He's so enthusiastic that it can't help but rub off on you. Lectures are interesting and fun.

Very very enthusiastic. Not a hard class, especially if you go every day.

Very energetic. A natural entertainer. Tests can be difficult; study a lot.

This man is a genius. Literally. Speaks 14 languages (no exaggeration-check out his CV). Lots of energy & passion, captivating lectures. Imparts sooo much information that tests can be hard. This was one of my favorite classes because of him.

I think all that can be said about this great American has been said.

Loved him! Taught tag-team style with Truschel, hated him, loved Vajda! So entertaining, fills in lectures with interesting stories, very smart. Very. Kind of cute too!

Very enthusiastic and energetic! Great sense of humor. He's understanding. Would highly recommend!

I love this man!!!! He's just so cute and excited about what he's teaching!! I couldn't wait to go to class everyday!!! He made me obsessed with Russian Literature and history!!! He shares lots of interesting and obscure facts with the class!!! Take a class with this guy if you don't you're truly missing out!

Ed's a great teacher, and an absolutely brilliant man. He can pick up a language in a weekend with no problems, and his teaching style is always entertaining. He has no problem demonstrating embarrassing things in class (see kowtow) and he's always keeping you laughing. Once I wrote on my teacher evals that his classes were an "action packed tour de force" and its true!

The quarter is only halfway through and I feel like I need to write about him....that is how AWESOME he is. He can make ANY boring subject super entertaining, and he is super nice. Very close to the best professor I've had here...VERY close.

Vajda is the best professor that I have had the opportunity to study under. I have taken as many classes from him as possible, whether the subject matter interested me or not. I can't imagine anyone not loving his classes.

He is the best prof I've ever had!! If you can take him, do it! He's super easy and fun! He makes really esay to understand, and his tests aren't hard as long as you pay attention in class. He's the great prof ever!

Professor Vajda's absolutely AMAZING. Foreign languages are always daunting, but Ed turns it into educational vaudeville. He's warm, funny, dedicated and brilliant. I've learned more in half a quarter of his classes than I did taking TWO YEARS of Spanish at another college.

hard class but its not his fault i just had a hard time with Russian. he’s a great teacher and i would defiantly recommend him

He is FANTASTIC! Russian is one of many languages I've studied in my life, and this class was probably the best taught of all the 15+ years I've taken foreign language! Edward is enthusiastic, helpful, knowledgeable, and just downright fun! I highly reccomend this teacher for anyone!

Had him for Linguistics 201 as well over the summer. Dr. Vajda is easily the best professor I have ever taken a class from, on any subject. His classes are challenging, still plenty of fun. Homework is actually not tedious, unlike most other foreign language courses. I definitely will have to complete the entire Russian sequence after this.

Honestly, the best teacher I've had. He really knows how to engage the classroom, and he teaches with such a style that you'll never forget the material.

This is the grestest language teacher you will ever take.

Freakin brilliant - he speaks some 20 odd languages, including hawiian and mongolian. GENUINLY nice. He's very energetic and funny, which makes it fun to actually go to class. He is very fair with grades, but Russian is a hard language. My favorite professor.

The best I have ever had, top of the game.

He couldn't make the class any more fun, the hard material easier, or the overall experience any better.

Very good teacher, one of the best. knows what he's talking about. very enthused about the topic, makes it that much easier to go to class. you'll know exactly whats expected of you on the test. goes over reviews and gives you everything you'll know. though because of that the tests are very precise and you gotta know the details. No need to

Very enthusiastic and interesting.

Absolutely amazing. Best teacher I've ever had, this guy has an infectious enthusiasm for teaching and for the Russian language. I constantly brag about how cool he is to my friends.

Vajda gives interesting lectures, you can tell he's excited about the subject of nomads, Mongols, etc. He gives out study guides for exams which were pretty comprehensive, so it's not difficult to do well. I actually looked forward to going to class.

This was the best class I have taken so far at Western! Ed Vadja is very intelligent and a great professor. He makes you want to come to class and his tests are very fair! He makes the subject so interesting. I raved about this class to all of my friends! Definately take Nomads of Eurasia from Vadja!

Vajda loves loves loves teaching. Anyone who has taken a class with him will tell you that. He is very clear about everything and he wants his students to take away as much from the class as possible. Russian was actually fun and relatively easy thanks to him.

Are you kidding? This is the best professor on the planet! The material isn't easy, but he makes it easy. He makes sure everyone understands the material before moving on. You'll look forward to coming to class every day - even if you previously hated the subject. Take a class with Prof. Vajda - any class.

