KOREA 50
History of Korean Civilization
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Knowledge of Korean not required. General survey of development of Korean culture within context of political, social, and economic history. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 5.0
Units: 5.0
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Most Helpful Review
I was shafted. I enrolled in Korean 50 expecting to be taught by Duncan. Something must have happened because the registrar lists him but the course was taught by a different lecturer (a TA) with other TA's for the discussion section. They weren't on the whole, too bad, but it was definetly a different course that what I had expected. So in the future if you enroll in one of his classes double check he'll actually be teaching it.
I was shafted. I enrolled in Korean 50 expecting to be taught by Duncan. Something must have happened because the registrar lists him but the course was taught by a different lecturer (a TA) with other TA's for the discussion section. They weren't on the whole, too bad, but it was definetly a different course that what I had expected. So in the future if you enroll in one of his classes double check he'll actually be teaching it.
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Most Helpful Review
I thought this class would be hard because of the all the readings, required partcipation in terms to contributing to the web site, taking roll, and talking in class, and because of the pop quizzes. But Jennifer tells us the important things, or the key terms to focus on, and drops so many hints about the pop quizzes such it's pretty easy to know when they are. She gave a take-home midterm which I thought wasn't too bad, and she seems to grade pretty leniently. She occasionally breaks the lecturing of the course by showing us pictures and videos. I haven't gone to any of her office hours, but she responds to email fairly quickly. Contributing in class isn't very hard to do, just asking for clarfication for things during class counts, I think, and you just rant about whatever on the dicussion board, Overall, a friendly professor who make its clear what we need to know, and a lenient grader. If you follow everything she tells to you to do, it shouldn't be hard to get an A in the class. She's also the only professor that I know who has asked the students to post their review of her on this website. I thought that was pretty cool, since most of other professors really don't care. Recommended this class if you have any interest at all about Korea.
I thought this class would be hard because of the all the readings, required partcipation in terms to contributing to the web site, taking roll, and talking in class, and because of the pop quizzes. But Jennifer tells us the important things, or the key terms to focus on, and drops so many hints about the pop quizzes such it's pretty easy to know when they are. She gave a take-home midterm which I thought wasn't too bad, and she seems to grade pretty leniently. She occasionally breaks the lecturing of the course by showing us pictures and videos. I haven't gone to any of her office hours, but she responds to email fairly quickly. Contributing in class isn't very hard to do, just asking for clarfication for things during class counts, I think, and you just rant about whatever on the dicussion board, Overall, a friendly professor who make its clear what we need to know, and a lenient grader. If you follow everything she tells to you to do, it shouldn't be hard to get an A in the class. She's also the only professor that I know who has asked the students to post their review of her on this website. I thought that was pretty cool, since most of other professors really don't care. Recommended this class if you have any interest at all about Korea.
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2016 - I really enjoyed this class! I took it because I might be majoring in Korean and this would be a lower div required class, but it's a good GE to take if you don't mind history. I didn't always pay attention for the entirety of the class, but Professor Lee doesn't have dry lectures and her voice is pleasant/not monotonous and it's pretty easy to stay focused. There was a lot of content on modern (20th century) Korean history that I found really fascinating. The workload is just readings before lectures and a ~300 word response paper for discussion every week. Discussion was actually really helpful for this class (like it's supposed to be!) because we not only went over the events discussed in lecture but also analyzed them. My TA Sungha Yun was really enthusiastic and knowledgeable and I always looked forward to discussion because of her. Most of your grade for this class is based on exams (30% midterm 40% final 30% discussion/participation) but the exams aren't hard as long as you actually know the material and can say why certain events/people are relevant in history. You do have to work for this class but it doesn't require really hard work and in my opinion it's pretty interesting. Definitely would recommend this class!
