2.0
Quality4.5
Difficulty12%
Would Retake230
Reviews12%
Would Retake
230
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
230 total ratings5
25
4
13
3
36
2
42
1
114
What Students Say
“It was almost as if he was proud of himself for his students doing poorly”
MATH08 - 1.0 rating“Simple mistakes will cost you a big percent of the test”
MATH8 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
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100%
Attendance Mandatory
52%
Textbook Required
61%
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Reviews (229)
Horrible teacher. Extremely difficult and does not care on a personal level for his students. He seems to only be there for the pay check. If your looking for a curving class or even to make a soild B average, don't count on this guy to pass you.
exams are very difficult. hard class. tends to go off on a tangent. this guy really loves math.
Makes even the simplist thing completely complicated, for no good reason. Does tend to go on a tangent about things that have nothing to do with the level he is teaching to. Tests aren't based on book at all.
If u take one of his classes you are gonna find yourself asking...What the hell did he just say?
He is a teacher for advanced and interested in math students. His math is above average level. Grading is strict but fair. If you're into math, you might want to take him. If you are looking an easy teacher then it's not him.
Horrible teacher. Laughs when questions are asked. Talks about calculus theorums in mid level algebra class. 60-70% of his students fail.Study guide very complicated..tests based on that. STAY AWAY. Am an A student and will be lucky to pass.
He is the best math teacher. If you love math, take his class, because you will learn a lot from him.
End of chapter questions in textbook go from easy to hard to very hard. His test questions are ONLY chosen from the very hard questions. In other words he only tests based on very difficult problems - then fails half the class.
this guy is horrible!!! most of the students dropped his class half way through the semester. join the army instead of this class. he sucks. if you take this class you must be retarded.
He doesn't seem to like teaching math 22. In class, he either teaches precalculus or says "You're supposed to know that in Math 30".I suggest student who has good foundation in math and self-studying ability to take his class.
Mr. Hong is great!!He knows what he is doing. All of math major or math major related ppl must take his class. But for ppl who want easy A's, i do not recomand his class.his class is kinda hard and based on theorems and proofs. by the way i major in math
don't take hong's class
tooo hard!
if enjoy a teacher laughing in your face when you ask a question, then he is the one for you. i have never had a teacher who enjoys failing students, but i guess there is a first for everything. At all costs avoid him like the plague.
Unless you are a nerd, avoid this class. i had an A in math 7 and am struggeling for a c now. Hong is in his own little world. Brilliant man, but a bad teacher who expects to much of his students. If you love math and are willing to work on it 2 hours
do not take this class if you value your self-esteem. if you don't care, then you would be better off not going to class and studying on your own, since he is the most unclear math teacher at SMC.
EXCELLENT teacher!!Although I just got a B from him but he's really perfect.He teaches a new theorem by a short intro and explains how does is come from.I always asked bunches of qurstions but he always answered patiently.Exams are OK,not too difficult.
If you struggle with math do not take this class. He is very smart but expects his students to be math whizes.
he teaches very well but he is really hard. if you aren't a hard working don't ever take with him.
At first I thought he would be easy,but he teaches things you dont need to know for fun. He goes really fast and teaches you things you wont be tested on for weeks and then goes onto to new stuff. If you want to pass DO NOT TAKE HIM!!!!
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Be prepared to do the work for this guy. His tests are unpleasent, he grades rather harshly, but its still not hard to come up with a passing grade. I'd recomend him if your prepared to really work for that A and feel like you've accomplished something.
1st day of class told us that half failed his class and said it with a smile. writes as fast on a chalk board as a human can and erases just as fast. difficult to learn from. it's really a teach yourself course with hong.
He is so enamored with his own ability to solve math equations; that he expects you to be as well. He writes,solves and erases problems within in seconds. Then you get lost; then he asks the class if they have ?'s, but no one knows where to begin.
the whole class don't really know what he's talking about, and he just keep going...he doesn't really care u know the materials or not, he just keep writing...
Mr.Hong is a nice guy, and knows math really well. unfortunately he lacks the skill to teach it. he can instruct you if you have questions, but he is unable to teach it like a teacher should. and brags about his genious son too much!
NO Calculators allowed in Hong's class!! are you kidding me?? this isnt pre-algebra! i remember this stuff in high school, and we used graphing calculators. No calculators makes the test a lot longer! hell i didnt even finish half my tests!! HONG'
I have never met a teacher that didn't have office hours, refused to answer questions about test questions, wouldn't let you review old tests, and made you feel like such an idiot. Do not take this class in the summer or winter, I spent more time with a tutor than with prof Hong.
can any teacher make math even harder than the way its look,this teacher does. he doesn't teach math the way the book is taught. he teaches his way and when its comes to the test, all the stuff he taught you in class doesnt' even match the test. DON'T TAKE THIS CLASS IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AN EZ "F"
He is more like a dictator than a professor, in that case i give him the dictator of the year award and instead of 2 thumbs down i give him the finger.He made me take math again, thats like going threw hell twice, the work in class is always different from the tests and exams????
I am shocked that this jerk is still "teaching" at Santa Monica College. I was in his Calculus class in 1997 and he was just like how everyone else describes him. He shouldn't be a teacher. Maybe he doesn't have a fit for any job out there, which is sad, because he doesn't fit as a teacher either
Hong does not deserve to be called a teacher. The man could care less about his students. He seems to pride himself on how many students fail or drop his class. He refuses to help and unless you want an "F" on your transcript, DO NOT TAKE ANY OF HIS COURSES!!!!!
