Late notice on this---and it turns out I won't even be in the country to take this *grumble* ---but the Test of Proficiency in Korean will be held in Korea on September 13th, with registration open through July 15th. If you want to sign up you'll have to first create a login ID on the Korean-language website. More information, in Korean, is available via the .pdf file posted here.
The test for beginners will run from 9:00 to 12:30, the intermediate exam from 14:00 to 17:30, and for advanced . . . well, if you're taking the advanced exam you can make sense of the .pdf file yourself. There are eleven testing centers in Korea, listed both here and on page four of the aforementioned .pdf; the one nearest us is the at the Language Education Center at Chonnam National University in Gwangju.
There are six levels, but three tests. A couple of years ago there were six separate exams, but now there are three. Those who take the beginner exam (초급) and score over 70% will finish with Level 2; those earning between 40% and 69% below will get Level 1. The same pattern follows for both intermediate and advanced levels. One result is that those who see themselves as a Level 3 will have to contend with questions on the higher level. A person who earns below the lower threshold---40% on the lower level, 50% on the upper---on any of the four portions will earn the lower level. The example given on page 5 says that a person who takes the beginner level test and scores 82% on vocab/grammar, 48% on writing, 76% on listening, and 80% on reading will have an average of 71.5%, but because the test taker scored below 50% on the writing portion, s/he will earn Level 1. There is a breakdown, in Korean, of expectations for each level here.
If anyone has any resources they found particularly useful in preparing for the exam, feel free to share them below. You can view previous exams and their results on this forum on the TOPIK page, a website that is extremely irritating to navigate, and which I guess is in and of itself a test of Korean proficiency because there is no meaningful information provided in English. I was under the assumption the fall exams were in October, but since it is during the time I planned to spend back home, I'm debating whether I should come back to Korea a week earlier to take it, or simply wait until the next time. I took it in April, 2008, and earned Level 2. My scores were above 90% for all areas except writing, which was in the 70s. John B said in an earlier post about TOPIK that
It's worth noting that the Korea Foundation supposedly gives preference to grant and fellowship applicants who have TOPIK or KEPT scores to demonstrate their language proficiency, as opposed to university transcripts or language school certificates.
For me, I want to take the exam again because language proficiency is something I can take home with me. Sure, if I ever get good at Korean my language skills will speak for themselves, but in the meantime it's nice to have a tangible record of my time overseas and my time spent studying, even if my Korean is only a modest high-beginner level.
28 comments:
"For me, I want to take the exam again because language proficiency is something I can take home with me. "
And do what with it?
sonagi92 wrote:
And do what with it?
...start a little Korean grocery store in LA...
thats a very nice perspective Brian. Learning languages (other than the native tongue) is cool. We dont need to be proficient at it (grammatically), but at least enough to survive, interact with the locals and learn cultures. Good luck on the exam
Brian
Wouldn't it be better for you to learn Spanish fluently? Wouldn't Spanish take you further than Korean in the U.S?
Samuel: How many people speak fluent spanish in the US right now? Comparatively how many people speak even passable Korean?
Spanish might appear more useful, but anything less than being fluent won't get you far. Having even passable Korean will be a bigger selling point, even in areas without a Korean population, simply because it shows an ability to learn beyond college.
It's a way of illustrating that he didn't spend 5 years damaging his liver, and being irresponsible like most HR people will assume.
Also, there are locations in the US, a large school district north of DC and a few private schools spring to mind, which would murder for a person with teaching experience and any experience in speaking Korean.
Isak "How many people speak fluent spanish in the US right now? Comparatively how many people speak even passable Korean?"
Very few, but what is your point?If few people speak Spanish, all the more reason to learn it, since the Hispanic population is growing in the U.S, and people who can work with new Americans are in much higher demand than someone who can work with new Americans from Korea.
"Spanish might appear more useful, but anything less than being fluent won't get you far." Having even passable Korean will be a bigger selling point, even in areas without a Korean population, simply because it shows an ability to learn beyond college."
I doubt this. There are way more jobs in the U.S.A that ask for English/Spanish than English/Korean.
Since, as you said above, few people can speak Spanish and English well, it seems more useful to learn Spanish.
It is much easier to develop or maintain language proficiency in Spanish than in Korean in the U.S, in part because of the larger amount of language schools that offer courses.
I doubt very much that a Korean in human resources is going to hire you, with an American name and TOPIK level gazillion, than a gyopo that has lived in Korea. Human resources will just dump your C/V in the garbage.
