good/bad courses??

staaap

ok,as i'm new to boards this year,apologies if i'm offending someone(ie halanger) setting up this thread.
i just want to know what are the best courses are so that me and non-nevermores will know which courses we should consider.
i understand if you want to wait til the evaluations come out before you say whether your course was good or not but please tell me!!
thanks!

Outcast

You've already done WFL and Chinese right? Same as me so you might like journalism. This is Niamh from Chinese btw

Raphael

Japanese and Theoretical Physics are both fantastic.Russian's not great, and discrete maths is ok. Can't really say much about CA as the instructoor changed

emptyspoon

I personally found Chinese this year extremely boring and repetitive. We did the same thing every day and there was no chance to discuss or ask the teacher anything about china. It was basically just six hour long language lessons EVERY single day.
Did art design last year. Absolutely loved it. Nothing more.

Chowburger

From my experience, Writing for Life was brilliantly unstructured, Art Design was so-so, Archaeology was... work, but fun at the same time, Japanese was the most entertaining class ever, and Spec. Fiction was an interesting sort of [strike]doss[/strike] class.

Lizzie

i thought art design was excellent.
i found advertising kind of boring and pointless, but that was last year and the instructor has changed.
i agree with emily's opinion of spec fiction, it was interesting and fun and we had lots of discussions.

Adesina

Med in the Lab is pretty good if you like science, but if you hate writing up experiments you'll probably hate much of the homework and you get a ****load of notes. The instructor is really sound as well.

Shiney

Economics bored me to death, some people said it was good though. The instructor was great.

The instructor for talk science (now 21st Century Science) has changed, so i think the course is a bit different

Psychology was good but overrated.

staaap

raphael:was theoretical pyshics hard?like was it one where you actually have to do work??(god forbid!)
or was it one where you learn loads wothout having to take loads of bullsh*t notes?

btw,i strongly recommend LS,its the best course i have ever done.

anyone done philosophy?whats it like?

Spraypaint

Legal Studies, especially with Eoin Carolan as instructor is brilliant craic but not quite as good any more since "Hot Rod" is no longer the TA. But it's interesting, practical and there isn't too much work involved.
Psychology is slightly over-hyped and relatively dull unless you have an interest in it as a subject but since I do it was happy days. The notes are a bit of a pain though.
All in all both are great courses in their own rights.

guX

I did Psychology, and I didn't really enjoy it at all. It was rather boring. I wouldn't recommend it.

Raphael

You don't actually need to take notes, he gives you a handout with a lot of the stuff in it. You'd have to ask someone else about how hard it was, I found it really easy, but I'd done a lot of physics

gigglingrat

If you want to do a class that's isn't very...intellectual, but absolutely brilliant in every single way, it's gotta be an art course. I did art and art history and art design, and you just get to know people so much better when you're drawing around them or going on endless trips to the bots. There's a much more relaxed vibe in the classroom and it's easier to bond.

But there wasn't any art courses offered this year so maybe they're gone.

Lizzie

yeah, art design was my favourite course, but the arty courses mustn't be too popular as they seem to have all disappeared, even architecture, which was only vaguely arty. they're really excellent courses in general- laid back, interesting, fun and you can get to know people really well. i can't understand why they've all gone.....

Liquorice

Psychology was good with Sarah McElwee, but seemingly it's not as good now. Legal studies is interesting, and also very much a doss. Electronic engineering is great, there's proper (fun) work to do and there's actually a bit of a challenge. That said, I might be the only one who loves putting circuits together.

doonothing

ive done spec fiction, advertising and international history.
int his is boring, but fun, especially if you've a nice class which you generally do.
advertising was crap. dull crap and crap. but there's a new teacher this year and its apparently good!
spec fiction was great. i hated sci fi etc, but i just wanted to do a writing course, but you can do horror if you want! its just such an enjoyable class. doss, yes, but great. best course ever! (:

Piste

Philosophy is great fun, especially with Fiachra as the instructor. Some of the reading is intensely boring though. On the plus side, you dont have to do any project, just two essays and a debate.

