A summary of 4B’s comments for Picture Discussion.

PICTURE SAMPLE DISCUSSION COMMENTS /REMARKS

This picture depicts a scene of an If this question is also asked for the
autograph signing session of the F1 conversation like why was the
racers. I think that it could be during the formula one held in Singapore, you
Singapore F1 race as the strong lighting can adapt some of the info you
shows that it is in the night and Singapore already have for YOG. Please don’t
is the only country who hosts a night race. leave out sports as a theme
The men seated behind the table could be because you think it has come out
the f1 racers that are competing in the last year. You are not the examiner.
race. the two men in blue and the two You have no way of predicting what
other in red are possibly from different will come out.
teams as they are wearing different shirts.
the man in brown, sitting in between the Talk about the person getting the
two teams could be somebody important, autograph, how he may feel as well.
possibly the organizer of this race.
The photographers are all wearing an
access card around their necks possibly
to enable them to have special access to
the racers. They could be news reporters
taking the photographs in order to have it
published in the newspaper the day after.
The photographers are also getting the
photographs of the racers as they might
be getting it for their children or just for
keepsake. They could not miss such a
one in a life time opportunity to get the
autographs of the famous racers. This
picture shoes many people gathered
together around a few tables in an indoor
area. From the looks of it, it is most
probably an F1 autograph signing session
where the fans are meeting up with their
favourite F1 racers to get their

Notes prepared by Mrs Neera Vijay and Sec 4B 2010

 autographs.

I can recognise some of the F1 racers as

they are quite world reknowned drivers.
Furthermore, there are many
cameramen/newsreporters who have
taken this opportunity to get a good shot
at the drivers/take news coverage of the
upcoming F1 night race to be held in
Singapore.

As u can see, the shirts they and caps

they are wearing shows many of their
sponsors and supporting partners too.
This shows that the drivers are very good
at what they do to have recieved
recognition and sponsorship from the
various companies. from the picture, I can
see that the drivers are very happy too.
this can be seen form their wide grins on
their faces, probably because they are
overwhelmed by the number of fans that
have turned up for the event.

Notes prepared by Mrs Neera Vijay and Sec 4B 2010

 This picture depicts a scene of a function
probably for an old folks home. This can
be seen from the large number of elderly
gathered and seated at tables. The
elderly are probably watching a
performance as they are clapping along.
The performance could be someone
singing a song and the audience are
clapping along with the song. The
performance could be to liven up the
mood of this function.
The woman in the middle seems to be
really enjoying herself she is standing up
and clapping very enthusiastically. It may
be because the song being sung could be
her favourite song.
There are two people beside the very
enthusiastic woman. They could be the
care workers of the old folks home. This
can be seen by the similar t shirt that they
are wearing. They are wearing name tags
so that the old folks could identify them.
They are probably encouraging and
supporting the woman standing up so that
she will not feel shy as she is the only
person standing up.
I think after the performance, food will be
served and everyone would start eating.
After eating, the old folks would most
probably be engaged in some games.See
More
Notes prepared by Mrs Neera Vijay and Sec 4B 2010
For the woman in the middle- talk
about her dressing as well as
compared to the other women who
are seated. Then the two ladies
beside her. Stretch this part ... What
are they doing with their hands?
One lady is pointing to the lady in
the middle. Perhaps they are
playing songs on stage and she is
telling someone on stage about the
lady and then asking them to play
on.
Conversation topic linked to this
could be
1) How can the elderly be
more engaged in the
community
2) What kind of hobbies do
they take up after their
retirement
 This picture depicts the scene of small Good discussion of the main
children attending a programme probably features of the photograph. – Could
about fruits as there is a humoungus elaborate about it being a sunny
jackfruit before them. The children are day as one of the girls is wearing a
probably from the same primary school as sunshade.
they are wearing the same uniform.
Based on the foreground, this programme Links to conversation topic
could be held at a fruit farm which is far 1) outdoor or hands on
away from the bustling city life as there education
are al ot of vegetation around. The man in 2) How children learn best
black shirt could probably be the guide for
this group of children as he had a portable
microphone on his neck, probably to voice
out so that the children could hear him.
The man is holding onto the rod that was
plunge into the jackfruit. From what I can
see, the jackfruit must be really heavy and
the stick was probably use to poke, and
hold the jackfruit in an easier way. On the
left hand of the man, he is holding a green
fruit. It could be a dragonfruit, I am not
sure but he is comparing with the jackfruit
as probably it has the same texture. Or it
could be a small jackfruit which could
have been unripe and the man is
showing the children how it looks like. The
man looks rather happy as there is a
slight grin on his face. He could probably
feel that way as the children are listening
to him.

