Eliot Wirshbo - University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA

Professor: Eliot Wirshbo

Department: Languages

College: University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: LTLA1
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Acerbic and abrasive. In a very 1960s style of teaching, this professor calls on people to translate for the class rather than taking volunteers. He then mocks and insults anyone that takes too long or gets something wrong. Eventually, coming to class is the most unpleasant part, and since he teaches very little in class, the temptation is to not.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: LTLA100
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Not for faint of heart, difficult and particular, do not slack off, he will know and grade you accordingly, wants you to be the best at Latin you can be, don't be scared, just work hard and don't take his humor to seriously. If you are determined to take Latin for a while, just take him for what he is. He really does care about his students though.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: LTLA1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took the lower-division LTLA sequence with him. He has a rather abrasive sense of humor and caters his pace to the top students. You should take him if you have a genuine interest in Latin and/or will need to take an upper-division LTLA course (Revelle GE or Classics majors). Otherwise, I would recommend a different Latin instructor.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: LTWL19B
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I knew to take him for pass/no pass unless u want to ruin ur gpa. TAKE NOTES ON EVERYTHING HE SAYS. (yes, the irrelevant things because details are tested) vERY necessary to read spark notes and lectures are clear but reading is CRAZY like think 30-40 pages of THICC DENSE READING THAT MAKES NO SENSE WHATSOEVER AND he is condescending imo

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: LTLA1
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is the type of professor who wants to make your life a living hell. Has no respect of care for any of his students. Boring lecturer. Veers off topic. Overall bad.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: LTWL19B
• Grade Received: INC
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst professor I have ever encountered. Has no care for his students, will mostly likely bash you for asking for help. Hard grader with unclear grading criteria. Spends class time on irrelevant topics. You need to remember every small detail in class because that is what his exams are based off of. Do not take this professor.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: LTWL19B
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took LTWL because I heard the 19A professor was amazing, then I found out that I have to take this horrible professor for two quarters after that. He is boring, goes off topic, and is unclear on what he wants from students. He's an extremely tough grader, and expects too much of his students. I wish I never decided to take LTWL19A-C.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: LAT3
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I was one of the "grammar zombies" -- eg. we got what he was doing: Wirshbo teaches you the Latin and Greek you need to know to actually read the texts for yourselves. His influence during our college years had profoundly positive effects on our lives post-college. If you are actually interested in the subject, take him and don't look back.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: LTLA123
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Love this guy. He's always very clear, the class is predictable, and he frequently makes self-deprecating and funny jokes. He's probably my favorite professor at UCSD. Plus you get to really learn Latin, which is awesome. I'm looking forward to reading Ovid in the original Latin this summer. :)

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: LTLA1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Wirshbo is a tough professor with a sense of humor that takes some getting used to. However, once you get over that, you realize how much you learn from his class. There are 6 quizzes, a midterm, and a final, with the lowest quiz grade dropped. The tests are definitely fair. Just be ready to study.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: LTLA3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Took the entire LD Latin sequence with him. He is an amazing professor and really cares that you learn, but this is not an easy class. He knows when you work hard and when you don't, but he will help in whatever way he can to impart knowledge. Not an easy A, but an amazing professor if you actually want to learn Latin.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: LTLA1
• 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:

Latin is not for the faint of heart, and neither is Eliot Wirshbo. He expects a level of decency and respect that few today know how to give. While one must take his sense of humor with a grain or two- or five- of salt, he actually cares about whether his students learn. He is, without a doubt, the best teacher I've ever had, not just in college.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: LTWL19B
• 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:

Took him for 19B. Let's be honest, classes don't get easier than Literature because Liberal Arts students don't care as much. Easy A if you try at all. The teacher is great, tries to impart knowledge, most kids just joke around and don't pay attention and then cry about the test.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: LTLA3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher. Took 1-3 with him. Extremely demanding classes, I've never worked as hard as I did in his classes in any other class. If you're a slacker you will be buried alive, so don't take Latin...but if you're a motivated student & work hard you will be extremely rewarded. I've learned so much from Wirshbo and from Latin, a great challenge!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: LTLA114
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Wirshbo was one of the hardest teachers I had in college, but he was fair and encouraging. I earned my grade, and I learned a lot. I liked his style and his sense of humor, although if you are looking for classes to ease through, avoid him--he doesn't take laziness well.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: LTLA1
• 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:

If you attend his class, plz work hard! Midterms and quizes are always about basic stuffs, but it is really important to spend much time to memorize words and rules. After all, you gain as you pay. Really nice a professor, worthy of Latin class!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: LATIN000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Four years later and I still am fond of this guy. Great class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: LTLA3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took LTLA 1 and 2 with him as well. although he may seem strict, he's a nice guy. He definitely is intimidating (and he knows it) but as long as you do your work, you will survive. You definitely have to put time into the class but you will feel like you actually accomplished something. If you don't like to do work, this isn't the class for you.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: LTLA1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This man... Best teacher I've ever had by far. First week of class, he scares the crap out of you telling you how hard the class is going to be, and he's right. Super hard class, but so so so worth it. It requires a lot of work and time, but if you put it in, it is really easy to get a good grade. TAKE THIS CLASS!!! it will make you smarter!!!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: LTLA1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's completely unapologetic about how hard the class is, but that's good. He does seem intimidating at first, but you get used to it. Although he can be harsh, and at times it seems he's calling on you because he *knows* that you don't have the answer, just remember that it's never malicious. Your results will equal the work you put in.