Just another reminder for you, guys, to stay away from him. He is a sadist when it comes to students. Tests are completely different from any homework or stuff on the board. He makes everybody feel like an idiot and enjoys it greatly. I dropped his class after 3 weeks. Only 10 people were left by th
I am actually good at math and enjoy it, but Hong is a monster - stay away from him at all costs. Just watch the open class numbers on the smc site. His classes always fill up LAST.
This class is by far the hardest math class I have ever taken. He failed over half of the class and every test only one person got an A. Even after hiring a tutor this class was still difficult to pass.
He s suck. Moreover his handwriting look like Japanese than English. I took his class just one day , but it s long enough to know that. Luckily i changed another class
I took him during this summer.He wasn't as bad during the summer.At least half the class stayed n he only failed 5 students.He curves the grades, and most peole fall under B or C. Only 2 or 3 A. He was approachable.The only thing i dislike is testing definiting-->come on..maths=prob. solving..
The first week of class was spent with him complaining about how he doesn't usually teach math 22. He's arrogant and mean. Tests are extremely hard because his lectures are hard to follow. At the end of the semester everyone was happy enough to settle for a C. I would NEVER take him again. EVER.
he was the 3rd stats teacher i took, i hate stats!! he was hard, but my previous knowledge of stats some1 helped me :)..he curves the grade, so that helped me pass with a C, finally i transferred!! pass his first 3 tests and u should get a C, i doubt he gives A's or B's in his class
the first couple weeks of his class were about memorizing all these mathematic symbols that looked like hyroglyphics. he skips a lot of important information while teaching, goes quickly, his tests are really hard and has a poor passing rate. DONT TAKE HIM
After one day in his class I knew I had enough. If you're not excellent in Calculus stay away from this guy.
HONG IS WRONG! dont take him unless you wanna put yourself through boring ass hell! this guy sux! and he enjoys sucking! he is only good for upper-level math courses. lower-level he expects you to know a lot before hand so makes learning very difficult! STAY AWAY!!!!
He really knows his stuff, too bad he can't teach it at all. Before the curve, 87% of the class failed and 13% got a C. Doesn't allow graphing calculators and stats is impossible without em, pass on him. Doesn't give homework, entire grade based on tricky tests with tricky questions.
DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS! He only gave one A on a test all sem. Seems to enjoy failing people and making very challenging tests-which are completely off from the book and class. Study really hard if you're in it and make sure you go over the chapters ahead of time or you won't do well on the tests. if you want an A or good GPA- not possible
I had him for statistics and he was horrible. Couldn't teach for crap. Hard tests, confusing lectures. I started to cry when I found out he was my replacement teacher for math 22. I was stuck with him. Stay Away, I AM NOT KIDDING!!!!
If you major in mathematics and want to learn some math, take this guy. His tests are very challenging and hard, but i learned a lot from him. He loves proofs. I liked him because i love proofs too. I got an A barely. YOU GOTTA WORK HARD IN HONG'S CLASSES.
DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. HE HAS HIS OWN MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HE WON'T WAIT FOR YOU. YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HE'S SAYING. IF YOU HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE FOR A TEACHER TAKE THE CLASS ANOTHER SEMESTER OTHERWISE YOU ARE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE. yOU WILL FAIL OR IF YOU STUDY 24/7 YOU MIGHT GETA C.
Alan Hong is all about math for math's sake. He very heavily emphasizes the derivation of formulae in hopes that his students will better understand _why_ mathematics work before they approach _how_ they work, and I think his students' grades suffer as a result. At least he speaks English clearly, unlike many other Asian math professors at SMC.
if you major in math, then take him!
RUUUUUUNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!
I took all class with mr hong.If you major in mathematics and want to learn some math, take this guy. His tests are very challenging and hard, but i learned a lot from him. He loves proofs. I liked him because i love proofs too. I got an A barely. YOU GOTTA WORK HARD IN HONG'S CLASSES
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He HATES students
he goes fast and wants u to do problems his way !!
He's into math - not into teaching. Take him for the challenge, but while you get a B or C here, everyone else is getting an A in Geltner's class. UCLA only looks at the course number, not the professor's name.
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I took this class in my 1st semester at SMC and he flunked me...if any of u guys out there like failing ur math class..then take him..
Hes an awful teacher. He makes you feel stupid if you dont know the answer. My major was business until i took his class. I used to love math and now i absolutely hate it!
He is a good teacher!! I didn't think so at first because of his bad ratings but he is good! He always reviews the material the day before a test so you really can't do bad in his class unless you don't study at all or you don't go to class. He lets you skip the final if you are happy with your grade. He will be nice to you if you are nice to him.
He is extremely smart, and moves really fast. He often gets distracted and goes on to explain how you would do the problem in a higher math class, at that point most of the class is lost. His test are moderate, and he curves generously. I missed a test, got two c's and a f and I still passed with a c without taking the final. Not too shabby!
WARNING: DO NOT TAKE THIS GUY....HE REALLY LIKES TO FLUNK HIS STUDENTS..U STUDY U FAIL...U SUCK UP TO HIM.. U FAIL..DONT TAKE HIS CLASS...FOR WHATEVER THE REASON MAY BE...
This teacher is horrible and is a crazy grader..DUn take him...If you really like failing ur classses..take him
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Greatest teacher I have ever met. In his class, you can really learn Math while you gain nothing from others'. He gives easy exams,say there are 6 out 10 questions you can find exactly the same in the practice test. Dont afraid to ask questions, as he explains very well. I got A in his class. Just dont be lazy to merely do the practice tests.
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he is not bad! he explains everything clear enough!he is helpful! tmost of the questions on the test were already in the practice test which he gave weeks before the tests! BE SURE NOT TO SKIP LESSONS, YOU WILL MISS A LOT!