I believe that most of the children are

excited and surprised to see a big
jackfruit. The children probably have
never come across such a fruit and that is
why some of them are reaching out to feel
the jackfruit. From the expression of the

Notes prepared by Mrs Neera Vijay and Sec 4B 2010

 small boy holding the orange water bottle,
he looks like he would want to wolf that
that huge jackfruit. The small girl behind
the man back could probably felt listless
under the hot sun as the girl next to her is
wearing a sun shade. Or, probably the
group had been out the whole day thus,
she looks away, seems like she is not
paying attention to the man. The female
behind the man could probably be the
children's teacher. There is a child
sucking on his lollipop. He could probably
be hungry and wants to eat the lollipop as
a substitute for food.

The children are seated as the guide

could probably want them to pay attention
to what fruit he is introducing instead of
the children wandering about on their
own.
This picture depicts a scene of a group of
children probably waiting to see the youth
olympic torch relay. I can see many
enthusiastic children and a few adults
along the roadside. They could have been
waiting quite long for the torch to reach
their neighbourhood and feel excited once
they see the torch bearer. The children
are possibly from the same school as they
are wearing uniforms with the same logo.
The adults could be the teachers of the
school and are there to look after the
children.
The children are probably waving to the
athletes that are carrying the Olympic
torch past their neighbourhood. As a few
Some things you can add would be
the man with the camera who is
waving at the person taking the
photo and also what the children
were doing for the event.
Links to conversation topic
1) Talk about something you
have waited for a long time
2) What kind of events attract
young people?
3) Should there be more
support for local events?

Notes prepared by Mrs Neera Vijay and Sec 4B 2010

 of the people are taking photographs,
there could be well-decorated buses as
well, maybe carrying the ministers or the
other torch bearers who might be waving
back to the children. The photographs
taken might be for them to remember the
event and can also be used to show
future generations. The police could also
be involved to clear the road for the torch
bearer. The people in the picture look
excited to see the torch relay as it might
be their first time experiencing such an
event.
The boy at the right hand side of the
picture who is holding up the Singapore
flag is probably feeling very proud of his
nation. he is also waving at the people
who are passing-by and maybe dreaming
of being able to participate in such an
event when he grows up.
After the torch bearer turns at the corner
of the road, the children might return to
their school while talking to their friends
about the relay. the school might have
planned a few activities for the students to
enjoy and learn from to promote the youth
olympic spirit among them.

Another interpretation. ….
The children look very enthusiastic and
are with some adults waving at
something, which could be the youth
olympic games torch bearers. Since the
children are all in the same uniform, the
adults near them with lanyards could be
their caretaker to make sure that they are
well taken care of since they are young.

Notes prepared by Mrs Neera Vijay and Sec 4B 2010

 The children also have Singapore flags
and banners so it shows that they are
very patriotic and supportive of the event
and the torch bearer, who has to travel a
long way to pass the torch to the next
bearer. The adults beside the children
look very excited as well, as they are
armed with cameras to take a video of the
whole process, maybe because this is the
first time Singapore is hosting such a big
event, and that the Olympic torch is a
sacred symbol of the games.

The girl in the front has a frown on her

face and looks like she did not enjoy
waiting for the torch bearer. This is
because she might not be interested in
the youth Olympic games due to her
young age, or maybe she has an
impatient personality and does not like to
wait even though this is a once in a life
time opportunity. Also, her frown could
mean that they have already been there
and waiting for the torch bearer for a long
time. She could be thinking of going home
as her demeanour shows that she does
not share the enthusiasm of her
classmates.

The children could be going back to their

school next, and sharing about their views
on the youth Olympic games since it is
already near the starting date of the YOG.
They could also be sharing with their
parents about their experience, as
children tend to be very excited and
enthusiastic about big events and they

Notes prepared by Mrs Neera Vijay and Sec 4B 2010

 have personally witnessed the passing of
the Olympic torch.

