Zhiyuan Chen - Appalachian State University, Boone, NC

Professor: Zhiyuan Chen

Department: Languages

College: Appalachian State University, Boone, NC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SNH2005
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Chen is a good instructor and is very knowledgeable. His tests are very difficult, but he really wants his students to succeed. He will help you if he sees that you want to help yourself. Go to class and spend time studying outside of class and you will do fine!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SNH2005
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Just don't do it. Worst Spanish professor I have ever had and top 5 worst all-time professors. English is very poor, Spanish is not much better. Exams are way harder than anything you cover in class, and his grading methods are extremely inconsistent. Class consists of powerpoints and bookwork, no actual teaching on his part. Avoid at all costs....

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SNH3080
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One thing to be aware before taking ANY of his classes is that if you are not a native Spanish speaker or REALLY fluent in the language, the class will be hard from time to time. He barely speaks English so you can only talk to him in Spanish. There isn't any hw unless he assigns a paper (1 1/2 pgs.). He's funny and cares about his students.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SNH2005
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a nice guy but a pretty poor Spanish Teacher. I had him for Intensive Grammar and his tests are ridiculously hard unless you're pretty fluent already. He doesn't always know how to translate English to Spanish properly which makes it frustrating. You don't have to do much in class though, which is a plus.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: SNH3035
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Chen is one of my favorite characters in the Spanish dept. He really cares about his students and will give you every chance to make up work and pass his class.. But he can be a horrrrrible teacher at times. You have to really, really listen, and you have to use your brain and logic to figure out the rules...

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SPANISHSYNTAX
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Even when you think you are completely failing one of his classes, you can still end up with a B+ like me. Also, the syllabus says that you cannot miss more than 2 classes, and I missed probably 6 and he didn't notice. If that sounds appealing to you, still don't take this class. It was terrible.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SNH2005
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I had Chen for intensive grammar review. If you are good at Spanish, you can easily make an A. Although I didn't learn much, I really respected Chen and he had the whole class cracking up almost every day. If you know your stuff you will be fine. If you struggle with Spanish, maybe take a different professor.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SPAN2005
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He was the worst Spanish teacher I have ever had. Try and avoid taking this teacher for Spanish because no one could not understand a thing he was saying. Also, his tests are awful. He told us high school Spanish teachers would fail his tests. Avoid him.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: SNH2010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If there was chilly pepper for cuteness, this guy would be off the charts. He is an old chinese man… that teaches Spanish. He can be very confusing at times. It is actually more difficult to understand his english. Class participation is mandatory. You will randomly be called up front to speak on a regular basis.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: SNH3035
• 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:

Chen is funny and wants you to learn the material, but the material itself is generally difficult to grasp. It doesn't help that English is his third language, either. But he is nice. Also he's the only professor who teaches this course as of now. Stick to your book and notes and make sure to NEVER miss class and you should be okay.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: SNH2010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

All in all, easy class; Chen is nice and means well, he just doesn't speak english coherently at all so you pretty much have to understand Spanish pretty well to therefore understand him. No homework really, and the final was a 7 minute group skit. If you show up, talk once in a while, and he likes you okay, you'll do just fine.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SNH3035
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Chen is absolutely precious. Yes, it's extremely hard to get things through to him and sometimes difficult to really understand what he is saying. If you put time and effort into class you will be fine. He is too sweet to fail someone who tries hard and attends class. Get to know him and you will definitely learn something!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SNH3035
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Extremely hard class, but a really nice and funny man. Yes, he may be kind of difficult to understand but if you come to class every day and smile, he will remember you and help you out on your grade. His grades are relative and don't really matter as he grades you on your improvement and participation... really great guy!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SNH3035
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE CHEN FOR PHONETICS AND DICTION! He does not listen to his students and teaches information far above the course level. The subject itself is difficult, but Chen obfuscates it further by giving confusing graphs and diagrams and by cramming too much information into the last classes of the semester.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: SNHBIZ
• 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:

He does not understand anything. It's not a language thing. He doesn't listen. It's impossible to know what he is thinking/going to test. Worthless vocabulary class. Nothing related to cultures or business. Just a bunch of useless facts, like how China imports steel from Chile because they do not have much. I need to have more control over my grade

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: SNH2005
• 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:

I absolutely HATED his class. I was such a spanish nerd before this class but he made me want to change my major. His English is horrible. He couldn't understand if we spoke to him in English or Spanish. I think he needs to stick with Chinese. All he ever talked about was eating dogs. Yuck! Quizzes are terrible! Avoid him if at all possible!!!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SNH2005
• 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:

he's a really nice old man, just kind of hard to understand his english sometimes so talk in spanish, it will only help you. still, his tests are hard as hell even if you know your stuff. he is really kind and funny though and nearly every example he uses in class is about eating a dog (ayer, yo comi mi perro) its really pretty funny

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: SNH4075
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He is very funny but does not understand English very well. He also can not hear and you have to yell at him. Your grade is based on talking so if you show up for class and talk to him a lot (so he knows who you are) you will do well.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: SNH3035
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I like Dr Chen, I think he's a funny little Chinese man. The subject (phonetics and diction) doesn't interest me much but it's not a pain going to his class and he is interested in you learning the subject. If you're in Spanish (major or minor) definitely try to take him at some point.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PHONDICT
• 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:

His class is hard, but if you do a little study on your own you should do okay. This stuff is out there(kinda of another language in itself;greek perhaps), but in the end it is helpful to learn it. I did actually learned something, but watcha out for that first test,it can catch you by surprise!