Week 1-5: Preparing for TOPIK II – Expanding Vocabulary and Mastering Writing

Welcome to Week 1-5 of your TOPIK preparation! This week, we’re going to expand your vocabulary and help you master writing at an intermediate level in preparation for the TOPIK II exam. Whether you're aiming for TOPIK II (Level 3-6) or want to strengthen your skills for TOPIK I (Levels 1-2), this week will provide you with essential tools to express your ideas more fluently and accurately.

By the end of this week, you'll be able to write longer, more complex essays with clear organization and strong arguments, and you'll have an expanded vocabulary to help you in both speaking and writing.

1. Building Intermediate Vocabulary for TOPIK II

Goal:

Expand your vocabulary to include intermediate-level words that will appear in both TOPIK I and TOPIK II.

Why Vocabulary Matters for TOPIK:

The TOPIK exam tests not only your understanding of grammar and sentence structure, but also your ability to understand and use appropriate vocabulary. In TOPIK II, you will need to use advanced vocabulary in your writing and speaking, and it’s important to be familiar with words related to social issues, technology, education, and culture.

Daily Vocabulary Practice:

Learn 10-15 new words every day related to common topics such as education, society, and current events. Focus on words that will help you express complex ideas and opinions.
Use tools like flashcards or apps like Anki or Memrise to review and test yourself on the words you’ve learned.

Topics to Focus On:

Social Issues:
- 환경 (hwankyeong) – environment
- 빈곤 (bingon) – poverty
- 경제 (gyeongje) – economy
- 사회 (sahoe) – society
Technology:
- 정보 (jeongbo) – information
- 인터넷 (inteonet) – internet
- 디지털 (dijiteol) – digital
- 컴퓨터 (keompyuteo) – computer
Education:
- 학교 (hakgyo) – school
- 수업 (sueop) – class
- 대학 (daehak) – university
- 학생 (haksaeng) – student

Vocabulary Expansion Tips:

Use New Words in Context: Try using the new vocabulary you learn in sentences. For example, if you learn the word 사회 (sahoe) – society, write a sentence like 한국 사회는 빠르게 변화하고 있다. (Hanguk sahoeneun bbaleuge byeonhwahago itda.) – Korean society is changing rapidly.
Read Korean News Articles: Websites like Naver News or Daum News offer a wealth of current events vocabulary that can help you expand your knowledge and stay up-to-date with topics related to economy, society, and technology.

2. Mastering Writing for TOPIK II

Goal:

Improve your ability to write well-structured essays that clearly express your opinions and reasoning for TOPIK II.

Why Writing is Crucial for TOPIK:

The writing section in TOPIK II requires you to write essays on social issues, personal experiences, or opinions. You need to express your ideas in a logical, coherent manner, while also demonstrating your ability to use advanced grammar and vocabulary.

How to Structure Your Writing:

To succeed in TOPIK II, follow this simple yet effective essay structure:

Introduction (서론, seoron) – State your opinion or the purpose of the essay.
Body (본론, bonron) – Explain your ideas with reasons, examples, or personal experiences.
Conclusion (결론, gyeollon) – Summarize your main points and restate your opinion or propose a solution.

Example:

Topic: "Do you think technology has positively or negatively affected our lives?"
- Introduction: 저는 기술이 우리의 삶에 긍정적인 영향을 미쳤다고 생각해요. (Jeoneun gisuri uriui salme geungjeongjeogin yeonghyang-eul michyeotdago saenggakaeyo.) – I think technology has had a positive impact on our lives.
- Body: 기술 덕분에 우리는 더 빠르게 소통할 수 있고, 많은 정보를 얻을 수 있어요. (Gisul deokbune urineun deo bbaleuge sotonghal su itgo, maneun jeongboreul eodeul su isseoyo.) – Thanks to technology, we can communicate more quickly and gain more information.
- Conclusion: 그래서 저는 기술이 삶에 긍정적인 영향을 미친다고 확신해요. (Geuraeseo jeoneun gisuri salme geungjeongjeogin yeonghyang-eul michindago hwaksinhaeyo.) – So, I am confident that technology has a positive impact on life.

