Irina Kristy
- School: Boston University
- Location: Boston, MA
- Department: Mathematics
Number of ratings 132 Submit a correction
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MA122
Not a good professor at all but if you're just looking to satisfy a math general requirement and you've taken calculus before, this class is an easy A. There are weekly homeworks and quizzes but often she'll go over exactly what will be on the quiz. For midterms/finals she basically tells you the problems beforehand.
MA123
I LOVE HER 5 OUTFIT CHOICES!!!! and especially when she gets chalk all over it :] she's not aware of her surroundings because she almost tripped over a ball. but i love her accent!
MathA
This professor is the WORST. She's impossible to understand, and she rambles forever (so much that you don't have any time to finish quizzes, so work FAST). AVOID THIS PROFESSOR AT ALL COSTS.
MA120
She is extremely hard to understand. She never answers the problem correctly. I got more confused the more I went to class. NEVER take her unless you absolutely have to. She's a nice lady but gets flustered easily.
MA123
Although her accent makes understanding lectures difficult, she is a nice woman and a decent professor. The discussions and TAs were very helpful. I took calculus in High School, so this class was a walk in the park. She's a very easy grader and really just wants to see her students do well.
MA122
One of the easiest professors I've had at BU. A very nice woman, she tries to help you understand even though her accent makes it impossible. Reviews are very helpful because she basically tells you what will be on the exam. For one quiz our class average was a D and she let all of us retake the quiz and the average went up to a B.
MA123
You will not understand a word she says. That being said, if you've taken AP Calc in high school, don't bother going to class/discussion. Show up for the quizzes/midterms/final. She counts the final quiz grade twice(lowest quiz dropped), the two midterms each once, and the final exam three times (total of 7 grades, lowest is dropped). An easy A
MA123
Not the ideal professor, but will teach you calculus. Plus, she's a really really easy grader.
MA123
She has a really thick accent so its hard to pay attention. She doesn't make much sense even when you can understand her. She is a really easy grader (ex: 85 is still an A- 60 is a C). You will have a quiz every friday, but if you do the homework its not bad. Don't get sick though, because even if its excused, she won't let you make up a quiz.
MA120
She is a easy grader. However, she is hard to understand with her thick Russian accent. On our first day, she jumped into the information as if we knew everything already. Just do the homework and take the quizzes and midterms as skip everything else and you should be fine.
MA122
You're graded off homework, attendance, weekly quizes, two midterms, and a final. They all count almost the same. She's an easy grader but if you don't already have the gist of some calc, it's going to be tough to learn it all from her. It's possible, but some prior calc class is really helpful.
MA122
Terrible teacher. Impossible to understand and not open to questions. Only good thing about this class is that she is a fairly easy grader.
MA120
Overall easy class. thought i was gonna get a C but ended up with an A-. very generous grader. you only need to go to lecture for a few minutes to find out whats going to be on the quiz. she's very hard to understand but if you were able to get through basic math in high school you should easily be able to teach yourself from the book
MA120
the absolute worst teacher. She speaks russo-english with a heavy accent making her extremely hard to understand. Tests are easy because of the reviews held 1 day before them. She does not teach, and sometimes tests are on irrelevant material. Take this class if you can teach yourself things you have learned in 10th grade from the text book
MA120
she would be a good professor if this is a russian university, but BU is not one. if you want to get a good grade and learn nothing, this course is a great option. She's unorganized and she has a very strong accent. Whenever I go to lecture I have to sit in the front row in order to understand half of what she's TRYING to explain.
MA120
take this class only if you have taken pre-calc before. if you do, you never have to go to lecture except for the first 20 minutes once a week when she goes over what will be on the quizes. doesnt give any homework except for a weekly quiz that is very easy. she is an easy greader as well. she is very sweet lady but her accent is impossible!
MA120
SHE CAN´T SPEAK ENGLISH. If I have a hard time with math when it´s taught in English, how am I supposed to learn it in whatever that gibberish is that she speaks? Totally disorganized... a full 15 minutes late to the first lecture of the year. Very weird and frightening woman. Had to drop the course because it was so intolerable. AVOID HER!!!!