"It's a way of illustrating that he didn't spend 5 years damaging his liver, and being irresponsible like most HR people will assume."
Not everyone who doesn't learn Korean is an alcoholic in Korea. I have no idea what most HR people would assume, and neither do you.
"Also, there are locations in the US, a large school district north of DC and a few private schools spring to mind, which would murder for a person with teaching experience and any experience in speaking Korean."
I never said learning Korean was useless, so what is your point?
Matt has the right answer--learn Korean because you enjoy it, but don't expect others back home to care too much, or even care here that you can speak Korean. It doesn't impress me in the least.
I haven't studied formally for quite a number of years, so I wouldn't mind taking the test just to gauge how much I've lost in that time.
People are well aware of the frustration in trying to use foreign-issued credit/debit cards on Korean websites. The topik.co.kr site is no exception. This obstacle can almost be forgiven when an enterprise does business almost exclusively with Koreans. But the TOPIK is exclusively for non-Koreans, and it amazes me that the administrators would leave such a huge stumbling block for those wanting to register.
sonagi92:
Haven't decided yet.
A lot of what's on my resume can't really be proven. That is, I've taught in Korea for four years, but a prospective employer can't call up a school and find out about me. First of all, of course there aren't any English speakers available to even take the call. Secondly, coteachers move around every few years so that somebody calling Gangjin in, say, 2010 probably won't be able to find anyone who worked with me, even if they could speak English.
I'm told that EFL experience in Korea doesn't count for much, but really it's about what you do with it. Sure, some days I feel like an English monkey, but it's important to find a way to grow from these experiences and turn the negatives into positives . . . or at least demonstrate as much to prospective employers.
While Korean EFL experience might not count for much, and while people might think it an extended vacation or frat party (it's not), and while nobody can really prove I've worked here at all, Korean language skills are something I can take home with me and put to use. As we're discussing on the Foreign Beauties thread, some people might not consider Korean useful outside Korea. But language is never useless, and though I don't pretend to ever get fluent, I don't see any harm from someday, hopefully, being considered "pretty good." Those skills will of course speak for themselves---especially if I can demonstrate them---but I think adding a little line about a test, and photocopying the nice certificate, would be a nice addition to a resume. It's more quantifiable than just writing "I studied Korean on my own for four years."
holterbarbour, I figured it out last year after clicking around and using a dictionary, and a person with some patience and a little Korean ability should be able to figure it out. I know it sounds ironic to complain about a Korean-language website for a Korean-language test, but what about beginners who want to take Level 1 but can't figure out the fairly challenging website? What about those overseas on computers that can't read hangeul? Or what about people who just are curious about basic information?
Samuel,
I don't really have interest in Spanish, but I guess if I were looking to be more functionally bilingual, Spanish would be an easier choice. And you're right that I'd probably encounter more Spanish-speaking people back home. But as somebody else said, how many non-ethnic-Korean Americans do you know that can speak Korean well? But I'm not looking to get paid from it, and am too far behind to really ever catch up to a level high enough to warrant a paycheck anyway. Besides, there is an element of personal interest there as well. I might not have much enthusiasm for SPEAKING Korean anymore---getting laughed at all the time will do that to a person---but I still want to read newspapers, magazines, books, etc., and I imagine I'll continue to when I go back home.
Brian, the Korean-heavy website design is another matter entirely. I'm just talking about the online payment system which, like G-Market or other Korean shopping sites, will not accept cards issued overseas. I will have to enlist the help of a "native" if I want to pay the TOPIK registration fee online.
The bizarre rigamarole of trying to get through all the security checkpoints and verifications on any online payment is the result of the byzantine internet security standards the government sets. Think how easy it is to buy from Amazon through a Firefox browser...and shudder before the needlessly daunting task of sorting through the Korean process...which in my experience, fails to work more often than not even with scrupulous adherence to instructions.
Ah, I just paid via bank transfer, which I find more convenient anyway.
If you did your transfer through the internet, you had better luck than I ever have in getting the "security certificates" and such not to crash my browser. If you did the transfer by going to the bank, then you're fortunate enough to have a schedule that allows for a trip to the bank during business hours.
I just think that given the target audience, the inability to pay using foreign debit/credit cards online is a huge hassle.
And what of those overseas taking the test? Are they also expected to do bank transfers?
I really really don't get the obsession everyone has with taking this test. Neither do I get the point of taking any language test unless one is doing so with a specific goal in mind - to get a high enough score to get into a university for example.