Legal Studies was great (sorry if I scared anyone with my detailed description of what hapopens when you rape a baby....blame Áine) the 40 minute breaks wer great, and although we dossed alot we learned so much.

Jim_Are_Great

Journalism, although seemingly unavailable in thins day and age, was excellent. Laid back, yet informative.

WFL was deliciously free-flowing and ... well, dossy. Great fun, and you learn whether you realise it or not.

Psychology, although popular and generally regarded as good, was lacking this year without Sarah McElwee. The course itself- as in the general material covered - was interesting, but I found the instructor rather dull. It had so much potential as a course, but sadly no ... the people in the class were great, though. *waits for high 5 from classmate...*

the_only_Ali

I'd high-5 you, but I was in psychology B.
Archaeology was great but you need an interest in the subject, and it helps if you like puns.
WFL was amazing, so relaxed and happy.
Internationaly history was great in my opinion but only consider it if you actually have an interest in history as there is much work involved.
Psychology was... not as good as I expected it to be. The new instructors let the subject down- they were sound but inexperienced in actually... being psychologists.

Outcast

Jim_Are_Great wrote:

Journalism, although seemingly unavailable in thins day and age, was excellent. Laid back, yet informative.


...*

I'm assuming you didn't do journalism this year. We had a new instructor who spent all the time doing media studies instead of actual writing

Karlusss

I did that Journalism course. We learned everything you need to know about journalism, and had a great time. O! Gavin, I miss thee.

Philosophy is great, better even. Fiachra's a legend, and a sarcastic spa, and philosophers are just interesting, syphillic/barrel-dwelling people.

Outcast

You're Karl from Scoil Oilibheir right? And you write for the Blanch Gazette?

Karlusss

Woah!

...

Stay out of my garbage!

Edit: on review of your posts, I know exactly who you are, and could make the same two points about you.

Hi Niamh!

Outcast

Hey, any craic?

synge

Achaeology is a lot of writing, but is awesome in the long run. plus you get field trips. and an instructor who has 5+ cups of coffee in the first 3 hours or class and teaches you how to skin cats.....we never did get to skin that little journalism kid though........

COCK

journalism with gavin daly, who is the best journalist in ireland and writes for the sunday business post, was absolutely brilliant, not a lot of work, informatively interesting, its not on session 2 anymore, but its good

psychology is complete crap (with sarah mcalwee), so boring, so much work, and shes scary. i wasnt that interested in the course, but if you are i suppose it would be good

zoology is soooooooo bad. Its more environmental studies, and ecology, and only a small bit on animals. A lot of work, and the instructer is an uptight, yet somewhat interesting sod. Hopefully it wont be back again next year, so people wont have to suffer the agony that is zoology

guX

High Five!

Flashling

Karlusss wrote:

Philosophy is great, better even. Fiachra's a legend, and a sarcastic spa, and philosophers are just interesting, syphillic/barrel-dwelling people.

Philosophy was so much fun it should have been illegal. It completly ruined all of our social skills though, with conversations going like "nice day" "Is it? Do YOU really think that? Or does someone think that for you? Who are YOU?" And so on, but "you can't be right, you don't exist" was an extremely useful phrase. We always got really long breaks, interesting homework, learnt useful things, watched videos of naked old people, oh my, good times.

mentalimplosion

i liked philosophy in parts but nothing beats international relations, if only for the extremely comfortable chairs....

i really enjoyed architecture, it was great but again, sadly unavailable

PurpleFistMixer

Psychology had a video of little kids attacking people. And other people jumping on paving stones for NO REASON other than they were told. Hehehe. Best video ever.

Anyway.

I did Screenwriting last year. I... don't think it's going to come up again because we all gave it such bad reviews. I actually learned NOTHING AT ALL about screenwriting. We did however get to go online and had study periods that consisted of breaks followed by breaks followed by brief moments of watching films, followed by breaks. (Go Frank!)

