Geni Pontrelli - McMaster University

Professor: Geni Pontrelli

Department: TBD

College: McMaster University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SPAN1Z06
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

This course is super tough if you have not learned Spanish before. Usually, she speaks a lot of Spanish in class and you will barely understand what she is saying. Microphone barely works for her small volume of voice. SHE MAKES SPANISH SUPER TOUGH. I liked Spanish but now I feel like it is a torture.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: 1Z06
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

attendance wasn't mandatory but if id skipped more than one class every few weeks I would have failed. Super hard marker, everything is a half point off per mistake which usually means you can only make 20 spelling/grammar mistakes before you get a 0

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SPANISH1Z06
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

The lack of professionalism I witnessed from this prof on a number of occasions put me off completely, and the way she marks isn't just hard -- it's counterproductive to learning a language. I consistently get 10-12 in my courses, and I dropped this after getting back a number of assignments graded 20%-40%. I recommend avoiding her courses.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SPANISH1Z06
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you faintly have an interest in Spanish and expect 12. Don't take it. I got 12s in second year for everything else except for this. The prof is cold and ruthless, wait till the final exam when she mocks you through the test questions.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: SPAN1Z06
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This course is Beginners INTENSIVE Spanish - lots of grammar and it requires a fair bit of studying, but the text and on-line tools are great. Prof. Pontrelli sticks firmly to the text but the lectures are still worthwhile since she often presents the lessons slightly differently and you get at least a little bit of practice speaking.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SPAN1Z06
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Her approach to teaching the language is far from appropriate. This course is intended to be a beginner course and she rushed through the material to try and bring learners to an advanced level in an unreasonable time. Her teaching methods are poor and no Spanish conversation skills learned. McMaster must hire another professor for Spanish.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SPANISH1Z06
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She's a tough marker when it comes to spelling and other little details but she gives you a variety of things to be evaluated on (tests, assignments, etc.)

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: 1Z06
• 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:

This is supposed to be an INTRODUCTORY Spanish course, so the majority of students never studied the language. Instead of teaching 3 basic verb tenses and conversational vocabulary, the prof rushed through 14 verb tenses in LESS THAN A SEMESTER (that I never even learned in 12 years of studying french). Take the course if you studied/speak Spanish

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: SPANISH1Z06
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

You need to keep up. Just follow syllabus.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: 1Z06
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Always ready to help.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: 1Z06
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Just keep up and you will be fine. Professor Pontrelli is always happy to help.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SPAN1Z06
• 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:

Probably the worst professor I have had. She is extremely unapproachable, and the marking is done very poorly. Turned me off of taking any other languages classes ever again here at mac. Goodluck if you end up with her, you'll need it.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SPANISH1Z06
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

hardest class I've ever taken! horrible teacher always looking down on you

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SPANI1Z06
• 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:

She is clear, and helpful, and even though she doesn't all ways see like it, she is super sweet and understanding! Love this lady!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: SPAN1AA3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A good prof. She will take the time to help out anyone that needs it, be in through emil, office hours, or in person before/after class. Has a mean streak though, if you dont come to class prepared.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HISP1Z03
• 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:

she was amazing. you may only realize it after she's gone. never left class thinking i dont know what i'm doing. went from 0 to comprehending regular spanish speech. still refer to her class when i'm confused about anything.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HISP1A06
• 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 didn't find she was very approachable

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HISP1Z06
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very organized and on top of things considering she does all the marking herself. Class moves along at at a good pace- they don't call it "intensive" for nothing. Good professor- always willing to help and accomodate. Not sure how anyone can think it's dull or boring when every lesson is new material.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HISPANIC1Z06
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Started out OK but went downhill from there

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 1Z06
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Boring. Redundant. Awful way of explaining things.