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Lectures are interesting and hardly dull. He likes to share stories, often irrelevant to the subject/topic... but he makes the class interesting. He is not at all stiff so he's easy to approach. He is serious about his job so you must read the assignments

Had him a few semesters back; he has a great sense of humor, pretty laid back, but high expectations. He does promote class participation.

Take his short story class. I don't know how he teaches academic writing (1A, 1B, etc.) but his short story class is great. He's a writer himself, not just a teacher. I learned more from his clas than in any writers workshops I have attended.

Prof. Bell is very entertaining. I took his night course and was highly amused by his stories and anecdotes, they made the 3 hour class enjoyable. Great teacher and a good fella

i had bell fo a summer class and oh boy does he like to talk(if you allow him he would talk you to death) he tells alot of stories and likes to get this point across i got a C though lol that;s becuase i didnt do the work lol this is chunkylover over and out

awesome. he changed my whole way of thinking. Tons of reading, unclear assignments though.

Easy and friendly teacher who gets you involved. Good teacher/class to take!

He is a good teacher but his assignments are for the most part all due at once. He delays giving back assignments but they are not difficult. He is very interesting and funny.

Professor Bell's method is a bit unconventional but interesting. My interest in English literature has been stimulated profoundly because of this class.

Great guy. Not a very 'conventional' type, but I found it refreshing. He is funny and tells some whacky stories. He is flexible as long as you do your work and he loves creative essays. Great class, great teacher, funny old beatnick.

I took both my English classes with Mr.Bell cause I really liked the way he taught. Yes, he could often talk things out of context but they were interesting and gave me more knowledge than learning everything by the book. English is already a boring subject, having Mr. Bell as your teacher would help ease you in. He liked class participation, so speak out. He was very laid back with assignments so you have to be on top of things otherwise by the end of the semester you will be crammed with essays.

hes the best. its like having a REAL english class at city college novel. If you are more concerned with being pc than with learning from the vast expereinece he has to offer, dont take this class, he'll piss you off. BUT if you broad enough to c reate context for his wild tangents - they will help

Non-conventional guy. Take good notes and you will have no problems with essays, etc. His story about his trip to the Grand Canyon should be on film!

Good Teacher when hes actually teaching. Yet he constantly talks about sex and drugs and often throws in how he doesn't believe in God anymore. And he has offended me several times by insulting my beliefs not knowing I am religious. One of the last few days I went he was telling a story about a giant dildo pleasuring a woman.

GREAT TEACHER. A REAL HIPPIE AT HEART!! HE'S VERY INTELLIGENT. HIS CLASS IS EASY AS LONG AS YOU SHOW UP AND TURN IN EVERYTHING. THOUGH HE IS A BIT TOO CHATTY.

This is my second year taking his class, Mr bell is awesome, but you do have to be very open minded. Lets put it this way, if you are a bad student, you will suck in his class, if you are a super uptight you will be uncomfortable in his class. This class if for people that are interested in learning and enjoys some humor.

His class reminds me of story time when i was a kid, except his stories a grown up stories. He brings up very interesting issues in his classes

he's like a story teller.. it's like he's travel the world and done it all.. he's always got a story to tell about something.. this was not an easy class .. it involves a lot of critical thinking skills.. but even though i didnt pass i feel like i've learned a lot.. i would definitely try his class again..

the best teacher ever!!! he gives assignments that are unclear but it all makes since once you do it and come back to class if you miss an assignment and try to catch up on your own good luck. He is always willing to help during his office ours and is a big help too.He is a great thinker has alot of knowledge and you'll definitely learn alot.

An excellent teacher amongst the extreme harshness of the City College English Department. He is fair and very clear about all the expectations. If you're good at listening, do the work and understand that he's story telling is his way of teaching. He is also hilarious! and has made my writing much better I ended up with an A in the class

The best english teacher I've had, stays on point even if he talks about his own stories. Crystal clear in his discussions and answers questions with extreme clarity. The most "MAKE SENSE" English class I've ever taken. Serious in his teachings, good audible voice. His work is extremely hard, you'll only pass thanks to his clarity.

Good teacher, only had class one night a week with him and assignments were pretty short. He assigns things and then has you redo them the following week so you always get a chance to do a better job. his storries and lectures are very interesting and he relates them to current day events

Great guy! His assignments are really easy to understand, he is easy to talk to, he allows time for peer editing in class and is laid back about due dates. You will love this class, trust me; I didn't really enjoy english classes until I had Mr.Bell. Only really difficult thing was the final but everything leading up to it was easy so I still got

Very good helpful professor. His teachings where very interesting with many talks about past experiences. Bell assigns lots of work but by the end we actually learned something. He taught us to look at reading beyond the words and opened our eyes and mind to reality. He also loves participation because he is very opinionated himself. Good class