MA242
I thought she was a pretty good teacher. It takes about 2 weeks to get used to her accent but when you do, you'll really start enjoying her classes. She has a great sense of humor and explains concepts well. She's also an extremely generous grader. I was very happy with her teaching.
MA242
I did well on her class but only because I love math. Going to class was a complete waste of time, she is impossible to understand and is very disorganized. Everything I learned came from reading the book and the study guide. I learned absolutely nothing from her. She shouldn't be teaching at all.
Calc122
She does have a language barrier because of her thick accent. However, she is an extremely generous grader which is always a good thing. For one exam the lowest grade she gave out was in the B range. She's a cute lady who gets chalk everywhere. Just go to lectures once in a while to get the practice problems and you'll do mighty fine.
ma122
The class was SO easy, especially if you've taken calc in high school. Lectures were usually useless and annoying; just finding a few buddies and chattin' it up is a fine way to spend time in her class. Quizzes and exams aren't hard either, but I'd recommend doing the (small amount of) homework. We also had some fun checking out her outfits.
MA122
Kristy is a fine professor. Any type of math requires practice. You can't depend on only the professor for how much you understand. Discussions are quite helpful. Kalin is a great TA.
MA121
Her class is absurdly easy if you've taken Calc in high school. She does have a thick accent, but you can usually follow what she's doing. If you didn't take Calc in high school, you'll probably have difficulty with the class.
MA121
Kristy is not the sharpest tool in the shed. She gives you the questions that will be on the test in lecture, but she doesnt understand how to set up discussion, so you might get screwed if you have monday discussion, in general, you dont need to go to class, if you do, all you need to do is listen to the 1st half and write down her examples.
MA121
I dont know what everyone talks about... sure her accent is terrible... but she is a good teacher!!! she goes over problems like 5000 times and those are the ones she uses in her exams!!! She gives practice tests that are the SAME as the actual exam except she changes the numbers arround! my only A freshman yr!!! AWSOME CLASS! TAKE IT TAKE IT TAKE
MA120
Her accent is really difficult to understand and made class pretty useless, but since the material was easy and her grading was lenient the class wasn't that bad. boring topics, easy math... wanted to fall asleep in lecture, but its easy to get a good grade if you show up for tests/midterms
MA225
Hard to get past her accent. We went agonizingly slow at the beginning of the course, then covered literally half the material in the two weeks before the final exam. (Other reviewers made similar complaints.) She seems very genuinely nice and helpful; unfortunately, her accent gets in the way a lot of times and leads to people getting frustrated.
MA225
Clarity is really a problem, lectures are very hard to understand. But, there is more to a course. You do learn the material, the workload isn't too much, the course is not hard. Homeworks, quizzes and test questions are carefully choosen. Good sense of math-aesthetics. I am sure there are better professors, but no need to run away from this one.
MA225
As a self-proclaimed humanitarian (for the amount of time it takes me to complete this rating) I highly recommend that all those who are not masochistic - even those who are - take multivariable calculus in a classroom far, far away from this professor. Please, run for your mathematically inclined lives.
MA225
Really nice lady and very lenient grading I couldn't understand a word of what she said in class.She went terribly slow at the beginning and then did 2/3 of the syllabus in the last 3 weeks of school. If you can teach yourself multivariate calc, take her. If you need someone to teach you, avoid her(unless you understand a VERY heavy russian accent)
MA121
Don't even consider taking this professor. Even if you know the material from having taken it before in high school, you'll be lost in this class. Indecipherable Russian accent. Terrible explanations. Exams are nothing like the discussion quizzes (READ: HARD + virtually no time.) You're on your own in this class. Have fun teaching yourself.
ma120
she's ridiculous. if you've taken pre-calc/algebra II before you'll be okay but if not....don't take this class because she doesnt teach. her accent is impossible and watch out for second midterm. she doesnt take attendance so just teach yourself and dont waste your time
MA121
Subject matter is simple. Plenty of examples in class. She has an incredibly thick Russian accent -- we have trouble understanding her lectures. Homework, class, optional, except for the discussions (when there's a quiz). Avoid the professor, especially if you're not a math person to begin with.