Probably the hardest teacher to take on SMC, (even says so himself). Do not follow the textbook and is often in a hurry to explain things(mostly out of excitement because he really seems to like math). Although, he does give out practice tests with problems that will be on actual test, but not even the tutors in the math lab can help with those..
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Hard teacher, sometimes giving discouragement comments, but friendly. Tests are normally from practice test that given by him. All homeworks are up to yours to do. Btw, you mark your own attendance. During lesson, when he said, "Try this", better do it cos it'll probably be out on the test.
What everyone else said is true. Very intricate demands and concepts. Do not miss even one class. He curves tests, drops lowest test grade, and final is optional. His grading is fair because he tests on specific topics. Do homework, go to class, go over pre-tests, and become friendly with the professor and you will get an easy A.
Exams are almost take-home, because 90% of the exam questions are exact, or slightly transposed versions of the take-home practice test he gives out. The exam questions themselves are very much above-average in difficulty - he wants you to be able to apply the concepts, not just memorize them. Take him if you want to actually learn math.
This professor is a killer! He does not concern about his students. Just thinks to do his job to attention to students. I think he does not realize that he is destroying tens of students life just because of small things. Even college math classes do not have that high level, it should not cause any trouble to anybody, but he makes a big deal out o
boring boring boring, and you really have to try hard to learn anything from him. DO NOT TAKE!
Hong is by far and away the worst professor i have ever had. I am a college graduate that needed calculus for graduate school and he made this class more difficult than any of the classes I took at my ivy league alma mater. He makes students feel stupid for asking questions and even laughs at them. He moves too quickly and does not explain.
do not take this class!!!!!
Mr. Hong is extremly hard. His test are very difficult that even some of the professors in the math lab can't solve. Even if you get the right answer his grading is very pretencious and he takes points for the smallest stuff. Says that he prepares students for Berkeley but after his grading u can't get accepted anywhere.
He's a very good professor. Very helpful. He gives practice questions before exams, which is very similar to the test questions. You can drop one test and if you are satisfied with your tests results, you don't have to take finals. I got A for both Math2 and Math7. You have to be hardworking in order to do well in this class.
This class was not much harder than his math 2 class, but he didn't curve our math 7 class as he did our math 2. He's a good professor that is very clear and helpful, although I didn't give him a 5 on clarity because he writes with light colored markers at times. This class will prepare you for a university, and he teaches it like you're at one.
Hong is by far the best professor I've ever had at Santa Monica College. As far as I'm concerned, he is the only professor that has provided me with a level of education comparable to the one of a university. If you are interested in more than sleeping in the usual community college class and you want to receive some form of education take this cla
Worst instructor ever, stay far away
His tests are so HARD, they are the hardest problems from the book with his added twist to them. He laughs at you if you ask a question, he challenges himself on math problems during class that confuse you even more, and he suffers from JR College Professor Syndrome, he makes it hard to prove to his students he can teach at a University but he can'
LISTEN! you might survive! Teacher can't teach, he is in his OWN WORLD while teaching... Unless you are like Calculus God, trust me, you won't understand a word this man is saying + writing on the board. One more thing, you'll be shocked to see how much REAL math terms he uses and how much you can't read it because he just CAN'T WRITE!!! Don't take
He's seriously off in his own world. I think he means well, but he does not care about you. He doesn't collect homework. He passes a roll sheet but I don't think he checks. I seriously do not recommend him to someone who's not determined to excel in math, lol.
seriously.. do yourself a favor.. stay far away from him and do not take this class!!! you wont understand anything he tries to teach and.. he just simply CAN'T TEACH!! he writes on board and talks to himself during class and he's just in his own world... AVOID!
I took Calculus in high school, but I was placed into Math 2. Im telling you, this teacher is the hardest teacher i have ever had. I killed myself to get a B. He confuses himself with his own problems which confuses the whole class. Take him as a last resort...definitely crash other teachers classes before his cause there will always be room.
I loved math, i got straight As in math until i got this Prof. I was clueless from day 1. He kept putting super hard problem on the board, then challenged himself to solve it. Most of the time we didnt know what he's talking about.Like or hate math, genius or not, NEVER TAKE THIS PROF!!!!!
If you have to take math for any reason, do not take him! He goes way too fast and doesnt clearly explain the concepts. if you try to ask questions, he pretty much laughs at you and makes you feel stupid. He is seriously the worst teacher ever. If you really want to do well in math, dont ever take him, not even as a last resort
If you want to understand and know more about math,take him but you have to study hard.He'll help explain the material if you dont understand,just ask n go to his office hours.Test is frustating,but mostly it is based on the handouts n his book.Prf Hong is really smart,and for people who like math his class will be interesting.not for lazy people.
Never take this teacher's class ever.He will ruin everyone's college life.Give unsolvable problems with wrong answers. Eventhough you get it right he will mark it wrong unless you give him the answer what he wants with his non-sense explaination. he might as well wants to stop ruining students grades
This guy is just a bad teacher, he goes way too fast, and when you ask for help, forget about it, does not spend time with students who may be having difficulty, it is Math!! hello! dont take him unless you are really good at Math...
this guy is a joke, and should not be teaching Math 20 level classes...he should be teaching Calc courses...he is a total Math nerd, but he can't teach people who may struggle with the subject...I do not how this guy ever got hired there. but if you have some anxieties related to Math. take someone who will take the time to explain conecepts, etc.
He's very understanding, but he goes through everything SUPER fast.he TOTALLY knows what he's talking about, but I think he'd be better teaching a higher level class; sometimes he'll go off on some useless (for the topic) equations that just get you confused. So I'd advise not to take his class unless you absolutely understand math.
