Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Son Deureo!]

[thatkidpercy]

I was asked what the 4th level classes and books are like, so I'm posting this here for anybody who's curious. This is the kind of stuff you do - we typically cover 2 lessons like this in an 8 hour period. The 8 hours includes a lunch break and several shorter breaks.

The textbooks are produced specifically for this course and all the materials are free.

http://i45.tinypic.com/16ar24l.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/11hqhxe.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/29fbm6v.jpg

Listening script:
http://i50.tinypic.com/4lofg5.jpg

[cheezsteakwit]

wow, looks like a LOT of listening, which is fine.

I'm at level 2 right now ( been here 7 months ) & my reading / vocab is getting stronger every week but my listening is weak.

Same thing happened w/ Spanish back in college. Guess I gotta find a language exchange partner soon.

[thatkidpercy]

So... this Saturday is the level 4 exam. The written part should (hopefully) be okay, but I don't know what to expect for the speaking test. Can anybody who took the level4 test shed any light on the sort of things they ask?

Good luck to anyone else taking the exam this weekend.

[Son Deureo!]

When I took level 4 a year ago there wasn't a level 4 exam, there was only a final exam for level 5. I'm not sure if there was one 6 months ago, but if not you'd be in the first class that's taking an exam for every level.

[Daniel1981]

percy and others,

I'm doing the online class of level 4, and we dont finish until the end of November so I will write the test next spring. A bit of a delay, but it's ok.

As a result, percy can you please share as much as possible about the test after you write it? I am taking level 4 now, so I know all the topics, etc, I have the textbook in front of me everyday (we have class every weekday for 2 hours).

I really want to do well and get through the program so appreciate any info from percy after this weekends test, or anyone else that has previously written the level 4 test..

Cheers!

[thatkidpercy]

Did the test this afternoon and it was a bit different to what I expected. The info was probably on the socinet site if I'd bothered to look, but I didn't realise beforehand that the test was the same for all levels. There were people from levels 2 and 3 there today taking the same paper - bit of a funny setup though as it wasn't particularly easy.

We had a 40 minute reading/grammar test, of which about half you could easily do if you have TOPIK level 3. There were maybe 4 or 5 questions that actually pertained directly to the level 4 coursebook - one about the origins of Arirang, one about Ongi/Jagi pottery and a few others. You didn't really have to recall the knowledge from the course though as the questions were "read this passage then answer questions about it" format.

After that, there was a very short writing test - 5 minutes to write upto a maximum of 100 characters on the topic of "My Dream".

Finally, there was a speaking test. I'd assumed the speaking topics would be related to the level4 material, but again it was easier than expected. We read a conversation between a bank clerk and customer opening a bank account and then were asked questions about it. Afterwards we had to talk about how banks work in our home country, and finally describe how weddings are different between Korea and our home country.

If you're getting through the course material without too much difficulty, I wouldn't worry about the test. Make sure you're okay with all the grammar and vocabulary introduced each chapter, though - I recall one question where the answer was 허물없는 사이 from the first lesson, something I wouldn't have been able to guess without actually knowing the word.

[Daniel1981]

Thats great percy, thanks a lot for this info!

[furtakk]

Yea the test wasn't so bad. Just got the results today.

The speaking portion actually tripped me up the most. I was least worried about it beforehand. We went in two at a time and I had to go first. When I was asked to read over the conversation I assumed we had to read it aloud so I was focusing more on getting tricky pronunciation right rather than content... Anyhow, I made it to level 5 so it wasn't too big of a screw-up.

The only thing that sucks is the next set of classes don't start until February. And the final test won't be until April-ish.

Anyhow, I need to make up one point before then. I'm hoping to find some volunteer work. Can anyone recommend a group/place? Someone who used there volunteer work on their application for the F2 would be even better.

Thanks in advance.

[thatkidpercy]

[furtakk]

Yea including that I have 79...

Need to make up one measly point.

[thatkidpercy]

[Son Deureo!]

[hwarangi]

Just to let people know: I did the level 5 test last Saturday (11/24) in Seoul.

I found it hard; there were more language questions than society/ history questions.

Memorizing facts such as dates, maps, the anthem and the flag wasn't that helpful to me (And pretty much NOTHING the teacher recommended or emphasized was on the test).

The only history/social questions that were on the test were a little obscure IMO.

The writing test was: "What will you be doing in 10 years time"? and the speaking test was having to explain why Koreans say "we/our" instead of "i/my".

I haven't studied Korean language formally for a long time, so people who have done levels 4 and 5 back-to-back might have an easier time than me.

My advice is not to bother with the 귀화시험 book if you were thinking of buying it. And to read each chapter of the (issued textbook) 'Understanding Korean Society' covered in class thoroughly at home.

I've never studied TOPIK, but I'd say to brush up on some of the upper-intermediate or advanced grammar points.

And, btw, apparently it's getting harder next year.

[Son Deureo!]

Great, informative post. I'm sure others taking the program will find your insight into the final exam helpful.