Michiko Yusa - Western Washington University

Professor: Michiko Yusa

Department: TBD

College: Western Washington University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: JAPN301
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Was tested everyday and instructions were often unclear, for all students, writing was inelligeble and nothing constructive about her criticism. She had my entire class questioning why we were even taking Japanese anymore by the end. Felt so awful with her weird grading system I thought I was failing, only to find out I got a B. Never again.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: JAP301
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Bad at telling students hwhas waited till the night before at midnight to inform students Grades are skewed by about 10% or a little more. This means if you get a 70% on a test, its actually a B. Note: a 54% is a C Teacher doesnt have graded on Canvus. Yusa is nice and funny-- I enjoyed her class, but it is stressful because of the above notes

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: JAPN401
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Yusa's class is the worst Japanese class I have ever taken. Her class is extremely challenging with no reward of actually learning. She uses outdated teaching methods that leave students exhausted, but not learning anything of actual substance.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: JAPN303
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Yusa sensei might come off as harsh at first but as you prove yourself to her, she respects your hard work and actually recognizes it. Be ready to give this class your all. If you improve over the quarter she takes that into consideration rather than test grades. If you want to improve your Japanese without taking the easy way out, learn from Yusa.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: JAPAN303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Harder than other Japanese classes, but study enough & you will do well on tests. However, classes include essays and if she disagrees with your opinion, you will get an automatic F on it, no matter how grammatically sound or supported. Major focus on reading & antiquated words. If she decides she doesn't like you, you *will* be treated poorly.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: JAPN303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very disorganized; frequently forgot when things were due and not due. At one point she lost an assignment and blamed the student for "not turning it in on schedule" when she had given no due date. Graded assignments she specifically said she wouldn't grade. Tests are impossibly hard. As a straight A student I managed a 78%. She's nice though.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: JAPN402
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I was very disappointed with Yusa. Her explanations and "help" were far less helpful than any other Japanese professor I've had at Western. She seems to be very qualified, but it doesn't show in her teaching style or manners. I wish I understood why some people like her so much, because I enjoy studying hard, but I couldn't stand taking her class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: JAPN402
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely terrible. I was had consistent A's and B's in Western's program and have been studying Japanese for 9 years. I am two classes away from graduating with Japanese and now I am unable to because of this professor. Never take a class with her. She doesn't explain exactly what she wants from students, and expects the world. NEVER TAKE HER

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: JAPN301303
• Grade Received: 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 think Yusa-sensei is misunderstood and mistreated. I had her for the 300 level Japanese courses, and while her classes were difficult and required a lot of effort on my part, I succeeded, and didn't blame my failures on her. She genuinely wants you to learn and be the best you can be at Japanese. She may be strict, but she's got a good heart.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: JAPN301
• 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:

She expects a lot out of you, which I can appreciate, but she often makes you feel kind of stupid for asking questions and often interrupts halfway through your sentence so she doesn't actually know what it is that you needed. She really wants you to learn, but if you don't put in ridiculous hours studying you probably won't be up to her standards.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: JAPN401
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

While she is really strict, it is because she wants to push you to become better at Japanese. She knows very well where each student is at, and can tell if you have been studying or not. Her classes will be hard, but your Japanese will greatly improve during your time with her. If you are serious about learning Japanese, it's time to buckle down.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: JPN301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Yusa has a reputation of being one of the coldest professors here. But if you are serious about learning japanese and becoming better, she's THE BEST. Yusa is no BS, and knows whether you study to learn or study to pass tests. If you commit to the class, she'll be more than happy to help you. Best advice, know your stuff and don't waste her time.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: JAP301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I was excited about Japanese before I took her class. She cried and left class 10 minutes in when she learned that most of my class had failed a quiz she gave. I think she expected us to be Japanese students. Terrible instructor and a roadblock to many students, I'd guess. Be warned.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: JAPN302
• 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:

AVOID IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. If you're a Japanese major/minor, you will probably have to take her for 401 unless you are REALLY REALLY lucky. If you get lucky? Don't take her. She talks very fast, doesn't really stop to clarify things, has no pity for sick days or retakes. Miss a week and you're screwed. Just drop the class in that case- save your GPA

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: JAPAN303
• 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:

She has people she deems as "worthy" and those as not. If you aren't one of those people, then no matter how hard you work, you will never be good enough. She has so much distain for her students. I studied all the time and I felt like I learned a lot...until I studied abroad and found I wasted my time in her classes.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: JAPN301
• 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:

It is very hard taking a class from Yusa-sensei. Expect NO study guides, and the only thing she ever reviews is very basic first-year grammar. You do learn a lot, but not nearly as much as other foreign language classes of the same level at Western. Her class isn't impossible, but if you aren't a straight-A student going in, it WILL break you.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: JAPN301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Ridiculously difficult. Moves very quickly, and doesn't ever stray from the textbook. Doesn't take any criticism kindly, and basically expects you to know Japanese already. Besides that, if you study like a maniac, you'll learn a lot. Too bad she's the only 300 level sensei. =P

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: JPN301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Yusa Sensei is a very complicated subject herself. Her 4 credit classes feel more like 8, her grading is excessively strict, the book outdated, and her teaching methods antiquated. Not helpful and cares not for her students. I have a 3.67GPA and my best grade from her is a B. however, if you have no life and study like hell you will learn a lot.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: JAPN402
• 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:

Very challenging class but if you like Japanese literature I highly recommend it. Yusa is disorganized with her notes and it is also unclear as to what she really wants out of you. She is also unfairly harsh in grading tests.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: JAP302
• 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:

Shady and biased.