A professor that will force you to learn if you want to pass the class. If you are lazy want an easy A or have no interest in math what-so-ever DO NOT TAKE HIM. Professor Hong is a brilliant man, but he is extremely boring, make this class your world and you will get a good grade, ignore and you will FAIL
I'm currently taking his Math 7 class, and this dude is just off the charts. When looking at his writing, it's clear that he learned how to write from a chicken. He speaks as if he's from the Matrix. He goes at such a fast-pace, you wanna just soil your pants. Hopefully, this dude chills down...
writes sloppy and too fast. by far the HARDEST teacher i have ever encountered. math majors highly recommended to take him, otherwise, get someone else.
Brilliant man. Extremely willing to help. Extremely hard tests. Bad handwriting. Often confusing lectures. Does not use the book at all, goes by lectures only. Nice guy but just too hard. For pre calc you should already know geo and trig well. Recommend for engineering, math etc majors only.
Extremely hard teacher. Sloppy handwriting, takes getting used to. His tests are really hard, but he gives pity points if you put some writing on to the pages. Class is confusing because he'll put a problem on the board, wait a few minutes, and explain how you would do it in a higher math class which doesnt help at all. Dont expect and easy A.
all my math teachers before this guy had low rating scores on this site but i still passed their class with A's....this guy is probably the hardest teacher i ever had
Professor Hong is brilliant. Although his handwriting is hard 2 read, his lectures are gr8. Reading the textbook b4 the class, studying your notes after every class will help you. He is ready to help. Students should not blame on him for their bad grades because studying hard will definitely get you an A. His class is tough but it's worth it.
Worst teacher I have EVER had.He failed over 1/2 of our class and no one got an A. Math tutors at SMC cant figure out his problems + I asked him for help after class and he told me that he doesnt help students outside of class. I used 2 textbooks w/ CDs, his lecture notes + outside tutors and still didnt pass the class + I go to UCLA. AVOID!
This guy is terrible. I took calculus in high school and then his class the year after, and trust me, his class is unbelievably hard.I got a C in the end, and then took Math 7 in winter with a decent teacher and got an A. He gave a total of 3 A's in my class. DO NOT TAKE HIM unless you want to work ridiculously hard for a B....
I took him despite the comments here b/c I'm good at Math and I like it.One has to understand everything in the textbook on his own b4 & after coming to class.Yes,I can do that; but then why do I need a teacher?His lectures don't help at all b/c it's so disorganized w/incomprehensible symbols formed from his sloppy handwriting.Suck at explaining
Worst Teacher ever!!!!! He sucked at explaining and wasn't helpful at all. He would laugh if you asked him a question or he would take 2 hours explaining it without every getting to the point. Avoid him if you don't want to drop.
This guy is a HORRIBLE teacher. Doesn't explain anything! He's great at looking at the book and copying it onto the board. His exams are ridiculously hard!!! and usually 6 questions. 4 exams. He seems like one of those people who gets off making a subject as hard as possible for those trying to learn it. He never stays on course with the material.
Alan Hong does not teach well at all. He seems to be more interested in how much he knows about calculus by placing a difficult problem and solving. Usually these difficult problems come up at test time. YOU won't really learn, but can pass it if you go to tutoring. I recommend this white guy with glasses, and pay attention to his hard problems.
should not teach any course
I love his knowlege of mathematics.He explains great,even though a little fast.He stimulates students to learn more and do a lot of research.His exams are a little challenging but definitely doable.Don't believe what other people say.You can definitely have an A in his class and you don't have to be asian.Do your best and a little more.you will fin
I've never hated a teacher, as much as I hate him!!!!!! He is the worst math teacher that I've ever taken, Do not take!!!! I HATE YOU HONG !!!!!
This prof. is out to get you to fail. I'm serious! But if you like challenges this one is your ultimate test! DO NOT TAKE HIM! Unless if you are a math whiz! If not stay AWAY from him!
This wasn't an easy class, but it's not impossible. Prof. Hong's teaching method is more involved than the textbook so you'll have to go beyond the typical HW problem, but you'll have a thorough understanding of the material. He is very helpful with any questions you may have, so don't hesitate to ask.
If you are a product of the American education system, then you may possibly find Dr. Hong's math classes to be very difficult. Hong is Korean, and I'm Korean. After the first week of class, I knew I'd be in for a long semester. With hard work and perseverance, I finished the semester on a high note. Believe me, Dr. Hong is a great teacher.
Alan Hong is a nice person, but a bad teacher. He is a really nice guy and means well but his lectures are hard to keep up with and his handwriting is terrible. He spends about 90% of his time working up difficult problems and proofs to amuse himself and about 10% of his time actually teaching... he gives you his "notes" which are illegible...
great teacher. he explains everything very well and there are chances to ask questions during class and during his office hours. his notes are very helpful as well
I am working my butt off and will probably end up with a low B/high C. However, most people in the class have high D's low C's. And when you transfer, UCLA won't see the teacher, just the course title. Nice guy, not a great teacher. Hard as hell. Unless you are transferring to upper division math at UCLA/Cal, avoid.
Gives practice tests that are so hard that they confuse the tutors in the math lab. Then on test day gives you problems that are different from the practice tests that stumped the tutors and expects you to figure 10 of those questions out in 1 hour. Not fair. only kids that have already taken calculus (asian students) get C's. No A's this semester
DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS! He writes fast and sloppy. Has his own shorthand that you need to learn ON TOP of learning Math. It was like he was showing off what he knows and can do rather than actually teaching. Told us he's been teaching for 30 yrs...I dont know how he lasted so long because he is TERRIBLE! You have been warned!!!
dont take his class if u have another choice..all i learned is by reading the book and do the exercises by myself ...his hand writing is so bad..kinda not clear at all//tests are difficult it's hard to get an a in his class..
