Paivi Koskinen - University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Professor: Paivi Koskinen

Department: Languages

College: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: LING101
• 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:

Not the best. A few times, my answers on h/w and quizzes were marked wrong. I successfully proved it to her once. The other times, not successful. Tests consist of memorised trivia, not concepts. Talks to us like we're babies, tests us on way more advanced material. Some TAs were useless, too.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: LING101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A terrible prof. Even though I got an A in this class, I absolutely can't stand her-which tells you something. Speaks at a snail's pace, uses irrelevant examples, and can NOT answer questions to anybody's satisfaction. Did not care that the marking averages between different TA's was an incredible 20%.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: LING101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Fails at answering class questions. Do not get to the important parts. Tests on trivial info (e.g. how many speakers are there in xxx country) instead of CONCEPTS. Did not let people use laptops or leave early. Taught wrong stuff about both Japanese and Chinese. Others I don't know the languages to know. Don't know how she got her PhD.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: LING452
• 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:

She was a really good prof that I took her for both Ling 201 and 445. However, when I had her for last term's 452 it was a disaster! She obviously took on too much work because she did not seem prepared for her lectures. I hope next year she fixes that so she can really focus on her job and give a better learning experience.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: LING201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Paivi Koskinen was sooo good that i took her class twice. I took ling 100 and 201. Both times were in the summer so i dunno abt her actual lectures but she tested each chapter and the tests weren't cumulative. If you went to class - followed her outline and make notes, you'll be FINE!~She's very niceeeee and she's usually on track when she talks~^^

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: LING101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Brutal class, very poor, boring lecturer. Take advantage of the take-home assignments as this could be your only means of boosting your mark. NO exam reviews, no answers given to assignments or tests even though the syllabus stated that it would be done. Textbook WAY too advanced for a class that supposed no prev. Ling. knowledge. I could go on

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: LING452
• 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:

Fantastic prof! Rarely uses a textbook (although suggests good texts) and posts everything online. A fair marker in 201 and 445. However, the content in this course significantly lowers the grades. Tells very interesting anecdotes and stories to help remember content. My favourite professor at UBC.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: LING300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

she is nice & funny, and the course itself is interesting, but if you find her lectures unclear or argue a mark with her, good luck. I would not take this course if I wanted anything above a B. Definitely an unpredictable marker.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: LING300
• 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:

very nice, sweet, and smart. rather hard marker and thinks thats just too bad. unfortunately this school is lacking in linguistics profs, so if you have her, you are just lucky you don't have carden.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: LING445
• 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:

Dr. Koskinen is a great prof! I've had her twice now. Even though she's deceptively hard with regards to grading, she's so motivating that you still love the class. I'd take a course of hers again!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: LING300
• 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:

Rather than testing on the basic concepts of the book she always made the students apply stuff creatively which could mean difficult tests and assignments, but always gave a lot more insight into what we were covering. Also it helps that she's terribly nice and funny too. When I hear how slow Carden is taking 300 I just think how lucky i was.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: LING201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Nice lady, good lecturer, always makes time for her students. My one complaint: no textbook! We did get an easy beyond belief 5% for taking notes for one class (we "made" the text), but I still would have preferred some backup reading to clarify her notes. All in all a good teacher though.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: LING201
• 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:

Paivi taught the summer course, which was cut down, but still very interesting. I really wish she was teaching ling 300 next term, because I love her lectures! I have even registered into the course she is teaching next year, because she's a very effective teacher.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: LING300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Her assignments and exams are difficult beyond believe, but that's how you will learn best. Don't sweat over a low mark on an assignment or midterm, focus on the learning and you will get the most out of being in her class. By far my favorite UBC prof.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: LING301
• 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 took her 201, 300, and 301, best prof in the ling dept although her tests and assignments were not easy. a very nice person and funny in class. it's worth to take her classes than other profs' classes in the ling dept.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: LING301
• 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:

She is one of the profs I sincerely admire - not only by her well-organized structure of the class, but by her supreme knowledge in syntax. Although i bet she has not had many experiences in teaching, her lectures are super clear-cut.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: LING300
• 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:

Very clear and very receptive to questions. She made me really interested in syntax! Her exams are always hard though, so make sure you understand all the concepts.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: LING100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

the course is real hard. and her quizzes+mts are fairly challenging. easy to pass, but impossible to get perfect. lots of tricks. shes a nice person, at office hours. but she assumes we know too much.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: LING100
• 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:

you do have to study but the office hours will help you

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: LING100
• 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:

By the way, she is not hard. Little too phiosophical though, she marks fairly & the tests & quizzes are fair. Highly recommended!!!!!