Isabelle Cata - Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI

Professor: Isabelle Cata

Department: Languages

College: Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: FRE101
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I'll keep it simple, if you don't know the language don't take her class. She doesn't teach the language, just speaks it at you hoping you'll figure it out. Every student in the class that was new to the language dropped. I was the last man standing in that respect and found myself completely lost for weeks before I dropped.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: FRE101
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Horrible, if you've taken french in high school you won't even pass this class with a good grade. She rarely, if ever translates anything to English so you could sit there during an entire lecture and have no idea what is going on. She also loves to embarrass students.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: FRE307
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I loved her! She's a native French speaker, so it was hard to understand at first, but you get used to it! She's very funny and kind. So long as you do the homework and pay attention in class you will do fine in this class. Definitely come to each class as well since a lot happens in it each time.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: FRE307
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Cata was one of the best French teachers I have had. She's a French native and can seem intimidating, but as long as you put forth the effort and show an interest in learning she is very laid back. Be sure to come to every class, as much is covered. Much may seem like review offers more explanation. Also very funny

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: FRE307
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Absolute worst French professor I've ever had. She's unorganized, her handwriting's illegible, & she doesn't teach, she just throws everything at you that you need to know and expects you to understand it immediately. If someone makes a mistake, she doesn't clearly say what the mistake was, so people continue to make them. I can't deal with her.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: FRE301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Took her for composition. She's not that great, often confusing and you are required to be in class although it is not clear whatever gets done during class (it seemed a waste). It was nice that we could submit two drafts, and most of them were allowed to be typed. She NEVER gives A's, as she seems to come up with new problems ...

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: FRE307
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

It was her first year teaching grammar, but I didn't think she was that bad. There were a lot of quizzes, one almost every week. Most of the work is expected to be done outside of class, otherwise the class is mostly lecture. 2 exams - midterm and final. Honestly not bad.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: FRE202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Expect a lot of homework with Prof. Cata. None of the homework is graded, but she really cares if you do it. The workbook is pretty pointless, but she looks at your work during every test. She's very unpredictable and unorganized, but she's flexible with scheduling quizzes and tests if you think you're not ready. She has a great sense of humor.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: FRE306
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Such a useless professor. Waste of my time. I was a French minor and nearly fluent until she ruined the entire language for me. Dropped my minor and have not taken a French class since. Thanks Cata.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: FRE306
• 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:

Cata is a smart lady. She can be difficult to understand with her paper corrections but she is happy to help you if you don't know exactly what she's trying to say. As long as you put forth a good effort and go to her classes, you should do fine.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: FRE312
• 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:

She lacks structure in her classroom and gives no real instructions or expectations for any of her assignments. You need to be a mind-reader or a suck-up to do well. A huge waste of my time and my money.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: FRE399
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She is very helpful, but you must work for your grade. She is always flexible on creating assignments for the independent study, and is good about giving extra help and extensions if she can see that you are working hard. Smart lady.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: FRE301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I like Prof. Cata, but literature wasn't my favorite class. There was quite a bit of reading to do at home, but then we would spend the entire class everyday re-reading the material aloud and going over vocab. It was helpful in someways, but I think class could have been more interesting. Overall, it was okay.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: FRE301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Cata is critical and embarrasses students in class even if they are giving an honest effort. She is unhelpful out of class, unless you brown nose her hard. Her french is not hard to understand but the fashion in which she presents the material is. Avoid her for this class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: FRE306
• 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:

took literature with her and it was easy and enjoyable! Composition was much more frustrating, her standards for writing are very high. She's a great professor though, take her for literature!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: FRE305
• 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:

Professor Cata is picky about what she wants, but she is always willing to help. She's a really nice person, and I learned a lot from her.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: FRE101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Cata is extremely disorganized and very incoherent. If you've never taken a French class before, you'll have a hard time with her. She demands a lot and has a tendency to embarrass students and be condescending toward them. This class is definately not for the sensitive student who can't take a beating.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: FRE202
• 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:

To be avoided. This class is the only one at this school that I felt I had to drop because she would not seem to like working with individuals with hearing problems. Patience is a virtue, but this is the one word Cata hasn't learned - in ANY language. It's YOUR money - expect something from your professors, like, for instance, a minimal effort!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ANYCLASS
• 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 can be critical of wrong answers. Try to talk to her outside of class. Your relationship with her definitely affects your grade.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: FRE306
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

SO HARD! I hope I pass just so I never have to take it again. I've had her before, but she is so much more difficult in writing. =/