Gerard Castagne - Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL

Professor: Gerard Castagne

Department: French

College: Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: FREN2100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

VERY tough grader! He does not use constructive criticism, leaves unnecessarily rude comments on papers and tests. He uses personal bias when grading. Holds students to unrealistically high standards. My French did improve, but it's not reflected in my grades. Taking his classes will bring down your GPA and your self esteem! Would not recommend!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: FREN2300
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Phonomenal teacher with a lot of patience. In St. Pierre he would open up the francoforum for studying and give us one on one help if desired. Also went out of his way to provide us activities on weekends. I did not recieve an excellent mark in the course but he did everything could to ensure that i passed!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: FRENCH2300
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

One of my favourite profs I've ever had. Very down to earth guy and very understanding. Very passionate about his language and helping others learn and understand it. He will call on you to participate in class, but in language classes it helps you get better. Would 100% take him for every class if I could.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: FR3100
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Gérard is hands down the best prof I've ever had. He taught me 2100, 2101, 2300, and 3100. Makes me sad I won't have him any more for the rest of my degree as he doesn't teach past 3100. He does make you work hard for your grades, but in the end you come out with a much higher knowledge of french than you did going in. Recommend him 100%.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: FRENCH3100
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I've had Gerard for 2100,2101,2300 and 3100. He's genuinely a nice guy, but he does expect a lot from his students. He wants you to do well and to do well you need to go to class to learn the material. His tests are hard but if they're unfair and you tell him he'll usually remake the test for a redo. Overall good prof, but you need to work hard.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: FR1500
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

French guy teaching french, at first that makes sense till you hear he could not stand when someone pronounced things wrong or didn't understand. He chose the one guy in the class who was french to answer questions to move on faster. I had to get deferred out cause even with the final i wouldn't of passed

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: FR1502
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Super nice guy. Very intelligent as well.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: FREN2100
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I had Gérard for 2100 and 2101 and he was one of the best profs I've had for french. He is a bit of a tough grader but it really helps you in the long run. I was failing at the beginning of his classes but getting A's at the end. He cares about his students. I am definitely taking more classes with him in the future and would highly recommend him.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: FREN2101
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

he's a very tough grader, he tries to help outside of class but most of the time he just makes everything worse. picks favourites in the class and if you don't agree with his opinion you'll be graded harder .expects as soon as you learn something to 100% know it.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: FREN2100
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a really nice guy, but his lessons are all over the place and very repetitive. He's also a really tough grader and doesn't have a clear method to his marking. He expects a very high level of french writing skills from the students and his feedback isn't very detailed.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: FREN2100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Tough, tough grader.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: FREN1500
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Great prof for a first year french course! Participation was important to him and he made the lectures a lot more enjoyable! His english was sometimes hard to understand but listening to his french made it easier to know how to pronounce words.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: FRENCH2100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Currently spending 3 months with him in Saint Pierre, doing french 2100, 2101, 2300 with him. Hes a sweet older man and he's very helpful, stays after class everyday helping us. He loves you if you participate so don't be afraid to. He also comes to the bar with us sometimes and dances. Will definitely take a course with him again.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: 2601
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I thought i was going to do terrible on the first test because of his reviews but, i got an A and got an A on every other tests. I didn't even study as much as i could have. He's nice and loves when you participate so don't be afraid to, you'll get extra marks. He prepared for the tests very well, so as long as you go to class you'll be fine

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: FRENCH2601
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Blatant favoritism towards the few people who actively participate. If you're shy and quiet or if you miss a few classes he doesn't like you and if he doesn't like you he grades you harder. Relies on students to teach the class themselves and rarely offers any of his own insight. Notes are nonexistant. The course material was interesting though.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: FREN2101
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not really a fan of Castagne's teaching style as I don't feel that he spends enough time explaining grammar before expecting you to use it in essay's. However, he is very understanding and accommodating to students.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: FREN2601
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Grades harder if you don't come to class. Has class favourites. Is not clear in lectures. notes are rarely given and when they are they are very unorganized. You have to basically be fluent in French in his class. Very condescending.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: 2159AND2160
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Castagne is average and his courses were easy. However, if you don't go to class he will mark you harder and won't be overly nice to you. If I absolutely had to take him again, I could manage but if I never see that man again then I'll be more than ok.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: FREN1502
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Definitely one of my favorite profs for my first year at MUN! For those who did not take FI in highschool or those who are just starting out with french I wouldn't really recommend him since he is pure french. Did slightly better with him than I did in all of highschool. Fair grader, one assignment a week and I thought be was very approachable!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: FREN4100
• Grade Received: P
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He is the best French prof I've gotten yet. Third course I've taken with him and he just gets better! He's approachable, wants his students to do well, and is willing to do anything to help. He tells you exactly what will be on the test, grades fairly, and if you go to class and participate he will boost your mark! Just a stand up guy.