Take his classes, excellent teacher can't wait to take eus210

Vajda is wildly enthusiastic, conversational, and interesting. That said, his supposedly innovative language-teaching techniques (which are a bit like immersion) are actually quite confusing, and being told that "-araa" means "if you want to do this, you can, but you don't have to, it's really your choice, if you like" can get a little confusing.

Awesome professor, awesome class, Woo Mongolian!

best prof i've ever taken a course from. it doesn't matter how little interest you have in the subject... he'll make it interesting. if there's an opening in one of his classes- TAKE IT, even if you don't need it for credits.

Fantastic class. No textbook, so focus on the lectures and powerpoints (ppts posted to blackboard). You can tell he is in love with the subject, so each class is very interesting and he's quite comical. A must take.

I didn't go to class to learn Russian as much as I went to hang out with Eddie Vajda. Best. Professor. Ever.

One of the best professors I've ever had. He's just an awesome guy and genuinely cares about the subject matter and is really enthusiastic. However his lectures are usually rushed (sometimes up to 100+ slides for a 50 minute class) and its hard to keep up with notes. Tests are difficult as well.

Vajda is awesome. i like partying and stuff, never really cared for school, but i actually enjoyed this guys material. very interesting, has fair tests. good class, take him

Tied as BEST PROFESSOR EVER with Byron Stayskal. He makes the lectures absolutely riveting. 3 exams total. Didn't need to read the book. I am so interested in Russian history now and history in general.

Best class I've taken so far! He's very interesting and he loves what he's teaching. the information is a little hard and there is a lot of it, but he makes it really easy to remember. It's not mandatory to come to class, but you'll do better on tests if you go to class. The tests aren't hard if you study for them, and there's no textbook!

Just a great, funny, and frankly kind of adorable lecturer. Like a puppy. A puppy that is infinitely more awesome than you could ever hope to be. I mean, how awesome is it to be taught Russian history by someone who helped tear down the Berlin Wall, and still has pieces of it?

AWESOME teacher! He's pretty entertaining. An easy class if you study the material.

When he's not tromping through remote villages in Siberia, Vajada spends his time teaching the coolest classes you can possibly find at Western. I normally have problems staying awake for history lectures, but he manages to obtain my attention and make me laugh ( a lot). Consider yourself lucky if you manage to take one of his classes.

Great teacher. He knows what he's talking about, is funny, and teaches very well. Nomads is an easy but informative class and you don't need to go every day even. I advise taking the class for a good class on a subject most people don't learn about.

One of the best professors at Western. He makes boring history interesting. He's a funny Russian teacher with a slight accent. Test are not challenging compared to how much you learn in each lecture. Just make sure you print out his study guide.

Favorite Professor thus far! The tests can be difficult, unless you use the study guide and don't wait to last second to study- then it's not so bad. Class takes some effort, but it's worth it. Vajada's accent makes the corny jokes worth coming to class. I highly advise anyone to take this class.

TAKE THIS CLASS! It's an easy A and very interesting as well. Lectures aren't mandatory but I recommend going because his stories and examples are hilarious. If the material bores you, Vajda's personality will make up for it

Magnificent teacher! Best class at WWU so far.

Vadja is the greatest professor in the world.

I love Vajda. He is very knowledgeable and tries to deliver the subject content in a way that is interesting. I normally don't like history, but his class was worth going to. It takes some effort to study the material. Not something you can really cram. I learned a lot and it was surprisingly relevant to knowing about modern events. Take it.

Professor Vajda may be the most interesting, knowledgeable, intelligent professor I've ever had, and he backs it all up with actually being able to teach. I wasn't very interested in Linguistics before I started his class but became absolutely fascinated. His tests are pretty hard, but as long as you take good notes and GO TO CLASS, you'll be fine.

Eddy V! This guy runs Siberia and is absolutely one of the smartest guys out there. Tests are extremely clear (M/C), if you study you will get an A. Gives you 10 extra credit questions on the final. I believe he is fluent in multiple languages including some that only about 30 people know in the entire world. crazy smart!

Smartest guy I've ever met, very enthusiastic about everything, extremely interesting to listen to. Favorite teacher of all time!

The professor is extremely intelligent in his profession, and I loved hearing about his research work. He is hilarious and very enthusiastic about the subject, but honestly the class is just too long and boring for me. I prefer to just do all the readings and read the powerpoints and skip class. I've gotten As so far.

Vajda is simply the best prof at WWU.

Wants you to succeed. Awesome guy, totally interesting. Take him.