ma121
kristy is sometimes very hard to understand when first having her but you will get used to it she knows her material but its up to your efforts whether you do well in her course if u study before quizzes and tests you will do fine
ma120
AWFUL, ABSOLUTLY GOD AWFUL. SHE IS THE WROST TEACHER IN THE WORLD. despite the fact that you cannot understand A THING that comes out of this woman's mouth, she is the most inadequate teacher at this or any university. AVOID HER ALWAYS
MA121
Kristy is literally the most useless and ridiculous teacher I've ever had (including k-12). Not only is she is completely impossible to understand, but she is disorganized, never gives clear responses, and doesn't actually teach anything. She also assigns even # problems without ever telling us the answers or collecting the homework.
MA121
ONLY take this class if you have taken calculus before. I took calculus my senior year and I know if I didn't get it then, I would not have done well in this class. For people just looking to satisfy a math requirement, take this class. It's not necessary to go to lectures. If you understand the homework and the book you'll get an A.
MA 142
I took a class with her back in 2000. She is a good instructor. The subject (Linear Algebra) was both engaging but not too hard. She did give a lot of assignments, but that subject requires a lot of training and solving to get comfortable with the concepts. Ah, memories, I still remember that large cup of tea she used to bring with her into class.
MS225
I beg to disagree with the students below. Accent: she does have one but I understand her perfectly (I'm not Russian). She's thoughtful in designing this course. She proceeds slowly in the beginning because they're the most important concepts in 3D geometry. To excel you just have to go to class and keep up with HW. I'm getting an A if you're not.
MA142
AVOID THIS PROFESSOR BY ALL COST!!! the class is an easy A but the amount of homework is rediculous, her quizzes and exams are unduable and the book is terrible. bottom line you'll probably get an A but will never understand the material + waist a lot of time finishing long homeworks and preparing for quizes that will not enforce your understanding
MA 225
you can't understand her explanations of the material when she gives them. Then if you have a question she can't understand your question. I had to teach multivariable calc. to myself. Then she put things we didn't have in any homework on the tests.
MA225
The first few weeks of class were extremely frustrating. Her accent is thicker than the math book! However, she does make everything that she says clear when did the problems on the board. Wasn't really helpful out of class, but the previous poster is right: do the homework and you're fine. Except for the TWO AND HALF CHAPTERS IN 4 WEEKS.
MA 225
Hard to understand her for the first few classes, but you'll get used to it. Homework starts slow then gets lightning fast (2 chapters in 4 weeks vs 4 sections in the first 4 weeks!) Exams are luckily very easy (just like hw). Does a lot of hw probs in class which is nice. Grading system is very generous. Overall do the hw and you'll be fine.
MA 118
If you can say anything about her, it's that she's a generous grader. She doesn't always understand what people are asking her, but she eventually gets it. I never had trouble with her accent, and actually liked her. I have several math classes to go before I graduate, but she provided a good start for me.
MA 120
If you do not have a firm understanding of math prior to taking this class it may be challenge. However, I still think Prof. Kristy is a better professor for MA 120 then the other ones. Final was hard but quizzes are relatively straight forward.
MA 120
need this class to fulfill a math credit? kristy's class is extremely easy! The accent does not matter much because she writes EVERYTHING on the board. You don't need to attend lectures or do any homework. Go to lectures before the quiz or test b/c she practically gives the question away! Easy raise for gpa.
MA 120
never understood a word she said deep russian accent tests were very hard, but quizzes were very easy because she would go over them the class before the quiz no collected homework did not learn much had to learn by myself but if you know your math you should do fine
MA 120
Never went to this class and still got As on the quizzes and exams (except for the final which I bombed on).She has a terrible accent and won't understand your questions but if you know your stuff it's an easy class.She drops the lowest quiz and test score which is a plus. I would still recommend her for MA120 if math is your strong subject.
MA121
Tests and quizzes are really easy if you attend her lectures and copy her notes from the board. Her verbal communication skills are nonexistent, but her notes are easy to follow. She always does pre-quiz and pre-test examples that are very helpful for the actual tests. I would recommend attending class even if you took Calc in high school.