Psychology... hum. Well, as a subject itself it's quite fascinating. However the way we learned it... slideshow presentations, all day, every day.. taking notes... was less than exciting. I think I might have learned things, though. And we did get to run around questioning people. More of that would have been fun. I don't unrecommend it, but as someone already said, I think it didn't live up to all the hype surrounding it. I mean, hell, there were two psych classes this year it was in such high demand, but it certainly looked like other classes might have been having more fun.

Undergod

WFL probably has appeal for everyone.

I enjoyed all the courses I've done, I think Psychology is very good but Sarah McElwee doesn't teach it anymore (didn't this year anyway).

I liked both Russian and Chinese but I think Russian was a better designed course.

LiamD

Here's what I thought:

Economics - Boring as fcuk but the instructor was an absolute legend and I heard he made it more interesting since I did it.

Psychology - I also thought this was way over-hyped and not really all that interesting.After all the stories I heard about mad experiments in Dublin city, it was a little bit of a let down.I liked the instructor I had though.Sarah McElwee was a great laugh but I'm not sure what people thought of this year's instructors.

Corporate Business - Great course, very interesting but you have to give it a few days.Daryl is great craic, but don't forget, by the end of it Deloitte own you.

Legal Studies - Amazing course, my favourite of them all.Eoin is such a great, funny guy who can make even precedent interesting.You can really tell he was a student, he is the original Mr. CTYI.Recommend it to anyone, it has even made me seriously consider making Law my no.1 CAO choice.

Hugh Hefner

Medicine In The Lab: Great course. I really enjoyed the science behind it all and the lab work (with all the cool gadgets) was fun. The experiment reports aren't hard at all. You could do them in 40 mins. They have to be done but don't worry. Plus Tony (the instructor) is so so so so so so very cool and funny and nice.

Theoretical Physics: Again a great instructor (who can juggle and has cool hippie hair). If you like maths you'll like this a lot! The concepts are deep and challenging. The homework is quite short and sweet. Pretty much just practice of the stuff in class. The class is laid back but focused. Again a great course.

Archaeology B: A brilliant course again (I've been lucky with my choices). There's a good deal of reading a work involved but the subject is interesting. Vinnie (the instructor) is a really great man with excellent stories (and not so excellent puns, as I'm sure some of you read on the restaurant bulletin board). There are 3 field trips which are refreshing and a good laugh.



Well there ya go.

Jack Lynch

Spraypaint wrote:

Legal Studies, especially with Eoin Carolan as instructor is brilliant craic but not quite as good any more since "Hot Rod" is no longer the TA. But it's interesting, practical and there isn't too much work involved.
Psychology is slightly over-hyped and relatively dull unless you have an interest in it as a subject but since I do it was happy days. The notes are a bit of a pain though.
All in all both are great courses in their own rights.

I did both of them. Did Psy in '04. The teacher & TA changed
this year, so it wasn't as good, but my Psychology class was brilliant. I agree with Liam, Sarah was a great laugh. Eilish was great too. That psy class rocked. As did Legal studies (come back, Rod, the Green Party will never love you like we do). And Int. History this year was really interesting. I've never laughed so much.


Either im really lucky or really easily amused.

RefulgentGnomon

don't forget, by the end of it Deloitte own you.

It's funny cause it's true!


BTW, is Eoin gonna be teaching Legal Studies next year?

Piste

He said that there's a chance he wont be doing one of the sessions :eek:

hunistars

If your looking for an easy doss of a class do Writing for Life, it was great, everyone bonds really well because it's all trips to the park and museums, and if you tell yvonne what your writing is very personal she never expects you to hand it up.
Philosophy was great too with Fiachra playing dress-up everyday and thinking of new and improved ways to eradicate humanity.