Best teacher ever. that is all.

Greatest professor I have ever had. Makes his lectures hilarious, it is impossible not to laugh. Test are fairly difficult but if you study and can memorize well it should be fine. Gives maps on every test that are easy points. Taking a different class from him next quarter because he is so awesome! Take this class! Plus no textbook for this class!

there's a lot of memorization but he's pretty fair all throughout his tests.

Great professor! He makes his lectures fun, and interesting. He is a genius in his field and loves to teach about it. There is no textbook, just lectures and some optional online readings. Go to class, takes notes, study some and you'll do well. His Russian Civilization Class EUS 201 is also GREAT!

Great GUR. Awesome russian accent. Must take this class!

this guy is one of the most interesting and best profs i've ever had. lectures everything from memory. only thing is tests (3 of them) are 100 multiple choice so they can be tough in terms of memorizing everything. going to lecture isn't mandatory but it's so satisfying that you'll want to go.

I have taken Edward for both Russians and Nomads. Its the greatest. Just study hard a day or so before the tests and it should work out. Greatest teacher at wwu ive had

Incredible professor, one of the most interesting and intelligent people I've ever met. He will do anything he can to help you out. His tests are almost impossible to pass if you don't study, but reading the text book and looking at the power points really helps. Plus he has a really great butt.

Hands down, the funniest professor i've ever had. just a short, smiley, crazy russian. almost makes you want to keep him as a pet. super intelligent, super interesting, super cool. tests are VERY extensive, and 100 questions makes it hard to finish in the time alotted. if you study the slides and notes, you will do well though. TAKE HIM.

HE is the best professor I've had in WWU, and best language teacher I've ever had. He makes difficult Russian very fun to learn with appropriate examples and jokes; it's different from the jokes he tells in Nomads, its more fun haha. I really recommend taking his Russian classes

GO TO CLASS. There's no textbook, so all you really have are his powerpoints in class to work with when you study. Although he is very passionate about the material, it was very hard for me to pay attention/be interested in learning the material. He tests on the most obscure little details and his review sessions aren't incredibly helpful.

Easily the best professor you could ever hope to have. He's clear about what he wants, he's passionate about the subject matter, and he wants you to do well in the class. That being said it's not easy, but he'll always help you if you're confused. He gives great study guides and review days for both Nomads of Eurasia and Russian Civ.

I LOVE VAJDA. I took this class specifically because I had him before and loved his teaching style. He's hilarious, passionate, and super clear on what he wants from you. He has a great teaching style, and he's super entertaining. Best professor I've had so far.

A professor that truly cares about his students. Go to class & pay attention because his tests are sometimes tricky. He always provides in depth study guides and has review sessions.

Best professor I've ever had. He's really funny and makes all the material he teaches interesting! There's nothing surprising on the tests and he covers everything very thoroughly in class lectures. 10/10 would recommend.

Took Russian Civilizations with Vajda, great prof. He is funny and more than happy to pause lecture to answer questions. He includes many slides in his ppts but he is not a prof to write everything on the slides. Skipping class, unless youve got a friend to take good notes, is not a good idea. You miss so much info if you do, no hw but 3 big tests

BEST PROF EVER. I'm being completely serious, he is a fantastic professor and I highly recommend taking any class he teaches! He's hilarious, his lectures are extremely interesting and he makes you enjoy the material. If you're not taking one his courses, you're missing out!

Dr. Vajda is amazing! Already recommended this course to several friends. Wasn't planning on taking it this course but extremely content I did. Super funny, relaxed and knows the material off top. Exams are pretty lengthy (100 multiple choice Qs) and can be tricky. Attendance almost mandatory to do well in class bc he doesn't use a textbook

Make sure to show up to class every day because he covers everything on the tests in depth. If you show up, you'll get everything you need. He also put his powerpoints online which helped a lot for studying. Despite Russian history being kind of depressing at times, he made it really fun.

Picture a Russian Robin Williams. That's Vajda. Easily one of my favorite profs I've had at WWU! He's absolutely hilarious and made history fun for someone who doesn't normally enjoy history classes. There is a textbook, but I never really had to use it. I think it's better to just show up to class and take good notes.

Hilarious, knowledgeable and engaging. Gives tough tests that you will not pass if you don't know the material, but if you pay attention and study, you should do fine. This class specifically does not have any textbooks, which is a bonus.

show up take notes and review before the test and you will be fine. if your taking the EUS 2010 theres not text book and if there is he probably wrote it. And there is only 3 100 question multiple choice tests super easy and a super fun class. He also has a great sense of humor, and is probably one of the leading historians/linguists in his field.

