I have started the Italki classes this month. I have two classes per week focused on TOPIK writing. I have realized that although I know a lot of vocabulary, I need to learn a lot more, mainly those commonly used in the exam. I also have difficulty with passive verbs, so I am practicing more of them. I did not know how much I improved in Korean until I had to speak for 15 minutes in a row to record the podcast. We always talk a lot in Korean during our weekly meetings, but it is so natural that I did not realize my progress. I am still shy to speak Korean, but I am way better than when I started.
My Korean partner also focused on exercising my writing. Because of that, I feel that I am pretty capable of writing simple texts and having daily talks with Koreans. However, when it comes to TOPIK level 4 writing, things get complicated. In one of my exercises, I had to practice the 수강 신청 어휘 (Vocabulary for enrollment in classes). 수강 (sugang) means "signing up," and 신청 (shincheong) means "application, requirement." This is a very important issue for students since it is a vocabulary commonly used in universities. For my next Italki class, I have to memorize the vocabulary related to it, such as 수강 정정을 하다 (make a course change) and 학점을 따다 (get a grade).
During these next two weeks of classes and finals, I will focus on finishing studying the two books related to TOPIK that I borrowed from Global Studio. I will also focus on doing my homework for Italki classes. After coming back to Brazil, I will try to keep close contact with the Korean friends I have met here not just because they are my friends and I will miss them, but also as a way to practice my Korean. In Brazil, I will also study Korean through 'How To Study Korean' website and by reviewing the Italki classes I had here. I hope to take the test in the middle of 2022. As a way to enjoy learning Korean, I will during vacations keep translating the Encounter drama until I get to watch this series without subtitles. I do not know if I will be able to translate all the episodes from the end of December to the beginning of March, but that is my goal.
When my classes restart in March, I will be in my last year at the university, so I will be busy with a lot of big projects. For this reason, I will focus entirely on the TOPIK vocabulary and on knowing how to answer each TOPIK question on time. I still have a long way to go when it comes to learning Korean and unfortunately, I will not be here next semester to get this SDLC class, but I will do my best to study alone and achieve my goal that is to score well on the exam next year.
Comments
Best of luck with the TOPIK exam, I am sure you will do great. I found the iTalki classes to be extremely helpful and I am glad you had a similar experience. I try not to memorize vocabulary directly from a list but rather from using the words in conversations with other native speakers, perhaps that is something you can do as well for your next class on iTalki!