I have completed a math minor with a Master degree from Yale University. Took Hong to review math concepts in prep for career change. Worst math teacher I have ever had. His classes lack structure. He jumps from topic to topic and problem to problem glossing over important concepts and dwelling on the most confusing minutiae. Very poor teacher.
This teacher suxz!!! He doesn't teach!! All he does is examples and doesn't explain what he's doing! He expects you to know stuff that he's supposed to teach!! DONT TAKE HIM!!!
this teacher sucks. his hand writing sucks and expects u to know math signs like your going to be a math major. too much hw and is very unclear about everything. he sucks so much half my class is on their phones
Try to avoid. Compared to other calculus curriculums, he places a disproportionate emphasis on the regurgitation of proofs and abstract problems. He often stated that: 'If you learn and understand 100% of the book's material, it will only earn you a pass.' He certainly knows the material, though his course is not appropriate for most student needs.
Re: 10/16/08 "His class is downright hard for most american students, but if you are asian from an asian country and were above average on math you'll find it pretty easy. He only gave ONE A in his class and that was me." Cool story, bro.
Please President Tsang = fire this guy. SMC will be the great school that it is supposed to be.
student destroyer
Difficult Professor. Take him only if you're prepared to study hard. But study your brains out and it is possible to get an A. Not for slackers.
Wow,that was a very hard class.But i kinda like how he teaches,as he doesn't waste too much time dwelling on one problem.And his explanations are pretty good;he makes sure to touch on the most basic concepts through every single problem he does. I got an A,but it was a really hard A to get.
Prof. Hong teaches fast but thoroughly. His tests are moderately hard and he will take points off for an incorrect process regardless of the answer. Arrive on time, don't memorize formulas, and watch HOW he does the problems during lecture. His practice tests are very similar to, but a bit easier than, the real test. A lot of studying is required.
This dude is the redefinition of what you would call a total nightmare. His lecture goes by very quickly. His test digresses from the exercises in the textbook. WORSE OF ALL, HE MAKES YOU PROVE THEORIES AND DERIVE NEW FORMULAS on test. Tests are slightly unreasonable. gives out practice test and hw with no answers.expects u 2 know everything
superb guy. His breadth of knowledge is incomparable. If you love math, then you'll love him. If you don't love math, then he'll make you love it if you pay attention. For M11, dump the purple book and study from stewart's calculus. It also helps if you can get hold of the book Vector Calculus,Marsden And Tromba.
I read comments on here but I had no choice because i had to take the class and he was the only one available. I thought to myself..if I work hard enough I can at least pull off a B. Wrong! He cannot teach and goes on and on about proofs that are completely irrelevant to the material. He laughs when asked a question. If only teachers did what they were supposed to and teach, instead we get people like this guy who finds it funny when the majority of the class fails.
Hong is a very hard teacher. If you have a chance to take Math 8 with another teacher please do it. If your not an A student already you will not pass his class. Hong is a really good teacher though and he knows his stuff but his tests are extremely difficult. If your not a math major find another teacher.
Not helpful at all, if you ask questions he responds with "I already went over that" or completely ignores the question and moves on unless he is an extremely good mood. Even if you do all your homework, you might not understand the test. I passed the calc AP and this class made no sense
This guy is obsessed with rules and is real strict especially in times of tests. He sometimes nails you with problems from the book but modified to be tougher. He's one of the harder professors but not by much. His teaching is just watching him do problems and examples. He doesn't teach at all but at least looking at the steps helps a little bit.
Benefits: Knowledgeable and precise. If you already know Calc and want to do advanced problems and proofs, this is the class for you. Drawbacks: 1. Never explains concepts intuitively 2. Laughs at student mistakes and questions 3. Scribbles and blocks the board when you try to take notes 4. Only uses advanced examples. 10 students got to the final.
Really advanced calculus lesson even though I took precalculus with him. Only recommended for advanced students.
If you like proving theorems and want to challenge difficult problems, he is a good professor. However, it is not easy to get A from him.
I love Calculus, but Hong is terrible. I did the first 3 chapters of the book on my own to prepare but he wants some lame proofs and has no patience to actually teach. I ignored other reviews, thinking students were lazy/dumb but I had to drop this class. He is the worst teacher I've had at SMC. Take him if you want to cry.
some other comments are unfair for him. acually,you can learn a lot from him. it is true that it is hard to get an A in his class. but if you really understand his preactice test, you will be fine in his test.
I liked calculus until I took this guy, at first his teaching just seems strict, but his practice tests are WAY easier than his real tests. If you do take this class, don't listen to his notes because he constantly makes mistakes, just play his game, and when he stops taking attendance, study nonstop from stewards. It's the only way to even pass.
Very unhelpful, and non-professional (Grades tests extremely carelessly). Knowing the concepts aren't good enough, one mistake and your points are gone. Studying increases your CHANCES. Don't take the class if you want a passing grade, only about the top 20% of the students in his class make it to the final with a passing grade every year.
Professor Hong definitely does not know how to teach. He assumes this is the second or third time youre taking this class. And, tests are definitely harder than anything you can review in the book, so you cant even get by by teaching yourself
Studied 3 chapters well before Fall began, took notes on every detail he wrote, dropped another class just to make more time to understand his, studied almost every waking moment studying concepts from his lectures for 2 weeks and still I struggle. This class is only Precalc and I am no slouch by any means. Drop class if you hope to transfer.
I got a B and I'm not satisfied with it. He is not teaching you so you need to learn everything on your own. However, his in-class examples are useful as sometimes he uses them as exam questions. Do his practice testes before exams. No textbook needed. For me, this class is easy to pass but hard to get an A.
