This man knows his stuff.

He's brilliant without being pompous which is hard to come by for Eng profs

linguistics master

Great class. Smart and funny guy.

No Comments

WOW...No one does it quite like this guy. Excellent teacher. MUST TAKE

What a great teacher! He really knows his stuff, and he presents it in a lively, humorous, and intellectually charged manner! Take this class purely for the enjoyment of learning.

Awesome guy, tough class, but you learn a lot. He sounds like Tom Selleck too. Listen closely, you'll hear it..

Great teacher. He's friendly, brilliant, helpful. I have never been so interested, entertained, and been learning so much in one class. I really enjoy being in his classes!!

He's more than willing to go out of his way to help you in any way he can. His tests cover EVERYTHING from the notes, don't worry about the reading assignments, just take good good notes. Great professor, my favorite yet.

This guy is amazing, knows his stuff. Great class, this is a must take.

Great prof! Very intelligent but can still teach! Tough class but fascinating. I learned so much and enjoyed it!

GREAT PROFESSOR! GREAT CLASS! THE CLASS ISN'T EASY BUT HE GIVES YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO DO WELL, WITH THE PROPER EFFORT.

this guy is great. I am not an english major and i am truely enjoying this class. He is a great professor and is more then willing to sit down and help you with anything you need help on ** including the essay information for his tests

one of the most effective teachers at MU..it's refreshing, because there aren't too many of them....lang study was a real interesting class, i highly recommend it..

He changed my life! Decided to get a minor in linguistics and a Masters in Speech pathology. Dr. Shields is interesting and very educated. I took every class that he teaches. Be prepared to put in time but you will learn and you will never be bored!

Very nice man, helps you through steps with your learning, helps you succeed on your tests. Very interesting class that has lots of work but speaks very clear and lets you understand better.

i'll join the crowd and say that he's a great guy because he is.

very nice, very interesting...yes you must study for his tests but they aren't bad at all if you know the notes

Dr. Shields is one of the most brilliant men I've ever met. He's articulate, modest, funny, and entirely centered around helping you understand extremely difficult and subtle arguments. One of the best MU offers.

This guy is great! He really involves the class with discussion, and is more than willing to stop and explain something if you need it. He always keeps his office hours, and he is an exact replica of my awesome high school German Teacher! :)

AMAZING professor. You were learn so much about the study of language that it will become a topic of discussion everywhere. He is willing to help no matter what the circumstance if you are willing to ask for it.

You'll learn a lot. Moves through material very quickly. More than willing to help outside of class.

Learned a lot of interesting info. if you have a problem with the material ask him about it, he'll clear it up no problem.

Dr. Sheilds is great! So smart and even a 3 hour class flys by. Not boring or monotone. Exams aren't bad as long as you study. Take him for intro to language study! he's the best!

One of the very best professors I have ever encountered (and I used to teach myself)

Dr. Sheilds was very helpful and presented very clear and organized lectures.

good english class esp for psychology majors tottally interesting and is a VERY intelligent man. Tests are all short answer and essay is worth 50 points..all and all a cool class

It's a lot of info, but VERY interesting. He is very clear, fair grader,has a good personality and he assigns a lot of reading, but you don't really need to read it! Take him!! Study and it's an easy A or B

Such a nice guy! Very interesting, very clear, and very helpful. Go to his office hours and he'll help so much. I learned a ton and got A's. Definately a must-take.

he is a great prof, extremely intelligent and clear and a really nice guy. he's definitely tough, expects you to know your stuff but i studied my butt off and got an A so it is doable.. you'll learn alot from him, i would definitely take him again

Dr. Shields is a great professor. He is insanely knowledgeable, is thorough in his teaching, and will help with anything you ask, related to school. It's a lot of material, but he gives a study sheet. Take him, study hard, learn a lot.

Extremely intelligent and intensely interesting... Dr. Shields is all about reaching his students and providing them with enough knowledge to pass his exams - if a question's on the test, he taught it in class. An incredibly fair professor.

shields is an amazing prof...class is so interesting, and if you actually give a crap then you'll get something out of it. 3 tests are individually 30% of grade, leaving only 10% for participation...pay attention in class, do well on tests, get an A! 1 essay/test, grades it subjectively but curves

Dr. Shields is the best professor i've had to far. He makes class very interesting and teaches everything on the tests....you just have to come to class and try, he's kind of a tough grader.

Great! Very fair, the tests are what he says they will be and cover what you did in class. Interesting stuff usually. You do have to study though, there is a lot of material. He reminds me of my dad (which is a good thing).