Dr. Vajda is a hilarious professor who is not only distinguished as a lecturer but also in his research. He really combines the best of both worlds and his Nomads class is a truly exceptional experience. I would highly recommend this man for any student at Western, he's a truly amazing professor and is absolutely hilarious.

If there is another professor who can hold a conversation about obscure ethnic groups in Southwestern Pakistan, I have yet to meet him. Professor Vajda is distinguished in his research and his teaching - the knowledge you will take from his class is truly unique and attending his lectures felt like a privilege. A truly amazing professor! NOMADS!!!!

Extensive amount of detail per powerpoint but don't let this frighten you - his engaging lectures facilitate in comprehending the material, so listen carefully & take good notes. Memorization-based so If you put the time in, you'll receive a good grade. Always available for help and quick responses to emails. His Ket research was fascinating.

He was a really great teacher, I didn't think that Russian Civ, would be funny and interesting but it was. As long as you keep up with the online quizzes and review the power points you don't have to go to class except on test days. However, I would recommend going when you can because he's so interesting, and you'll do better on the tests.

Professor Vajda is easily in my top three professors and teachers I've ever had. He is absolutely hilarious and his enthusiasm is incredible and infectious. I took Russian with him originally as a burn class and had more fun than I have ever had in a class. I can't recommend him more. Incredibly friendly, incredibly engaging, incredibly incredible

People say he is the Russian Robin Williams... I can't argue with that description. He's funny and not in the usual awkward professor way. He cracked everyone up at least once this quarter.25% of your grade is quizzes with unlimited attempts so you should get 100% and 3 exams make up the rest of the grade. TAKE THIS CLASS!!!

Lectures were so funny, made me want to go to class! I was so interested in Russian history by the end of it. You can tell he really enjoys teaching. Grading is pretty laid back. If you study, you'll do great on the three 100-question tests.

Vajda is an amazing character as a professor- jokes around a lot even when he doesn't know it. I've taken 2 classes with him because I love his PowerPoint-lecture teaching style. Grading is easy going just like him. Take his class you won't forget about it!

Great guy, and his enthusiasm is incredible. He really just wants his students to learn, so he makes everything in his class very accessible and as straight forward as possible. Everything you need to know is online, so if you miss class you can easily make it up. One of my favorite GUR classes so far.

Prof. Vajda is a large part of the reason I decided on a ling major. He's absolutely one of the best teachers/professors I've ever had. He's very approachable and fun. Some might find his daily (online) quizzes tedious but they're very easy. You absolutely won't pass without the textbook. Hands-down the most enjoyable class of my academic career.

Super easy class, I'm not very in to history and it is pretty easy

I loved professor Vajda. He is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about language and extends that to his students. There are only three exams, one being a non cumulative final, and each have opportunities for extra credit. You do need to use the text book for online quizzes, but you don't have to read every word to pass this class.

This professor has made my first two years of college exceptional. I have taken both of his history classes (EUS 201, 210) and am currently in his Russian sequence. Granted, both history and the Russian language are tough courses, he makes the lectures fun and the material easy to understand. I highly highly recommend this professor.

I've had two classes with Vajda and think he's fantastic. He gives detailed slides that can be studied from along with class notes, so you don't have to write everything and can really focus on what he says in class. The quizzes provide feedback on individual questions. A great teacher and a real expert in morphology and historical linguistics.

I'm currently a junior at WWU. Vadja is absolutely the best professor i've had here so far. incredibly knowledgeable in the subjects he teaches, can answer any question in depth at the drop of a hat, and has an engaging and humorous style of lecture. I'd take him again and as a history major, I hope that I do.

AMAZING LECTURES! They were so interesting I never skipped class! Loved him as a teacher, hes very very well educated and knows exactly what hes talking about. I would retake his class again in a heartbeat if I could. Would totally recommend this class (it is not hard at all if you either watch or attend his lectures) and its fascinating.

The best teacher I ever had. period.

He's so caring that it makes me want to cry. Morphology was great with Prof. Vajda! We had one homework assignment almost every week, 1 midterm and a final, and verrrrrrry long PowerPoint slides with massive amounts of information! Make sure you get down all the definitions and concepts early so you will not struggle trying to remember everything.

He is an amazing professor. His lectures are the entire hour and 20 minutes but even though they are super long, he tries to make them interesting or entertaining. He is really funny as well. Tests are pretty simple, he gives practice tests online and if you study those you should pass the class with a B or higher. Good dude

great, hilarious, and passionate professor, def one of the coolest at wwu. going to class is a necessity though, vajda's lectures are fast paced and loaded with definitions and new info.