MA120
Difficult to understand, but writes everything on the board. Don't have to do homework, don't have to attend class. Quizzes given in discussion, so attending is a must. Problems on tests are always harder than examples she gives; if you did not have a firm grasp on math before this class you might struggle. Need to be self-motivated.
MA 120
This professor is terrible, she really doesn't speak any English.. sometimes I wondered if she was speaking any language. The whole class is based on matrices so if you like matrices, an 8AM class and a professor who doesn't understand your questions.. then you will love it. For the rest of us, don't do it!
MA120
she doesn't know how to teach at all...you will be in deep**** if you have never take cal in highsch...careful classmates
MA 121
if you've taken calc in high school, you should have no problem with this class. the quizes are a little tough (you HAVE to go to your discussion), but her tests are really easy. you don't need to do any of the hw, just sit in the front and copy down what she writes on the board (her notes are very clear-- it makes up for the accent).
MA 121
Despite her heavy accent and unusual sense of style, she knows her stuff. She's a good teacher, and her quizzes and tests aren't too hard. Puts a lot of useful examples on the board and gives good notes. Real nice woman. I took calc in HS, but she gets the concepts across well.
MA 120
If you don't know the general ideas of the material before hand, you are screwed because this woman does not speak any kind of understandible English. She's very smart, but that doesn't really help because she can't understand questions from the students, doesn't know how to explain ideas, and writes on the board amazingly fast. AVOID!
MA121
SHE IS THEE WORST TEACHER EVER!! NO ONE can understand a word that comes out of her mouth! she is terrible!
Algebra/Tr
ig
This woman could teach to an empty classroom, and she may as well be, since she hardly ever comes up for air while she's scribbling nonsense on the board. She assumes everyone is a math whiz, doesn't teach pre-concepts before moving on to complex things.
MA 121
I can't understand a word she says during lectures. And her board work doesn't work. It makes life very difficult if you're not naturally good at math.
MA242
Worst teacher ever. She doesn't speak English and thus her lecture is absolutely a waste of time. Not recommended especially for those who can't understand stuffs off the book.
MA225
An unbelievably smart woman with NO communication skills whatsoever. She speaks extremely broken english, she refuses to type anything on a computer, and she comes into class without a mission. Often times you don't even have to do the 75 HW problems she assigns b/c she does them in class. A terrible professor for a great class.
ma225
Shes not very clear, but i found the class very easy, mostly straight from the book and exams are pretty straightforward.
MA 225
What can I say?You really can't understand this woman and lectures are a waste of time. Discussions are a must for quizzes.She's helpful in off. hrs. and her grading system is lenient.WAY too much homework!You must love math to take this course with her.
MA 225
Although she is difficult to understand, everything covered was straight from the book so you can skip any lecture you want. Must show up for discussion fro quizes and there is quite a bit of hmwk.
MA 225
Her grading is pretty good, however, no one can understand what she is talking about...
MA 225
She is hard to understand but her grading system is very lenient 6 grades: homework, quizzes, two midterms, and the final counts twice, lowest hw, quiz, and lowest of your six total grades is dropped! The class moves slow and the hw is long, but she does help to the best of her ability
MA 225
NEVER EVER TAKE A CLASS WITH HER NO MATTER WHAT it is a waste of your time!! The practice exam is nothing like the real exam and you need to know tricks from math you should have taken years ago in order to succeed. You don't know what she is ever saying and she looks confused on stuff all the time
ma122
i couldn't understand a word she said all semester. i am usually very good at math, but i did horribly in her class. the exams are a LOT harder than the quizzes. go take calculus with someone else!!
CAS MA 142
oh my god worst teacher in the world!!!! if there was an award show for the worst teacher in the world, she'd win every single category in it!!! shes makes the class harder than it shud be!
MA120, MA1
22
easy class overall. I didn't understand what she said through the whole semester because of her accent. Study myself. She was very kind & good person actually. However, as a professor.....U'm....I don't know what to say...
Ma 120
This class was a complete waste of time. I learned 9th grade math again. I did not learn it from her though, because I could not understand a word she said. I learned it through the extremely poorly written text book. Although, I only went to about 3 lectures, I currently have an A. Easy A.
