Nancy Smith-Hefner - Boston University

Professor: Nancy Smith-Hefner

Department: TBD

College: Boston University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: AN351
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Professor Smith-Heffner is quite insightful. She's always happy to pause a lecture to listen to anything students have to say, and she will never force you to take on her opinion. Her class was always fast-paced and enjoyable

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: AN260
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Smith-Hefner is kind of weird, which is mostly why I kept coming back to lecture - not because I necessarily learned anything but because she would usually say something flagrantly wrong or go on tangents that lasted forever. The content is interesting but she doesn't teach it well. The testsessays are average but she grades very easily.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: AN351
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Horrible class. I was so excited to take it, but did not enjoy it at all. Her grading was completely random- the same answers from three different people got two different grades (personal experience). I'm sure she's a brilliant researcher, but she was a horrible linguistics teacher. Avoid her.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: AN751
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

While she was clearly prepared and invested in her teaching, her grading, comments, and overall understanding of anything outside of her realm was bizarre. I won't take another class with her, and frankly have been completely turned off to the field.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: AN351
• 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:

Easily one of the best professors here at BU. If you do take one of her classes, I would encourage you to participate frequently in class in order to develop a close rapport with her; it'll help your grade. She's also quite approachable outside of class and leaves great feedback on essays, which def demonstrates how invested she is in teaching

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ANA1
• 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:

Thank God I'm not the only one who thought she was rude, unhelpful and a crazy grader. Unclear, mean, condescending. Trust me, this class is not worth taking. It isn't easy, the material is pretty interesting, but she is a harsh grader and not worth the hassle.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: AN350
• 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:

Bad lecturer. Unhelpful, offensive, and rude during office hours.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: AN260
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This is my 2nde class with her,and I love her. She is upbeat, enthusiastic, and manages to find topics people are willing to talk about. The reading is not mandatory, as she goes over them in detail in class. She is not afraid to broach any topic-makes class very entertaining and fun-relates everything to our generation. Relatively easy grader

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: AN351
• 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:

I thought she taught the class very well, clear and to the point. If you go to class, do the readings and studying a little you will do fine. She even hands out a specific study guide for the final; grading is not random- you just have to go to class, do the papers and study.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: AN318
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Class was kinda dull, i noticed there were days i was just counting the minutes until class would end. She's not really organized in her lectures, but some of the material is interesting. She seems like a nice lady, but not the best lecturer.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: AN351
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This course should not be taken by anyone who has an interest in linguistics. The material taught is counterproductive for a true knowledge of language. On top of that, the professor has no underlying understanding of linguistics, and has no ability to teach anything except for what is in the readings. It is a mistake to take this course!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: LING
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Though she appears to be funny and personable, Linguistics is clearly not her primary field. She repeats herself to death & grades randomly. I couldn't even get an explanation out of her about the grading system. If you suck up in class, you'll get preferential treatment.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: AN351
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The class definitely seems easy while you're in it, but after you hand in your work, grades are a dice roll. Which is good for you if she arbitrarily gives you good grades, not so much if she takes off totally unexplained points. Take it if you're feeling lucky.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: AN351
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She teaches at a high school level and grading is often really arbitrary.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: AN351
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Maybe she is a great anthropologist, but as a linguistics major, the course was a bit redundant, and it was obvious that she is NOT a linguist. Interesting material, though. Lots of reading.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: AN751
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Good class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: AN350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

fairly easy class. lectures all period about the books. hands out review sheets. strives to make the class fun and better. i really enjoyed it!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: AN350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very nice, interesting material. Asians suffered. Friendly and well dressed. Readings are not important. Gives out review sheets.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: AN318
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very interesting material. Tends to repeat verbatim the readings during lecture, but not necessarily a bad thing. Both the papers and the final were based entirely from lectures. Easiest A I've had at BU, and probably the most approachable prof., too.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: AN350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very nice and helpful. Interesting material. Reading isn't necessary. I didn't read anything all semester and still got a B+ for the class.