The way I see it language study that is based around preparing for tests is not the most effective way to study. We see this all the time with Korean students, memorising tons of patterns and words but still highly lacking in fluency.
The TOPIK test, just like the English TOEIC test is highly artificial. The dialogues I listened to in all but the advanced test were way slower than how most Koreans speak. Even at the highest level the conversations seemed pretty unnatural.
Studying grammar patterns and word lists as the TOPIK study books contain is not a good way to promote fluency. Reading and listening to authentic content where you can see what context the words occur in and how speakers really speak is. I created a website recently aiming to upload this kind of content, which is severely lacking among the available study books.
Brian, I also question why having a TOPIK certificate means you have something extra to "take home with you"? Isn't the skill you possess in your head anyway and not on a piece of paper? It really bothers me why having a 'score' on a language test becomes the be all and end all of language ability. While I recognise at times it is necessary for easy assessment purposes for employers or educators, beyond that I can't see any need.
That's why I'll be waiting till I'm ready for level 6 before I even think about applying for my test.
I'm not the only one that thinks this either. See this post by renowned linguist Steve Kaufmann on his blog here http://thelinguist.blogs.com/how_to_learn_english_and/2008/07/standard-langua.html
Brian "But as somebody else said, how many non-ethnic-Korean Americans do you know that can speak Korean well?"
True, but there are still many second gen Koreans that can speak Korean better than a white dude.
The only reason to learn Korean is because one enjoys it, just like some people enjoy learning dead languages. Utility isn't the question. It's a hobby. But if you exprect something more from learning Korean, then you need to really learn the language. Anyone can dick around with verbs and nouns, but few have the discipline to master a language. I have never met a Korean that speaks English to near fluency, so there is some incentive to outdo them.
You are rather negative about your work experience in Korea. I know one person that was accepted into teacher's college in Canada in part based on their Korean work experience.
You should also get a general letter of reference from the Korean Office of Education. It does prove that you worked in Korea.
Samuel: Perhaps the point I was trying to make was unclear. The number of Spanish speakers in the US is fairly large.
I was referring to an American HR department where having some sort of official looking document would garner more respect than simply scrawling "I can Korean well" on your application. Again, it shows a willingness to grow, and continue learning, more than anything else.
The liver damage comment was shaded by my age. I'm still young, and came here after college. I have friends and family in HR departments, and they have told me that it seems like an immature move to come here after college. Instead of getting a "real job," I had a two year party in Korea. Maybe it isn't true across the board, but was simply an over-exaggeration.
You said that learning Korean was less useful than learning Spanish. If something is less useful it would be at least marginally useless.
But of course this is pretty much a useless argument. It might be more useful to learn Spanish in the US, but we don't live in the US. We live in Korea. Seeing as how Brian seems to be a long term fixture it is going to be much more useful to learn Korean. Asking "como estas?" to a restaurateur will be even less useful than asking "How are you?"
Tests DO prove you can take tests well, but they can also give a student motivation to go further. Performing well makes you want to keep going.
Isak said: "
I was referring to an American HR department where having some sort of official looking document would garner more respect than simply scrawling "I can Korean well" on your application. Again, it shows a willingness to grow, and continue learning, more than anything else. "
I once read some good advice on resumes. The writer advised to put a really obscure language on one's resume. No one would speak it, and it lends the credibility you want. So put down Twi or Ket. Say you did some volunteer work in those language areas and learned it.
YOu can also just lie and put TOPIK level 1+ (is that the highest?) on your resume--who's going to know, or even ask? I got certified in Windows NT before Windows 2000--no computer company cared about some piece of paper or my microsoft I.D. They just ask me some computer questions.
"I have friends and family in HR departments, and they have told me that it seems like an immature move to come here after college. "
It seems your friends have never been abroad. Only time will tell if coming to Korea opened any doors. It sure is a kick in the pants in terms of confidence, which can't be measured. Only you can make that judgment.
"You said that learning Korean was less useful than learning Spanish. If something is less useful it would be at least marginally useless."
I think you mean : "it would be at least marginally useful."
As I said, learning Korean is useful if one is planning on living for a long time in Korea. As I also said, utility is not the issue. If someone likes learning Latin or ancient Greek--fantastic. Whatever floats your boat. I was just wondering what would motivate Brian to learn Korean when Spanish might be more useful to him. He already replied that he doesn't like Spanish, which is as good a reason as any not to learn it.
