Very open-minded, lets you debate, great teacher

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One of the best teachers i've ever had

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You will learn a lot in this class- or more specificly, outside of this class. The class itself is really fun- people get very wrapped up in the subject matter. He himself is fairly quiet, but really cool.

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really great class. tests are hard, but the quizzes are really easy. he talks a lot about current events and is very liberal but he's VERY open to other peoples opinions. he's just an all-around great guy

really awesome guy, all around. you will fall in love with his accent (which is amazing). really helpful and easy to talk to about grades. course focuses more on current events and cultures than memorizing maps. one of my favorite classes/profs.

Interesting current event discussions but hard tests. And you must memorize lots of maps and physical features for all.

The final project can be rough, but Dr. Rallis is willing to help you every step of the way. He is very easy to talk to and he is an incredibly intelligent man especially in this class, since he hails from South Africa. The man knows his stuff!

Flamming liberal!

Inspiring prof, very knowledgable, tests are easy if you follow global events...he says he encourages outside opinions, but if your opinion is different--he doesn't accept it. he's as liberal as they get

Dr. Rallis is such a wonderful professor! He's inspiring, fair, and really interesting. The class material is great and he offers the South African perspective. I would take another class with him in a heartbeat.

His class is great. You learn a lot about the world and people around you. He really puts new perspectives on things and helps you look at different events and places objectively.

Dr. Rallis is absolutely brilliant. He's easily one of the best professors I've had. He has a wide range of knowledge and can make any topic fascinating. Take one of his classes - regardless of what your major is, it'll be worth it.

I probably would've enjoyed this class more if it was later in the day - just not a professor you want in the morning. Teaches many facts you don't need to know, which makes studying hard. Still, brilliant professor who is great to talk with outside class

Everyone who goes to MWC has got to take at least one of his courses. He's got that whole British-accent smart guy thing going. Very interesting to listen to also.

He is a good teacher, really gives you a good idea of why things are the way they are. His tests are easy, he has pop quizes on the newspaper and the readings. Overall a good class.

He seems nice, but I took his class to learn about Geography, not about how Americas are ignorant. I already knew that. I just wanted to know where things are and important cultural, political stuff. I dropped the class cause I wasnt learning.

Definitely one of the best profs ive ever had, this man is BRILLIANT! The class is a real eye opener about different perspectives around the world. just make sure you keep up with the readings and start studying ur maps early and u'll be fine!

BEST TEACHER AT MWC!!! learned a ton... extremely dynamic and knowledgable. really cares that you are globally educated rather than just reading stupid brit lit and roughly knowing the 50 states. i recommend ALL of his classes to any and everyone.

People seem to either love or hate Rallis. If you're a relatively liberal person who has an interest in world events, you will love his class. He likes to talk about current world events and people instead of just memorizing places. I personally recommend him for potential geography majors.

excellent professor and very witty man. quizzes aren't difficult if you read the paper and study the maps. very interesting lectures. if you're interested in geography and current events, you can learn a lot from him. very liberal

An excellent and stimulating professor. Take his courses!

He told us on the first day that just because this class was introductory did not mean it was easy, and boy, was he right. I crammed more into my head in one semester than I did in all four years of high school. And you CAN voice conservative opinions in his class, but you have to do it INTELLIGENTLY and NICELY. He is the professor, after all.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED HIS CLASS! He is absolutely hilarious and a very good lecturer. He is always clear about what he expects. He has been many places in the world including S.Africa and all over Asia. He's a very reasonalbe professor this semester he let our mid-terms be a take home exam. Definetly take him if you like to learn and have fun.

he is a fair grader and he is good about opening up the class to discussions. if he feels like the class isnt participating enough he gives quizes, but they usually aren't that hard.

Monotonous but intelligent. Power point in class with a few videos (not available on blackboard). Not necessary to read if you pay attention in class. Has pop quizzes on current events and the reading (allowed to use atlas). Map Quizzes are easy if you study it (Countries, Capitals, specific landforms from a list). Tests = Easy

great class! it's great to have such an articulate and intelligent teacher. (they're people too, entitled to their own opinions, too) i really enjoy this class.

Very passionate about geography and world events. At first seems to have high expectations, but quizzes and tests are a breeze if you prepare. If you aren't willing to do work out of class, don't expect to do well.

Rallis is a smart guy and knows what he is talking about. 101 is pretty easy if you can memorize well. His exams require critical thinking, however. Rallis is pretty open about his views, but he spent very little time bringing them up in my class. If you don't want to work don't take him. I would suggest that everyone else should take Geog 101.

THis class was pretty easy as long as you learn the capitals and countries. I did minimal work and still got an A as long as you understand basic geography and current events.

If you want to learn about the world, take this course. If you want to be pushed to think, take this course. If you are not prepared to do some work, find another course instead.

Rallis is awesome...crystal clear on his expectations and lectures! Although I think for an intro course, the work load is a bit much, if you study(in advance)you'll do well on the tests. He is so knowledgeable and passionate about the world, and passes that on through his teachings. Also, a pretty great photographer! I'm jealous.

This class is not difficult if you take the time to learn the countries/capitals of the world. Read the text and newspaper and you'll do fine on the quizzes and midterm. Its an eye-opening class that should be taken by everyone.

