Michael Tobin - University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK

Professor: Michael Tobin

Department: Languages

College: University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: FREN103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hes very energetic and makes you laugh every class. Though he doesnt go through what to expect on midterms/final. He always uses the textbook, but his two midterms were way harder than expected. (66% failed) He is hard to track down, best option is to contact him after class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: FREN102
• 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:

He is clear and helpful during class. He does tend to trail off with jokes or stories that are entertaining. He does use email or have a number to contact so finding him can be difficult. He also expects you to ask him if you have questions and if no one does then he assumes everyone understands the material. It is up to the student to seek help.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: FREN216
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Was a novel study class, generally found him clear and approachable, however little discussion took place, so if you understand the novels there's not really much need to be in class, however I found it helpful to hear what he took from the novels, overall a straightforward course, not a lot of notetaking necessary.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: FREN106
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

A really bad experience. Sets exams way harder then anything we've worked on in class (23 out of 30 failed our midterm). He is unhelpful and treats everyone who asks for help like they are stupid and childish. Wastes class time spouting about politics and religion. Condescending. Avoid his class, if possible.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: FREN220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Easy! Show up, write what he says and then include that in your essay. No guessing what he wants or expects. He is very animated and does not require readings outside of class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: FREN106
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is very funny, and really likes to tell you about his conservative political beliefs. He did not prepare us at all for the midterms/final. i would not take a class with him ever again!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: FR106
• 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:

BRUTAL! This prof has no set office hours, does not respond to email, and rushes off after class so he doesn't have to answer questions from students. Hates to write text book exercises on the board, instead rushes through them orally and doesn't look up to see if anyone has any questions about the material 'discussed'. Mildly entertaining at best.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: FREN220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class was very challenging, and not because the level of the material covered. He desires no critical thinking from students for his papers, simply a regurgitation of what he said in class. He is IMPOSSIBLE to get ahold of outside of class; refuses to answer emails and has no set office hours. Avoid this class with him if possible.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: FRE106
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Coming from 7+ years of elementary school and high school French, his teaching style was easy to understand and good. However, there was NO practice of what we learned, and I found myself struggling immensely with the exams. He also runs off right after class, and doesn't come early, giving no opportunity for questions or help.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: FREN220
• 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:

Tobin is a great guy and really funny. However, he believes that a 70% is a good grade in his class and that kind of messes with a student's transcript. The class is interesting and if you go to him with an essay outline he will tell you exactly what he wants.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: FREN220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great to listen to in class, essays way to broad of a topic, and a very very hard marker. Doesn't give any hint to what he's looking for in work, which makes it difficult to get a good grade. Did enjoy him in class though, as he is very energetic.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: FRENC103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Please God send me to Hell but not to Tobin's class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: FRENC212
• 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:

Best linguistics prof. I've had. Explanations are very clear. He seemed somewhat odd in the first few classes, but I soon realized he is a great guy.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: FREN106
• 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:

I'm honestly shocked to see the positive comments here. Everything is out of the textbook and there is very little practice of what we learn. Tests are marked drastically and not given back in time. Coming from a 85% in the first french class a 45% going into the final is fairly shocking. Spends majority of class singing + talking about his life

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: FRE103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

All you do in the class is read the stupid textbook. Super Easy Marks, but Tobin is a joke. All you do is recite the textbook then listen to him sing random dumb songs and tell you how he doesnt have a drivers liscence and he doesnt ride the bus, but complains about the weather. wierdest. prof. ever.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: FREN106
• 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:

A flamboyant narcissist who doesn't give a damn about his students or his job. His tests are a joke and do not prepare you in any way for the final.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: FRENC220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

HORRIBLE, I can't believe he's allowed to be a prof.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: FRENC220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

HORRIBLE, in all my 5 years at university this is THE WORST prof I have EVER had. He doesn't know the first thing about teaching the information he knows, and NO opinion is right... unless it's HIS. He is absolutely the WORST!!!! AND EW definitely NOT HOT. I was really disappointed enough to prompt me to write a review!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: FREN106
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Yes entertaining in class but not on top of getting anything back to you. Very little "hands on" learning just reads what's in the text and the "situations" but little practice on how to actually put things together. Barely used the workbook. Tests are all translating. HARD to get a decent mark in this class. Take from another prof if you can.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: FREN103
• 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:

He's a great prof...great sense of humor makes class entertaining. He isn't exactly on top of getting tests and assignments back to you, but his classes go by so quickly! I definitely recommend him