Dr. Shields is an awesome professor. His class was by far one of the most interesting that I've taken here at Millersville. He's incredibly fair and you definitely walk away with more knowledge after taking his class. I enjoyed his teaching so much that I'm taking another one of his classes.

Even though the class was extremely boring, I learned alot. As long as you study what he says in class and take really good notes, the tests are very straightforward. Nothing that you read in the book is on the test.

This class was interesting, and he is such a good guy. Makes a lot of jokes. Tests aren't easy, but not impossible. Most get A's, some B's, but you have to work hard for them. I really recommend him, he's a good quality guy.

If you love grammar--all the details of it--you will thoroughly enjoy this class. His tests come straight off of his study guides, and he will give you the essays ahead of time. He is willing to assist if you need help. He will answer any questions in class you have. No papers; only tests

my favorite prof at MU. amazingly intelligent professor, and loves what he teaches which is a great combo. tests alittle hard you just have to study. VERY fair and really funny guy.

My Favorite Prof! Extremely intelligent, helpful, & fair. Also very funny, making the class even more enjoyable with his humor. Highly recommend Shields and this class! He makes sure you are prepsared for his tests! You won't see any questions that weren't covered during class. EXCELLENT PROFESSOR!!

As a linguistic student here, I've had Dr. Shields about 5-6 times. He's my favorite professor and my advisor and sometimes i think of him as a mentor. His classes are interesting, because he makes them interesting by doing little more than teaching, a skill many professors don't have.

HE IS AMAZING! i had him for about two years straight as a linguistics student, was by far my favorite teacher at MU. made time to meet with me, and will help as much as he can. INSANELY SMART should be at oxford or harvard. tests are all based on study guides. just a really awesome and kind man.

Dr Shields is one of the best professors I've ever had. He's not easy but I learned so much in his class. He's always willing to take extra time to explain anything. Extremely intelligent and a very kind and caring person.

Dr. Shields is an absolutely wonderful professor. He is by far the best professor I have ever had. His class is very interesting, and people can not help but participate because he is such a great prof. He is very fair and will take the time to help anyone who asks.

He is very intelligent, he is helpful when asked, the class is a little diffcult, but take go notes and study them throughly. he also gives essay questions for the test ahead of time which is a good thing.

MOST favorite professor ever. Extremely awsome teacher.

This was both my most challenging and most rewarding class at Millersville. He is extremely knowledgeable and willing to meet with you to answer any questions necessary. The material I learned in his class I am still able to recall. I highly recommend him, whatever your major, if you want a challenging, rewarding class.

ok, i had dr. shields for linguistics my freshman year and then applied linguistics my sophomore year, did ok in linguistics, but i think by my sophomore year, i was winding down from the whole college thing and ready to drop out, and even though his course didn't rope me back in and make me want to stay with it, it/he did make me feel guilty about what i was doing because of what a great professor he really was...sorry i wasted his time, though since i didn't want to learn, wasn't he wasting my time? ha!

This is a hard class, but if you do PLENTY of studying you can get an A. I got a 102% on one test, but I studied my butt off for that. His classes are great. He could explain ANYTHING. The man is talented and funny and kind.Class is very interesting. Everyone loves it.

dr. shields is not only my prof but my advisor. his class can be a bit dry at times, but he keeps it interesting. he's very nice, very clear, and is very flexible with grading if you talk to him. his class requires alot of studying, but u don't need to read to understand whats going on. i def. recommend him to anyone who is interested in his course

Dr. Shields's class was very enjoyable. He knows his material and makes class interesting. You do have to put in effort, but it is absolutely worth it in the end. If you try, you'll do well. Make sure to go to class, his examples will definitely help on the test. Take him if at all possible!

I had Am. Dialects with Shields. He is an amazing professor who is just overflowing with knowledge on linguistics. The whole class was fascinated with the information. Very interesting and extremely educational. I just wish he taught more Graduate level courses!

Dr. Shields is probably the most intelligent member of the English Dept. His classes are not easy but they are very interesting and especially relevant to future teachers. Dr. Shields is always willing to help so do not hesitate to go to his office hours. He appreciates your effort and will grade you accordingly.

Old English class - wow, what a learning experience. I felt as though I worked a lot, but I enjoyed myself and the work I put into the tests/paper. Graduate students were given the opportunity to present papers at the end; great practice! Shields is clear and kind, wants all of his students to shine. His love of language will inspire you.