Easy A. Go to lectures, keep up with quizzes & do the online practice exams. The exams are super easy because the ANSWERS ARE ONLINE! If you do the quick lecture & textbook quizzes online (worth 40% of final grade+unlimited attempts) as soon as they're assigned you won't be overwhelmed. Basically put in the time for this 5 CREDIT CLASS and it's A+.

Edward Vajda is such a Dad. This class is definitely difficult before you get the hang of it but he designed it to be as easy as possible. He really wants you to pass and even is available for extra help. He is an angel.

By and far my favorite professor at Western! I had him for historical linguistics and morphology. He is not only knowledgeable, but filled with enthusiasm for the subject and an engaging lecturer to boot. He is very funny (sometimes unintentionally) and always happy to chat with students about the material or his experiences. A true gem.

I took Vajda's class online, and I really enjoyed it! I would often tell my friends and family about the things I learned during the course. I didn't even mind his longer lectures because he was so engaging. There was no textbook, which was a bonus, and the supplemental readings were optional. I didn't really need them, but they were pretty cool!

One of my favorite professors as Western! He makes sure that you can get a good grade on all his tests by making "practice tests" which end up being EXTREMELY similar to the real test. Study the practice test religiously. Get perfect scores on the quizzes (you can take over & over). Drink some coffee, long lecture. He is awesome, highly recommend.

Best lecturer I've *ever* had. He know what's he's talking about & integrates much humor into his lectures. He puts a lot of heart, soul, and passion into his teaching. However, the tests involve memorizing an almost absurd amount of minute details and maps. Almost got a D b/c of that, but with his help outside of class I managed to get it to a B-.

Ed is great. He loves what he teaches and he teaches it well. I do have two issues with the class though. His PowerPoints are too long and its easy to get lost, and the online quizzes take way to much time. His tests are hard, but he gives you all the tools you need to do well. He is also very funny and nice!

Ed has the most enthusiastic lectures but they are very detailed so it's important to pay attention in class. He takes attendance and there are a lot of small quizzes outside of class but all of the answers are on his powerpoints on canvas or in the textbook.

Dr. Vajda is uproariously funny; even if you have little interest in Russian Civ, he manages to make lectures enjoyable and accessible. He's very organized and knowledgeable about his subject area, and is, in general, an interesting human being. I'd highly recommend taking one of his classes.

Ed is great. His lectures are something to look forward to as hes always cracking jokes and even singing for the class. He is so knowledgeable about Russian history despite his career being in linguistics. His lecture pace can be fast for notes but he posts all PowerPoints. The quizzes are very helpful for exams and boost your grade a ton. 11/10

You can tell he cares a lot about his students success and wants everyone to take something from the course. He does put the slides online so don't try to write everything down in class. Also, the study guides were the best way to study for the test!

Vajda is amazing! His quizzes are online and he's very clear about what he expects (most test questions are word for word from the practice test) but he's truly passionate about Linguistics and it shows. I changed my major because I loved his class so much!

He's a delightful professor and his lectures are well paced and interesting. He is very enthusiastic and you'll probably have an easy time paying attention. There are lots of online tests and four in-person exams. His study guides are very close to the exams and the online tests prepare you well. I would definitely recommend this class.

Vajda is amazing!! I had him for Russian civ my first quarter at Western. He was incredibly accommodating as I needed to take my final early, and he's very friendly and easy to talk to. He's funny, intelligent, and overall a great professor. I'm taking him again for spring quarter and I cannot wait to be in his class! My favourite prof so far.

Vajda is one of the gems of Western. He is EXTREMELY knowledgeable and passionate about what he teaches, and is also just a very friendly and funny professor. He really cares about you learning and his grading system is set up for you to succeed. If there is ever an opportunity to take a class with him, absolutely do it!!

After each lecture there is a quiz of 15-30 questions on canvas that you can take as many times as you need with no time limit. There are no homework assignments and three multiple choice exams. Vajda is an amazing professor and gives incredible lectures full of fascinating information. If you are lucky, he will sing Russian folk tales.

Vajda is super awesome. He has an obvious passion for linguistics. In LING201, you have 3-4 tests and tons of online quizzes that can be used to help you study. If you put in a bit of effort, you'll get an A out of this class.

Professor Vajda is, by far, the most amazing professor at Western. He is passionate, funny, and an amazing and caring guy. If you get the chance to take him, do it!!! Hes wonderful and even if you arent interested in Russian or Linguistics, he will make you passionate about it, too.

