David Beck - University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

Professor: David Beck

Department: Languages

College: University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: LING309
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

His homework doesn't have clear instruction and he just generally sucks and doesn't explain things well.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: LING309
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I really liked this prof. The problems you do in class are realistic and helpful in actual work. I had to work really hard to get a good mark but I really learned the material. I also became more interested on Linguistics after taking his class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: LING308
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Gets confused by his own examples easily. Tells you you don't have to include something and then takes off marks when you don't. Docks marks for seemingly inconsequential errors. Do not recommend.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: LING309
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

All I can say is that he seems to hate teaching. Avoid him if possible.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: LING308
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

The class wasn't the most exciting topic for me but I did really well just by going to class and paying attention. If you do talk to him after class he is very helpful although it's best to talk to his T.A. about marking on the assignments if you have any questions.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: LING308
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Do NOT buy the textbook!(I don't know why this guy even puts one on the syllabus, as it need never be touched.) Your best bet for doing well in this class is to learn Lushootseed or Totanac (the Upper Nexaca dialect, of course)beforehand. But silly undergrads like never study languages other than French and Spanish (this guy is a bit condescending)

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: LING309
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dr.Beck wasn't bad.He's okay to listen to and he definetely knows what he is talking about.The marking was fair.Make sure you do the practice exercises he posts on e-class because he puts the same questions on the exams.Don't bother with the textbook;his notes are sufficent.His mark distribution system is cruel so work your @$$ off for a B and up.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: LING309
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Good Prof. He gets through the material and teaches you all sides of the argument. Class wasn't exactly exciting, but if you like the material, then you'll be riveted. He's helpful if you ask intelligent questions.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: LING308
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Very good prof; doesn't stray from the slides very much, but it is still a good idea to go to class - he makes things very easy, and you definitely don't need the textbook if you pay attention. Be prepared to spend some time on the assignments.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: LING309
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

One of the worst classes I have taken. Too bad b/c the material was interesting. Got off topic waaay too many times with extra (boring and confusing) things, often ending with "but you don't need to know that." So then why waste our time? Marking was horrible - his graders took off marks and he couldn't explain why. Comes off as condescending.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: LING309
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Boring and rude. Reads straight from slides. Seems entirely unenthusiastic about teaching the course.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: LING308
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He's so boring I've forgotten how to do things I learned in my previous linguistics classes.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SYNTAX
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

booooooooooo!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: LING101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

had no incentive to come to this class, he talks about whats already on the notes, no effort to make the course fun and interesting...nothing interesting.( eg: some other facts aobut linguistics) unless you ask him...to which he answers very slow but you still dont get what hes saying most of the time)

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: LING101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

As a person, lovely. As a prof, much too interested in his field research to care about teaching an undergrad class. Be prepared to do extra studying as his explanations for things you don't understand will not help you.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: LING204308
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Very confusing at times.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: LING101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

he is very confusing in his lectures, and when someone asks a question about 'why is....' in his lesson, he can't really come up with a reason as to why things are the way they are. if he anticipated certain questions students may ask in his class during his lecture planning, he could explain concepts better and be able to back up his teachings.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: LING204308
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He's one of the best profs in the ling department....haha, not like that says anything at all.....

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: LING204
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I give him credit for managing to keep my attention throughout the duration of this night course. He makes an effort to tell jokes, etc. I find his presentation of the material/notes a bit difficult to follow at times, but he provides concise summaries on the web which are helpful for clarification.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: LING
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

A prof whose grading is affected because he is afraid of being accused of favouritism is no kind of prof at all. He should be impartial and my grade shouldn't be negatively affected because he's afraid of being accused of favouritism.