Dr. Shields is soooo smart! The class is VERY hard, but if you study and work very hard, you can learn a lot. He is very willing to help you. He knows it's a hard class, but doesn't take pitty! Very nice guy!

Dr. Shields is one of the most enjoyable professors I've had. He's very easy going and talks in a calm and interesting (but not boring) manner. I found the content of the course to be extremely interesting. For English 220, you do not need the book at all. There is a lot of material on the tests, but nothing that a good study session can't cover.

Interesting class, but make sure you study before each exam. I failed the first exam, but he was very helpful outside of class to talk about how I could improve. He even let me rewrite the essay questions on the exam. I ended up with a B- in the class. I would take him again.

Great teacher, very insightful. If you don't understand something just ask and he'll clarify. Very nice and classes are interesting.

Write down everything he talks about, especially if he writes it on the board. He gives you study sheets and advance information for essay questions on exams. He is extremely helpful if you ask him a question. Awesome!

His lectures were clear. I learned a lot. I recommend him.

Wow, really great prof. I took him because I saw he had really good ratings on this site--and I was not disappointed. I'm not an English major but I could easily understand his lectures.

Pretty good on the whole. A nice guy who really knows his topic and seems to enjoy communicating the basics of the topic. Almost always wears a sweater... even when it is hot as heck.

I loved his class. He really knows what he's talking about and is very clear about what he expects from his students.

Dr. Shields is an expert in linguistics and an extremely interesting & effective communicator. He held my interest throughout the semester. So helpful and responds quickly to emails. Good notes are an absolute must for an A, but he provides helpful outlines of his main points. (The book is really supplemental.) You won't regret taking this class!

intresting teacher! good at speaking and is an expert linguist. cool class for people interested in the brain; it's a different perspective then most other things. does treat everyone like they know nothing, so every detail has to be written down in the essays.

My favorite class all semester. All you really have to do is pay attention to his lectures and take notes. There are 3 exams, which are a couple of multiple choice questions and an essay. He gives you the 3 questions in advanced, and then 2 are on the test, you get to choose. He's helpful if you have questions, and I found his lectures interesting.

Dr. Shields remains my all-time favorite prof. His lectures were tremendously interesting. But get ready... it is like drinking out of a firehose! There is so much material to cover in the time allotted. If you did not do well in English 220, I don't suggest you take this class. It is MUCH deeper. In my case, I looked forward to each class.

I'm not lying when I say that Dr. Shields is my all-time favorite and best professor. His method of delivery during his lectures was not only informative, but also entertaining. He uses memorable examples to stress his point. I give anyone my highest recommendation for taking a class with him.

Great prof. I could tell he really cared about the topic and he wanted everyone else to care too. His lectures are entertaining, and he uses memorable examples. He is very clear in what he expects and so the tests are no big deal. I would recomend him to anyone.

Dr. Shields is a fantastic prof. Topic is fascinating. He is more than happy to go into more detail or repeat himself if need be. Textbook reading not a must. Gives essays for test ahead of time so you can prepare for them. Super nice! Calm, soothing voice. Take good notes!

I took hinm for eng 220 and he is so interesting..I mean the class was hard, butt, if you pay attention and take notes you will do fine..The only people who dont like him those who CANT PAST THE CLASS..

Mostly teaches linguistics. Hope he's still at the Ville. Every lecture, every class was fascinating. He does expect a lot from students, but trust me -- he'll make you want to do your best. Rarely have I met somebody this brilliant. He's a very impressive man and a very good teacher.

He goes really into depth and he won't have you take a test if he doesn't feel the class is ready.

I DID NOT LIKE THIS PROFESSOR AT ALL. He is a Linguistics professor and takes English Comp way too seriously. I practically had to beg for the C in order to pass the class. He is a VERY tough grader (I had to rewrite entire papers on multiple occasions). I even took AP English in high school and still struggled. DO NOT recommend for ENGL 110!

I had Dr Shields about 6 or 7 years ago and he completely changed my career path to Linguistics. He is a brilliant professor, tough but fair, really knows his stuff. If you are lazy and want an easy class, don't bother. You'll actually LEARN in this class. He's the best teacher I EVER had.

Shields knows everthing; what I wouldn't give for his knowledge. On exams he lets you retake certain parts, and gives study guides. He is incredibly difficult, but will be very kind and helpful if you go to his office. Take his classes, you will be a more intelligent person just by being in his presence.

100% effort = 100% quality. This guy is the best for linguistics classes. Kept the attention of the whole class - even people who weren't interested in the topic. GREAT professor.