Winter 2016 - I really enjoyed this class! I took it because I might be majoring in Korean and this would be a lower div required class, but it's a good GE to take if you don't mind history. I didn't always pay attention for the entirety of the class, but Professor Lee doesn't have dry lectures and her voice is pleasant/not monotonous and it's pretty easy to stay focused. There was a lot of content on modern (20th century) Korean history that I found really fascinating. The workload is just readings before lectures and a ~300 word response paper for discussion every week. Discussion was actually really helpful for this class (like it's supposed to be!) because we not only went over the events discussed in lecture but also analyzed them. My TA Sungha Yun was really enthusiastic and knowledgeable and I always looked forward to discussion because of her. Most of your grade for this class is based on exams (30% midterm 40% final 30% discussion/participation) but the exams aren't hard as long as you actually know the material and can say why certain events/people are relevant in history. You do have to work for this class but it doesn't require really hard work and in my opinion it's pretty interesting. Definitely would recommend this class!
Most Helpful Review
in the beginning, i thought he was nice, from the impression i received from his lectures. But, when i went to see him and when i saw him on campus he was very mean. Almost, felt like he was a hypocrite. his cold voice freaked me out. his attitude was like, "why are you here, dont bother me. didn't pay attention during my lecture?". he gives wrong information and often he himself made corrections on the next lecture. furthermore, what his lectures conflicted with the TA. (very confusing.) he gives out pop quizzes which are very hard and often time, most of the people, (not only with no Korean background) but people who had already taken other Korean courses failed. (yes, there were make ups. but they were harder!) he was never ever on time. probably twice through out the whole quarter. you can grab anyone who took Korean 50 and ask about this. HE WAS VERY UNORGANIZED! overall, i did all the required readings, handed in all my homework, i was never late or even missed any of the lectures and discussions. although the quizzes were very hard, all my scores were As and Bs(thanks to my other professors). midterm was a take home. so i dont understand why i have a grade that is lower than i deserve unless i failed the final, which i prepared ever more than other classes! take him only if you would like to work really hard only to receive a low grade. there are lots of readings. his lectures never make sense. i'm a pretty good note-taker but i was very frustrated to review my notes for this class. he jumps around the topics and time too much!!!!!!!!!! and most of the time, he writes down unnecessary names and things on the board. I dont understand why he even writes Chinese characters all the time when less than a 2% of the class understands them. rather than trying to show off his knowledge in Chinese characters, it would be better for him to spend extra time organizing his lecture and try to focus on one thing at a time. lastly, professor duncan was a guest speaker once. all though his voice was kinda boring but his lecture was very organized! it was very informative, too. i am so regretting i didnt drop the course after finding out walter was going to be the lecturer instead of duncan. if you are thinking of taking any korean courses, id suggest to take it with other professors than Lew because there are others who are more knowledgable in EAS dept.
in the beginning, i thought he was nice, from the impression i received from his lectures. But, when i went to see him and when i saw him on campus he was very mean. Almost, felt like he was a hypocrite. his cold voice freaked me out. his attitude was like, "why are you here, dont bother me. didn't pay attention during my lecture?". he gives wrong information and often he himself made corrections on the next lecture. furthermore, what his lectures conflicted with the TA. (very confusing.) he gives out pop quizzes which are very hard and often time, most of the people, (not only with no Korean background) but people who had already taken other Korean courses failed. (yes, there were make ups. but they were harder!) he was never ever on time. probably twice through out the whole quarter. you can grab anyone who took Korean 50 and ask about this. HE WAS VERY UNORGANIZED! overall, i did all the required readings, handed in all my homework, i was never late or even missed any of the lectures and discussions. although the quizzes were very hard, all my scores were As and Bs(thanks to my other professors). midterm was a take home. so i dont understand why i have a grade that is lower than i deserve unless i failed the final, which i prepared ever more than other classes! take him only if you would like to work really hard only to receive a low grade. there are lots of readings. his lectures never make sense. i'm a pretty good note-taker but i was very frustrated to review my notes for this class. he jumps around the topics and time too much!!!!!!!!!! and most of the time, he writes down unnecessary names and things on the board. I dont understand why he even writes Chinese characters all the time when less than a 2% of the class understands them. rather than trying to show off his knowledge in Chinese characters, it would be better for him to spend extra time organizing his lecture and try to focus on one thing at a time. lastly, professor duncan was a guest speaker once. all though his voice was kinda boring but his lecture was very organized! it was very informative, too. i am so regretting i didnt drop the course after finding out walter was going to be the lecturer instead of duncan. if you are thinking of taking any korean courses, id suggest to take it with other professors than Lew because there are others who are more knowledgable in EAS dept.
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