TOPIK Guide Books | 한국어능력시험 안내 책

I took a mock TOPIK last Wednesday night when I got home from work. Without any thoughts beforehand, I just took it. I didn’t review or anything. I didn’t skim through the test questions, except for the headings so I would know which PDF to open first.

Now, for today’s post, I’m going to talk about TOPIK Guide Books.

Complete Guide to the TOPIK by Darakwon

Please be advised that I don’t read such books, or have tried to read or skim through one so I’m judging based on my personal opinion. And I only speak for beginner levels, as I don’t know about the higher levels if guide books are highly necessary.

Way way back, whenever I go to our Korean library, I hurry to the media section where there are LOTS and LOTS of K-Drama box sets (I want to steal the 대장금 boxset >.<), and K-Pop CDs. As in super galore K-Goodies over there. But recently, now that I’m more focused on studying the language, the moment I get there, I hurry to the language section. I’ve seen a lot, from ‘재미있는 한국어 1-6’, ‘이화’, ‘연세’, ‘세종’, mouth-watering 사전s to the TOPIK guide books that I never checked. Not even once.

Why don’t I like TOPIK guide books?

I never had an argument with those books, or got in a fight with them or something ㅋㅋ. I just don’t like them. Even for just one time, passing the mock 30th TOPIK is enough for me to believe that TOPIK guide books are not much of a help (for beginner level that is, not speaking for higher levels). Even before, since elementary days, I don’t review before exams. I just don’t.

Why do people read TOPIK guide books?

To pass TOPIK, right? They need proper steps to walk them through the exam, analyze the exam parts piece by piece and practice the students by presenting mock exams. Instead of checking textbooks from start to finish, they choose a shortcut.

Why I’m learning the language?

Refer to my post here. But that aside, I’m learning the language because I want to learn the language, not so I could pass TOPIK. Of course, there are other reasons. You may want to study there, or work, or anything, but still, the main goal should be to study hard, not just pass TOPIK. My teacher would always say that there are TOPIK passers who fail greatly in speaking (not reading). They are well self-taught but they have no confidence to initiate small talks or immerse themselves in conversations. So with that said, you may pass TOPIK but you lack application and practice, so what’s your TOPIK then? Just a certificate?

What I like about TOPIK guide books?

Aside from my utmost respect to the authors, the things I would like about the books would be the word lists. It’s hard to study words if you’re not sure which words to study for your current level. Since TOPIK guide books have word lists (not sure if it has), it’s easier to know which words to study or focus on if you’re self-studying. Aside from that, I don’t think there’s anything more.

How to pass TOPIK then?

It’s still good to practice the older TOPIK exams rather than getting a book for yourself, especially, Korean learners may not be staying in Korea so getting hold of a book is like a waste. Instead, shelf out cash for good textbooks. And still, the most important pointer in passing the TOPIK is study, study, study.

Instead of giving myself an overview of the exam, I took the exam right away. I didn’t analyze the exam questions. I didn’t listen to the audio file prior to my mock exam. I just did it like it’s already exam day. Why? Because I want to experience the experience without spoiling myself about the technicalities and formats. You will learn about it eventually while taking the exam. It just happens fluidly since there are numerous instructions per section, so you won’t get wrong. If you can’t understand the instructions, it’s good to study the words that usually comes out, like ‘다음, 듣다, 알맞게, 틀린, 고르다… etc.’ Or if you’re on-the-spot, check the 보기, you’ll definitely get it.

Conclusion

I’m not saying that TOPIK guide books are rubbish or something you should stay away from. I’m just saying that TOPIK is just a proficiency exam. It’s more important to study the language, rather than the exam. We take the TOPIK not to be proficient but to KNOW if we’re proficient. Studying through TOPIK guide books is like taking a shortcut. I still feel like it’s better to study and review through textbooks and other educational materials that talks more particularly about grammar, vocabulary and uses.

Did you use a TOPIK guide book before you took the exam? Was it helpful? Let me know ^^

I Took the 30th TOPIK (Beginner) | 제30회 한국어능력시험을 봤다 (초급)

I once tried to take a mock TOPIK before, after I graduated from Elementary 1. There were just too many grammar patterns that I wouldn’t understand when I was in that level, so I just skipped the exam. It was easy though in my opinion because the 듣기 part is just slow. The CD that came from my textbook was at least 10 times faster than TOPIK’s which is very ideal for beginners who might experience difficulties with listening exams.