I'll keep it short. Brilliant professor--the best of the best. Show up, work hard and you'll do well and actually learn.

Best prof at MU hands down. He's an ivy leaguer at a mid-size state university. He could teach anywhere he wants (and has). Millersville is lucky to have him.

An outstanding professor, the best educator I've ever witness. Unbelievable content knowledge, great sense of humor, and is always willing to help. If you need an English class and aren't sure what to go with, I would definitely recommend Dr. Shields.

this prof is really nice. there's a lot to learn in the class so you really need to attend and pay attention. he's willing to help you out in office hours and his tests aren't so bad because he gives you a study guide and 3 essays 2 of which he'll use and only one of which you'll be required to answer on the exam. So you really only NEED to know 2.

This man is intelligent and good hearted, but he rips your essays to pieces if you don't know what you're talking about. So, take him if you're really interested and want to learn, but be prepared to write down everything he says and know it as well as he does. It's not easy but you will learn. It's a dull subject but he makes it interesting.

I love this man! I had him in undergrad and grad several times! He's the most amazing professor on the face of the earth, and I kind of wish that he was in my family so that he would spice up Thanksgiving with great linguistic stories! I LOVE HIM!

I learned a lot in his class and he is a good professor but his tests were kind of difficult, i ended up with a C in that class. But if you actually wanna learn something take him.

AMAZING. interesting material. CURVES exams. GENEROUS WITH GRADES--it's impossible to fail. take him!! but the book is only supplementary, you don't need it. i did fine without it.

He is one of the most amazing professors at MU. His knowledgeable and love of linguistics is infectious. His exams are easy for those who attend class and pay attention. The book is not really needed. His is funny and makes class interesting. You'll definitely know more about the world after taking this class.

As a future educator, I can appreciate his enthusiasm,& obvious love for his subject. He has, for me, sparked a deep personal interest in linguistics. I wish I could figure out how he can lecture for 3 hours & NOT get boring. He is an amazing professor; I've learned more than I can express, not only about linguistics but being an effective teacher.

This professor has a passion for his subject and wants to share that with any student, not just English majors. He makes it fun, is never boring, is always flexible, and polite. I adore this man!Exams are non-cumulative, and you can get along without the book. He is a truly a genuine soul!

Without a doubt the best teacher that I've had in my life. Is a master of his subject, and is even better at explaining it in great detail, without being the slightest bit boring. This class has opened me up to linguistics, and I'm now considering going into that field. In other words, TAKE THIS CLASS!

My favorite professor! Enthusiastic, engaging, patient, and polite. Not only is he extremely knowledgeable--he also has a clever, rich sense of humor. The textbook is not necessary. However, it is a very note-intensive class, so attendance is EVERYTHING. Just don't side-talk too much in his class, and you'll be fine. Great professor!

Simply put, the only truly memorable teacher of my college career.

Had him for intro to language. Was very clear, had very organized lectures. Tests are somewhat difficult, but take good notes and pay attention and it's an easy A. Nice guy, and definitely knows his stuff.

The subject is interesting, but he is not really a professor to take this class with. The textbook was useful, but did not clarify his lectures well. Tests were difficult. Take him if you are up for a challenge.

By far the best professor I've had at Millersville. I've taken several of his classes, a little hard but well worth it. Foreign language majors should be required to take his Grammar 321 course, but we are not. His courses are interrelated as well, important concepts are reinforced. Hand-out guy, lots of handouts. Take him for ANY COURSE!!!!!!!!

He's definitely the best professor I've had so far at MU. His make the subject interesting and is willing to clarify anything. It's also clear that he has a passion for linguistics, and it rubs off.

Professor Shields is an awesome professor!. Lingustics is so interesting. The Tests are hard. Keep in mind that if you miss one days worth of notes it can affect u. (unless you copy notes form someone) I really do recommend this class,. TAKE IT! you won't regret it the knowledge learned.

Shields is the best. He loves to teach and the class is so interesting! You will learn so much in this class! I cannot wait to take another class with this professor. As long as you understand the essays (which you get ahead of time) and do the review sheet for the test you will easily get an A! Great class. What are you waiting for?! Take this!

ken shields is the man. he is amazing, incredibly knowledgeable, and makes class ALWAYS interesting. he can definitely be funny, and he is always caring. he is actually a specialized historical linguist, so he knows what he is talking about. take him whenever you can!!

