Songren Cui - Bowdoin College

Professor: Songren Cui

Department: TBD

College: Bowdoin College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CHIN101
• 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:

An AMAZING teacher. Never took Chinese before and now have a very good base after the intro class. The guy is hilarious as long as you have a good attitude. Very helpful if you are willing to work and put forth the effort. It is a lot of work though and a pretty hard class. But very rewarding overall.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CHIN101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

May seem a bit angry when you ask questions, is generally very understanding. You need to be committed to learning Chinese to take this course. A lot of time outside of class studying/doing homework. But it is a very rewarding class in the end.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CHIN101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Way too much work for an introductory language. Not flexible at all. I did not find him helpful outside of class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CHINE101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I agree with the two prior comments. Also, when you ask questions, he gives very helpful, clear answers, but might sound a little cross. Ignore it. He's very forgiving. I skipped class for an entire week (so tired...) and he was clearly disappointed in me but nice about it. Very lively in class too. You learn a lot; Class + hw take SO much time.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CHIN101
• 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:

Only take his class if you are able to give it dozens of hours per week. He will put in effort for his students but he expects you to put in more effort than i ever thought possible. Hard to understand his lectures on grammar. Tests frequently on memorization.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CHINESE101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class was one of the most rewarding classes i have taken in a really long time. I feel that i have learned a lot this semester and i hope to learn more in the future.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CHI101102
• 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:

I agree with the previous reviewer; Prof Cui really wants his students to learn Chinese well, and while he may sometimes be a little unclear, meeting outside of class hours can help. In my experience, he's been nothing but helpful, and have never experienced meaness etc. described by other reviewers

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CHI101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't listen to these other reviews - Professor Cui can be unclear at times, but his intentions are good and earnest and he really wants his students to learn. His class takes a lot of work and it's really difficult, but I came out of first semester knowing an incredible amount of Chinese. Good cl

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CHIN101102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Cui genuinely wants students to attain a strong grasp of Mandarin. Yes he has high expectations and he isn't always clear, but with the portfolio component in the end his grading policy is fair and his frustration shouldn't overshadow his dedication. He taught at Harvard and gives the same exams.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: 101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This man is awful! It pains me to even remember the class. He is temperamental and rude and he completely destroyed my interest in the Chinese language.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CHIN101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

he is a thorn in the department of chinese language at this school... fire him please so we can learn some chinese

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CHIN1012
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

maybe deep deep deep down he means well...but in reality he is a cold-hearted evil little man. Ended up having to teach myself a years worth of chinese grammar because his lessons were so unclear. Equally vague was his grading policy.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CHIN1012
• 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:

One-on-one he's an okay guy, but in class he's one of the meanest, most foul teachers ever. He makes fun of students in class and rarely is positive. He is obsessed with drinking and violence and doesn't miss an opportunity to include them in a lesson.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: 101
• 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:

I agree with all of that...he's extremely moody and unhelpful. Asking questions could result in death. :/ Also, his handwriting is horrible, which makes it hard to follow and understand what's being taught in class. Argh!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CHINESE101
• 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:

Not a good teacher at all, and he's just not a nice guy either. DO NOT start Chinese unless you have to for a major- I loved Chinese until I had class with him. He gets really angry when you ask questions or don't understand the material.