Just now, I finished taking the 30th TOPIK Beginner which I downloaded online. Now that I’m in the middle of my Elementary Korean 2, I thought I might do well this time, which…

OH LOOK I DID GREAT!!!

Of course it’s already enough for me since I DIDN’T REVIEW ANYTHING before the exam. Well I guess there’s no need to, since it’s actually easy. Breezy easy. I got 147 points for the first part (어휘 및 문법), and 183 points for the second part (듣기, 읽기). I skipped the writing exam since no one would check it, but I assumed it to be at 20/30 points.

147 + 20 + 183 = 350 points out of 400. = 87.5%

Assuming I didn’t pass the writing exam (so as not to be very assuming):

350 – 20 = 330 points out of 400. = 82.5%

…which is still considered to be Level 2!!! I’m just happy for some reason. I don’t know if I scored my exam correctly, but even though, I still think I did great! The feeling is just warming, and anyway, I took the exam while there’s a meeting in the house. It’s actually noisy, but I didn’t care. I just took it. I didn’t pause the listening exam. I just did everything in 2 hours.

I will try to take the older TOPIK some other time, and see if I can still get a good score.

Have you tried taking up TOPIK? What was your first result?

Panggap-seumnida Story #001 | 가식 이야기 #001

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Now here comes the real intention of my blog but since I’m not mistaken for being Korean/한국 사람 24/7, I chose to share a lot of Korean stuff here and there for fellow beginners.

Now, for panggap ‘가식’ tip no. 1. You need glasses, whether it be glass-less (just frames) or not.

Moving on… I went to work and school like this:

밥을 먹자!

My appetite was not very good earlier, hence the look.

Anyway, I had to meet a client outside the building, so I waited for her when she texted me that she will be arriving in a matter of minutes. She’s texting me continuously when she said “I think you’re the guy with the blue coat and glasses, I’m just gonna take a U-turn.” Apparently, she saw me from the other side of the road, and when she finally arrived, she was like “Korean ka ba?!” “Are you Korean?”. Now these are one of those instances where pretending is not to be used.

“No, but I’m studying Korean.”
“Wow that’s good! You really look like one, you deceived me!”
“Thanks! ^_^”

Fast forward to my school. I arrived some minutes earlier than our class schedule, so I hurried to the library, returned the book I borrowed, and borrowed another book again. I shall post it some other time. It’s basically a Korean textbook, 2nd level, and the cover is written in Korean.

Going home, as always during Monday and Thursday, I go home with my classmate 누나, 윈니 씨, since she drives by herself, and she drops me off where I can commute easier. Even the weather’s hot, I didn’t remove my jacket, since it’s really hard having your phone on another hand, a textbook on another. And besides, even if it’s hot, I’m training myself to get used to wearing long sleeved clothing since I never did during my college and earlier days so whenever I wear something less casual, I already look highly formal >.<

I rode a jeepney, and since I was not sure if it was the right route, I checked the sign first if it’s the right jeepney. For Filipinos, first thing to do is ask the driver, but since I’m not in the mood to speak, it’s time to make ‘panggap’ happen. I always prefer the passenger seat, and earlier someone’s already sitting, but two people can ride anyway.

I paid my fare with a bill, without speaking, and the driver gave me my change. Then this girl beside me, it seems as though she’s looking at my name tag (which you can’t properly see through the picture, anyway it’s ‘김성규’. She’s trying to examine maybe whether I’m a Filipino or not. She’s looking at my borrowed textbook, which as I said earlier was written in Korean, and comes looking at my cellphone *no she’s not in any way a snatcher or something, the girl was pretty*. Luckily, my friends were talking in Korean through LINE so I replied in Korean. The girl beside me might be a K-Pop fan or something because she’s looking continuously. I even saw her looking at me through the rear-view mirror, which is funny because my Korean pretentiousness is working, LOOOOOL.

The girl beside me had to get off earlier, so I had to give way by getting off first. Some of my coins dropped, and helpfully, the girl picked up some of the coins and gave it to me. I bowed at her, and she bowed back. IT WAS FUNNY, and somehow expected at the same time. And it’s good that she knows how to give respect the Korean way.

