycling rate will be at least 70% by 2030 so everyone should play their part and recycle correctly waste that can be recycled.

Reason 3 & Elaboration

Singapore is a small island city-state that is easily affected by climate change. We have few natural resources so we need to make sure that we do not pollute what we have. There is still a lot of trash along our beaches and parks. I feel that Singaporeans should behave more responsibly and not litter. They should dispose of their trash correctly. We share our home with other living things and we need to do our part to protect their habitats, not to pollute them. We should also reduce our waste by buying only the things that we need and bringing our own bags when we go to the supermarket or stores.

Opinion

In my opinion, everyone, even children, can play a part in keeping our environment clean and safe. We simply need to put in some effort to recycle or upcycle our unwanted belongings. We should reduce the use of things that are not biodegradable like plastic.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I think that it is important to take care of the environment.