Jose Barrio-Olano - James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Professor: Jose Barrio-Olano

Department: Languages

College: James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SPAN307
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Super chill class. Show up and fill out a packet from slides. About 3 dialogues with groups. 2 papers from the textbook. Easy A!!! Take take take.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SPAN462
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Super easy A if you do the readings. You read an act (chapter) and answer questions on Word and then submit them. It's about 10 questions per chapter and you have a week to do it. You have like a week to do the exams (online) and one paper. Most of the plays are online for free if you really look.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SPAN307
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great professor! I confess that I had such a crush on him in class. He's punctual, serious and his lectures are informative (he also wears great suits!). You learn a lot but the class isn't so difficult that you worry much about what grade you'll earn.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SPAN427
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I took Olano for SPAN 427 and it was super easy. If you show up to class and do the worksheets each class you will be okay. However, warning on the midterm and the final which are minimum of 7 pages in Spanish of just analyzing poetry which can get dry at times. If you are looking for a span poetry class for the major then this is a good choice.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: SPAN307
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took this class b/c I read the reviews and thought it would be an easy A. I was wrong. He expects you to memorize *everything* from the powerpoints for his tests, but the powerpoints are 100-200 slides EACH. There's a lot of group work in this class which is good and bad. Overall, would definitely not recommend him.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SPAN307AND427
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I'm finishing Span 307 with him online during the summer session now; his work load is similar to the Span 427 class I took of his spring semester.. it's easy in fall/spring but overwhelming if you take him online over the summer. I'm taking him again this fall, so obviously, I recommend him! He's a nice guy and makes Spanish more interesting! :)

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SPAN307
• 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:

This is a great class for people who, like me, hate history. 1 daily "hw" assignment is taking notes in class based on his ppt slides. The other is multiple choice questions about Spain. You are assigned a group of 4 and hand in the best two assignments. Tests are a lot of information but litterally word for word from the ppt's.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SPAN307
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This class was so boring but a very easy A although I didn't retain anything since his tests were just memorization of his Power Points.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: SPAN307
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Completely agree with the previous poster. I love Jose, but the class is straight memorization of his power point slides that he reads literally.. EVERY class. DONT BUY BOOK! You will get an A, but not learn anything.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: SPAN307
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

If anyone rated this class well they obviously aren't paying their own tuition. Biggest waste of time ever, reads off a power point every day.. Only point in going is the 5 minute group work at the very end. Easy A but absolute joke of a class, I couldn't survive it without coffee. Don't buy the book.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: SPAN212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This guy was awesome!!! This was such an intensive class but he explains everything very clearly..well mostly, sometimes his accent can be a bit confusing. He typed his notes during class, then posted them for us. Our tests were all take home, and our quizes were group projects! I'd reccomend him to EVERYONE!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SPAN307
• 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:

Really awesome teacher. Tells you exactly whats on the tests, so theres no reason not to do well on them. All the info you need are in his powerpoints, which can be dense and boring at times. In-class group quizzes that he allows you to prepare for ahead of time are easy too.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SPAN335
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I really enjoyed this class. The quizzes are done in a group and you prepare answers before class. Hes pretty easy when it comes to grading especially when it comes to the 4 papers that are from 9-12 pages long. Kinda time consuming to write, but worth it because its not that tough to get an A.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SPAN307
• 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:

5 testes and all the questions come from the powerpoints. Identificaciones as well which he puts up before class and all you have to do with those is identify what they are. There are 2 papers which are really easy. Not too bad of a class once you get going.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: 305
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The class only has 3 take home exams, which are not really difficult, but very time consuming and boring. He's a great man, though, extremely nice and has a cute sense of humor. He's always willing to help you, and is not a very strict grader.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: SPAN427
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

To be fair Barrio-Olano is nice and very passionate about his subject. The problem is that subject is Spanish Poetry from 500 years ago. Only three grades which if you don't like poetry are hard to do well on.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SPAN307
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The tests are the exact questions as the homework. The answers for the homework are on his power points online. He goes over the answers in class and you never hand anything in. I don't think it could get any easier in college. Study the answers he provides you and you'll get an A.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: 307
• 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:

I love the man, but he is one of the worst teachers ever. If it is possible for there to be a class that is the easiest one ever and the hardest one ever at the same time, he has done it. There is no point in going to class, everything is online, and tests come straight from what's online. Way too much information on the tests though.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: SPAN320
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

good good man. hot babe. would definitely recommend this teacher to anyone. pretty easy class, and the guy wears a different suit every day. straight ****.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 320307
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He is such a cute man when he laughs at himself. Class is an easy A if you are willing to memorize everything for the tests cause he gives you the questions. Really boring lectures.