Kathleen Sibbald - McGill University, Montreal, QC

Professor: Kathleen Sibbald

Department: Hispanic Studies

College: McGill University, Montreal, QC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HISP225
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Sibbald is a very nice lady, and I respect her enthusiasm for Hispanic Civ. I took this class as an elective, and I had to take over 30,000 words worth of notes during her lectures because she tests almost solely on them. If you take down most of what she says, and memorize it, an A is in your future. 1 practice quiz, 1 mid term, 1 final.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HISP225
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took this to fulfill a requirement for my major and because I had heard that it was an easy course. It was easy all right but I wish that I had taken something harder because this course was BORING and DUMB. The lectures were straight out of Wikipedia and the exams focused on minor details, all memorization and no thinking required.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HISP324
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very old fashioned, may seem a little intimidating at first but give her respect and effort and she'll return the favor. Speaks very clearly and articulately, which is helpful for students who aren't native Spanish speakers. Perhaps not a rock-your-world kind of lecturer but very knowledgeable about Spain. Put in some effort and you'll learn a lot.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HISP225
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Ridiculously boring. I took this class for an elective because it sounded awesome, but evaluation seemed to be pretty arbitrary. Get ready to memorize specific sculptures, for instance. However, if you show up, take notes, and read the textbook, you'll be fine.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HISP225
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She basically reads wikipedia to you during lectures. Everything is based on memorization so beware! Her lectures are sooooo boring and long. The TA is super nice and helpful though! Lots of repeat on final from the midterm.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HISP225
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Great prof! Although lectures may sometimes be long, she knows what she is talking about. To make students learn the material, she often asks question of things seen in a previous lecture. A lot to remember, but if you organize your notes then it's easy. Asks things in the book that are not in lecture so must read. She brings sample exam questions.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HISP225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Class was an interesting introduction to the subject area and a relatively easy way to get a very good grade. Don't worry too much about the textbooks - see them as ways to make the powerpointslectures more clear rather than as separate testable entities. She posts all her detailed powerpoints online and you can do well by focusing on those alone.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HISP225
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Stay away. This professor is dull, dull dull. She, while being an exceedingly sweet lady, is unendurably boring. She barely teaches and mostly just shows pictures of the places you are supposed to be learning about. With out the text book you will not pass, because it is the only actual information you will get about the subject.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HISP324
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I love Spanish literature and really hated this course. The plays we read were themselves interesting but the prof was all over the place, never guiding any discussion to a definite conclusion. There are much better courses and profs in Hispanic studies.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HISP226
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This course is unbelievably easy if you stop thinking and just repeat back what the prof says in her lectures.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HISP226
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

a total waste of my education!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HISP225
• 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:

The teacher is extremely unclear. Don't take that class if you think it's an easy A. Really not!!!! Had to put a lot of work into studying. Also focus mostly on slides and not on text book like I did... not a good idea, she will test on the smallest little details like what's the little tiny rivers in Spain or what is the word in Basque language...

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HISP226
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

She just gives the lectures (very basic and boring stuff)and the TA does the grading (unbelievably easy). There's no intellectual challenge and you won't learn anything important, but you'll get an easy A.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HISP225
• 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 have taken 6 classes with her: she might be quite old-fashioned in the way she teached, but she is an awesome prof, and i have learned from her more than anyone at McGill. She knows everything about everything in spanish lit. She exceptes a lot from students, and is not easy on marking. However, if you come to class, and study, we will get an A!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HISP225
• 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:

After listening to Sibbald for a whole semester I am convinced that she just reads off a script without any idea about the topics covered in her lectures. The TA was equally bad, but you can get an easy "A" if you repeat back the things said in the lectures, no matter how stupid. I recommend that you take another course with another professor

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HISP460
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She's totally arbitrary when it comes to marking. It all depends if she likes you.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HISP460
• 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:

This course made no sense at all. The professor was a real bore and really came down hard on students she doesn't like. She didn't seem to care but only goes through the motions.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HISP242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Extremely knowledgeable prof. Generally teaches graduate and higher level courses, however takes time to explain literature which is a plus for students taking first literature course. Class can be a bit boring, however learn material in depth. Essays are not easy marks.

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Why does McGill allow someone so disrespectful and cruel to keep teaching? She's supposed to be a feminist but she really hates women. What a disgrace!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HISP460
• 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:

very dissapointing class. she totally killed an interesting subject and made it painful.