Super funny and knows how to keep students awake. Teaches well. Tests are difficult if you don't go to class or do his online quizzes. No due dates for quizzes and you can do them as many times as you want for a 100%

Vajda is probably the best prof Ive had. This class was so interesting and covered so much, but he breaks it down into smaller sections with daily online quizzes to make things easier. PLUS- the quizzes have unlimited attempts so thats great! Tests are straight forward and easy to study for. 10/10 recommend!!

The material is especially interesting as Vajda has interacted with many of the people he speaks about. Class is always fascinating and contains many details. Would recommend.

Amazing professor! I took his class online, and it was amazing to actually be taught and have lectures to listen to. Vajda also made all due dates flexible, as they should be for an online class, and would actually work with you if you needed extra time. Every class reading, he wrote himself. This class got me to be a history major!

Went into the class not knowing what to expect, came out of it with having to admit it was probably one of, if not the best class i've taken at western. You have no formal HW, but you do have quizzes after each class that test you on what you learned, the beauty is you can take these as much as you want (so you can get full points pretty easy).

Vajda is an amazing professor, possibly one of my favorites. He makes learning fun and brings his own funny ideas and interesting knowledge on the subject. The tests are pretty straight forward, just listen to what he says in class and do the quiz's and you will do fine.

Had him during quarantine, he was super well adjusted to online teaching and his lectures were funny as well as asynchronous. The tests could be taken twice and the quizzes had no try limits. Watched all lectures at 2 times speed, would recommend. First units are harder than the last few.

He made his lectures very funny and engaging, making the material more interesting. You definitely do need to study a lot to memorize things but he is a good and caring professor and i would recommend him!

I had a very easy time with this class, very consistent and organized and his lectures were actually quite enjoyable and usually pretty funny. 10/10 would recommend

Lectures are great

Took this class during COVID- so it was all online. I said lecture heavy, but really it's just one lecture per day of the week averaging about 40 minutes long. He is passionate about this topic and knows what he is talking about. Overall super easy class ( most everything has soft deadlines) just watch the lectures and take the quizzes.

Very laid back professor. Every day had a lecture to watch and a short quiz with unlimited attempts. After each module there is a longer quiz that includes only questions from smaller quizzes. His lectures are also really interesting and enjoyable. I would definitely take another class of his!

Edward is a great prof and extremely understanding regarding the difficulties of COVID! the class consisted of quizzes on lecture/reading materials (can take unlimited amount of times) + 4 exams (get 2 tries). His lectures were interesting and he'd joke around a lot. LING is a hard concept to grasp but he made it easy to understand!!

Took him for 201 and 210 brilliant

because of covid I never talked to this teacher directly so I guess that's why I'm not giving a 5. I watched his lectures and they were really long but he kept them fairly interesting and added humor to them. He seems like a really nice guy. Also you might think a linguistics textbook is going to be pretty hard to understand, it wasn't at all!

The textbook is required but you can rent it from Amazon for not that much. Lectures are long but usually sorta interesting. You need to listen to the lectures and read the readings in order to do well. Grading is based only on tests and quizzes, but you can retake quizzes as many times as you want until you get 100%. And do the practice tests!!

Such an amazing professor. 10/10 class, not hard to pass at all, best lectures, makes it feel like watching a show, super funny guy, got me so interested in Russian history its insane!

I've also taken Vayda's Russian Civ. class online during COVID. Both of them were amazing- you can clearly tell how well educated he is on these topics, his lectures are not boring at all and there is a very clear grading structure so there is no way you won't get an A. Also every deadline is a "soft deadline" so no need to stress at all.

Professor Vajda is an incredible educator and person and his vast knowledge of languages and linguistics shines through in both his history and language classes. He made Russian (a very hard language) accessible to anyone who wanted to learn it and seamlessly handled online zoom lectures and was still able to talk to the class and give hw feedback.

Has real experience with course material, so is able to explain what to do when the textbook may differ. Gives historical and cultural background on things which makes it easier to understand and more interesting.

I'm being honest when I say I want Prof. Vajda to teach every single class I take. He is so approachable, friendly, and caring. You can really tell he cares about what he's teaching and his passion makes you want to learn more. There's a lot of niche info to learn in this class but his engaging lectures make it easy. He feels like a cool dad. :)

I've taken Ling, Russian Civ, and Nomads with Vajda, he is without a doubt one of the best professors you could ever have. In Nomads and Rus Civ you can really tell that he has a real passion for his work and his lectures are more engaging because of it. Lectures are information heavy, but quizzes and exams are built directly off of lecture mat.