Before this picture was taken, the children

could be already waiting there so that
they would be ensured of a good view of
the Olympic torch due to their height.
Also, the teachers accompanying them
could be giving out the national flags so
that they can be highly supportive of the
torch bearer when he or she passes by
later.
This picture shows a group of children Link to conversation topic
and a few adults standing on a road. I
think that there is a slight drizzle as the Do you think our children are too
children are clad in raincoats and a lady is sheltered?
holding an umbrella. There is also an old What do young children enjoy these
lady in a raincoat standing at the back of days?
the crowd. From the expression on her
face, I can infer that she is not as amazed
and happy as the crowd. This may be so
as she may be seeing something that is
not of her interests and may be present
there as her child or grandchild might be
performing.

The children, however, seemed amazed

at what they are looking at. This may be
so as what they are seeing might be new
to them, or what was happening before
them interests them. I think that the
children are very enthusiastic as despite
the drizzle, they are still willing to stand in
the drizzle, with their raincoats on, to see
what was happening. There is also a
young girl, wearing a pink dress, waving
her hand. I think that the person

Notes prepared by Mrs Neera Vijay and Sec 4B 2010

 performing might be related to her and
has waved his/her hand to the girl to
make sure that the girl recognises
him/her.

There is also a middle-aged woman

holding a camera. She might be taking
some pictures of what was happening and
may keep the pictures as a form of
memory. One of her family members
might be performing there, that may also
be one of the reasons why she wants to
take pictures. The woman is also smiling,
this shows that the performance might be
appealing to her very much.

The group of children might also be a

group of students playing volleyball as
evident from the kneepads they are
wearing. Some of them had pulled their
kneepads down to their ankle as they
might be feeling uncomfortable wearing it
and enjoying the performance at the
same time.

After this picture is taken, the

performance might be ending shortly.
After the performance has ended, the
crowd of children might disperse and
continue what they were doing in the first
place before the street performers came.
The girl in the dress and the woman
holding the camera might be mother and
daughter, and they may go forward to find
their relative.

Notes prepared by Mrs Neera Vijay and Sec 4B 2010

 This picture depicts a scene of probably a Conversation Links
medical health checkup provided for the
elderly. i think that it is a temporary place Healthcare for the elderly
for the medical checkup as there are only How do the elderly keep fit?
tables and chairs. the first table on... the
right looks quite messy as i can see
foodstuff like the milo can, mayb bcos the
doctors or nurses are too busy due to a
possible shortage of manpower. the
tables and chairs are also lined-up quite
near to each other probably to maximise
the space they have in order to cater to
more patients. as the nurses or doctors
are wearing the same white t-shirt with a
logo on the left chest, they could be from
the same hospital.

The man in the foreground of the picture

looks tensed and is looking away from the
doctor attending to him. his sleeve is also
rolled up. This could be because he is
feeling nervous as the doctor might be
giving him a jab of possibly anti-biotics to
improve his immune system.

The man behind him also has his sleeve

rolled up so maybe he would be having
an injection too or have his blood
pressure checked. he is holding a piece of
paper on his right hand. it could be a
pamphlet about the medical checkup for
the elderly that the man could have seen
or given nearby.

The doctor attending to him and the

patient behind him have taken out their
slippers. This could be because the

Notes prepared by Mrs Neera Vijay and Sec 4B 2010

 doctor has been working for quite long
and sitting on the chair for a long time and
his feet feels uncomfortable. the patient
could be standing up for quite some time
while waiting for his turn and his feet
hurts.

I think that this is a free medical checkup

for the elderly provided in collaboration
with the health week.

Some things to note when answering questions for picture discussion

• If you want to talk about the general theme of the picture before talking about the prompts. you can start off by saying. I would first like to
put the picture in context before answering the question (make a brief statement about the general theme of the picture) and then answer
the question quickly. Or you can say "I would like to talk about the general theme of the picture first if I may." Then go on to describe
theme before answering the question.

• Remember to organise your thoughts for picture discussion, Discuss about foreground before moving to the background or describe one
person in detail including his thoughts and feelings before moving on to another person.

Notes prepared by Mrs Neera Vijay and Sec 4B 2010