I definitely was wary going in and there were many times i thought i'd fail BUT i stuck through it and ended up with a B!! The problems he does in class are the most likely to end up on the test and DON'T BE AFRAID to ask him questions or tell him to slow down! Ask him to repeat things or explain more, it really really helps!!!
Prof. goes at his own pace, not the students. Has specific interests in proving theorems using HIS METHODS and not from the book's. Also recommends using MIT, Princeton textbooks (Week 1). Be very prepared for extra work. Have fun and enjoy.
best professor ever
REALLY HARD. Teaches super advanced calculus (proving theorems and solving impossible problems). If you keep constant and do all the problems in the book (even those that seem too hard to do) you should pass. I got a B, and got an F on the first midterm.
Overall nice guy, helpful, and spoke clearly in class. The problem was that he wrote too fast, and thus his handwriting was messy at times. Also he solved practice problems on the board on his pace, and so it was difficult for students to catch up. His tests were decent and were related to the homework, but a lot of studying was required.
came to this class with a pretty solid calculus understanding. first day and he's already doing things i've never seen before and going at a fast pace. His quotes"Every student deserves to fail", "if you know the book 100% best grade you can get is low C." I don't understand why he teaches here. Sure he knows his stuff but makes you feel dumb.
All Mr Hong does is to race through his favorite theorems and examples at break-neck speed as if it is a review class. What he does cannot be called teaching. You will need to teach yourself the material. Doing his practice tests is the only hope of a decent grade. Most math students know to avoid his classes even if you already know the material.
Speaks clear English. Loves proofs. Gets annoyed at people who ask him questions after class ends and prefers to meet people during his office hours. After test days, he'll display errybody's score (doesn't show names). Homework is just do ALL the odd problems in the current chapter in order to get a "feel" for the test. Take him if you must.
If you do not like proofs then this class is not for you. The only graded work in the course are 5 tests which are difficult due to the lack of doing the work his way. Unless you are 100% focused and can make his weird early morning office hours, do not take him.
He would be a great professor for math majors but most people are not. His teaching is super fast paced and he hates answering questions. He likes to ask trick questions and make fun of whoever answered wrong. He should at least give homework credit since his tests are graded super hard. Don't take his class unless you are up for a challenge.
He is very tough. Class is based on exams, 5 exams and a final. Tests are very difficult. I felt that he did not offer much support or help. I felt that he expected everyone to just understand right away. Moves at a very fast pace. I do not recommend, and I would rather wait til next semester than take a class taught by him.
Even though It was my first semester, I got an A from this class. He gives helpful test practices, and if you take it before the test, test will be a piece of cake. He doesn't check attendence, but If you want A, Dont Miss His Class. THE BEST MATH PROFESSOR IN MY LIFE
He's okay. I recommend coming into this class prepared for the concepts and good knowledge of math 7 and 8. Test are hard, but he gives partial credit for things, which make it possible to pass. Beware, he is not a morning person. His office hours are in the morning, so ask lots of questions in class.
i passed my preCalc, calc 1 and cal2 with A but in his class doesn't matter which math course you are taking.. it is hard ! he wont teach you the material so it is like self studying. and yes at the end he is a though grader!!! end up with low grade so i may take this course again but prefer not with him..!
MATH 15 was easy with him. Would not recommend any other class with him though. ONLY m15
This guy should've been a principal or something, he's pretty strict? He doesn't teach, he just reviews the material to the lowest possible extent a teacher can get away with and he does it on purpose. He makes the problems as hard as he can do them if he were a student. He's a great challenge yet fair, got to give it your all just to pass.
The BEST math professor I've ever met in college Just one reminder: you should be responsible for yourself. Whether study or not depends on yourself. I believe if you want to know math well and work hard , you will gain a lot from him and get a high pass in this class for sure. Btw, recommend stem students to choose.
He's a really nice guy and and he speaks very clearly, although he does more proofs in class than application, when the tests are on application. The tests are super hard and I had to teach myself most of the material. Definitely go over it on your own BEFORE class; he lectures as though you know everything already.
He gave 4 tests over the whole semester, the final counting double. But he lets you cancel one of the tests (not the final!).
This is for sure not a class you can expect an easy A in- the textbook problems Hong assigns are much easier than what he expects you to know for tests. Participation is key to passing. Make sure you copy down EVERY SINGLE thing he writes on the board and review the concepts every day. The practice tests are very helpful also.
I have never experienced a teacher like this until I attended the class by Alan Hong. In the first week he told us if we could do every problem in the book we'd be lucky to get a C. This guy chats about how many students he fails with a smile on his face as if he's forgotten that this is our future in his hand. Oh and hes extremely condescending.
He is a nice guy but when it comes to Math he lectures the entire class period and often goes off on tangents. Furthermore, homework isn't graded so it is hard to gauge how well you are doing in the class. When the tests do roll around they are very difficult as well as graded very strictly. Simple mistakes will cost you a big percent of the test.
Make no mistake, this guy is by no means an easy professor. He's condescending, rude, and will embarrass you if you ask a "dumb" question. He does a lot of confusing examples in his lectures and always goes in tangents and not clear at all. He is a good mathematician and you will learn some pretty complex stuff, so he's got that going for him10
worst math teacher ever! Dont take him whatever the reason, stop thinking about him,i am letting you know right now, you ll end up with c even if you do every single problems from the textbook
Worst teacher I've ever had. He was so rude, and would make excuses for his rudeness. I honestly don't understand why someone like this chose to teach. He clearly doesn't like people, and is slow to listen to reasoning. DONT TAKE THIS COURSE!
Lectures are important, does textbook problems the whole time. He makes a lot of mistakes, but doesn't expect you to on tests. Very hard grader, hardly any partial credit. Knows the material well, but doesn't make sure YOU know it well. Hard to ask questions in his class. My class average had a 40% pass rate, and that's mostly Cs. Good challenge.
