Level 2 struggles

Maybe it is just me, but I am finding level 2 MUCH more difficult and much less enjoyable than level 1.  In particular module 8 seems very complex and has very little explanation of the complexity.  Lots of dative mixed with lots of new vocabulary and very fast speaking for some phrases.

I am able to translate what I read, but at this point there is no way I could ever compose most of these long sentences correctly; neither written nor spoken.  Perhaps I am just a bad student or have hit a flat point in the learning curve, but it seems level 2 is quite different from level 1 in terms of its approach to helping learners (me in particular) understand the grammar.

Sorry if this sounds like whining.

I didn’t do level 1 so I can’t compare compare level I and 2. (I started on a different app). I agree that the actors speak rather quickly, particularly the woman. Strangely the dialog is slower and clearer in level 3 with different actors.

It’s normal to hit a road block from time to time and feeling a bit overwhelmed but if you stick with it, it gets better. I would advise against trying to learn all the long sentences by heart. I never used the flashcard section where you are supposed to remember them, I stuck with trying to remember useful phrases, but that might just be my learning style.

The language and grammar sections are well explained, spoken more slowly with shorter sentences, so it might be worth checking those out. The additional grammar is a recent addition to level 2 so I didn’t get it when I started which was a shame. I ended up buying a grammar book, Collins easy learning German Grammar.

If you feel like something different from time to time, Deutsche Welle has a movie based course called Nicos Weg which has A1 and A2 levels but with a different approach, which might refresh you if you are losing motivation. 

https://learngerman.dw.com/en/nicos-weg/c-36519789

Good luck with your learning.

Simon

Thanls for the insights.  I will check out Deutsch Welle and will tyr to manage my frustrations.  Hopefully the Lanfuage and culture section will be an improvement, at least for me.

Overall I like Rocket German.  I like the repetition and the practice.

Hi Simon and Joseph

The first time I listened to level 2 conversations I felt so inadequate and overwhelmed. It did get easier. As for the grammar content it still overwhelms me and I do a minimum, as it frequently annoys me and frustrates me. I use "your German teacher now. I did subscribe, but not  they have YouTube  and their grammar lessons are amazing and free. They introduce small bites and very specific topics and I have learnt a lot from that. If you subscribe you get a workbook and textbook etc, but it is pricey

Happy learning

Maxie

Thank you.  I tried the “your german teacher” on Youtube and it does seem helpful.  Also per Simon's suggestion I have been watching Nico's Weg on Deutsche Welle.  That also seems to help get me out of feeling stuck with level 2.

Perhaps, they both help because they have some overlap with earlier Rocket lessons ( and DuoLingo) as well.  But in any case I am fing it more enjoyable to see some other ways of learning this language.

Hallo Joseph, 

don't feel discouraged! Like the others have said, it's completely normal to feel stuck or overwhelmed from time to time. Just keep going at a pace that suits your learning and you'll soon start to see some progress again. And if any questions pop up, don't hesitate to ask :)

Viele Grüße

Julia

The conversation portion of this level really needs more work.  I was pretty astounded to see the word “geht…. rum" used and not even discussed as to its meaning while practicing the ”schmerzens" endlessly.  And while I appreciate that people don't always speal distinctly in real life, this is a learning environment and the pronunciation should be distinct and ideally (for me at least) a bit slower.

I will plod through the conversations, but I really niss the Level 1 approach which included a lot more explanations.

Hi JosephP50,

Thank you for your feedback, I will pass this on to our German team. In the meantime, do you have a particular question that we can help you with?

Viele Grüße, 

Julia

Nothing in particular.  I like the format and the explanations a lot.  I mostly get frustrated with tha lack of explanation in the conversation part of level 2.  It is obvious to me that I can readGerman much better than I can write it which I do netter that understanding the spoken language.  Probably a learning disability on my part, but it does make me wish for the speakers to try for distinctive pronunciation.

Hi Joseph50, 

I am happy to pass your feedback on to the development team. We do eventually have plans to redo the Rocket German Level 2 audio lessons. However, since this is quite a complex process, we am unable to give you a time estimate on this at this stage. That said, you will probabaly find that your understanding of the spoken language will improve over time the more you practice and listen to it - so hang in there :)

Viele Grüße, 

Julia