Following the 2026 PSLE Chinese orla exam, parents are questioning whether some of the vocabulary tested is simply too ‘cheem.’ One example that caught attention was “撬棍” (qiào gùn), which means “crowbar”, with the original poster joking that the only “k-a-n” they know definitely isn’t appropriate for a 12-year-old. 😂 But concerns over difficult Chinese vocabulary aren’t new. A CNA commentary previously explored similar complaints from Singapore parents who felt their children were being taught words that were difficult, overly advanced or rarely used in everyday life. So, is PSLE Chinese actually getting harder, or are Singapore students simply getting less exposure to Mandarin outside the classroom? We take a look at why Chinese can be such a challenge for Singapore kids — and whether we’re teaching them Chinese they actually use. #8dayssg #8dayssgtrending #PSLE #PSLEChinese #MotherTongue
Bugis Street Level 2 may no longer feel quite as much like a ghost town. Months after we visited the upper floor following reports of shuttered shops and sparse foot traffic, we returned on a Friday afternoon to see whether things had changed. This time, Level 2 had noticeably more people around, from teenagers and tourists to older shoppers. More importantly, shoppers were actually interacting with the stalls, trying things on and making purchases, rather than simply browsing and walking through. There are still plenty of shuttered units, and Level 2 remains much quieter than the ever-busy ground floor, but the atmosphere felt noticeably livelier during our visit. Bugis Street is also hosting its “Somewhere @ Bugis Street” weekend events as part of its ongoing efforts to bring more activity to the area. So, is Bugis Street Level 2 finally making a comeback? #8dayssg #8dayssgtrending #Bugis #BugistStreet #Singapore
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