MA 120
EASIEST CLASS!! It's all basic math.. She averages your 6 quiz grades (& drops the lowest).. then 2 midterms and then the final counts twice.. and on top of that, she drops the lowest grade out of those 5.. sounds confusing, but it actually helps you.. cant understand her sometimes but its EASY!!!
ma122
she tries, but its not worth taking this class with her. run away and find another teacher to teach you calculus.
MA120
She can't speak at all. But if you don't understand a question, she'll help you in her office hours to the best of her ability. Easiest class I have ever taken in my life.
ma 121
HORRIBLE...i like math, and am generally good at it.. and this was horrible. Might need to get a translater. Don't take her if you don't have to... or bring a coloring book to lecture like my friends and I did
MA412
HUGE language barrier here, people. She knows her material, but she doesn't know how to teach. If you approach her with a question, she make it obvious that she doesn't understand what's so hard about it. Very difficult to understand, but a fair grader
Calc I
Yes. Her accent is difficult at first. But you get used to it. Yes. She can appear a bit stand-offish, but that is her Russian charm. When drawn out, she is quite passionate about the material. I found her explainations adequate.
MA 120
terrible. she's smart but very moody, unintelligible with her accent, and as stated below, puts problems on the tests that are MUCH more difficult than those in the book and gone over in class.
MA121
although i'm sure she is intelligent, kristy is quite possibly the worst professor i have ever had. problems on midterms are much harder then the problems in the textbook, which are also the problems she demonstrates in class. wears very weird clothes
ma 121
She tries but fails...terribly. Unless you took Calc already and know it, take stat for math credit. This class should have subtitles
MA120
One of the worst professors I have ever had. Quizes are easy but the midterms are ridiculous; she makes easy material extremely difficult. DO NOT take her class if you can avoid it.
MA 121
WHO HIRED THIS LADY? She is really smart, but doesn't speak english or teach. She doesn't understand questions you ask, and assumes you know a lot of the material already. Pick her if you have taken the class before - no attendence required
ma122
horrible! impossible to understand, very unhelpful during office hours, "doesn't take attendence" but notes when you're not there, and overall the worst professor/teacher i've had in my life.
MA 120
She tries really hard but it only gets more boring. She's helpful but the language barrier makes me harder.
MA122
made subject a lot harder than it had to be... hard to understand, doesn't know how to explain things... pray for a good tf, as it's your only hope for survival
MA 122
she lectures really well, but can be hard to understand. she's also not great with one-on-one explanations. if you can follow her lectures (which isn't too hard), you'll be fine.
MA 120
It took me 2 weeks to interpret her language, I have succeeded although many others have failed :S. Class is very easy compared to other requirements,class notes are enough,do psets and you are almost flawless.Quizzes=easy,midterms reasonable :)
ma 120
She tries hard, but u cant understand a word she says. GO to office hours gives the questions that will be on the quizs. Good luck wiht 8am lecture
MA 120
The class is basically Alg.II. She doesn't take attendance... get the syllabus and do the homeworks. Go to a lecture if you have trouble with the work.
MA 122
Prof. Kristy is great. Despite what others say, she is very helpful and you'll definitely get an A if you understand everything and go to office hours!!!!
MA 122
She is impossible to understand and gives unfair tests. But, if you're having trouble sleeping, take her class; it is impossible to stay awake.
ma122
course itself should b easy, but she makes it hard. learn some english then try to teach again. the only thing that kept me awake during those 8 am classes was her mismatched, neon, or see threw outfits.
ma120
quite eccentric and unclear but ma120 was mad easy. class is pretty much a waste of time tho. u cant understand wtf she's saying.
MA122
One of the worst teacher's I have had @ BU - her method of teaching was horrible, her English was unclear and not fluent, only went to class to hear announcements - taught myself Calc. 2 with a horrible book - went to Granoff for help, and he was great!
ma 118
Great teacher, a little unorganized but the class was easy and she wasn't THAT hard to understand.
MA 121
I cannot understand a word she says, which makes learning from her a little difficult.
MA120
Cannot understand a word she says. I don't know if i ever attended a class that I didn't sleep through.
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