Paul Kockelman

This class was challenging, but very rewarding. The concepts seemed beyond an introductory level, but Professor Kockelman is very clear and very knowledgeable. However, it is difficult to judge what your final grade will be, so be wary your progress. Professor Kockelman was moderately interactive, though most of the material was beyond the discussion capabilities of the students. I was very challenged by this course, and ended up with a B+ after completing all the homework assignments and working very hard on the final paper and exam.

I can't disagree with the previous review more. What a complete disaster. The class was a small, 15-20 person seminar. Kockelman probably only knew half of the names of students in the class - classes consisted of Kockelman's rambling lectures that were rarely interrupted by student participation. Kockelman only knew the names of the kids who went to office hours - office hours that were extremely inflexible, occurring for 2 hours once a week after class (often still canceled) and no other time possible. I'm sorry, but my idea of a seminar is a class where a professor makes some kind of effort to get to know his/her students. None of my emails asking for different office hours or asking simple homework questions were responded to. And sure, his mannerisms are definitely amusing, and he does indeed know and understand Q'eq'chi and however many other languages and that certainly makes him a capable linguist. But for the dense material covered, Kockelman was an incapable professor - it was nearly impossible to follow along and comprehend everything in a 2 hour span in a small classroom while I listened to Kockelman's head spin. And I have to STRONGLY disagree with the part where the previous reviewer says you should take this an elective. You should NOT take this as an elective. The readings, although on the surface seemed straight forward and short, were excrutiatingly dense and…

Honestly, Kockelman is the best professor I've ever had at Columbia. The man is brillant, funny, and very approachable. If you are interested in language and capable of thinking outside the box, this is a professor you don't want to miss. He explains very complicated concepts in a clear manner, and had changed the way I look at the world. From Language and Culture to Agent, Person, Subject, Self, Kockelman shines as a linguist and an anthropologist. My number one suggestion for those of you who take his classes: go sit down and visit with him! He is incredibly personal and helpful outside of the classroom. He can listen to ramblings and unclear ideas and help you formulate a clear thought process. Even if you just want to talk to him in general, I promise you he has read something on your topic of interest. I can't say enough good things about this man. His examples in class are hilarious. From getting on the floor and imitating a dog's tools and affordances, to quotes like "Freedom! Democracy! Driftwood!" or a random poem about a ruedebbega he keeps you on your toes with great humorous moments.

The structure of the class was totally changed this semester, definitely for the better. The reviews under this one seem to be fair depictions of what I'd heard prior to taking the class, and I have to say, I was a little terrified going in to this semester. However, the class ended up being amazing. I have learned more in this class than in any other Intro Anthro class I've taken, and been exposed to theorists and modes of analysis that I'd never even heard of (I'm a junior majoring in Anthropology). The class was limited enrollment this semester, which allowed Professor Kockelman room to engage with the students frequently and lecture to a smaller class. He started off the class by warning everyone that some people would get Bs, and if they were scared of that, they shouldn't take it. After the first week, I found I was growing more and more comfortable with the classical linguistic analysts he exposed us to, and was able to recognize their work in contemporary articles he assigned too. He did a great job explaining the very difficult concepts and was always open to questions (however, it did take him a while to notice that hands were raised, sometimes). I have to say, the class was a really great experience: challenging and totally worth it. Professor Kockelman was seriously interested in what we had to say and made sure to engage with us more so than it seems he's done in…

I can't speak enough to what a wonderful professor Paul Kockelman was. At the very beginning of the semester, I admit that I found it difficult to take him seriously. He has a very playful picture on the departmental website, and dressed down for the class. He jokes a lot, and has a few peculiar mannerisms, like his laugh [which is adorable]. As he proved to us as the weeks went on, though, he really knows his linguistics and his methods extremely well, and knows how to dissect a reading for a class. The class covers a functional (not theoretical) approach to language from the very beginning, in terms of scale and of chronology. You begin with Bloomfield's form-classes, the founding work of this branch, and examining parts of language from micro to macro. Morpheme>word>clause, etc. An excellent aspect of Kockelman's teaching style is that he constantly recaps what has already been discussed in class, as well as how it fits into the general schema for what you should be learning from the class. It's very cohesive and well-designed, and shows in the style of seminar. Kockelman's knowledge of Q'eqchi' is also astounding- he really has a mastery of many Native American languages as well as traditional European ones. It gives a definite sense of reality to the course, something regrettably lacking in other linguistics courses. In short, TAKE Kockelman. Doesn't matter if it's for yo…

prof kockelman is enlightening, entertaining and enthusiastic. he delivers brilliant lectures in a very lucid fashion and always goes above and beyond the readings, synthesizing the material in a new and usually fascinating way. the class is fantastic- it is the best class i have taken, and paul is the ideal professor. do whatever you can to take this class with him

I am a linguistics major, and I took this class after reading all of the reviews that said "oh this would be fine if I were a linguistics major but I'm an anthro major and it was ridiculous." Well, let me just tell you: It's still ridiculous, even if you're a linguistics major. WTF was going ON in that class?! I still don't know, and I took it in Fall '08. My other two linguistics major friends liked it, so maybe it was just me, I don't know. This class sucked. The lectures were interesting enough but very difficult to take notes for. The readings were not so great, but that is often a problem with linguistics readings, although I will say his were more incomprehensible than most. The midterm and final were...weird. I got an A- on the midterm and had hardly done anything, no studying, nothing. The final came, I actually tried and studied and...I ended up with a B- in the course. WTF. Also, he's not an accesible professor. Like at all. Do not email him. Ever. He won't respond, or if he does it will be like 3 weeks later. I took this class after taking Functional Linguistics with him the semester before. That class made SO MUCH MORE SENSE. I highly recommend it, even without taking this class beforehand it was infinitely better. Also, the final was easy and that's basically all the work for that class. Although, I personally wouldn't take a class with Paul Kockelman if I could h…

long weekly readings, approx biweekly problem sets

There is a great deal of reading for the class, some drab, some really interesting. However, you don't HAVE to do ALL the reading. We wrote two papers comparing two of the readings- the best thing to do is talk to him about the paper topics. He knows his stuff, so make sure you know yours. Otherwise, this is one of those classes where you care less about the grade and more about what you're really learning.

i'm an anthro major, and i have to say, not the best intro class to take. the concepts are difficult to grasp, because, to me at least, it requires a certain type of crazy, acrobatic thinking. Kockelman is a great thinker in this respect. it's obvious that he knows his stuff. but his approach to presenting it is a little difficult to follow. he talks fast and writes really small. that said, however, he's sometimes really funny in lecture. one problem i had, beyond not really learning a thing in this class, was the exams. kockelman himself said not to worry, make the cheat sheets, and don't even bother reading from the course packet. interestingly enough, details from the readings were on the exam. and the cheat sheet doesn't matter in the end, because you'll just spend half the exam time looking back and forth from the test paper to the cheat sheet, perplexed with what is in front of you.