This class was useful in helping to understand the ways of the world. Especially from different perspectives other than my own American one. I enjoyed Dr. Rallis own unique insight of the issues of the contemporary world. The class is easy enough if you study, particularly for the map tests. The mid-terms and final were difficult. Read the textbook

This class helped to illuminate the question of race and the global impact of being a labeled a certain race in various regions of the world. How one title in another country can have a negative impact on the cultural landscape of another region."I'm a North American first- with all of its liberties that it holds sacred - and a race last."

Rallis is great. If you are okay a memorizing stuff and you are willing to study, his class is not hard. He's smart and knows a lot about the world. It was a good class. Take him.

This was one of the best courses I've taken in college thus far. His perspective and personal antecdotes are not only compelling, but also give you an insight into the the perspective of the rest of the world.However, know that it is not an easy course and is not intended to be. You have to do work and be able to think geographically for tests.

Good class, interesting discussion, he attentively grades your papers which helps a lot to develop your writing ability and get experience in what to change in order to get a better grade next time. Overall, I would definitely recommend taking his class. I'm hoping to take another of his at some point.

great professor. really interesting lectures

Dr. Rallis has an interesting teaching style, his lectures are very difficult to take notes on so it would suit you best to just listen. I never found a need for the book, the atlas requires lots of studying. The tests are totally out of the atlas and the map quizzes require a bit of time. Use your resources in this class and always read the news.

I came into the class scared, because I heard some bad things about him, but they turned out to mostly be exaggerations. You can really tell he loves his job, and that makes the class much better. Four words: DO THE EXTRA CREDIT.

Rallis is a genuinely nice professor who wants you to do well. He offers plenty of extra credit and is very knowledgeable of the world. His lectures are fascinating and it helps to take some notes...otherwise you just need to study hard for the map quizzes. He often has pop quizzes on current events and his blogs but take him its a good class!

This class was alright. There wasn't really a clear structure and it seemed we watched videos more than he actually taught. Understandable, though on a class as broad as all of sub-saharan africa. Rallis is still great though-was really helpful with the research paper and book review.

Great guy! He loves what hes doing and know so much about the class. Traveled all over the world so it goes hand in hand when talking about different parts of the world. Class is extremely easy with open note/ take home quizzes and tests. Very easy class

Take his class and get him to talk about his life history because he's very interesting. His accent is fun to listen to during lecture and he will really help you fine tune your writing by giving detailed criticism.

gGreat professor. will get you interested in geography. openminded about new ways of learning (online tests/quizzes, skyping class from south east asia). Gives extra cred opportunities. map quizzes are straight forward. list of must-knows are online. use sporcle to study countries/capitals and you'll be golden. highly recommend.

This guy is great. If you stay on top of the small amount of work that he gives you, you'll pass easily. He wants you to learn and he genuinely cares about his students taking something away from his class. I recommend it for anyone

Geog. of Asia was interesting. His lectures are his own personal slide shows of photos where he has been. He gives a more personal rather than textbook approach to teaching. Keep your papers short. Do the readings and additional research. Study hard for the map quiz(es). Please comment on his interesting blogs. You will learn a lot.

Love him!

I love Dr.Rallis - he is the sweetest professor ever. Just thinking about him makes me smile. He wants each of this students to do well, his teaching style is different, he teaches by showing his personal pictures of the region. He is amazing, please take him if u really want to learn about the world. But be ready to write 5-6 papers!!

Truly one of my favorite professors at Mary Washington. I've taken him several times. He expects a lot of work from you but it's enjoyable and always worth it. He's very experiential- we had class through a web cam when he was in South Africa- and learned a lot because of it. He's really made my time at UMW worthwhile, and I'm not even a Geog major

He is a great professor. I looked forward to coming to class and hearing his adventures overseas. He has a lot of his own pictures in his presentations, and you won't need to take many notes (just note where EVERY picture is from! it'll help later!) Map quizzes require straight memory, Other quizzes/midterm/final were open-book/online. TAKE HIM!

Dr Rallis is AWESOME! One of my favorite professors here at Mary Wash. His stories are so interesting and really do help you learn about other parts of the world. He is very open to discussion, especially opinions that differ from his, which is always interesting. I'm hoping to take him again!

Very easy class, talks alot about his trips to different countries which can make class go by quicker. His map quizzes are easy if you study for them. Can be pretty lenient on attendence but enjoys throwing in pop quizzes if most of the class is absent.

Professor Rallis is amazing! He is very passionate about his subject and uses all of his own pictures and stories in his lectures. The class itself is fairly easy - a few quizzes, light reading - with very few surprises, grade-wise. Just pay attention and soak in all the interesting things he has to say. A great way to knock out a gen-ed!

Truly a great professor. He teaches from his experiences and provides far more insight into the cultures and identities around the globe than most INAF classes. Lectures were very interesting; expect a fair amount of reading and homework, but well worth the time vested.

Rallis is phenomenal. His perspective on life is interesting and he's traveled everywhere so you're being taught by someone who has personal experience in the subject. The class can be hard if you're not good at memorization, paying attention in class, or keeping up with the readings, but he's definitely worth taking

rallis is awesome. you've got to stay on top of canvas because there are only so many assignments and map quizzes, if you miss a few you're pretty screwed and the deadlines are fairly non-negotiable. seriously study for the map quizzes, you can't just skim the atlas 10 mins before class. very interesting though!

Despite taking the class online (I prefer to take classes in person), Dr. Rallis made the course interesting with his personal blogs and global insight. The online tests were tricky at times, and the fact he was in remote places around the world delayed direct communication, but overall a good overview of world regional geography.