Vajda is a very great professor! There is never a moment in his lectures where he seems unenthusiastic, but if you aren't interested in the subject, Lectures can be boring.

He cares about his students and his job. I learned so much in this class and it was entertaining all the way through. If you want an A you have to put in effort for sure but you probably won't be pulling all nighters on this one. My one criticism: there was so much info I don't feel like I LEARNED so much as memorized. BUT a great teacher and GUR.

Hilarious professor. Passionate about morph, history and Russian. Loves questions and makes sure you understand the material - 100% recommend.

There were 3 tests and a final, and quizzes for each in-class lecture/textbook reading. If you do the work, the quizzes are good grade-boosters. Everything is graded quickly, so grades stay up to date. The class is pretty much all lectures, but Professor Vajda is a great lecturer and is always invested and excited about the material he teaches.

Dr. Vajda is super awesome!! His lectures are hilarious and engaging. There are about 3 readings a week. You can skip them but it'll make the class harder. There are 3 in-class exams and an online final. For the in-class exams, he gives practice exams that look just like the real thing, so just study the practice exams and you'll do fine.

Great professor that actually seems interested in what they are teaching. Lectures and interesting and entertaining, and pack a lot of content in one hour's time. Pros: -Well-taught lectures -Quick replies to emails/concerns -Dense but interesting material Cons (Very minor): -Tests are difficult -Quizzes aren't googleable Great guy 4.75/5

He is a very good teacher with intriguing lectures and content.

Prof. Vajda might be one of the best professors I've ever had. I really enjoyed his lecture style and he makes class fun and engaging. I highly recommend taking this class, although the course material is difficult. He is always willing to help and makes efforts to really ensure that students understand the course material.

He clearly knows what he is talking about and he makes you want to learn the information. There are quizzes after each class based on the material learned, but he is flexible with due dates and honestly they are a good way to make sure you understand the information.

Prof Vajda is great! His lectures are educational AND entertaining, full of personal anecdotes and weird linguistics facts. Recorded versions of the lectures were available on Canvas. All assignments were in-person tests or Canvas quizzes about lectures/textbook chapters. If you don't like multiple-choice questions, good luck.

lectures go crazy fast and are hard to keep up with, but you can tell that he really loves what he teaches. i learned a LOT in this class and there is a lot of homework quizzes which were yucky

Very understanding and proactive professor when it comes to homework.

This guy is probably one of the most knowledgeable professors at western. He is crazy smart and passionate about what he teaches. I found the class pretty hard bc he has in-person tests that are closed-note and 100 questions, and there's a lot to memorize. Regardless, had to give him a 5/5 since he's a genius. DEF take him if you're into ling.

This is a man who is passionate about his subject, and it really shows. Professor Vajda's class is definitely lecture heavy, my online version contained a solid 4 or 5 hours of lecture video/slideshow and note-taking per week, but they were fascinating. If you pay attention to the material and take good notes, you'll ace the tests. Amazing class!

Edward is a fantastic professor! His class was one of the few I genuinely wanted to attend because almost every lecture is interesting. He is a great professor but does tend to go through lectures fast so be prepared for that

So funny and committed to his students' learning. Professor Vajda had a quiz for each reading assignment to help us see how we were doing and even took the time to grade our paper tests himself (not scantron and so quickly!). He has recorded lectures, but going in-person is great not only because he's hilarious but he also answers questions.

Had the schedule planned out for the whole term. Quizzes on lectures and readings but open note and online - super easy. Lectures are heavy on info, but interesting. 3 tests in person, but he gives very thorough study guides before that are similar to the test. Overall best part was he is funny and very passionate, I really enjoyed class.

Literally the most enjoyable class I've ever taken. Lectures are like educational stand-up comedy. Considered taking Russian just so I could take another course with him.

Professor Vajda is an absolute gem and you should jump at the chance to take a class from him. Insanely enthusiastic about his subjects, seemingly endless amount of energy to answer questions, and super responsive to answering emails (seriously, I'm pretty sure he once responded in under 45 seconds). Great guy, great prof, highly recommend him.

I could never emphasize enough how amazing Vajda is. I always take his classes whenever I can. Very specific instructions for assignments and clear expectations for tests. His lectures are both enthralling and engaging. As a bonus he is absolutely hilarious. I hope Western knows how lucky they are to have him.