Purple Hayes

I am/was a newbie this year and i made the mistake of pickin Zoology as my first course.
It was soooooooo borin! And our instructor lady gave us so much work 2 do and half of us never knew wat to do.
There was a lot of catching up on sleep done during lectures. And there was like nothing on animals at all. I think i only survived cos of the people i had in my class.... You rocked guys!!!! (Well most of ye did neway!- damn yello caps.... and FARMERS!!)
Only do zoology if you are REALLY and truly interested. Otherwise its a waste of time. But you do still learn a bit so ya.... The tribe has spoken.

mentalimplosion

hunistars wrote:

If your looking for an easy doss of a class do Writing for Life, it was great, everyone bonds really well because it's all trips to the park and museums, and if you tell yvonne what your writing is very personal she never expects you to hand it up.
Philosophy was great too with Fiachra playing dress-up everyday and thinking of new and improved ways to eradicate humanity.

i'm telling you, sterilisers in dutch gold is the way to go

Undergod

Jack Lynch wrote:

That psy class rocked

I'm loved!

LordCran

Jack Lynch wrote:

I did both of them. Did Psy in '04. The teacher & TA changed
this year, so it wasn't as good, but my Psychology class was brilliant. I agree with Liam, Sarah was a great laugh. Eilish was great too. That psy class rocked. As did Legal studies (come back, Rod, the Green Party will never love you like we do). And Int. History this year was really interesting. I've never laughed so much.


Either im really lucky or really easily amused.

Psychology seems to be getting a fairly bad rep. Ah well, I might do it anyway, but only if my brother returns as TA (and does the whole launching-wheeled-shoes-at-a-target thing again. Actually, on second thought, they might not let him back after that.) I did IH this year, and it was hilarious. We had a great laugh at the expenses of Margaret Thatcher, Cork and Robbie's Beatles haircut. That might just have been because of the people/psychos in the class, but who can argue with a course where you can build a Death Star? Someone else can explain that, I'm too lazy.

Jade Chihuahua

Writing For Life and Spec Fic Wri. Both rule, both kinda dossy, really good classes overall. Great laugh.

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAetc.

Love

COCK wrote:

zoology is soooooooo bad. Its more environmental studies, and ecology, and only a small bit on animals. A lot of work, and the instructer is an uptight, yet somewhat interesting sod. Hopefully it wont be back again next year, so people wont have to suffer the agony that is zoology

Hey, I did Zoology this year too, who are you?

-Sophia

Jack Lynch

Undergod wrote:

I'm loved!

By me, or did you just put my quote in for the hell of it? Are you Eilish or Sarah?

Colourful

Legal Studies - It was good enough although some of it (precedent)was a little bit boring. Eoin is very cool...

Japanese L&C - Wow, it was brilliant, definately the most work I have ever done in a CTYI course. I wouldn't really recommend it to people who think they're going to be learning about anime and noodles, we did about 3-4 hours of grammar every day. I learned a lot and I got an odd sense of satisfaction at the end when I could read hiragana. The instructor (Colm) is great, really helpful and sarcastic, and the TA, Simon, rocked too.

Go Japanese!!!

Dirtydancer

Writing For Life kicks socks and rocks ass!!!

Jack Lynch

Jack Lynch wrote:

Undergod wrote:

I'm loved!

By me, or did you just put my quote in for the hell of it? Are you Eilish or Sarah?

My apologies, Bill, i dont get this new-fangled technology. This is why it took me so long to get the hang of Sky Digital

It wasn't me!

Classics was brilliant fun. It wasn't really heavyu so I think it was a great introduction to CTYI. Russian was fantastic. The instructor is one of the loveliest people I've ever come across. IR... well, I wouldn't do it again. Chinese was a bit dull but it was okay overall. Could have been worked better. Russian was my favourite, but I think that's more to do with the people and all the jazz of that year.

Jack Lynch

That's how i feel about IH.

Shellie13

Writing for life was fantastic if you already enjoy writing and want to learn how to actually do it... Wouldn't advise it if you hate taking a pen in your hand etc... Great fun though!!!

Legal Studies was excellent!!! Eoin Carolan is a total ledgend as was Rod when he was TA... Sadly Rod's gone and rumor has it now that Eoin's ben called to the bar he'll no longer do it either...

Advertising was horrible!!! If Andy hadn't been TA i would've cracked up!!! :mad:

Philosophy is fasinating and you come home feeling you've learned tons and become really smart (with a capital T) Though be warned you will end up doubting you exist, have free will and the existance of anything... Fiachra's a ledgend teacher too!!!