PSLE#3 English Oral - Environment / Green Nation
PSLEhacker Episode #3 - PEEL Method
(A) Reading Aloud :
Source: The Straits Times – Little Red Dot (Student Edition) Section: Environment / Green Nation Date: Tuesday, 3 February 2026 Title: Tackling Singapore’s E-Waste Mountain
Singaporeans love their electronic gadgets, but what happens when our laptops, printers, and mobile phones break down? Electronic waste, or e-waste, is one of the fastest-growing types of rubbish in the world. In Singapore alone, we generate over sixty thousand tonnes of e-waste every year. That is equivalent to the weight of more than two hundred airplanes!
Instead of throwing old devices down the common rubbish chute, where toxic chemicals might leak and harm the environment, we must recycle them properly. To make this highly convenient, the National Environment Agency has placed hundreds of e-waste recycling bins in shopping malls, community clubs, and supermarkets across the island.
By taking the time to bring our faulty printers and old batteries to these designated bins, we give them a second life. Specialised facilities will extract valuable metals like gold, silver, and copper from the circuits to be used in new products. This simple act of recycling not only conserves our earth’s precious resources but also protects our health. Everyone can do their part to ensure a sustainable future for Singapore.
Reading Passage (178 words):
(B) Stimulus-Based Conversation (SBC):
Q & A Time :
Here are the 3 PEEL-structured Q&A questions and the Vocabulary List tailored for the E-Waste news topic.
Question 1: Visual Stimulus “Look at the picture of the father and daughter. Would you participate in this e-waste recycling activity? Why or why not?”
(Point) Yes, I would definitely participate in this e-waste recycling activity.
(Explanation) I believe it is crucial to dispose of our electronic devices responsibly. If we throw them into the common rubbish chute, hazardous chemicals can leak and severely contaminate our environment . By bringing them to designated e-waste bins , we allow valuable materials to be safely extracted and reused, which conserves our earth’s limited resources.
(Example/Experience) For instance, when my old tablet broke down last year, my parents and I took it to an e-waste bin at our nearby community club. I felt a deep sense of responsibility and compassion knowing that I was doing my part for the environment. It turned into a memorable and fun-filled family outing.
(Link) Therefore, because it protects our health and the earth, I would enthusiastically participate in this e-waste recycling activity. Ensure you stay on track by bringing the conversation back to the topic!
Question 2: Personal Experience “Tell me about a time you or someone you know had to dispose of an old electronic device.”
(Point) A memorable experience was when my father had to dispose of his bulky, faulty printer a few months ago.
(Explanation) He told me that simply throwing it away was not an option, as electronic waste is one of the fastest-growing types of rubbish and contains toxic materials. He used the 5W1H framework (Who, What, Where, When, Why, How) to expand on his ideas and explain the process to me.
(Example/Experience) We researched online and found an e-waste collection drive happening at a nearby shopping mall. We carried the heavy printer there together. As we handed it over to the volunteers, I saw my father’s face aglow with an encouraging smile. We were both filled with eager curiosity and wonder when they explained how the printer would be dismantled to salvage metals like copper and silver .
(Link) That experience taught me the proper and responsible way to dispose of an old electronic device.
Question 3: Broader Opinion “Some people think that throwing small electronic devices, like a spoiled mouse or old batteries, into the normal rubbish chute is harmless. Do you agree?”
(Point) I strongly disagree with the idea that throwing small electronic devices into the normal rubbish chute is harmless.
(Explanation) Even though they are small, items like old batteries contain heavy metals such as lead and mercury. When incinerated with general waste, these toxins are released into the air or seep into the ground, causing long-term damage to our health and the ecosystem.
(Example/Experience) I do not think that ignoring the problem will keep us protected. However, I believe that if we make a small effort to collect our used batteries in a dedicated box at home and drop them off at an e-waste bin once a month, we can easily solve this issue. (Note: This demonstrates the “negative to positive response” technique!) This simple change in habit will help us build a sustainable future.
(Link) Hence, I firmly disagree that throwing small e-waste into the normal trash is harmless.
🌟 High-Scoring Idioms & Vocabulary to Note
“Light years ahead”
Meaning: To be very advanced.
Oral Practice: “Singapore is light years ahead in waste management because of our advanced recycling facilities.”
“Run out of steam”
Meaning: To lose energy, momentum, or become obsolete.
Oral Practice: “This old laptop has finally run out of steam; it is too slow for my school projects now.”
Go through below > when you have spare time
💡 Pro-Tip for Oral: The “5W1H” Hook
When using an idiom, encourage the student to elaborate using Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How.
Example: “My father is very tech-savvy, so last Saturday (When), he showed me (Who) how to remove the SIM card (How) before we recycled (What) my old phone at the mall (Where) to protect my data (Why).”
E-Waste Vocabulary List for Practice
1. Key Nouns (Things & Concepts)
E-waste / Electronic waste: Discarded electrical or electronic devices.
Toxic chemicals / Hazardous materials: Dangerous substances like lead and mercury found inside electronics.
Sustainable future: A future where we do not deplete the earth’s natural resources.
Designated bins: Specific containers meant only for certain items (like the ALBA e-waste bins).
2. Powerful Verbs (Actions)
Contaminate: To make something impure or poisonous. (e.g., “Chemicals will contaminate the soil.”)
Conserve: To protect from harm or destruction.
Salvage / Extract: To save or retrieve valuable materials (like gold or copper) from the broken electronics.
Dismantle: To take a machine apart into separate pieces.
3. Descriptive Adjectives
Obsolete: No longer produced or used; out of date. (e.g., “We need to recycle our obsolete laptops.”)
Environmentally conscious: Being aware of and caring for the environment.
Faulty: Not working properly.
4. High-Scoring Phrases (From the Guidebook)
“Sense of responsibility and compassion”: A great way to describe the motivation for recycling.
“Filled with eager curiosity and wonder”: Perfect for describing how one feels when learning about the recycling process.
“Face aglow with an encouraging smile”: An excellent expression to describe a parent or teacher’s reaction when a student recycles correctly.