Dr. Vajda is the best professor I have had at Western. He is passionate about Russian/Eurasian history and extreamly knowlageable. His lectures are of the highest quality. His grading system is tough, quizes everyday and an A is a 94%. He is avalibe by email and will respond extreamly fast, he is also very flexible with assignments. Over all 10/10

I took Professor Vajda as one of my first classes as a student at Western. The passion he had for my class subject (Nomads of Eurasia) was exactly what you want to see in an educator. He was so funny and very personable; he always made everything interesting and funny to listen to. I would recommend this class to anyone who is interested.

He was an amazing teacher who was very passionate about his work. His lectures were interesting and I genuinely learned a lot from them. There are multiple quizzes every week after lectures recapping the information. Quizlet has a lot of amazing flash cards to help prepare you for tests.

He is so so so passionate and really makes you eager to learn. He's also very approachable and friendly, and will be there for you if you need help. I'm taking more of his classes that I don't necessarily need because he's so awesome

I took his Nomads of Eurasia class online and still absolutely loved it. His lectures are all very interesting, Vajda obviously is very knowledgeable about his subjects. His personal anecdotes were the best part of the class, some of things he talked about were wild.

Professor Vajda is extremely dedicated and passionate about what he teaches, and it makes for a wonderful time in his courses! He has very entertaining lectures, and the quizzes and tests (which make up the entirety of the course) take their questions directly from the material. Could not recommend him more!

I wouldn't recommend taking Ling 201 as a GUR unless you are very interested in linguistics. We had about 6-7 quizzes due per week (with readings) and our grade would go down each day it was late. He is extremely knowledgeable and curious about his field which was nice to see but we had a lot more work than anticipated.

11/10. Be ready to be passionate about whatever this guy teaches because it's infectious. I had a very fun/rewarding time learning in his classes, particularly 201. Take notes sometimes. Review content outside of class. Don't procrastinate too much on the quizzes. Join Russian Club!

Ling 201 with Professor Vajda is challenging but rewarding. His lectures are engaging, and the frequent quizzes help stay on top of the material. unstuckstudy was a game-changer for my study prep.

Russian civ is one of the best classes I have ever taken. The information was super interesting, but professor Vajda is the icing on the cake. He is absolutely hilarious and makes the lectures super entertaining. There is a quiz on the lecture material after every class but it's fully open note and there is no outside of class reading.

Super entertaining lectures. He has a great personality and lets it shine through into his class. Wasn't strict about the regular quiz-type assignments, you could turn them in late for full credit. Tests were the bigger part of the grade, but they were multiple choice and standardized so not too difficult to deal with.

Best professor at WWU! Insanely kind and funny, and gives great lectures. I've taken a number of his classes now and have passed all of them with high marks. Super fun to be around, and it's worth taking his lectures even if attendance isn't mandatory. Couldn't rate him higher and can't wait to continue with his classes going forward.

Probably the most interesting class I've taken in college so far. His lectures are super entertaining even though they're all just pre-recorded videos. I decided to take this class randomly for a GUR and was surprised at how invested I got in the material. His passion for the subject is infectious and I could not reccomend him enough!

This class was super interesting yet challenging, with frequent quizzes and a lot of content. The professor's enthusiasm made the lectures engaging, and he provided many resources for review (like prerecorded lectures). The workload is demanding, but if you stay on top of it, the class is 100% worth it. I'd love to take another of his classes!

I've been in this class for two days and this teacher has

I have been in this class for two days and within the two days he has been absolutely amazing! He is extremely quick to grade, gives lots of feedback, you don't need to have the questions right but you'll still get points. No due dates either!

This professor requires you to do about 10 assignments a week but they were extremely easy and he grades quickly, that same day, if not same hour. The assignments were quick, a couple questions, if that, and if you didn't know the answer, that's okay.

Vajda is the best professor, he really cares about what he teaches. the quizzes are easy as they are open note but there is a heavy late penalty. his lectures can get long but they are interesting. he's pretty funny and he likes to sing in class sometimes, its a real treat. overall very chill and nice guy I would recommend it!!

He is by far my favorite professor so far. He is so clearly passionate about his studies, and he wants to help all of his students. He is overall such a wholesome funny guy, and he really cares about everyone. Go to his lectures, they are really great, and the recorded videos don't do them justice.

Pretty fun professor. Uses entertaining methods (jokes, shenanigans, etc) in Russian language to teach the class. Gives good and informative feedback on HW submissions.

Vajda was a beacon of light. He's such an engaging presenter and his passion and experience are obvious. If you have the chance, take Nomads of Eurasia!