Ron Friis - Furman University, Greenville, SC

Professor: Ron Friis

Department: Languages

College: Furman University, Greenville, SC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SPN215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Friis is one of my favorite professors at Furman. He is SO funny and he makes class fun and interesting. He loves dividing the class into groups and having conversations in Spanish. His tests can be tricky, but if you understand the vocabulary and grammar then you'll do fine. He's an amazing professor.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SPN270
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Friis never taught our class, he had the students teach EVERY class! He taught a total of MAYBE three classes. There was a lot of readings and most of the readings were designed for 300 level students.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SPN201
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took Spanish all of high school, and this class was a nice review of all the grammar that I learned. Show up, participate, and do the homework. The assignments help you stay on track with the class, and sometimes he does collect--but he will tell you when. I thought the tests were easy if you studied, and you can ask him for help!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SPN201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His classwork is not difficult, but he only grades the homework assignment once every couple of weeks. His grading scale for homework and other small assignments is check, check plus, or check minus, or 85, 95, and 75. This means that you cannot get a 100% on any participation assignment, and if you do what you're supposed to do you'll get a 85.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: SPN215
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's hilarious. Easily my funniest professor this semester. His grading can be tough, especially on participation, but he loves Spanish and wants his students to love it too, so he really lets them guide the class discussions. Go see him if you want help and be ready to practice grammar on your own. I'll be taking him again for lit!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SPN201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Horrible.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SPN201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Genuine guy. Cares about his students and is able to have fun while teaching. Always an interesting class and no long lectures. Homework is pretty straightforward and not too time consuming. He loves food and works well with his students inside and outside of class. Great spanish 201 teacher strongly recommend if you can.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SPN201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Friis is really nice and funny. His class is never boring because he is such a character. The homework is minimal and tests are easy but most of your grade comes from how much you participate. This class is great, but from the beginning, PARTICIPATE PARTICIPATE PARTICIPATE

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: SPN201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Probably the easiest 201 teacher. If you have taken spanish before and have already learned most grammar, this class is an easy review. Homework is short and usually not collected. Friis writes workbook pages instead of using a textbook. Class is usually entertaining, and tests are very straightforward if you know the material well. Great 201 class

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: SPN201
• 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:

class is a waste of time, but you won't have to learn a single vocab word for the test. he's pretty passive agressive, so dont let your guard down or you'll see it reflected upon participation points. he's very harsh with participation so always volunteer your answers.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: SPN201
• 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:

Dont listen to all this crap about eating in class and movies. I fell into that trap! one of the least helpful teachers ive ever had. tests come out of no where caters to the more fluent students.made a C+ and struggled because of my lack of an adequate spanish background from HS.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SPN361
• 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:

be sure to seek help outside of class and participation is key.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SPN201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Participate in class and you're golden, really. Probably one of the easier 201 teachers, but you won't learn much vocab (very grammar-centric class)

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SPN201
• 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:

Good guy but so-so teacher. Sometimes it seemed like he was more interested in wasting time than getting his students to really learn. Not a difficult class, though, and it's obvious he knows what he's talking about.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: SPN201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

really cool guy. the class was actually somewhat intersting, unlike most other spanish classes. not an amazing teacher though

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: SPN25
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Somewhat disorganized He cancelled class and his tests were a medium level of difficulty The tests contained a little bit of grammar short responses and an essay We basically had casual conversations most of the class We had to go to a restaurant and rate it and write an essay about our experience We Also had other essays to write and turn in

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SPN201
• 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:

He's a nice, funny guy, but he wasn't very helpful when I felt as if I was behind.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: SPN15
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great professor, allowed us to speak english a good bit. Participation is key, but definitely study for his tests no matter how easy he may seem. He is a funny man though, and I definitely enjoyed his class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: SPN12
• 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:

AMAZING PROFESSOR! Loved going to class, and hated to see that he wasn't teaching 21 this term. We ate in class, watched movies. He made me really want to learn Spanish.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: SPN25
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I was really disappointed. He knows the subject, but has absolutely no idea how to teach it. Rather than making the course material more challenging, he merely delievers garbled instructions and unclear expectations in order to raise the course's difficulty level. Very personable, but one of the worst teachers I've had at Furman.