Susana Zarate - Santa Monica College

Professor: Susana Zarate

Department: Modern Languages

College: Santa Monica College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SPAN2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Take her class if no option. Grading is very harsh and subjective. Difficult to win against her subjective judgement and she won't listen. Even if you find an obvious error, almost impossible to correct it. If you challenge, you may get an insult instead of answers on your questions.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SPAN1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Zárate is fantastic! If you show her that you're trying by taking notes and asking questions, you'll be fine. Make sure to go to her office hour because she's extremely helpful. I always left her office hour fully understanding what I initially went there to ask. Show that you're trying and do the work, you'll get an A.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SPAN1
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The absolute worst professor I have ever had. She's very disorganized, and very rude. When asked for clarification she only repeats herself in a condescending tone. She marks right answers wrong on tests and if you challenge it she will embarrass you in front of the class. Only 8 people are still in the class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SPAN2
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Excellent lecturer. Really tries to make you understand the material. Answers any and all questions presented to her in class. Come to class prepared and always bring your textbook. Be prepared to work; assigns homework, but no group projects.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: SPANISH1
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

Comes off very mean and strict the first few classes, but will slowly loosen up. She's a secret sweet heart! She's very sassy, but that's just because many students do stupid things DO ALL YOUR HOMEWORK AND COME TO CLASS. Show that you're trying and she'll be nice to you back!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SPAN2
• 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:

EXCELLENT professor! She takes time to provide cultural context and appropriate usage. Very focused & specific about homework and test requirements. She will make you a master of what she teaches, if you let her.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SPAN2
• 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:

Professor is not as bad as others said. She does pick on the native speakers because of their slang but shes not awful. She's unorganized but hilarious and a great teacher. She always asks if anyone has any questions and she tells you whats going to be on the tests. The ppt presentation is easy to do as long as you don't do it the weekend before.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SPAN3
• 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:

Absolute clarity in conveying her points. Best instructor I've had yet in Spanish. The culutural project was great, and I learned so much from doing it.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: SPA202
• 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:

Trust me I am used to hard teachers coming from a UC but she does not know the difference between strict and cruel. NOBODY has an A in this class. We started out with 35 students now only 7 remain who wish they could drop. She is immature and will try to do anything to pick a fight.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: SPAN3025
• 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:

Continuing on my preliminary rating, this woman is really nasty. She berates the kids who grew up speaking Spanish but never studied it. And even worse, she marks correct answers as wrong on her exams. I'm only tolerating her because I do want to learn, and the textbook is quite good. But I could probably do as well just using text and website.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: SPAN3025
• 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:

This is a preliminary rating, as the class is still going on. She is a dynamic, dedicated teacher, but she has some crazy notions. We can't scratch out answers on exams, for example. We have to present our reports in Powerpoint with at least 15 photos, which is absurd. We are studying Spanish, not computers or photography.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SPAN3
• 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:

Didn't give back most of our tests on time. English spoken in class. Textbook doesn't provide answers to problems, and prof doesn't grade homework. Good professor _IF_ you use the spanish tutors for homework grading! Great cultural projects though.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SPANI4
• 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:

the worst teacher i have ever had in my life. do NOT do NOT..not take her. You will regret it. You don't learn anything and you will be crying to get out of this class. Seriously the worst professor ive ever had more than 10 people dropped and continue to drop even in the 4th week. save urself time and don't take her class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SPANI3
• 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:

If you are taking Spanish because you really want to learn and master it then she is the best teacher for the job. If you are taking it for the units and don't really care about the class then you will just waste your time. She demands a lot, and because of that you will learn a whole lot from her class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: SPANI4
• 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:

She is a decent teacher but sort of unorganized. Wasn't very good about getting our work back to us in a timely manner.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: SPANI4
• 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:

She is a decent teacher but sort of unorganized. Wasn't very good about getting our work back to us in a timely manner.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SPAN1
• 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 didn't like her at first. She was tough from start to finish. Only at the finish I came out with so much knowledge & understanding of the Spanish language no one can compare to how she teaches. She's amazing but not sympathetic. Take this class seriously and you will be rewarded she pushed people for a reason.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: SPAN2
• 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:

Take Spanish 1 first. Take Spanish 1 first or you will regret it. Don't let the '2' fool you, Spanish 2 is really Spanish 1 part 2. I don't care if you've spent a year in Mexico like I have. That said, excelent teacher. She wants those who try to succeed but if you don't even try to do what she says... let's just say she's as tough as a rock.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: SPAN1
• 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:

She definitely knows a lot about the language and culture. Her delivery is bit patronizing and offensive at times. She also could be more patient and respectful. She doesn't seem to like teaching and is late about 90% of the time. Altho overall she is a good person and means well.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: SPAN3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class has become a complete waste of time since Professor Zarate has begun teaching this class. I have not learned anything from her and the class is one of the most boring that I've EVER taken in my life. She will also make a point to embarass you infront of the class if she believes your question is 'dumb'. I would never recommend her!