Great guy and great teacher!!! Native Arab / English speaker who will sometimes spend TOO MUCH time helping you in the middle of class if you are lost. Always makes it known you can call him whenever for help. You could call him for help in another class and I believe that he would try his best!!

Prof. zakaria is a cool teacher......he always does his best do help you even if you are completely lost he will explain things until things are clear. Interesting class and arabic is really fun to learn! Defenitly take this class with this professor, he makes sdsu teachers look good at what they do.

A great teacher!

Ghassan was my professor for Arabic 101 and 102, and he made learning Arabic seem sooooo easy. He's funny, nice, and really helpful. Definitely take his class.

He is the nicest, most helpful and caring professor @ SDSU. Very FAIR and so supportive. His class is so much fun & he knows his stuff. Teaching skills are GREAT and you DO learn a lot. He is very interesting. I would definately recommend taking Arabic with him if you really want to learn and want a FAIR teacher who also knows his material :)

I rearranged my entire schedule to ensure taking this professor again. He has been the best professor I have had by far. Extremely supportive, and turns a difficult subject into material that can be easily handled. If you have any interest in Arabic, take him!

i've had him for three semesters now. nicest guy in the world. the material is hard but he makes it fun. take this teacher.

amazing teacher. make sure you get zakaria! He will give u the basis u need to continue on learning arabic. Arabic itself is hard, but somehow he makes it super understandable. His classes are interesting and he has a great sense of humor. he will always be there if u need extra help. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.its an easy A if you pay attention in class.

Great teacher. He cares and does a great job. He's also funny, even though he doesn't mean to be most of the time... Good class, take it.

i was just taking this class for GE credit but he cares so much about your learning and is funny. Hard language and he taught it well and i can speak it to peopole. I am even taking arab 2 with him next seemster cause i liked it so much

AAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAZZZZZZINNNNNNNNNNGGGGGG. KHALEENUH YEK YA GHASSAN! ASK HIM WHAT THAT MEANS HAHA. A++++ BEST PROFESSOR IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. HE CARES ABOUT EVERY STUDENT. HE LOVES TO TEACH AND HE WILL LOVE YOU ALMOST AS MUCH AS YOU LOVE HIM. THE BEST. THE MATERIAL IS OBVIOUSLY HARD BUT HE MAKES IT CAKE! EASY WITH ABU G IN THA HOUSE

He is just amazing, made the class fun. Homework was super easy and he really cares about his students..I loved the class so much am taking 102..

amazing teacher. ive had him for two semesters now and he is TRULY a great professor. he is caring and has a great sense of humor. definitely recommend this teacher!

I agree completely with all the positive statements about Ghassan Zakaria. He is an excellent teacher and a nice person. He goes the extra mile to make sure students understand and learn the subject. He has high character and is very kind. It is not an easy subject, but he will push you to learn and help you along the way. A really great guy!

Amazing professor. He truelly cares about his students and wants them to get a good grade. if your in a predicment he'll help you out. he teaches very clearly and makes you look forward to the class which is great b/c its 2 hours long

Ghassan is AWESOME!! If you want to learn arabic then you need to get Ghassan. If you go to class study and go see him when your confused you'll do great.

seriously one of the best teachers ever...you'll never be bored in that class unless there is an extremely retarded person in the class and he's expalining the material to them..and yes he actually does that! He'll do his best so that EVERYONE do well. He'll definetly give you the grade you want if he knows you're trying...HIGHLYYYY RECCOMMENDED!

GREAT PROFESSOR, REALLY MAKES YOU UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE AND MAKES IT EXCITING, NOT LIKE THOSE OTHER ARABIC TEACHERS WHO ARE DIFFICULT GRADERS, JUST COME TO CLASS AND PARTICIPATE AND SHOW THAT YOU WANT TO LEARN

very helpful, easy to learn from

awesome teacher. really helps you learn a hard hard subject. also very nice, says he wants to be your friend and means it. call him at 3:30 am. give it a try. he'll answer.

Ghassan is an AMAZING!!!!!! TEACHER and PERSON!!! Not only does he really enjoy and love teaching the class, but he really cares about the students learning and understanding the language! He is always there to help you, he even gives the class his number if they ever need help! Definitely take the class, you'll love it!

BEST ARABIC TEACHER EVER. TAKE HIM AT ALL COSTS. THIS GUY ROCKS. Super nice, super helpful, even gives u his phones number. Really knows his stuff. I got a bad grade, I barely passed, but that was b/c i never had time to study or seek much help. But he's amazing. HIs class was not hard. I'm a big, big fan. this guy freakin' rocks. best teacher EVER

The most understanding teacher you can find at any college! Friendly, nice, funny and cares about his students... TAKE HIS CLASS :)

awsome.

