Intermediate Arabic I (fall 2003) - Student Evaluations

David Vishanoff
Emory College
ARAB 201

Summary of University "bubble sheet" evaluations.

• Hard copy of data summary on file.
• Overall weighted mean course evaluation:  8.22 on a scale of 1 to 9.
• Overall weighted mean instructor evaluation:  8.56 on a scale of 1 to 9.

Standard Department of Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies questionnaires.

• Hard copies on file.
• Sample of comments:
  • "He was shy and hesitant at first in the beginning of the semester.  Once he warms up he is quite engaging."
  • "I learned a lot of Arabic this semester."
  • "You're the nicest professor and it was great having you as a teacher."
  • "I feel much more confident in learning a new language."
  • Outside-of-class meetings with the instructor were "very helpful; we met once a week and that help was invaluable."
  • "I thought that no teacher could replace ... my teacher from last year, but not only did I enjoy David just as much - he made me work harder and challenged me more."
  • "You were very good in explaining grammar very clearly and good at holding our attention."
  • Will take away from the course "lots of Arabic and renewed passion for the language, even grammar."
  • Instructor's feedback was "very encouraging and also helpful."

After the course was over, the students collaborated to present me with a gift:  a framed leaf from an illuminated Qur'an manuscript, which now hangs in my office as a prized but really quite unnecessary reminder of that memorable class.