Maria Pao - Illinois State University

Professor: Maria Pao

Department: TBD

College: Illinois State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SPA213
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The only grades in the gradebook are from the four essays we complete throughout the semester, participation, error analysis, and the final, which is an essay you only get two hours to complete. Her classes were pretty boring but as long as you're a decent writer and Spanish-speaker, this class should be a breeze.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SPA213
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not very helpful... contradicts herself a lot. She's a tough grader and picky on grammar. She's not very organized when it comes to note taking. The homework is manageable, but I felt like we wrote a lot of essays. It's possible to get an A in the class but you really have to work for it.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: LAN21315
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do not take this class with her. Find another teacher as soon as possible. Professor Pao is unorganized and unhelpful in learning Spanish. She will contradict herself and will fail to answer any of your questions clearly. No matter how hard you study she will always find something wrong with your work. I'm good at Spanish, but not with her.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: LAN21315
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you can take someone else for 213.15, try to. She is a very boring lecturer. The homework is all optional but if you don't keep up with it you will struggle. Besides the homework you get 8 quizzes, two exams, a final exam, a paper, and a project. The workload is manageable. An A is achievable, but she does not make the class interesting at all.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 33715
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class was one of the hardest one I have ever taken, I'm def going to get a C. It was very discouraging to constantly get papers and homework back that I spent a lot time on that were constantly all wrong. Overall she is a good teacher but is a very tough grader. I felt like I was working so hard just to get a C. Book choices were good.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: LAN23315
• 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:

In this class we focused on poetry, and I must admit I'm not the biggest fan of poetry, but I truly enjoyed myself with this course. She always picks interesting readings, and she is genuinely interested in the student perspective of the readings. Also, when I was having trouble understanding anything, she was very willing to help and patient.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: LAN21315
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She is the worst Spanish teacher I have ever had. She is unclear with just about every thing and is very scatter-brained. She shuts down students which discourages participation.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: LAN21315
• 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:

She is a horrible teacher. She is very confusing when she teaches you a new topic and many times shes doesnt know the answers when we ask her questions. Test are impossible but she gives extra credit to help the grade a little

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: LAN323
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Her literature class was really tough. She gave homework and a quiz almost every class. She is an extremely hard grader. If you are taking her class expect to work hard, and at times not receive the grades you deserve. She is more flexible than she wants you to think though, if you talk to her about assignments or grades sometimes she lightens up.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: SPAN214
• 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:

I disagree w/ the previous posts. She is a nice lady. Her grading was different: she only gave √+, √, & √-. it wasnt consistent. homework everyday. 4 exams(2 oral, 2 written) NO FINAL. various projects/presentations. It is a tough class. you will spend a significant amount of time doing homework. but she is helpful & intereste

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: LAN405
• 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:

She's nice but expects a lot and is a tough grader.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: LAN233
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

While Prof. Pao is a nice lady, her expectations for the course are too high. You must read and do your homework every class period because you can be guaranteed a quiz. She grades extremely hard as well and expects you to know very intricate details from everything you read.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: LAN233
• 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:

AWFUL PROFESSOR!!!!... SHE FAILED TWO OF MY PAPERS (I HAVE NEVER FAILED IN MY LIFE.. EVER) SHE IS NOT SYMPATHETIC, AND PRETENDS SHE DOESN'T KNOW YOU. SHE NEEDS TO GO! AND HER ACCENT IS AWFUL!!! OH, AND SHE USES VOSOTROS, AND HAS AN AWFUL SPANIARD ACCENT

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SPA300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Try to avoid her.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: LAN233
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She has a horrible accent and is unpleasant 99% of the time. She sets students up to do awful. We had a quiz every single day. So unless you enjoy taking lots of quizzes, being made to feel stupid for asking a question, and taking ridiculously difficult tests I would avoid her at all costs. Take LYND instead. Wayyy easier and nicer!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: LAN324
• 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 have never had such a hard time in a class in my life.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: LAN395
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Senior Spanish Seminar (LAN 395.15) was one of the hardest classes I've ever taken, but with a lot of work it can be done. Start all projects early and make sure you ask a lot of questions. Not always the most pleasant teacher, but always will to help. I have her again so I guess we'll see how things work out the 2nd time around.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: LAN337
• 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:

Average teacher, knowledgeable literary critic, poor speaker of Spanish

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: 215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She acts like she doesn't know you in the hallway and then in the classroom she acts ok. She is not very approchable and her fake stupid "Spain" accent is just horrible. I had to drop this class because I couldn't stand her and I had to drop Spanish as a minor which totally sucks because of her. I certainly don't miss her!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 21315
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I thought she was great. Class is difficult at times, but I worked hard and got an A. Very helpful, took material off tests when she felt we didn't understand it well enough. Very sweet lady. Wouldn't teach anything new unless she was SURE that everyone understood what she had just taught. Definitly take her.