Ghassan is a great teacher because he is willing to help you at anytime. He will give you his cell phone number and you can call him if you have trouble getting some thing before a test. It is just important to go to class. I would say minimal time invested spent outside of class. It is explained so well, it's not too hard to pick it up.

Ghassan is a great teacher because he is willing to help you at anytime. He will give you his cell phone number and you can call him if you have trouble getting some thing before a test. It is just important to go to class. I would say minimal time invested spent outside of class. It is explained so well, it's not too hard to pick it up.

he is an amazing teacher! im always laughing in class!

Ghassan is the best. I missed a lot of class due to medical issues, and he was SO helpful in allowing me to make up my work. He didn't pressure me into making up tests before I was prepared for them, and always wanted to make sure my health came first. I highly recommend him! His class is fun, interesting, and clear. He is my favorite teacher!

He is AMAZING!! Take his class if you want a chill laid back teacher. Yah, you do have to attend every class so you dont fall behind, but the classes are ALWAYS fun!! He makes the class interesting. One word overall, AMAZING!! I loved his class!!

awesome!

Sensational teacher. I enjoyed it immensely, he could not be better at teaching the material, and it is an extremely useful language and culture to study. I highly recommend this class and even more strongly suggest this professor.

Ghassan is an awesome teacher. He's very nice and always make sure his students understand the concept. This class isn't easy, but it's worth taking if you're looking for a fun and mind-opening experience at state.

Ghasaan Zakaria is an awesome teacher, he is so cultured person. His class is so helpful for anyone who wants to know about Arabic language or Arabic culture. He is an amazing teacher, and his class is fun. If I have the chance to take all my classes Arbic , I will not hesitate to be in his classes . I wish all other teachers be like , Ghassan. H

Ghassan is an awesome professor. Teaches both elemen levels so you'll have him for 1 year, which is awesome, b/c he's such a really great professor. Arabic is hard in general, but with Ghassan he teaches it clear and slows down if the class is struggling. Our section was rowdy, but he stuck w/ us. Thanks for the awesome academic year Ghassan!!!

Ghassan is definitely one of the best teachers I ever had. Arabic is difficult and a great teacher is key. He gives you one-on-one attention for pronunciation and reviews, which really helps. He teachers both 101 and 102 at SDSU, so you will have him for a year. He will become a great friend as well as teacher. I will miss him greatly!

AMAZING Teacher, if you must or want to take Arabic take Ghassan's class you will not regret it.

Amazing teacher! My favorite so far. I had him for both Arab 101 and Arab 102. It is a tough language but he will be there to help you out. Definitely the easiest classes I've taken at state. I had no experience with the language before I took Arab 101 and i got A's in both classes. HIGHLY recommend to satisfy GE requirement. must attend class!

Even if you don't know a single bit of Arabic, Ghassan will help you learn. Is really clear on what he expects and has a great teaching method. It makes Arabic really easy. Great class. Just don't miss class! You can get an A easy. One of my favorite teachers here at state!

GREAT professor! Arabic is tough but the way he explains it makes it fairly easy. Go to class so you don't miss out on material, if you miss out it can be somewhat hard to catch up. I wouldn't hesitate to take another class with him.

Ghassan is an amazing professor (one of the best at State) and a great guy in general. The language is tough but he is there to help, very reliable and understanding. Highly recommend if you have any interest at all in learning Arabic. He teaches 101 and 102 and will give you a solid foundation.

He is definitely of the best professors on campus, he takes a difficult language and makes it easy for anyone to learn. He is superhelpful and his class was fun and interesting

This is a great class with considerable amount of work. I had his class right before a trip to the Middle East, & the class made my trip much better. The projects are so much fun. Attend each class and you will get an A. He will go out of his way to make sure that each student understands the content of the class. Great videos & group projects.

Ghassan is one of the best and most helpful professors I have ever taken. He makes learning Arabic so much fun and very easy. Take a class with him, you will not regret it. 5 quizzes, 1 midterm and 1 final. Shukran Ghassan!

