Korean Job Discussion Forums

[berniebennybernard]

I'm taking classes right now to learn Korean.

In my spare time, I do a bit of self-studying with TOPIK textbooks. I've been using the Grammar in Use series, but these textbooks are meant to reinforce what you learned in class as sort of a reference text. They don't have any supplementary workbooks to go with it.

I would like to make sure I learn the content thoroughly, so has anyone purchased any workbooks that they would recommend?

Thanks.

[fezmond]

Complete guide to the TOPIK by Darakwon is pretty good. I've only used the beginner level though.

Cost around 25,000w. Explains the different sections and types of question in each.

There are books you can buy with all the past papers but it's probably just easier to download them for free from the net.

[deizio]

I just used the "Complete Guide to TOPIK" from Darakwon while studying for the elementary test.

It's decent enough for understanding question forms and has practice tests, audio CDs etc. but there isn't a lot of explanation / workbook stuff in there.

Probably not what you're after..

Edit: I will admit I dont really know what else is out there, so maybe that's as good as it gets? Picked it up new on Gmarket for about 13k.

[furtakk]

Download the past TOPIK papers from the TOPIK site. You can also find them nicely bundled and organized at thetopikguide.com.

I don't personally find the guide books useful. They don't use official tests and the explanations are usually redundant (if you go over your mistakes yourself).

However, it's difficult to prepare for grammar and vocab.

For vocab, I highlight everything on the past tests I don't know (especially the stuff from the 어휘 section) and make ANKI cards. I also go over vocab from other sources.

For grammar, when I wrote 중급, I used a mix of the Sogang books and the TOPIK Essential 150 Intermediate Grammar book.

I've been using Yonsei's grammar reference and 고급 어휘-문법 활용연습 TOPIK. The latter has been really helpful as it includes lots of grammar that I've never been able to find anywhere else. The only downside is the explanations are all in Korean.

[deizio]