Jon Barnes - Boston University, Boston, MA

Professor: Jon Barnes

Department: Languages

College: Boston University, Boston, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: LX250
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

It's a hard class to take for people who don't care a lot about linguistics. He goes off on tangents often, so it makes it hard to follow. I think the mistake most people make is taking this class just for the credit, it's not the most exciting subject matter and it gets in-depth. I'd only recommend it to people interested in studying linguistics.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: LX250
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I fall asleep in class and wake up to him still talking about what he was talking about 30 minutes ago...... about things we don't get tested on.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: LX250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The course material was super interesting! His lectures were clear, but he he had a tendency to drag some material out. Exams weren't too difficult either (the hardest part is the true/false which was unexpected), and were pretty similar to the course/practice material. Would definitely take a class with him again!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: LX250
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Barnes was a great prof and was always open to answer any questions I had. The class was easy, pretty laid back and overall, not all that difficult. Some of the homework was a bit difficult but most could be completed in about a half hour and was actually pretty fun.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: LX250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I thought Linguistics would be interesting, but Barnes makes the subject unbearable. He has a really monotone voice, so it can be hard to pay attention in lectures. But, he is a nice guy and really enjoys linguistics. The TAs are super helpful, so make sure you go to office hours for help. The discussions are basically where you learn everything.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: LX250
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Notes are typed in packets and handed out at the beginning of class. There's homework every other week or so, and your TF will save you or hurt you. Overall nice guy, very monotone/boring. I had to reschedule the final and he ignored my email about it. First midterm is easy, then it gets harder. Thought it would be a fun class but I was wrong.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: LX250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I thought I would be interested in this class because I thought it would be about the culture behind a language- I was wrong. I took this class to fulfill my humanities credit, and I regret it. Discussions and the book were the only useful aspects of the class. The midterms and final are very difficult. No multiple choice.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: LX250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I loved this class and Professor Barnes, but I'm genuinely interested in Linguistics. I can see how his lectures might be boring if you aren't  he doesn't really try to appeal to the masses. It can be slow sometimes, and not always completely clear, but discussion always helps clear anything up.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: LX250
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Pay attention in lecture, leave your computer at home, there's no real reason to take hard notes or anything because Prof Barnes gives you a handout for each lecture, but make sure you go because the reading can be otherwise confusing. Do the the homework,-it counts a huge % of the grade, go to office hours and discussion for extra review.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: LX250
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's not very good at teaching an intro level course, explaining things in the most complicated ways. Honestly, its not too hard to do well. You just need to go to office hours every week. Get things you don't understand explained and get the answers to the homework. That's all. TF's are SUPER helpful and will explain everything you need to know.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: LX250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is too confusing. When he teaches stuff he confuses himself and you wont know whats going on. Also the TFs do everything for the class so if they're bad you're not gonna get a good grade

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: LX250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lectures were very boring and sometimes unclear, but discussion clears everything up. Not sure if he was the best choice for an intro class. Usually takes attendance, and lecture handouts are good study guides for the exams. Homework is a big part of the grade but it's pretty easy, discussion helps if you have questions.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: LX250
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of best profs I had in BU and I've graduated already. He makes everything so clear and for most of the time with a little bit of notes and the handouts that's all you need to read before the exams. Though the homework assignments are graded it's not a bad thing bc the exams have just the kind of questions from HW's.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: LX250
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a very nice guy, & so are the TAs. The material is never clear in class, so discussion is your best bet. Since they're soo into Linguistics, it makes it hard to break it down for students who are taking this as an INTRO class. I got a C average & was in shock because the final was rigged. The TAs are not good at homework help.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: LX510
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Barnes is a really nice guy, but classes are usually long rants about things you will never be tested on. The biggest pain is the interview project, which he says he'll give you detailed instructions on, but doesn't. Just learn the IPA quickly, and the class shouldn't be too bad.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: LX250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

not clear at all, his TAs will save you by making up for it in discussion. he likes to make jokes that no one gets/ don't understand. i liked him, but he's not very good for an intro level class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: LX250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The class is an easy A. Although the lectures are boring, the discussions go over everything. The exams are very fair and he had a review session before each one which was extremely helpful. The book was only used for some homework problems.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: LX250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This is not a thrilling class, so don't take it unless you really like the specifics of language. The lectures are extremely boring, but he takes attendance every time. Most learning and clarification is done in discussion, which is where you will learn everything for the test. Barely used the book at all. Homework is easy and counts for a lot.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: LX250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Barnes is the type of guy that could get excited about mayonnaise. He is pretty nice and very enthusiastic about his field, but his lectures are incredibly boring and put about 90 percent of the class to sleep. The TFs are unfair and condescending and the exams are too hard for an intro class. Just study those handouts as if they were the Bible.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: LX250
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I found the subject very boring, but he is a good teacher with a sense of humor.