AMAZING. Such a great teacher and so helpful I was never stressed about tests because he is such a good teacher and funny. Class was interesting and went by fast. Was going to minor in arabic but dont have the time. GOt an A in the class, I am arabic though and could understand some arabic but didnt know how to read or write be4 this class

This guy is really nice and straight forward. I enjoyed his class and the way he taught it. Overall he is really good and I recommend to anyone who wants to learn Arabic at SDSU

Ghassan is such a great professor! Super helpful and explains everything in good detail. He'll make sure everyone in the class understands everything before moving on. He's a super sweet guy! teaches 101 and 102, and gives a good foundation for the language

He makes learning so much fun. Probably the best professor at state

JUST one of the greatest teachers I've come across ever. This guy needs to be CLONED. The material is not easy, but when he teaches it you feel as though you've been missing out on something. And he actually cares about your grade...Take his class !!

He is definitely one of the best teachers I have ever had. If you want to learn Arabic, take his class. Very helpful, engaging, and understanding instructor. He will explain things as often as necessary for you to understand. Very patient!

He is an awesome teacher. He loves to teach and i love to learn from him. His classes were a bit long, but it paid off.

Super fun class! definetley a chill teacher and very patient. He keeps class fun. We're always laughing. TAKE HIM!

Ghassan is an AMAZING professor. I love his teaching of style. I have had him for two semesters and he has been great for both! I love his class, defiantly take him. He is funny and charming. BTW, he is very cool about retaking tests :D

Ghassan is my all time favorite Professor! He really does make learning easy! I'm not much of a studier but I still ended up getting an A because of how much we go over things in class! And he is so helpful if you need help, he's more like a friend :)

Best professor Ive had at SDSU. Cares about you learning Arabic. If you miss a day you miss a lot so i recommend not missing class. Ghassan is very clear and will help you if you need it. Take him!

Overall great teacher! Explains things very well and always willing to help with difficult areas. Funny and keeps the class interested.

BEST professor!! He made learning another language SO fun and EASY! He brings humor into the class and really pulls you in to learn and understand. He is extremely willing to help and makes sure you understand before moving on. I am so grateful to have taken him. He made my experience memorable! One of my favorite professors!!!

Ghassan has mastered teaching a difficult language! He makes every class interactive and fun. Definitely the best professor I have ever taken. He cares about every single one of his students, and makes sure everyone has a grasp on concepts before introducing new material. Take him, you won't regret it!!!

Sweetest, most caring professor at SDSU. He makes sure you understand everything clearly before moving on. Learning a new language is difficult but it was so enjoyable and fun. Favorite class by far!

I haven't received my final grade yet and am glad because no matter what it was not going to influence my view of Professor Zakaria. He truly cares about the students and their success. Attend class, participate every chance you get, and study up! The class is as easy or hard as you make it. I found it enjoyable so in the end; it was easy.

Ghassan was marvelous. He has some good jokes and he makes Arabic easy to learn. It's at a slow pace so that everyone in the classroom is on the same page, so don't expect to know the whole language by the end of the first semester. Other than that, take him.

Professor Zakaria is by FAR the best teacher I have ever taken at SDSU. He truly cares about each and one of his students and is always there if you need help. Arabic is not an easy language to learn, but he makes it enjoyable and will help guide you. TAKE HIM!!!! You will not regret it!

350 characters are not enough to explain how easy he made a seemingly difficult language to learn. He is truly invested in the learning and growth of his students. You will be captivated by his charisma and organized teaching style. I had absolutely no background or training beforehand; however, he is a wonderful professor. Would take again!

Grate teacher.

Great teacher that makes learning a new language super simple. The material is easy to learn as long as you go to class. Arabic is a lot simpler than I could have ever imagined.

Ghassan is an excellent teacher. He will drill all of the basics of Arabic into your head. I'm a heritage student however I was still able to learn lots from him.

Ghassan has won Professor of the Year at SDSU before, and it's no shock. He should win it every year. Learning Arabic should've been super hard, but he made it simple, straight-forward, and actually fun. I was upset when I had to miss class because our little group felt like a family. He is incredibly intelligent, caring, & on top of his game. TAKE

By far my favorite teacher ever! loved him! TAKE

Ghassan is amazing!! He truly cares about the students and properly teaching Arabic language/culture. Love that he debunks Middle East myths for US students. Thank you Ghassan for your patience with new learners! I think a lot of people are nervous to learn Arabic for the first time but he makes it as easy as can be! (as long as you go to class)

Really funny and goes out of his way to not only teach us Arabic but the culture behind the language.

I LOVE HIM HES THE BEST PROFESSOR EVER. I 100% recommend taking him. I did not know one word in Arabic and now I can sort of speak it to someone. He will help you tremendously to make sure you know it. He's so understanding and hilarious, he really kept class entertaining. You will have to talk to other people in class a lot but you get used to it

Zakaria is truly the best! His lectures are organized so well which makes learning the material a lot easier. Definitely take his class, you won't regret it!

