Paul Socken - University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Professor: Paul Socken

Department: Languages

College: University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: FR671
• 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:

Paul is a fantastic teacher. When he teaches literature he is in his element: he opens up the class to discussion and makes us think critically about the material. He is a hard marker and will admit that, but he is also willing to sit down with you and explain in simple terms what you need to do to succeed. Genuinely nice person.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: FR251
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

okay, so this guy remembers everyone else's name in the class except for mine. besides that, i don't really like his teaching methods.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: FR251
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Good prof, very clear, and seems interested in his work - however, he does pick on people! This makes me extremely nervous because I feel like I can't make a mistake - he calls us up to write on the board as well. He's really nice, just makes me a little nervous.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: FR276
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I love this man. One of my best profs! He is funny, and very passionate about his work. He marks the essays fairly liberally but attending class is deffinately worth it - if you do minimal studying is involved. Reading the books before hand is deffinately a plus -the class moves quickly. Would take any of his classes again.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: FR252
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you're going to be taking his class you better know how to study on your own and teach yourself. As far as being a good teacher is concerned....he's lacking in that area. You're better off just reading the book and writing the tests. He DOES give extra tips that ARE in fact usefull, but doesn't focus enough on curriculum or testable things.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: FR251
• 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:

People have to realize that you can only gain from a class if you put in the effort. Prof Socken did took a very boring, dry subject like French Grammar and did what he could with it. He was very helpful and approachable - he was willing to put in the effort for students to succeed if they were.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: 251
• 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:

Never again.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: 251
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I really hated coming to this class. As the weeks went by less people showed up.You can tell when a prof doesn't have an interest in his students. He was hard to get ahold of for help (not there during office hours). When I did see him he made me feel like my question was stupid. French ISN'T my first language but that's why I'm taking it,to learn!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: FR251
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took his grammar class this fall. It was VERY boring. So boring that people talked in class over him. He wasn't very good at giving examples and just read from the text. The days Kerry Lapin-Fortin substituted were much more clear and she gave many examples. Attitude also makes a difference. It seemed like he didn't want to be there.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: FR251
• 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:

I don't understand why everyone liked him so much... practically my entire class HATED this guy... he didn't actually TEACH all he did was read from the text book, which doesn't explain things all that well to begin with... don' take this class with him unless you enjoy being confused and frustrated...

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: FR352
• 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:

Socken is the most caring professor ever. He is such a great teacher. He makes learning french fun again. His classes are not bird courses... you really do have to try hard, however if you attend and do all the required work you will do well. He makes class so interesting and you never want to miss

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: FR252
• 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:

Material is dull, but he teaches it well. Very kind, and funny. The Palestine thing never came up, so I'm not sure what the other reviewer was talking about.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: FR251
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Watch out! If you aren't a support of Israel, he'll give you a bad mark. Don't be pro-Palestinian in his class, he'll harass you! Guy's obviosuly opinionated.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: FRENCH
• 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:

Great prof!!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: FR471
• 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:

Socken takes an aspect of litterature which has the potential to be VERY boring, and presents it in a way that keeps the students' interest, all while making it clear, and enlightening. He is very energetic, and his kind heart cannot be hidden.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: FR192A
• 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:

Clear lectures. Good instructor, a little odd, but funny. Sadly class is soooo dull, all he does is read out of the textbook, I could do that myself for free. He knows the material really well, now its time to work on making it interesting.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: FR192A
• 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:

Good teacher. Knows the material really well. Class is a little boring considering he just stands up there and reads out of the textbook. He needs to come up with some more interesting ways of teaching the material.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: FR192A
• 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:

Love him, VERY nice guy! Funny, involves students.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: FR
• 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:

Excellent prof! Knows his stuff!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: FR195A
• 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:

Involves the class, ensures that the material is understood