Xin Liu - University of California Berkeley

Professor: Xin Liu

Department: TBD

College: University of California Berkeley

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: 170
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I think a lot of the reviews here show students' lack of open-mindedness and critical thinking. Liu is so smart and so kind. Perhaps his teaching style is different than the norm, but he knows his stuff and if you try, you will learn. I think he's great.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO3AC
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's a nice guy but his lectures are all over the place and confusing, relied on GSI all semester and just make sure you read the books

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO3AC
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His lectures were pretty much useless. I didn't know what he was saying because of his accent, and will not take another course with him again. Passing the class is easy if you read through all the required reading, but I would fall asleep during lectures as they were of no help to me.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO3AC
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Not a great introduction to cultural anthropology. In lectures, he expects previous knowledge and uses words without explanation. Lectures can be difficult to follow, but he says profound things if you are able to pay attention. He is very kind and has a sense of humor. Do the readings, go to section and you should be fine. The final is super easy.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO3AC
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

his lectures were hard to follow, but he's a nice guy

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO3AC
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

A scholar first & a prof. second. Style is unorthodox & not for all. Doesn’t teach with pwpnts/info to memorize & regurgitate. Tries to help us think originally, to read & interpret carefully/correctly, & to respect anthro. TL;DR: often misunderstood, he is a scholar best fit for those who wish to be scholars or those really interested in anthro.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO3AC
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

His unscripted & free flowing lectures were thought provoking & often inspirational. His thorough talks on very specific topics, such as marriage in different cultures, really got to the center of anthropological thought. In a school where so many people are science and technology minded and things move quickly, it was nice to just sit and listen.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO3AC
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This was by far the worst experience I've had in any of my classes. The course was run by the GSI's, without them nobody would have passed. After the first few lectures it was clear that lectures were not going to be helpful whatsoever. Liu does not use any tech and rambles on the entire lecture aimlessly. It's nearly impossible to take notes.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO3AC
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Worst professor I've had at Berkeley. Lectures were just about useless- usually it was just an hour of him ranting about things he hates. Rarely discussed readings or any actual anthropology.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO3AC
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Understanding of the theories and thoughts is way more important than memorizing the content of the books in this class. Helpful during office hours. Corky. Slightly weird sense of humor.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO114
• 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:

Nice professor but misunderstood. His accent is a problem but still comprehensible. Insightful lectures without ppt, an interesting and different experience. He's always happy to discuss materials during office hour. Grade depends on GSIs...

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO3AC
• 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:

Liu Xin is horrible. Even our GSI thought he was the worst lecturer ever... I tried to keep an open mind and went to almost all the lectures, but he honestly barely even talked about anthro and never discussed the reading. Spare yourself, don't take 3AC with him...

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ANTH141
• 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:

Professor Liu is a scholar of first rank. Plain and simple, if you are not a scholar in training then his class, and quite possibly CAL is not the place for you.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ANTHR170
• 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:

When I took this class I was hoping to learn about the anthropology of China, culture-wise, food ways, rituals...etc. BUT I was very disappointed with this class. Frankly, I didn't get the point of this class. It was confusing and boring. He looks like a great guy, but he is a horrible lecturer.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ANTH170
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I enrolled in this course hoping to learn a/b the Chinese culture but got something very different. Professor rambles on each day about different kinds of knowledge and I was disappointed w/ how little I learned a/b the anthropology of China. 5 or 6 take home quizzes based on reading, pretty easy. Easy grading but I wouldn't recommend the course.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ANTHR141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's a good professor and knows his stuff. Probably the biggest problems during lecture were his meanderings and lack of an overall structure that tied all of his thoughts. Lecture basically is listening him talk to you about the topic at hand and doesn't have a greater cohesive structure. Overall, his class is OK but not excellent.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ANTH141
• 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:

Professor Liu is a great professor that is more than happy to discuss the material during office hours.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ANTH141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Ahhh Prof Liu. His redeeming quality is erudition, which many students fail to see. I admire his methodology of teaching, although I wouldn't recommend it. Definitely a prototype of the Berkeley mumbling eccentric. Misunderstood but definitely underrated.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ANTHR170
• 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 Liu is the type of professor that wants to teach you how to read texts in relation to one another and interpret them. Having said that, he's not the type of professor who uses a powerpoint and expects you to memorize facts. This class encouraged me to READ more. Definitely an insightful class!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ANTH141
• 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:

If you are a student interested in pursuing a a PHD or simply like reading then I would highly recommend this Professor. He is extremely insightful and brings a fresh perspective into the intellectual scene.