Listening

Infer the speaker’s purpose

Seemile Easy TOPIK I · listening · pp. 77–79

Understand the task

An announcement has a communicative purpose and a set of details. The purpose might be to inform listeners of a changed schedule or explain how to apply. The date, place and fee are supporting information. The book stresses learning the verbs in answer options, because understanding the announcement is not enough if the purpose labels are unfamiliar.

Decide why the person is speaking, such as to make a request, invite someone or give information. Verify factual details separately.

How to solve this question type

Use the opening to identify the audience: residents, students or passengers suggest different settings.
Ask what new information the listeners are being given, then match that information to an action verb such as 알리다 or 안내하다.
If the same recording has a second question, answer its detail separately. One correct purpose does not guarantee that every detail in the same option is true.

Grammar and expressions

V-(으)려고

Express an intended purpose. Purpose options often end in -려고.

시간 변경을 알려 주려고

To inform people of a change of time.

V-기 바랍니다

Make a formal request in a notice or announcement.

금요일까지 신청하기 바랍니다.

Please apply by Friday.

N에서 알립니다

Identify an organization making an announcement.

학생회에서 알립니다.

This is an announcement from the student council.

Vocabulary for this type

안내: information or guidance
변경: change
신청하다: to apply
참가하다: to take part
장소: place or venue
일정: schedule

A worked example

내일 모임 시간이 세 시에서 네 시로 바뀌었습니다. 장소는 같습니다.

Tomorrow’s meeting has changed from three to four o’clock. The place is unchanged.

The central new information is the time change.
The statement that the place is unchanged rules out a purpose involving a new venue.
Choose a purpose meaning ‘to announce the changed meeting time’, not merely an option containing 모임.

Try it yourself

Practice 1

안녕하세요. 내일 모임이 오후 세 시에서 네 시로 바뀌었습니다. 모임 장소는 지난번과 같습니다.

Hello. Tomorrow’s meeting has changed from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. The meeting place is the same as last time.

Why is the speaker speaking?

모임 시간의 변경을 알리려고
모임 장소를 예약하려고
모임에 처음 초대하려고
모임을 취소하려고

Answer and explanation

1. 모임 시간의 변경을 알리려고

The announcement changes the time and says the location remains the same.

The message specifically announces a changed meeting time.
There is no request to reserve a venue.
The meeting already exists; this is not a first invitation.
No cancellation of the meeting is announced.

Review your reasoning

Option 1: The message specifically announces a changed meeting time.
Option 2: There is no request to reserve a venue.
Option 3: The meeting already exists; this is not a first invitation.
Option 4: No cancellation of the meeting is announced.

Try the question again with the explanation closed. Identify the exact phrase that supports the answer, then explain which detail makes each other option unsuitable.