Nicole Ball - Smith College, Northampton, MA

Professor: Nicole Ball

Department: Languages

College: Smith College, Northampton, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: FRN220
• 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 liked madame ball as a person but her class was boring even though it was only 50 minutes. busywork is completely unnessecary to complete because she tells you exactly what shes going to collect. shes horribly unclear when she lectures/sometimes when shes answering questions but shes funny. during office hours shell give you all the answers.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: FRENCH220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Je l'adore! Madame Ball appeared so quiet and mellow at first, but her passion for theater and little mannerisms (raspberries and funny faces) made class so exciting! This little gray-haired, spectacled lady won't disappoint. She's a tough grader, but I learned from it. One fault? Excessive comments, some even longer than the actual papers...

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: FRN220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Vicious grader- even more vicious with her comments. Be prepared to lose self-esteem when taking this class. Tons of work, and although I did learn alot, it was painful and I won't take a class from her again.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: FRN231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She is aweful

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: FRENCH101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took this class 10 years ago and still remember some French thanks to her. She's great and fun to hang out with outside of class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: FRN120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The devil in human form. Avoid like the plague if you have any affection for the language/people/culture of France.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: FRN230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I adore Mme Ball. She was hilarious, and she helped me a lot. You have to be serious about French, though.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: FRN120
• 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 learned a lot and didn't find her grading to be too unfair. However, she was sometimes confusing. Sometimes you don't know what will be collected or graded. Lots of busywork. Notes not organized at all, jumps around. But can be hilarious, and I did learn a LOT. Not my fav prof, but she's ok

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: FRN120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I felt her lectures were very unclear - no transitions between topics, often jumped from topic to topic, and jumbled writing on the board. I would not take another language class with her, but she was very understanding. Great sense of humor.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: FRN120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

i don't know why people think that she's horrible. I absolutely loved her class. she's really funny. yes, the class is not easy, but she's always willing to help, and you do well if you understand the stuff. and her grading wasn't that bad

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: FRN230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

At first I thought she was an awesome prof: very engaging in discussions, very helpful if she her during office hours but her grading is horrible! She does give good feedback but what you get for a final grade is completely subjective and unfair!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: FRN120
• 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:

Horrid.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: FRN220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Such a good class! Learned so much even though I wasn't interested in the material to begin with. She cracked me up, and I am sure my papers cracked her up. Great Prof!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: FRN120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

i didnt like her class at first but then i talked to her about it and she was very helpful and became very supportive. plus, the woman is a riot!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: FRE120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had difficulty with this professor, she spoke only french in a low level class and spoke french with an accept that was difficult to understand.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: FRN230
• 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:

she is nice but is accused of having favorites in the class. for the essays, we hand in two copies: a rough and final draft. she grades both and the final grade is an average.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

The most wonderful sharp-witted humor. She's hard to get along with, but really teaches you good French.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: 230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

i was interested in french before, now im not. she's a bit hostile.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: FRN120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The single worst professor I've had at Smith. She's crazy, a bad teacher, and an unpredictable grader. Lest you think I'm a single bitter soul, I got a very good grade in her class and everyone in my class hated her. Please, take my advice! AVOID HER!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: FRN120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Never before has a prof. made me cry.