"But of course this is pretty much a useless argument. It might be more useful to learn Spanish in the US, but we don't live in the US. We live in Korea. Seeing as how Brian seems to be a long term fixture it is going to be much more useful to learn Korean."
We learn German back home before going to Germany. We learn French back home before going to France. We do not need to be in the language environment to learn a language. We can learn Spanish away from home to prepare for further study upon return. There was a French club for us Canadians in Mokpo.
"Asking "como estas?" to a restaurateur will be even less useful than asking "How are you?""
I don't get it.
There is no reason to learn a second language if English is your first.
"Tests DO prove you can take tests well, but they can also give a student motivation to go further."
True, or they can sack your confidence with a low score, like a fat person weighing himself to find that he hasn't
lost anywhere close to expectations.
Performing well makes you want to keep going.
One thing I will add--Korea needs to get its act together in terms of helping foreigners learn Korean.
The Canadian government pays millions of dollars to help immigrants learn intermediate level English free of charge. Immigrants can stay in these free, government run ESL classes until the cows come home, but usually no more than a year.
Canada also hires ESL teachers for the public school board to help visiting students learn English in public school. That's right--Koreans come to Canada, stay a year, put their kid in highschool, and the kid gets regular classes in English and bonus courses in ESL. The ESL teacher works through their homework. These visiting Koreans don't pay anything to go to these public schools--nothing--since education is "free", which means the local homeowners support their local schools in tax money.
Since Korea has 3 million foreigners, it really needs to get the ball rolling.
There are over 10 000 migrant workers in Mokpo area alone, but not one single language school.
Isak, I don't think taking tests is a great way to maintain motivation. What if the test shows that you barely made any improvement from last time? You could have just been unlucky with the questions that came up but now in your head you didn't progress.
I find that when I study hard I can see my progress, especially being in Korea where I can notice the words I've learned registering in my consciousness from things around me. The best motivator in my eyes is to just keep making sure you enjoy your study. Trying different things can keep your motivation. Reading blogs in Korean, or the translation of a novel you know well for example.
The apparent lack of usefulness of knowing Korean can be discouraging if your looking for getting something more than fun out of it. I wonder how profitable being a proofreader could be - although the English mistakes I see even on websites of very big Korean companies suggests that they don't want to use them. Part of me thinks they would rather use Koreans with high TOIEC scores to do their translating/proofreading, however butchered it comes out.
Out of interest, has anyone here seen employment off the strength of their Korean abilities?
"The way I see it language study that is based around preparing for tests is not the most effective way to study"
I don't study Korean in order to pass a test. I had been studying Korean for some years before I even discovered that there was a Korean language proficiency test. Haven't taken it yet, either. Just curious what level they determine me to be.
holterbarbour:
If you did the transfer by going to the bank, then you're fortunate enough to have a schedule that allows for a trip to the bank during business hours.
Sorry< I just reread this thread. I did a bank transfer via ATM, which is available any time. I didn't sign up for the test in September, though, b/c I'll be out of the country.
Hi,
Can anyone tell me if they know whether or not low-level (1/2/3) TOPIK certification is helpful in getting a university position? Will it increase my prospects of being hired? Unfortunately my age (25 korea) and lack of univ degree with work against me.
Also, does anyone know if a CELTA cert would be helpful in getting a univ job or more money in korea? My only experience is in public schools thus far (continue reading if you're intersted in helping me please!)
I'm trying to decide how to spend my next year abroad ... I'm completing my 2nd year in korea now which means if I return, I must pay income taxes next year (1 deterrent *sp). I'd like to try univ instruction in order add some prestige to my resume and get some experience with adults (almost).
Thanks so much.
Can anyone recommend TOPIK study guides?
I am pursuing my masters at Seoul Nat'l Univ. I have created a blog, topikguide - the first and only place on internet exclusively dedicated to Test of Proficiency in Korean(한국어능력시험). This Platform has been created keeping in mind the problems of thousands of people around the globe who appear in this test and spend spend hours and hours on Google looking for even a little hints and information on TOPIK in English but in vain. Let's make TOPIKGUIDE a rich study resource for TOPIK aspirants by sharing our ideas, preparation tips and experiences about TOPIK. you can also mail us your ideas abou TOPIK in detail. We will publish informative writings as independent posts with your name and photo.
And I made a site where you can try old TOPIK questions online, without downloading anything. Have a look! ^^ http://www.naldaramjui.com/TOPIK
Looks really good, Aaron!
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