Writing Practice:

Essay Writing Task:
Write a 150-200 word essay on the topic: “Should education be free for everyone?”. Make sure to:
- State your opinion clearly in the introduction.
- Use examples and reasons to support your argument.
- Summarize your points and restate your opinion in the conclusion.
Timed Practice:
Set a timer for 25-30 minutes and write an essay. This will help you simulate exam conditions and improve your ability to manage your time during the actual exam.

3. Intermediate Grammar for Writing

Goal:

Master intermediate grammar structures that allow you to write more complex and nuanced sentences.

Why Grammar is Important for Writing:

Mastering intermediate grammar structures will allow you to write longer, more detailed essays and express your thoughts in complex ways. The following grammar points are essential for your success in TOPIK II writing.

Key Grammar Points:

1. Using -아서/어서 (because)

This structure is used to express cause and effect. It connects actions based on a reason.

Example: 날씨가 추워서 외출하고 싶지 않아요. (Nalssiga chuwo-seo oechulhago sipji anayo.) – I don’t want to go out because the weather is cold.

2. Using -다고/라고 (quoting)

This structure is used when quoting someone’s words or thoughts.

Example: 그는 내일 시험이 있다고 말했어요. (Geuneun naeil siheomi itdago malhaesseoyo.) – He said that he has an exam tomorrow.

3. Using -ㄴ/은/는 (contrast)

This grammar structure is used to show contrast between two clauses or ideas.

Example: 저는 커피는 좋아하지만, 차는 별로 안 좋아해요. (Jeoneun keopineun joahajiman, chaneun byeollo an joahaeyo.) – I like coffee, but I don’t like tea much.

4. Writing Practice for Week 1-5

Goal:

Apply intermediate grammar and expanded vocabulary to your writing tasks.
Write more detailed essays and short responses using complex sentence structures.

Writing Tasks:

Write about a social issue:
Choose a social issue such as pollution or education and write an essay explaining why it’s important and what can be done about it.
- Example: “What are the causes and solutions for pollution?”
Express your opinion on technology:
Write a 150-word essay on whether you think technology is making our lives better or worse.
Practice writing within time limits:
Set a timer for 25-30 minutes and write your essay, focusing on using proper grammar and sentence structure.

5. Reviewing and Getting Feedback

Goal:

Receive feedback on your writing to improve sentence structure and grammar usage.

How to Get Feedback:

Language Exchange Apps: Use apps like HelloTalk or italki to practice writing and get feedback from native speakers.
Korean Language Communities: Share your writing on platforms like Lang-8 or Reddit, where you can receive corrections and advice.

6. Review and Set Goals for Week 1-6

Goal Review:

By the end of Week 1-5, you should be able to:

Write well-organized essays on both simple and complex topics.
Use intermediate grammar such as -아서/어서, -다고/라고, and -ㄴ/은/는.
Expand your vocabulary to include words related to society, technology, and social issues.

Set Your Goals for Week 1-6:

Continue practicing writing longer essays and start focusing on improving your listening and reading comprehension for TOPIK II.
Expand your vocabulary further with more complex and advanced words.

Helpful Resources for Week 1-5

1. Writing Apps:

Lang-8: Get native feedback on your writing and improve your skills.
italki: Find tutors to help you with writing and grammar practice.

2. YouTube Channels:

Talk To Me In Korean: Provides intermediate grammar lessons and writing practice for learners.
KoreanClass101: Useful for practicing writing and grammar for intermediate learners.

3. Websites:

How to Study Korean: Offers comprehensive lessons on grammar and sentence structure.
Sejong Hakdang: Free resources for writing and grammar practice.

What’s Next?

In Week 1-6, we will focus on further improving your writing while also preparing for listening and reading. We will dive into more complex grammar structures and expand your vocabulary further, preparing you for success in the TOPIK II exam. Keep up the hard work!