Hong does confusing examples on the board and often makes mistakes but expects you to be perfect (brags about failing students and refuses to take responsibility for his poor teaching methods), and also goes on tangents about higher level Math classes that have nothing to do with the subject. Avoid him at all cost! Trust me! Worst professor ever!
He makes many mistakes in his notes and during lectures. He doesn't really lecture you on the material but rather just solves problems. His notes are very hard to read and disorganized. He doesn't give a lot of, if any, partial credit for knowing the procedures but not getting the correct answer. Lectures can seem pointless and won't help.
Hong's class was the most difficult class I have ever taken. He teaches very complex material and gives the vibe that he thinks his students are pretty dumb. Beware that he will not help you outside of office hours or through email. He gave me the feeling I was wasting his time even during office hour. If you're not a math major, don't take him.
Knows his stuff and tries to prepare students for upper division math as an art (unnecessarily so!) Fascinating? Yeah. Will it break your GPA? Probably! We started with a class of students from great schools taking the summer course (SMC, UCLA, USC, etc). Ended with less than half of the class. Feel free to audit, but keep him away from your GPA.
any student who needs a good grade, don't take class with him but if you want to learn something, he is the best. he is very tough grader. I had not seen any teacher like him before.
Avoid him at all costs.
Pros: -Provides pdf copy of his notes so you can review before going to class -You learn a lot Cons: -You learn a lot because you have to self teach yourself the notes -HW is to do every problem and he will not help you with any of it (he refers you to your study group) - Partial credit on exams is a joke - you either got it right or you didn't
Out of over 40 students that initially enrolled in his class, only 6 didn't drop out. Nothing more to say.
He is an extremely tough and unforgiving grader. He spends a lot of time going over proofs and not much on examples. Clearly very intelligent and knowledgeable.
Goes super fast, not clear, his grading methods is a joke you either do it his way or you fail. Some problems he doesn't even know how to solve. Paid $200 for this class and I completely regret it
Professor Hong is definitely a strict grader, but the class itself is not that bad. HW is not graded, so you have to be disciplined in order to do well. If you attend lecture, follow notes and do practice problems you should have no problem passing.
Took it in summer school. Took attendance for the first 2 weeks only but dropped anyone that missed. He missed/cancelled class without explanation or warning. Posts his notes online so he burns through lecture. Does examples from the book. Tests questions from each ch. section's exercises. 4 exams, no final. Reduces weight of lowest grade & curves
Alright so.... I expected him to be a nice teacher, but comes out that he was the worst teacher I have ever seen in my entire life, sigh... He spend half of time talking about some other math level thing, which I don't know why. When he explain math works, sometimes he doesn't even know how to solve the problem. If you want to get A, don't take him
Hong was the most useless instructor I have ever had. I honestly felt I understood the material LESS when attending his lectures. He stares at the board and gets simple addition wrong. All he does is teach from the book and he can't even do that right! AVOID
teaches like you already know the material. Practice problems are exactly the same problems on the tests but only one person gets an A. Very harsh grader. Don't take him unless you want to major in math. Just not worth it.
People probably choose to take Hong's class because he is the only option available, and thinking "I will be happy with a C", or "I am good at math." Tests are not hard, but Hong wants students to show work in his way and that is screwing everyone. Even if the tests were take home quizes, your grade would not be much different. Avoid
I thought he was a nice guy but no. He made mistakes in grading my test, so I asked him to correct it. We argued and he angrily said OK and disrespectfully drew lots of circles on my paper and threw it in his bag. His temper came out of nowhere. In the end, he corrected them but his attitude was very immature.
His class had relatively difficult tests, and even though I didn't do so well on some of them, I felt as if I had learned a lot.
As a part of his introduction to our class, he announced that no one in the previous semester received an A and the 80% of the class either received a D or failed. It was almost as if he was proud of himself for his students doing poorly. His handwriting is hardly legible and he talks fast which make his lectures extremely difficult to follow.
I thought that Professor Hong was an efficient professor. He went over homework problems that students didnt understand and did them on the chalk board. He even drops the lowest test score which is great. Tests and final exam were problems from homework problems.
He's alright. Drops your worst test, lectures are fasted-paced and precise. Tests are very difficult, but he gives you a lot of resources like lecture notes and practice tests that can help you. Tough class, only take if you're going to have a lot of free time.
Not accessible outside of class. The method of teaching is discouraging. Avoid him at all cost.
In my opinion, one of most challenging yet most concise professors at SMC by far. Do the practice tests. Pay attention in class, and you'll be good. I passed with the account that I knew what I was doing and studied. If you don't study the practice tests or can't do them without looking at a solution, you're not ready.
one of the worst proffesor I have ever taken. if anyone is listening please do not take his class
Terrible teacher! He doesnt care about the students...
I recommend his class for every science major who want to transfer to top universities. I took his class by accident in my second semester. I liked it so much I decided to pursuit an applied mathematics major. Now I am a student in UC Berkeley. His class laid down a great foundation for my future study even according to Berkeley standard.
Really knows his stuff. would take him again.
Professor Hong knows his stuff, you really have to work to get a good grade and I'm talking about doing the homework which he doesn't collect. Tests are very difficult so I highly recommend you to go to office hours and math lab. Don't expect any quiz or extra credit.
No homework. Only tests. Uses chalkboard and is super unorganized when lecturing. Basically you have to teach yourself in your own time to pass or you don't. 0/5 do not recommend whatsoever. Can tell he's knowledgable about the topic but is extremely difficult to follow in lecture even for me an English native.