Korean Books and Gmarket | 한국어 책들과 지마켓

What’s hard about starting a new blog is the overwhelming number of contents running inside your brain. But what’s easy about it is that you can post rapidly since no one’s still following you, so you don’t really spam. BUUUT what’s hard about blogging a lot of posts is the main content. You want to speak about a lot of stuff, but sometimes you post so much you don’t have the time to quality check anymore. But then again for a newbie blog with a lot of stuff, if the contents are good enough, a reader would have a lot of things to read, and not get stuck with 1 or 2 posts and a dramatic about me.

Today, Gmarket warehouse finally received my books, ready for shipment to me! For people who don’t know Gmarket, click here: http://english.gmarket.co.kr/

Gmarket is basically Korea’s eBay (though there’s also a localized eBay Korea), but difference would be… *brain farts* (I don’t know). These are the kind of things that I don’t really research about. Aside from the fact that there’s BIGBANG everywhere the site, Gmarket is pure Korean, while eBay is like franchised or syndicated. They started in 2000, only shipping domestically, until they decided to run an international site or Gmarket in English to better widen their market. And eventually, they were acquired by eBay, so… never mind.

Before, I never appreciated the power of online shopping. I’m not a very patient person and I am very visual. Except for the perk of buying something without even going off your seat, I am totally baffled whenever they buy stuff from the internet. My worries include scams, fakes, wrong colored product, damaged items, etc. I never thought I would be shopping online, ever. I would only go online shopping for things that don’t change, like a particular gadget, an album, or for this time, a book. I decided to try this one time since God knows how I don’t have any other chance to get the Korean books that I want. Everything Korean-related book you can find through local bookstores are rubbish, something I would never recommend learners to buy. I’m particularly picky with stuff I buy, even meticulously, I never bought a Korean dictionary here in the Philippines.

Last year, I bought my mini dictionary from Books Kinokuniya in Singapore. That Ngee Ann City store was heaven, damn! As far as I know it’s the biggest bookstore in Southeast Asia, (though the  biggest bookstore opened somewhere in Jakarta, KINOKUNIYA IS STILL THE BIGGEST *fan much*).

Collins Korean Dictionary 한-영 영-한 | S$ 14.98 / ₱ 510.00+ / ₩ 13,300

I originally posted contents here about the book, but decided to post the review in another blog entry.

—

As for Gmarket, I ordered two books.

Korean Grammar in Use, Beginning to Early Intermediate + Intermediate

I don’t know why I never bothered looking for Korean books online. Even when I visit our Korean library, I don’t really study. I just enjoy looking at grammar points and go “AHHHH!! Ganun pala.” “Ahhhh… so it’s like that. ” But intensively, I never studied there.

Last week, since I’m a current student, I availed of our free library membership for the first time. I only ask my classmates to borrow for me last year during my E1, but now, I felt like I need to get my hands on more Korean books since I’m already a level higher. I have the 가나다 Intermediate 1 in my thoughts. I really want to borrow that book so I decided to be a member.

KCC library allows a student to borrow one (1) language book, for a deposit fee of 300, and for a duration of seven (7) days. When I entered the library, I immediately went for the language books, when I saw someone reading a grammar book. GRAMMAR BOOK! I’m a sucker for grammar (since I’m also a grammar nazi in English ****THOUGH I’M ALSO GRAMMATICALLY WRONG ALL THE TIME****). I already have the Intermediate 1 book in my hands, but then… I waited for that person to let go of the book. The moment he returned it, I hurried and got it from the librarian and without a second thought, borrowed it. MWAHAHAHAHA. It was the first book from ‘Korean Grammar in Use’, but I’m gonna review it when it arrives.

Right now…

OH LOOK!! Another stop!

“Handed over to Air carrier” status wasn’t here some minutes ago

Right now I’m currently tracking my order. I bought three items, two Beginning, the other one for my classmate 누나, and one Intermediate. I’m just praying for a smooth shipping. AND I HOPE THE ALLIGATORS FROM THE CUSTOMS WON’T TAX ME TOO MUCH IF EVER THIS PACKAGE STOPPED THROUGH THEIR STATION. This package is actually fast. I would also review my first Gmarket experience when my books arrive.

As for now… let’s hope my book won’t get in any kind of trouble or delay.

When/How did I start my Korean?

