PSLE #45 English Oral – Capturing Time: The Value of Memories
PSLEhacker Episode #45 - 5W1H Focus
Date of News Article: 20 February 2026 Source: Adapted from Lifestyle & Youth Culture Features
Reading Passage:
In today’s fast-paced digital world, most of us take dozens of photographs on our smartphones every single day. We snap pictures of our food, our pets, and our friends, often posting them online before quickly moving on to the next moment. However, psychologists are noticing a growing trend among youths: a return to physical, tangible memories.
Many students are discovering the joy of keeping physical diaries, printing out photographs, and collecting small mementos like concert tickets or seashells from a family trip. While a digital photo can be accidentally deleted or buried in a camera roll, a physical item holds a different kind of weight. It serves as an invaluable anchor to our past.
Treasuring an item is not about its financial cost, but the emotional story attached to it. A cheap, battered teddy bear or a handwritten birthday card can provide a deep sense of reassurance during stressful times, reminding us of the people who love and support us.
Taking the time to record our lives—whether through journaling or keeping a memory box—requires us to be proactive. Instead of letting the days blur together, it forces us to pause and reflect. Making the meaningful and wise choice to preserve these small pieces of our personal history ensures that as we grow older, we never lose touch with the experiences that shaped who we are.
Word Count: 275 words
PSLE Oral Practice: Stimulus-Based Conversation (5W1H Focus)
Question 1: Visual Analysis (Using basic 5W1H to describe)
“Look at the picture. What do you think the person was doing, and why do you say so?”
Who & Where: I believe a student was sitting at their study desk at home.
What & When: They were likely celebrating a recent birthday and taking some quiet time to write in their diary.
Why & How: I say this because there is a handmade birthday card and a slice of cake on the table. Writing in a diary is a proactive way to record happy memories. Looking at the framed family photo next to the diary, it seems the student feels a deep sense of reassurance and gratitude for their family’s love, and they want to capture those warm feelings on paper before they forget them.
Question 2: Personal Recount (Applying full 5W1H)
“Tell us about an item you treasure. Why do you treasure it?” (Note: The 5W1H method forces a detailed story rather than a brief “I treasure my watch because my mom gave it to me.”)
What & Who: The item I treasure the most is a slightly faded, blue Casio watch given to me by my grandfather.
When & Where: He gave it to me three years ago, right before I sat for my Primary 3 year-end mathematics examination in my school hall.
Why: I treasure it because I was feeling incredibly nervous that morning. He handed me the watch and told me that time is something I can control if I stay calm. It is invaluable to me because it wasn’t an expensive gift, but it was exactly what I needed at that moment.
How: Whenever I feel stressed during an exam now, I just look down at the blue strap on my wrist. It instantly calms my nerves and helps me weather the storm of my anxiety.
Question 3: Opinion & Experience
“Some people say taking too many photographs stops you from actually enjoying the moment. What is your opinion?”
Opinion: I partially agree. While taking photos is a great way to preserve memories, obsessing over getting the “perfect shot” can make us oblivious to the actual experience.
Reason: If we are constantly staring at a screen, we miss out on the sounds, smells, and true atmosphere of a place.
Experience (5W1H style): (When/Where) Last December, during a family trip to the zoo, (Who/What) I spent the first hour just trying to take videos of the pandas. (How/Why) My phone battery died, and I was initially upset. But then, I made the meaningful and wise choice to just watch the animals with my own eyes. I realized I enjoyed the rest of the day much more because I was truly present and forging a strong sense of camaraderie with my family, rather than acting like a cameraman.
Theme: Personal Memories / Treasured Items / Family Bonds : A picture showing a student’s wooden study desk. On the desk is an open, handwritten diary, a slice of cake on a plate, a handmade birthday card, and a framed family photograph.