James Van Der Laan - Illinois State University

Professor: James Van Der Laan

Department: TBD

College: Illinois State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: LAN125
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

A lot of reviews say his LAN 125 class is hard, but it really isn't. Take the time out of your day to read the 25-75 pages for that week and deal with it. And go to class too. His lectures are great and you'll understand everything on the midterm and final if you just show up and read. He's also got a great sense of humor, even if a bit strange.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: LAN125
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a really funny guy to listen to in class, which is partially why I would show up. Other than funny though he is a really educated and brilliant man that has a lot of topics that he educates our class on, he really cares about educating us on more than just the novels we are reading.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: LAN213
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This is an awesome professor especially for German. Its college, of course there's a lot of work.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG125
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I had him for a literacy class and I loved him. He was very engaging towards the class, tried to crack a joke every now and then. Don't use your phone during class. Also do all the reading and participate in class. Talk back to him when its appropriate, because he will kick you out of class if you disrupt it. GO TO CLASS. Its the only way to pass.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: IDS121
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The required textbook is over 1,000 pages and the entire class revolves around it. If you don't read, you cannot pass this class. Your final grade 25% presentation+25% midterm,+25% final+25% 10?s per 25 pages of the book. Too much work for a gen ed, so I wouldn't take this again. He was always willing to help during office hours though.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: IDS121
• 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:

NEVER TAKE THIS CLASS OR ANY OTHER CLASS TAUGHT BY HIM!!! I have never felt so disrespected by a professor. I did a presentation and afterwards, was questioned and basically called stupid in front of the whole class for not knowing the answer. The required book for this class is 1,800 pages... The only positive thing about this class was nothing.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: LAN111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Not for the faint of heart. This guy will make fun of you. The material is fairly difficult and requires extensive study time outside of class. If you're ok with all of that, it's a pretty ok class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: LAN111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This is by far my most intersting class. I will say that it's a bit difficult and the wor load gets a tad bit extreme, but its an involved and exciting class period. He knows his stuff and you'll probably catch yourself thinking in German every so often after the first day! You learn more than you expect, that's for sure!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: LAN145
• 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:

Love this man

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: LAN149
• 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:

Best teacher I have ever had. and super hot!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: LAN211
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

It's a literature class, so there's a lot of reading to be done. However, it's been my favorite class of German so far! Try and take this class!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: LAN125
• 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:

I hated going to this class everyday. VDL is definitely my least favorite teacher at ISU. The workload for this course was a bit uncalled for, considering the class is made up of sophomores and juniors who are forced to take it. Like everyone else has said, he forces people to participate and then makes fun of you for it. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GER211
• 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:

I've had him several times and he's always been very helpful to me! He's helped me become successful both in and out of school and the discipline he taught me my freshman year has been extremely effective. I owe a lot to this man, and it makes me sad that I'll never take a another course with him again :( If you want to learn German, take VDL!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: LAN111
• 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:

I had Professor Van der Laan as a freshman taking 111 and I've had him for several courses since then and I have to say that he's the best thing that ever could have happened to me. His exams may be moderately difficult, but he pushes you for a reason: he wants to see you succeed. I can honestly say his class helped prepare me for the real world!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: FOR01
• 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:

I really enjoyed Professor Vanderlaan's course. He really inspired me to become a teacher. Thank you for all of your help and dedication!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: LAN125
• 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:

Probably the worst teacher I've ever had. The class is a 100 level literary narrative in which he prefers to preach on a pedestal about things completely unrelated, which you're then tested on. He takes attendance and marks points off if you miss class, the novels are terrible, and the tests aren't that easy. Avoid this teacher at all costs!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: LAN322
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Go to class, pay attention, and read what you're supposed to= easy A. Sometimes you have to stroke his ego a little but he is an educated man and I really enjoyed both classes I had with him.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: LAN213
• 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:

The first quarter was spent reading "Der Besuch Der Alten Dame." I had fun with it, and as long as you go to class regularly and read the book its easy to keep up. I ended up dropping the class-and my minor in German because of him. He will, and did several times (not me), verbally abuse students. Exam wanted random quotes from the book explained.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: LAN125
• 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:

He is one of the worst professors I have had here at ISU. He needs to learn to stay on topic. Some of his political comments were very offensive to me and I wanted to leave. He is all over the place and very unorganized. He is highly sarcastic and if you are required to take this course I would recommend NOT taking it with him.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GERM300
• 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:

In my experience, VDL was an absolutely outstanding professor, but like any class, you only get out what you put into it and I think a lot of students are lazy. He is a great model of how well a native English speaker can learn German and the funny conversations in VDL's office will always be some of my favorite memories of college.