I consider this second post as a follow up to my introduction. To read the previous intro, click Who Am I, and this entry:
https://panggapseumnida.wordpress.com/2013/07/03/why-learn-korean/

February 10, 2011 – Self-study and talktomeinkorean.com

This is one of the first things I’ve written. Look at that weird final consonants >.< And please don’t mind my ultra haggard face.

Maybe less than a month before February 10, I’ve immersed myself in K-pop songs, from Girls’ Generation, to 4minute. miss A to 2PM, and of course, 2NE1 and BIGBANG, my top groups.

When one boring day… I tried to learn how to read and write in Hangul. I didn’t buy a book or look at Korean learning sites. I’m pure geekery, always staying good long hours immersing myself in Wikipedia articles, so I searched ‘Hangul’ through the site. I was also non-stop listening to SNSD’s ‘소원을 말해봐 (Genie)’ during these period, so I had an idea to test myself by rewriting its romanized lyrics to 한글. I digested and half-mastered 한글 in four hours before writing. I am a kind of person who won’t stop something I’m doing especially if I like it so much or if I want to have it finished up to a certain point, so can I say uhm… result-driven?

So I have the romanized lyrics on half of my screen, and the ‘Hangul’ article on Wikipedia as a cheat sheet on the other half. Since I wouldn’t have memorized 한글 in its complexity in 4 hours, even if I studied it diligently, I need the article.

소원을 말해봐 lyrics in 한글. Written on yellow paper with pencil.

I felt very kinder-y like when you’re doing your writing homework. I would frequently erase and rewrite, and yeah it looks very dirty. I don’t know if I still have the hard copy of this, I’m pretty sure I kept it, well if not, at least I have a clear copy ^^. I retained misspelled words and checked it through its 가사, and yeap, there were a lot of errors >.<

From then on I just practiced reading, writing, and TYPING.

I hand-cut 한글 자모 but since it goes off every single time, it didn’t even reach a month. I removed it ㅡ.ㅡ

I practiced by correcting-as-I-type. I have a 한글 keyboard chart open to check positioning of the characters. Got used to it for quite some time, till I decided to just type and go as how I try to feel where the characters should be. Eventually I mastered it little by little.

Months from February towards summer and start of classes, I immersed myself in K-Pop. Having at least 700+ songs. I felt like I needed more so I started studying through Talk To Me In Korean.

My Korean notebook where I take down notes, though there are free PDF files from TTMIK lessons. *my handwriting improved greatly in my opinion.

It was during the end of the summer up to 4th year college when I studied through Talk To Me In Korean. It was those very moments when we were very hectic and busy so I haven’t had any time to focus on Korean, since my school is still the priority. I finished up to first few parts of Level 2, so basically I only learned and practiced my writing and reading, but grammatically haven’t. As for additional practice, I had the back of my notebook for K-Pop song lyrics. I would look up at lot of lyrics (가사) and hand-write it. I would also watch live performances of K-Pop groups and sing with the lyrics, until I start to catch up with the pace. For more intense practices, I try rap songs.

May 8, 2011 – Elementary Korean 1 | 한국어 초급1 (Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines)

This is my application form for the Elementary Korean 1 course, Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines.

I don’t remember anything anymore about how I decided to study formally. I knew Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (한국문화원) through a local TV show before, because they were featured with their current exhibits, their library, and their language and culture classes. But I don’t exactly know why I suddenly decided to study with my cousin. They opened their 2nd term for the year (May-Sept 2012) so I was contemplating between Basic Korean (32 hours) and Elementary Korean 1 (72 hours) but I eventually took up Elementary Korean 1 because I’m TOO GOOD for Basic. *lol that was very boastful of me*. But seriously, I didn’t feel like Basic Korean is for me, and it’s more of like a waste of time. And I felt like it’s more of a preparatory level, or something that you would only take if you plan on learning just how to read and write, a little grammar and some vocabulary. Something that you have to take up if you haven’t had self-study time prior to learning the real thing. When I learned that Basic Korean is not a requirement to take up Elementary 1, I pushed Elementary.

The online booking was HARDCORE. I enrolled for the first section, morning schedule, E1-A.  It was our baccalaureate mass back then but I haven’t had the chance to attend because of the booking. There are only 25 slots for each section so everyone should be fast to secure a position. *according to my classmate when we became friends, I was the 3rd lucky person who booked*. Well I was extremely fast back then, continuously refreshing windows before booking starts at 10am.