Ghassan is the best! This was my favorite class. He is so kind and truly wants to see all of his students succeed. He makes learning this difficult language fairly easy. You are mainly graded on the midterm/final and a few quizzes but he definitely prepares you for all of them!

Best professor. would highly recommend.

The best professor ever, take if you are INTERESTED in the subject and have taken Arabic courses prior to that, best class and best prof. no book but many handouts it WILL improve your reading and speaking skills in Arabic.

great pro

Made it my favorite class, made me laugh everyday.

He is my favorite professor by far. Always makes me laugh. You literally want to do homework and study for this class because you don't want to let him down. He wants to see his students succeed.

Prof. Zakaria is such a chill Professor. We had 4 quizzes, midterm and final and they were honestly so easy. He tells you a class before your quiz what will be on the exam so you can study, and if you study them then the tests shouldnt be hard. I definitely recommend this class, literally an easy A.

Ghassan is literally my all time favorite professor. He is so kind and cares about his students, and that we understand the material. You can tell he really loves his job, and the arabic language. He is super dedicated, and really tries to make class as interesting as possible. He jokes a lot and always makes everyone smile.

Such a funny guy. The class was so easy and he is so good at teaching the language. It should've been harder but that is how good of a teacher he is.

Ghassan is an amazing professor. I knew nothing before taking his classes, two semesters later and my mother in law who is fluent in Arabic has become impressed with my vocabulary, reading and writing skills. This class is designed for everyone, whether you're a beginner or have some knowledge of the language beforehand.

I knew nothing before taking his class. I didn't even know the alphabet, and I'm not a heritage speaker. This course was very inspiring, professor Zakaria knows how to teach and his lectures are quite informative. I always looked forward to attending his lectures. I really hope to have him for ARAB 301. He is a skilled instructor.

I was really nervous to take a language course over zoom, but this professor was truly the best. With beginner Arabic, he is a lot more lenient with grades because it is still very new, but he truly does help you learn. He cares so much about his students and takes his time going over everything to make sure everyone understands. 10/10!!!

Professor Zakaria is the best professor I ever had at state, he's so kind, he tries to help his student and tech them arabic in a good way, and he make them love the language, I'm a native arabic speaker, but I loved his class, and I used to attend every single class, he is just so kindness and the best professor you can ever had! Lots of hw

Honestly taking Arabic was kinda something that I was against but I had a few friends in the class so I thought sure why not. The class was surprisingly fun and inspirational and even though I could have easily gotten an A had I applied myself more, I learned a lot and the learning wasn't too hard. Would most definitely recommend this class.

Best teacher I ever had at state. I didnt know any Arabic whatsoever going in and I finished with a 95. You dont have to put in much effort either. The grade isnt what mattered to me though, I actually wanted to learn. Hes super good at teaching the language and I cant wait for Arabic 102!

This was the best professor I have had at SDSU. He did an amazing job teaching students basic Arabic so don't be afraid to enroll in this class because you start from the basics like letters. He not only taught the language, but also the culture and he would often play music in Arabic, share stories, and much more to make students interested!

AMAZING teacher who goes out of his way to teach and help students learn Arabic. If you have any questions he'll help you til you completely understand. Very understanding and extremely kind. His stories are funny too and the class is overall very entertaining and welcoming. There is no fear of making mistakes nor a fear of shame or embarrassment

Great teacher, somehow able to make a two hour class fly by. Definitely a good choice if you want to learn Arabic.

Professor Zakaria is the best professor I have had at SDSU. He understands Arabic is a difficult language, so he makes it very easy and fun to learn. He's very funny and loves engaging with the students which makes the 2 hours go by very fast. I looked forward to going to his class because the class becomes like a family!! Recommend 100%

he was super nice

I just had Prof Ghassan Zakaria for online Arabic at Palomar College this spring (literally just ended). He is very passionate about his job and his lectures are easy to follow. This is the first class I've taken where we've used the book pretty much the entire semester. Hands down the best professor I've had!

Professor Zakaria made this class so easy. I took it for fun because I want to learn the language and it was really worth it. You can miss up to 5 classes, but I recommend not missing any because there is a lot of information during the lectures. He explains the material well and simplifies concepts that would normally be really difficult.

Genuinely one of the best teachers here at SDSU. He cares about his students and always wants to help you pass. He lets you miss up to 5 classes but don't, the way they are structured helps you learn and retain the language better and easier. Clear course lesson plan and fair assignment weighting. Do everything and you'll get an A for sure.