Carlos Testa - University of British Columbia

Professor: Carlos Testa

Department: TBD

College: University of British Columbia

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ITST345
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Testa obviously cares a lot about teaching and is a lovely man. I feel like the transition to online teaching has been hard for him so if you are taking his class online I would not recommend. I felt like his lectures were engaging but he went off on tangents a lot and then tested on the smallest details in the exam.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: RMST220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Testa is a super sweet guy and very passionate about the content but the lectures are super incoherent and there is relatively no connection he often goes off on tangents that make no sense at all there is really no order in his lectures there is also no visual aids which would probably help a lot to understand the material

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ITST345
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Carlo is nice enough and at first entertaining, but his teaching style is dated and incoherent. Lectures often veer off course and don't cover tested material properly. Not a huge deal if it weren't for the fact that he doesn't post notes and makes attendance 15%. Midterm and final worth 85% between 10-15 SA questions - feels like luck of the draw.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: RMST222
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Testa is a nice guy. The content was pretty interesting, especially if you're into history. However, his grading is extremely unfair. I worked extra hard for this class but could barely scrape a passing grade. Went to office hours and everything, but it seems it was no use. Classmates did well though.. maybe he had something against me?

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ITST345
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This guy is a real legend. Taken two courses with him so far for literature requirements. A really nice guy that is in his own world due to his love Italy and the content he teaches. Classes are interesting in a unique way, very specific content but not a hard class. Just a midterm final and attendance, which is a nice touch.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: RMST222
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lovely guy, obviously cares a lot about what he teaches. No Powerpoint slides; the only visual aids are maps he brings to class and plays a lot of short historical clips. His lecturing is quite succinct and easy to follow along with/take notes from. Best to show up to class to take notes though. Tough marker but provides study guides for tests!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ITST345
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

It's clear that he's really passionate about the subject but he often goes on tangents and can get easily distracted. Also he doesn't make any slides so you have to take notes. Also, it's hard to know when to take notes and when not to. You can probably survive by just reading the book but it is super helpful to go to class too.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ITST232
• 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:

He is easier to understand than Boccassini, but he is also a much harder marker. He doesn't censor himself very much and speaks about whatever's on his mind which makes for funny in-class moments, but he expects you to know everything he does even though he doesn't do a good job teaching it to you. Class average ~60%. Only take 232 if you have to.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: I345
• 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:

Carlo Testa is my favourite prof at UBC. He genuinely cares about teaching and his students if you show him respect by attending his lecturers and show an interest in the material. He is very helpful and engaging in office hours and over email. He almost combines history and critical thinking and is truly an amazing prof.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ITST232
• 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:

take the time to let him know you are genuinely interested in the subject matter, and you are rewarded with awesome discussions after class and during office hours that really hammer home the course material and then some. Fun prof, his "rants" are when he's actually explaining the course material. Also, ask him about cycling.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: RMST222
• 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:

DO NOT TAKE THIS PROF UNLESS YOU HAVE TO useless, rants about nothing on the exam, and just "know" what hes thinking or whats to hear, --he also judges you through PRIOR knowledge that youres just suppose to "know" even though the course does not have pre-req **** when it comes to helping or answer qsns. CLASS AVERAGE 60% with many ppl failing

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: RMST222
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This prof is awful at teaching romance studies. he doesn't make any sense....and the exams have nothing to do with the textbooks. He also called himself a fascist in class once. Good luck.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ITST200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Testa loves anything Italian, super bright students, and Lacoste polos. Ask him about the finer things in life, dense literature, travel, or even his past research and stuff. Genuine and a wonderful guide to navigate through the historiography and culture of Europe and the medeterranian.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ITST430
• 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:

One of the kindest, most intelligent, and helpful professors I have ever known! Dr. Testa encourages independent thinking, and mixes in a lot of philosophy, cultural theory, and intertexuality in what he's saying to inspire, not discourage, student learning. Put simply, he knows A LOT, as is only too willing to share what he knows! Brilliant man!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ITST431
• 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:

A helpful hint: take his wife's class first (Daniela Boccassini). Do well in her class (I recommend her Dante course) and have her put in a good word for you. Afterward, when you take Carlo Testa's class, he will go easy on you. Oh, and it also helps if you are really keen on European languages and literature, because that's his passion.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ITST434
• 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:

At first, Testa can be a difficult professor. However, if you do the readings, and e-mail him with questions regarding certain parts, he'll change. Honest. Just question his use of certain words (Greek, Latin, French, Italian), and topics such as philosophy, life, religion, etc. Not as bad as ppl claim; just give him a chance.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ITST232
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This is by far the worst class I have ever taken at UBC. Testa's lectures are incoherent drivel, he bases his exams on obscure information that has little or no relavence to assigned readings. He is rude and unhelpful when dealing with students and has a severe hangup on attendance. DO NOT TAKE ITALIAN STUDIES 232.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: RMST001
• 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:

Mr. Testa was the best teacher I have ever had at UBC. He is very enthusiastic, passionate about Italy, history and living life. You do have to read the material, which is really not that bad. The discussions are fun. Some people may view him as arrogant, but honestly he is just very comical and wonderful. Do the readings & essay tests are good.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: RTSM222
• 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:

Conceited, petty, and unfortunately doesn't deliver much academic content to the course. I regretted taking the class although it could have been an important one. His textbooks are useless and expensive. Awful class in every aspect!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: RMST222
• 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:

Terrible prof, the worst I have ever had. Arrogant, petulant, and combatative. Ruined every film he screened by fast-forwarding through sections, or telling you the plot beforhand. You have to buy his expensive, useless books for the class. Might as well just hand him the $100, as his exams are based on memorizing his every word. God complex!!