My reservation number and my cousin’s

Less than a month after the booking was our first day of classes.

When finally, I met TOP again. *please excuse my annoying face

Our class commenced for about three months, where I met my forever classmates, and my first 한국 선생님, 강~!

From 강 선생님의 아들, to my 친구들… Elementary Korean 1 won’t be forgotten. Up till now, we meet even if we have separated, and have our own classes.

I went to Singapore 5 days after our graduation, so I haven’t had the chance to continue on third term (Sept-Dec 2012) Elementary Korean 2. Some of my classmates who didn’t finish the class decided to retake during this term. Some continued to Elementary 2, some passed, and some didn’t bother to learn Korean anymore.

May 12, 2013 – Elementary Korean 2

Almost a year after graduation, I met my friends again because we had to attend one of our classmates’ debut party. Two of them already passed Elementary 2 (took two times, one passed Level 1 TOPIK), the other one took Elementary 2 but didn’t pass (but passed TOPIK Beginner 2), and the other one will take Elementary 1 again. Me and my other friend haven’t thought about taking our Korean to the next level, since I’m already working and she had a bad experience with work regarding her schooling. And also, I thought I wouldn’t have time to juggle two separate lives at once. But the meeting had us thinking so much.

This was a Sunday, and booking was Thursday (May 16), so I only have few more days to ask for permission from work, and to think for myself if I’m going to take it or not. I asked most trusted friends, my parents, and my coworkers if it’s okay. Well some said I should think more, weigh things, and pray. I prayed for it so much.

I wouldn’t say I really need it since I wasn’t even thinking about it before meeting my friends. But I just thought, yeah, why not take it since it was a year ago since I graduated from Elementary 1, and taking it some other more time may deteriorate the few knowledge that I had.

I eventually booked!

I had three signs (well not really ‘sign’) for me to continue. Elementary 2 is not on-site registration anymore, unlike previous years. Everything will be online, so I had to be 10x faster than I was last year. More so, this time, there would be 30 slots, but only ONE section. So this is unlike Elementary Korean 1 where I have other choices (different schedules though) if by chance I don’t get to enroll.

I booked not because I’m already a hundred percent sure, but just to reserve my slot. If… (1) I successfully book a slot, or (2) if I have money, and the biggest, (3) if my boss allows me to go, then the opportunity’s mine. *but seriously, if my boss won’t approve, I might leave the company. But thank God and the heavens, and all the K-Pop idols… he did. I only asked for an hour early off because I leave the office at 6pm, my classes starts at 6pm, so every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, I asked to leave the office at 5pm.

A week before classes start, I diligently studied my Elementary Korean 1 book. How to read the numbers, run through grammar points, and memorize some words that might come in handy *since most words I learned from Elementary 1, surprisingly, I have never forgotten so much.*

First day started, and my 선생님 hardly speak in English so I’m required to listen hardly, and think more quickly. She even define some words through simple Korean words we know. Every two weeks we have five lessons and one review day after the lessons. Our teacher would ask us to listen to dialogues, repeat after them, and after repeating cycles, our teacher herself would read them and repeat after her. If through a particular line, a grammar point for the day comes out, she will then explain it. After the dialogues, if there’s still time, we will answer the exercises. If not, they become assignments, and will be answered first time the next meeting before proceeding to the day’s lessons.

I’m very much enjoying my classes. Whenever my friend asks me to explain some things she didn’t understand, I try to explain through my broken Korean. Sometimes, when someone’s talking to me, whether it be in Filipino or English, I translate in my mind what they’re saying in Korean.

Right now we just reached half of the course, and I think I’m doing a great job so far. I ordered books through Gmarket even if as advised by our teacher, don’t study advance and alone. And yeah, she was right. Now that I have the opportunity to learn formally, it’s better if I practice what I’m learning the right way through our classes, rather than studying by myself at home and taking it up wholly without knowing if I’m still doing it right.

But I still study, lol. I don’t try to use grammars or words that I still don’t know. I only practice and review the notes and lessons that we had. And through the book that I ordered, I’ll try to clarify questions and sharpen more of my knowledge about what I currently know. I hope I pass the course though so I can take this year’s TOPIK.