It's obv he's had lots of practice w maths. But his hasty & generally unmethodical style is NOT very instructive nor helpful for students who are not as versed in math as he is. Do not take unless math major/someone w strong math background. Practice tests only tangentially reflect exams. Notes are illegible & incomplete. Unreasonable expectations.
do not take him unless you are very good at the topic already
"This class is a techniques course Differential Equations, but I like theory, so I'm going to put it on the test." Unless you're a god at math, don't even bother.
I struggled a lot in this class. In class he goes extremely fast that it is easy to get lost. When he does problems and starts another he doesn't ever fully erase the other problem which makes it difficult to understand what goes to which problem. You do not want to take this class unless you are a math major or you already have taken calc at SMC.
STAY AWAY! 45 ppl were in my class, 8 took the final & only 2 passed. HE BRAGS ABOUT HOW STUDENTS DONT PASS HIS CLASS. Even if youre retaking Precal, or even took calc already stay away. You make a tiny mistake and get zero credit. He is pretentious, sloppy, talks fast, jumps around topics & DOES NOT TEACH OUT OF THE BOOK OR HOW PPL DO IT ONLINE!!!
it is obvious he is very knowledgeable but on the first day made of fun of an older student for taking math 3 multiple times and bragged about most of his students failing. unorganized and tests are extremely difficult. definitely needs to retire.
Doesn't teach. Just reads out definition from the book, then jumps into doing problems which he makes tons of mistakes on. Spends more time saying that NOT doing things precisely his way on tests will cost points than actually TEACHING relevant material. Goes off on tangents about other classes and how incompetent other professors are.
My stats: 1600 SAT. Early Stanford admit. 136.5 on the AMC 12A. I say this to emphasize the difficulty of this Professor. My class started with about 20 students and ended with 3. No one received an A. When Hong says you must show work EXACTLY as he shows in class, he means it. He was rude to my peers who ended up dropping. Avoid if possible.
The class is seemingly simple: watch the lectures, do the practice tests and the homework and youre good! Lol sike. He gives 0 positive reinforcement, doesn't review a thing, and wants you to do everything HIS way. Because of this, any student taking his class will not be able to assess how precise their work has been, and WILL end up failing. GG
He's very knowledge about Calculus unfortunately, he expects the same level of knowledge out of his students. If you're looking for a Calculus course that is based on theory then take professor Hong. If you're a student that is taking Calculus for the first time, I advise you to take another professor.
Professor Hong is a good person but not a good professor. At the beginning of the semester there were 20 students and by the end only 4 took the final. His teaching style is very rigorous. During the test you will be tested on theorems. If you don't give 105% in his class you will fail.
Hardest math professor at SMC. Only take him specifically if you want a fairly accurate measure for how strong your math reasoning skills are. Still, I do not believe his harsh grading methods are justified, because, even he admits that pre-college math education is quite lacking. Therefore, you're prepared for his classes only by pure luck.
Never miss an exam
DON'T TAKE HIS CLASS!! We started as 30 some people we end up around 3.
Those who say that he is knowledgeable are fake comments. I recommend that you take his class to catch all of the mistakes he makes. He is not one of those teacher to be called knowledgeable!
I added this class last minute because I needed some credits. The 1st lecture he had, we only did 2 problems and then spent the rest of the class talking about an AI calculator and a plane site. I got dropped because I didnt have 14 hours logged into zoom, we have only had 2 3hr classes. And his handwriting is impossible to read. Actual Moon runes.
Your entire grade is based on 4 exams and he proudly boasts about only 5 people passing his class. He's 72, incredibly stubborn, says the textbook is wrong, doesn't want you going to the math lab for tutoring, expects you to rewatch his lectures multiple times, holds additional classes on weekends, and his handwriting is so hard to read.
DON'T TAKE IT. unless you don't care about your grades. I literally using the answer of textbook to answer the same question in the exam and I got 0. And I got A on CAL in other school. His exam is all about proving the theory while this course should be focus on practice.
This instructor was a tough instructor. More specifically I was trying to get the ball rolling in my mathematics skills after a while of being out of school and feel that the instructor was merciless. I recommend taking courses with teachers not as difficult if you're someone getting back into school.
He goes and talks about how his students have been failing for the past 2 years. He is very rude and blames his students instead of his teaching!
I don't understand why he still has a job, his class is always open because nobody wants to take him. He likes seeing students suffer. I took him years ago and the class started with 20 people and ended with just 2.
He is a stubborn professor and he says he's way is the only right way, he blames student for not understanding while I cant understand his writing and his way of teaching. He bases your whole grade in 4 test, if you think you can manage go for it but for those who need more help in math NEVER take his course.
The class is very challenging, but Unstuck ai and other study aids can help manage the difficulty. Attendance is mandatory, so be prepared to stay focused in lectures.
His teaching method is really mass.He likes to teach Math8 in Math 2 class.He always blame and interrogate students even if they dont know the answer.He always said he is the oldest professor at college and he has been taught math for 47years and blah blahHe told students that no one can get Aor B,at least oneC.I don't know how could he teach here.
When someone answered in the class and if that was wrong he always made fun of that student. Disrespectful teacher. His explanation is really bad no one would understand. The grade is only EXAM. He will never grade assignments. Do not take his class if you need your credit you will drop this class for sure.
Actually, I have a masters degree from Caltech in physics and I simply wanted to go back for fun and review some material in calculus. Of course, I received an A in the course, however he is for sure the worst Professor I have ever seen in my academic life. Santa Monica College would be a better place without teachers like this.
Want a easy A fully online math class ? Go to LACCD, easy A, and avoid taking any Math Classes at SMC. If you want to Fail then take it at SMC, but Pass all your Math Classes with an A then go to LACCD. Most of SMC now takes LACCD MAth.
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