I took several of his classes, only wish I could take more. He is the teacher that other teachers should go to, to learn how to teach. Not exagerating. Classes are challenging (hard in a good way) and extremely useful. Most important information reappears throughout his classes and he clearly relates English to other lang. and explains the grammar

Best professor I have had at MU! Nice, funny, intelligent, and cares about his students. He really makes class interesting. I thought linguistics would be a complete bore, but by the time the semester ended, I didn't want to stop learning about it. Dr. Shields is a great example of what all teachers should aspire to. Definitely take him!

This guy definitely knows his stuff! Although the class wasn't what I would call an "easy A," Dr. Shields made it interesting the entire time. I found myself looking forward to his class. I would love to take him again!!

If you like language and linguistics: Take him. He is extremely smart. There is A LOT of information that you have to pretty much know by heart for the tests. But if you attend class and take notes on everything you should be fine!

This review is for Trans Gram. I suggest taking this class during the summer session (if you can afford it). It is a bit difficult and would be a pain if you took it a long with 3-4 other classes (trust me). Make sure you review the parts of speech and obtain a basic grammar book (he suggests this on the first day).

probably one of the best millersville has to offer butca be very hard so unless you´re smart enough to get by without doing the work, don´t!

Dr. Shields is incredibly smart. You need to go to class because he teaches through lecture, there is no book to look at for definitions. Take a lot of notes even if you don't understand what he's saying at the moment. I enjoyed the subject matter so I was engaged, but it took some studying. 3 tests are worth 80% - he did curve our class.

Shields is brilliant and the course was surprisingly very interesting! It is tough though, you have to go to class and know your stuff. Tests are completely based on lectures. But the work is worth it--I definitely recommend this class and Shields!!

Dr. Shields was the kindest and most helpful professor in both my undergraduate and graduate years at Millersville. When my academic advisor wasn't being helpful, he stepped up and volunteered to assist me in my class selections. His enthusiasm and passion for the English language is contagious. He is truly the best Millersville has.

Dr. Shields was my favorite professor thus far in my college career. He is absolutely brilliant, and so sweet, too! You won't regret taking one of his classes.

Shields is hands down the most brilliant man I've ever met. He helps you understand and learn things you never thought you could. He's the best ever!!!

Dr. Shields takes this class very seriously. TransGram should prepare students for teaching and it does exactly that. You will study a lot if you have not perfected traditional grammar. Try to take this during the Summer if you can.

He's a decent professor. He never really did anything negative, but his teaching didn't really stand out either. He's sometimes pretty funny and he seems to know what he's talking about. However, whatever you do, DO NOT TAKE THE ESSAY TESTS. He gives you the option between Essay/Objective tests, but judges the essays way too harshly.

Great teacher, hard class. More interesting than it originally looks.

So this is a required course for foreign language majors. It is called Intro to Linguistics. I had no idea what to expect going in, and it turned out to be absolutely fascinating. 99% of what he taught I had never even thought of for a single second before. He and a German teacher, Nimmrichter, are the best Millersville has!

Dr. Shields is by far my favorite professor at MU. This was the third class I've had with him, and I took it as an elective just to be taught by him again! He makes every subject extremely interesting, and his enthusiasm is contagious. Exams are hard, but his expectations are clear, so you'll be fine as long as you study. Definitely take this prof!

One of my three all-time favorite professors! While his classes aren't easy, you actually learn the material, as opposed to just memorizing it and spitting it back on a test. His enthusiasm for linguistics is contagious and I even enjoy three-hour lecture classes with this professor. He is a great example of what college professors should be!

Dr. Shields is (so far) my favorite professor. Hes so enthusiastic about linguistics annd it rubs off on his students. He is very willing to help. To pass his classw you need to show up. And if you do miss be sure to get someone elses notes. It isnt an easy class, you have to show up and take plenty of notes. But Shields handles his area very well

Very dynamic lecturer. He never blows off questions or treats them in matter-of-fact ways. Instead, he finds a way to integrate every question into his lecture, managing to weave everything into a coherent whole. This lecture style demands attendance and he tests only what is discussed in class, never on readings. One of Millersville's best.

Dr. Shields actually cares about students' education by providing feedback and giving as many points as possible on exams. He speaks quickly and a lot and his handwriting is difficult to read. However, he really is one of the best professors at MU. I advice taking his courses over anyone else's'.

One of the most amazing English professors that I've ever had. I had him for Old English and his passion for the subject really shows. I came to class just to hear his lectures and his tests are pretty easy.

Dr. Shields is my favorite professor at Millersville. I got 100% in his Intro to Language class. Just pay attention and participate and you'll pass, easily. Also, I would take the objective tests because they seem to be a lot easier.