Listening

Identify the conversation topic

Seemile Easy TOPIK I · listening · pp. 48–55

Understand the task

A topic is the category that covers the whole exchange. It can be broader than the activity mentioned in one sentence. The book contrasts sports such as football and swimming with wider interests such as exercise, music and films. Compare both speakers’ contributions before choosing how broad the topic should be.

Listen for the subject shared across both speakers’ turns. Choose the category that covers the whole exchange.

How to solve this question type

Collect two or three related words instead of choosing after the first word you recognize.
Ask whether the speakers discuss an activity itself, its taste, their preferences, or future plans. These can lead to different topic labels.
Use tense and time expressions: 방학에 어디에 갔어요 asks about past travel, while 방학에 뭐 할 거예요 asks about plans.

Grammar and expressions

N을/를 좋아하다

Use the object particle with the action-like verb 좋아하다.

저는 음악을 좋아해요.

I like music.

N이/가 좋다

Use the subject particle with the descriptive verb 좋다. It can express a preference.

저는 축구가 좋아요.

I like football.

V-(으)ㄹ 거예요

Express a future plan or prediction. Look for time words to establish the intended meaning.

방학에 고향에 갈 거예요.

I will go to my hometown during the holiday.

Vocabulary for this type

취미: hobby
운동: sport or exercise
계획: plan
맛: taste
사진을 찍다: to take photographs
시간이 있다: to have time

A worked example

야구를 좋아해요? / 아니요, 저는 축구가 좋아요.

Do you like baseball? / No, I prefer football.

Both baseball and football belong to the category 운동.
The speakers are comparing sports preferences, not giving a place or date.
If the choices include a more general category, compare it with the entire conversation rather than assuming every broad category is equally suitable.

Try it yourself

Practice 1

저는 토요일마다 수영을 해요. 저는 시간이 있으면 사진을 찍어요. 사진 찍는 게 정말 재미있어요.

I swim every Saturday. When I have time, I take photographs. Taking photographs is really enjoyable.

What are the speakers talking about?

취미
직업
교통
날씨

Answer and explanation

1. 취미

Swimming and taking photos are both hobbies in this conversation.

Swimming and photography are free-time interests. 취미 covers both.
No occupation or employment is described.
The speakers do not discuss travelling from one place to another.
There is no information about rain, temperature or other weather.

Review your reasoning

Option 1: Swimming and photography are free-time interests. 취미 covers both.
Option 2: No occupation or employment is described.
Option 3: The speakers do not discuss travelling from one place to another.
Option 4: There is no information about rain, temperature or other weather.

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.