Karen Valihora - York University (all campuses), Toronto, ON

Professor: Karen Valihora

Department: English

College: York University (all campuses), Toronto, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: EN4073
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She is an incredible professor. I can't even describe the lessons she teaches and the way she teaches you about life and yourself through the literature. Her classes were those rare ones that show you what university can be about and how it can challenge you and make you question the ways you see your world. Very grateful that I took her classes!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: 2001EN
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She's very strong in her points of view, and will rudely call out people if they disagree with her . There were points in which she would call out people for no reason and would often single people out.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: EN2001
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Valihora is clear, concise, and believes strongly in her opinion. If you attend all lectures and understand what she has taught then the exam and essays are very straightforward. However, don't even dream about asking for any sort of extensions.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: EN2001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Really great professor, her lectures are always very interesting, and she's obviously very passionate about what she's talking about.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: EN2001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Brilliant woman, gives clear lectures, and she's so cute and sweet and smiley- that is, when she's not looking at you like you're a total moron. Very intimidating, but helpful if asked. She gives very fair and thorough feedback on her assignments, all of which were short, relevant, and helpful in preparing for the very easy final. Would take again.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: EN3560
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I agree with all the red dots here. Horrible.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: EN3560
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Enthusiastic about her topic, however, DO NOT miss class, you will be lost come exam time. Take excellent notes as she literally creates the exam on passages analyzed in class. Very tough marker and needs to be challenged in essays; only HER opinion counts on readings, which is what you need to regurgitate to her in the exam to perfection.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: EN3560
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Horrible professor. Makes us feel inadequate, doesn't help us at all. I was so excited by this class, but my enjoyment was squelched after each attendance. Avoid at all costs.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: EN3560
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This woman is brilliant! Her class is difficult, especially if you are initially disinterested. However, dedicated students will be hard pressed to find another more passionate and engaging professor. Studying Austen with her was a lit. student's dream. By far one of the most enriching classes of my academic career (+6 years).

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: 2001EN
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I can't being to explain how unhelpful she is. seriously if you have the option DO NOT have her as your tutorial leader. she makes this grande gesture at the beginning of the course about working hard and easily getting an A.as someone who has a strong work ethic and consistent grades above A i can tell you this is a load of crap.least helpful prof

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: EN2001
• 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:

Karen is a very intelligible woman, with a strong enthusiasm for the subject she is teaching. She articulates her ideas very well, and always clarifies anything ambiguous or confusing for students. She replies quickly to emails, and answers any question you have for her. She's also friendly, outspoken and fun.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: EN2001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

i can tell she is really interested with the topic. She is so interested that it is hard to challenge her. Always have a sharp mind when making your essays. Her education in McGill and Yale (deadly combination) is pretty hard to get past by. Always do assigned readings. If you don't, get ready to meet your demise in the finals.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: LITTHEOR
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Explained things throughouly. Tends to babble alot class lectures often are interesting but she has low energy when it comes to teaching, put me to sleep.

Rating # 14

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

terrible. She gives you no help at all. She changes everything every taught about english and its writing. Not helpful, not in depth...not my cup of tea.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG3230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I loved The English Romantics until I happened to drop in her course. She pays her resentfulness with those students who don't flatter her intelligence and wittiness.A real pity.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENGANON
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

my experience was similar to yours; you are definitely not alone. she treated me terribly. my only regret is that I did not complain about it. what is sad is that those who do complain here, end up having their criticisms deleted. the comments that follow the deleted complaints - always opposite to the negative ones, sometimes mocking in tone.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: EN3230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Karen is a wonderful prof! She delves so deeply into the greatest british literary works of the romantic era that each passage is analyzed word by word. She knows her lirature and as such teaches extremely well. What matters is that a prof teaches with enthusiasm and knows the content that he or she is teaching. York is lucky to have her!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG3230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Whatever you think of a prof's personality is not important; I happened to like her. The quality of teaching should be paramount. Karen Valihora is absolutely brilliant and goes far deeper into the complexities of a text than thought possible. You may think she is incomprehensible- she is actually teaching dense material and making it coherent.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: EN3230
• 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 think many are judging her unfairly. She may come off as indifferent but she is charming and highly intelligent. She has always given me great criticism, great advice and OFFERED to meet with her one-on-one just for a chat! She knows her stuff IN DEPTH! Don't expect to be coddled, work hard and will get an 'A'.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENG0807
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

You'll learn more from Karen in one year than you'll learn in your entire university career. She really cares and is worth all the adoration she recieves. I would take any course she teaches!