PSLE#14 English Oral - Going Cashless: Hawkers Go Digital
PSLEhacker Episode #14 - PEEL Method
Date of News Article: 10 October 2025 (Adapted from actual Straits Times reports!) Source: Adapted from The Straits Times (Tech & Community)
Reading Passage:
The familiar clinking of coins and rustling of notes is becoming a rarer sound in Singapore’s bustling hawker centres. In its place is the quiet, seamless “beep” of a successful digital transaction. As part of the nation’s 2026 push towards a fully cashless society, over 95% of hawker stalls across the island have now adopted the unified Singapore Quick Response Code (SGQR).
This initiative has transformed the dining experience for many. For students and working adults, paying for a bowl of laksa or chicken rice is now as simple as opening a banking app and scanning a code. This not only speeds up queues during peak hours but is also more hygienic, as it reduces the handling of cash. Hawker “unties” and “uncles” have also welcomed the change, noting that it saves them the hassle of counting coins and making trips to the bank.
However, the transition has not been without its challenges. Some elderly patrons still find digital apps confusing and prefer the familiarity of cash. To ensure no one is left behind, “Digital Ambassadors” are frequently stationed at hawker centres to guide less tech-savvy seniors through the process with patience and care.
Despite these initial hurdles, the adoption of SGQR is a significant step forward. It encourages a more tech-savvy population and paves the way for a more efficient, connected city. By embracing this change, Singaporeans are showing that tradition and technology can co-exist harmoniously, making our beloved hawker culture future-ready.
Word Count: 285 words
(B) Stimulus-Based Conversation (SBC):
Question 1: Visual Stimulus
“Look at the picture. What is the student doing, and why is this a convenient way to pay?”
Point: The student is making a cashless payment by scanning the SGQR code at a hawker stall. This method is extremely convenient because it is fast and hygienic.
Explanation: He doesn’t need to fumble for coins or wait for change, which speeds up the transaction for everyone. It’s also cleaner since there’s no physical contact with money. The hawker’s smile and thumbs-up show that he is happy with this easy process too.
Example/Experience: This reminds me of when I buy lunch at my school canteen. Using my watch to scan and pay is so much faster than digging through my wallet. It gives me a sense of accomplishment to be efficient.
Link: Adopting such digital tools is a wise choice that makes our daily lives smoother and more modern.
Question 2: Personal Opinion
“Do you prefer using cash or digital methods like SGQR when you buy things? Why?”
Point: I prefer using digital payments like SGQR because I find it to be more secure and it helps me track my spending better.
Explanation: I don’t have to worry about losing cash, and my banking app records every transaction automatically. This makes it easier for me to stick to my budget.
Example/Experience: Sometimes, when I use cash, I forget where I spent it. But with the app, I can see exactly how much I spent on food or transport at the end of the week. It helps me byte the bullet and be more responsible with my allowance.
Link: While cash is still useful sometimes, digital payment is a more proactive way to manage money in today’s world.
Question 3: Solution-Based / Broader Context
“Some older people might find it difficult to use smartphones for payment. How can we help them so they are not left behind?”
Point: We must be patient and offer them guidance and support to help them become comfortable with the technology.
Explanation: Learning something new can be scary, so we shouldn’t rush them. We can show them step-by-step how to use the apps in a calm and encouraging way.
Example/Experience: My grandmother was initially afraid to use SGQR. So, I went to the hawker centre with her several times. I demonstrated how to do it first, then let her try while I watched. Seeing her successfully buy her own coffee gave us both a deep sense of accomplishment.
Link: By showing empathy and offering a helping hand, we can forge a sense of camaraderie and ensure everyone can enjoy the benefits of a Smart Nation.
Continue to read if you still got energy……………..
Theme: Technology in Daily Life / Smart Nation / Inclusivity Visual Stimulus: A photo taken at a busy, well-lit hawker centre. A male student in a secondary school uniform is holding up a smartphone, scanning a pink SGQR label pasted on the front of a ‘Chicken Rice’ stall. The hawker, an older man in an apron, is smiling and giving a thumbs-up. Other patrons are queuing behind the student.
📖 Vocabulary List
Seamless (Adjective): Smooth and continuous, with no apparent gaps or spaces between one part and the next.
Transaction (Noun): An instance of buying or selling something; a business deal.
Hygienic (Adjective): Conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, especially by being clean; sanitary.
Patrons (Noun): A customer, especially a regular one, of a store, restaurant, or theatre.
Harmoniously (Adverb): In a way that is free from disagreement or dissent; peacefully.
🌟 Idiom of the Day
“Get with the times”
Meaning: To understand and accept modern ways of thinking or doing things.
PSLE Oral Usage: “It’s important for everyone, young and old, to try and get with the times by learning how to use convenient tools like digital payments.”