My first review after taking 1A is still accurate, in my humble opinion. The most outstanding thing is that Lu really cares about his students learning and will do whatever he can to help you out. That still doesn't make the class easy. Above all, practice/repition will be the keys to success in this course. Utilize the TA sections, and put in the time this class needs. If you follow those guidelines, you should do fine (assuming you are placed at the right level of Chinese knowledge).

Lu is a nice guy and cares a lot about reaching his students. Unfortunately, he has limited English skills that can frustrate a lot of students. Students without decent backgrounds in Chinese will really struggle to keep up with the pace. The sheer quantity of characters alone can be discouraging. For those of us with background, the class was not bad at all. The lectures went off on tangents from time to time, but I still found them to be helpful. Lu focuses a lot on linguistics, but he was able to answer my questions during/after class. Keep in mind that language (especially Chinese) is extremely hard to learn and that you will have to try hard to become proficient. Above all, don't be shy because learning Chinese requires understanding and tons of practice. Take this class only if you have a background and are expecting a challenging course.