In Singapore, our junior high school students have to sit for an oral examination as part of their qualifying examinations for higher education. This oral exam comprises a conversation, in which examiners ask the candidate three prompts based on a topic.
Marks will then be awarded to the candidate based on how well s/he initiates a thoughtful conversation with two adults, showcasing her/his cogent arguments and vocabulary.
You guessed it! It’s oral exam season now, so I got a bit nostalgic. I was lucky enough to be an oral examiner two years ago. Frankly speaking, spending the whole afternoon and listening in rapt attention to teenagers speak is exhausting, but I have always found it lucky to be paid for rendering this service to the nation. It can be a useful gateway into the thoughts and feelings of today’s youth.
Let me share the questions and my reflections from my 5-day stint as an oral examiner.
2022 Day 1
- Do you think the recycling campaign shown in the video is a good idea? Why, or why not?
- Tell me about how much recycling you or your family do.
- How do you think people can be encouraged to recycle?
Most candidates spoke about posters and websites - quite mundane.
One spoke about rebates/cashbacks/vouchers.
The best candidate talked about farmers’ markets in other countries and how people there just scoop what they need.
Day 2
- How do you think the driver of the car at the end of the video is feeling? (Shibuya zebra crossing)
- Tell me about a time when you were part of a big crowd or in a very crowded place.
- What do you think are the main advantages and disadvantages of living in cities?
Most people mentioned how it’s easy to make friends and/or get around in a city.
Two students with social anxiety spoke about how they needed to learn to manage their fear of being around people.
Best conversationalist spoke about how elderly people will find it hard to live in a technology-enabled city, e.g., QR codes.
Day 3
- How do you think this person is feeling about moving into a new place to live?
- What do you think is good or bad about the area you live in? Why?
- Is it better to live in one place for a long time or in several different places? Why?
Best candidate gave a critical & balanced commentary of his neighbourhood (dangerous people taking drugs, many teenagers playing downstairs) as well as how his life is affected by his surroundings (cannot go home too late because of dangerous people). Also took a broader perspective of his life and explained how his life might change after he graduates from secondary school - showed some awareness of adulting (used words like bills, kitchen appliances, convenience). I asked him the final question about why bills are so salient in his mind because I genuinely wanted to know.
Day 4
- Why do you think the tourists chose to go around the city at night?
- Tell me about a country you have visited or would like to visit.
- What do you think are the advantages or disadvantages of going sightseeing with a group of people? Why?
Best conversationalists helped us view their chosen country through their lens. Boy wants to go to Malaysia because his sepak takraw idols are from there, so he wants to play sepak takraw with the Malaysians all week. Girl wants to travel to Europe because the Malaysian actresses she’s obsessed with posted their European trip photos on IG.
Day 5
- In the video, what might the people assisting the children find interesting or difficult about their jobs? (Children engaged in games)
- Tell me about any games you like playing at home or in other places.
- Some people say that playing games are a waste of time. Do you agree? Why, or why not?
Best conversationalists confidently elaborated on their hobbies. Boy who enjoys fishing said he would bring kids to Pasir Ris where fish bite easily so that the children can enjoy success and not be impatient. Two candidates gave balanced account of pros and cons of e-gaming and supported their arguments with statistics - and concluded why they will/will not turn professional. Scored for vocabulary: strategise, execute, perspective, genre, it depends on the situation, realistic, stimulate, flight simulations, schedule, play moderately
How well do you think you would have done if you were in their shoes? 👟