HE IS A GREAT TEACHER!!VERY HARD BUT CHALLENGED MY WAY OF THINKING.IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A CHALLENGE TRY MR. BELL...HE EXPOSED ME TO DIFFERENT READING MATERIAL AND GREAT WRITERS!THE KEY TO GETTING A GOOD GRADE IS TALKING TO HIM AND ASKING FOR HELP!I GOT A B IN THE CLASS AND IF I WOULD HAVE PUT IN THE EXTRA EFFORT I COULD HAVE GOT AN A!OVERALL MR.B

i love mr bell. he keeps the class interesting and challenging! he always talks about his life stories which relates to the topic we discuss in class. he really likes students that engage in conversation. he is really thoughtful, very very knowledgable and a caring person. overall, i would love to have him again =)

One must think outside the box and on their own to pass this class. Gone are the days of regurgitation and spoon-fed answers. That is why many students drop, because they want an easy, on your lap explanation of things. If you can't think outside the box, then you can't hack it. Drop the class like the others and find your easy grade elsewhere.

-text is really hard to follow -nice teacher -lenient on due dates -assignments can get disorganized -a few in class essays -overall..pretty hard teacher but if you give strong effort, it is doable.

He's funny. His character isn't intimidating, but his work is. If anything, ask for help. He'll lend a hand. (He's lenient on due dates, too.)

My favorite teacher by far at ccsf. He is extremely helpful and attentive to his students needs. A+++ Teacher!

Bell tries to scare people off with his 100 page reading assignments in the beginning, but later in the semester everything is slowed down and easier... then it totally speeds up and you have tons of assignments due. Take notes in class for a good grade. He has midterms but fortunately they only help you get a good grade, they won't bring you down.

He is a great prof.

He is incredibly difficult but he enables you to realize really deeply the ideas he is teaching from the texts. He is EXTREMELY knowledge-ful about everything, english or no english. He is VERY lenient towards grades n re-writes. But overall he is a very jolly person. I took him for eng 96,1A, and 1B.

One of the best professors I ever had-and I've had a few! He is as real and as honest as the day is long. He has opened new ways of interpreting what our eyes seemingly show us. Thank you, Loren Bell!

I took Prof. Bell's class years ago and I can honestly say he is one of the best teachers I have taken. One of the required texts we read was about the life of Kenneth Rexroth and after reading it, it had a great affect on my life.

I took his 1B class during a summer & was surprised w the amount of wk but glad!This man introduced me to aspects of literature I never imagined!I have on my nightstand the books from his class, Albert Camus' The stranger, August Wilson Ma Rainey's Black Bottom(we also heard a record!)& Invisible Man!After the bible read these books!Thanks Mr. Bell

If you want to learn something, take this class.

Professor Bell is amazing, and if you come to his class TO LEARN and not just to pass a class, you will leave very satisfied. He changes your way of thinking in a positive way and his entire curriculum revolves around using logic. 1A is a research composition class, not a class where you can submit a paper you did in 2 hours and expect a good grade

Bell is cool as hell. You can't ask for a more personable teacher. I don't know why people are doggin' on him here. Must be boring students who just want to pass exams by having answers given to them. Sorry Mr. Bell made you think abstractly, maybe choose a boring professor next time.

I just finished his final for Eng1A, and I must say I left very satisfied. His in-class exams are hard but they are open note, and he gives you potential questions ahead of time so you can study well for the final. Take the essays seriously because they are a HUGE part of your grade!

I LOVED his class. He makes class very enjoyable, especially when he tells stories that correlate with the texts. The books are an interesting read as well. He definitely makes you think outside the box. He's a very understanding person. If you don't know, ask. Definitely take advantage of his office hours. If I could take him again, I would!

Very fun class, and the stories are always amazing. You want to be there every day to learn more about the book you are reading, and gives you great insight on what the author is trying to convey. I am looking forward to taking his 1B class in the near future!

Very good storyteller. Abstract minded. Tends to grade hard but gives you feedback on what he's looking for.

I hope to let him know how much he influenced my academic and personal life. He does not teach English, he teaches you how to think!!! Loved the class, which I took in 1995 or 1996, don't remember, but I still remember e.e.cummings she being brand, and my hard work essay on "community" - would love to talk to him again!! Bianca Moraes -from Brazil

Prof. Bell is an awesome teacher! I had him years ago and he was funny and helpful. I learned a lot from his class! I really recommend him!

His English 1A class is hard, but i took him for 96. Pretty easy, he is really chill and loves to talk about cool stuff. Come to class, listen,participate, write somewhat decent essays and you will pass. But if you just come to class and daydream then prepare to get a bad grade. He really is a cool guy, really nice too, he isnt intimidating.

He's really not that bad. yea its a lot of work but what do you expect from an english class? do all your work and youll pass. He's very helpful if you look for help.

He is fun and smart. The best teacher I have ever had at City College. He knows the root word in every English word I have herd of, weather it is Greek or Latin, and the original context in that language. Very Impressive.

Great instructor. Very much into his teachings and instruction that the student walk away with more knowledge that what they had when the class started and with a broader appreciation of all topics taught.

great teacher. makes you read a large amount and provide 10 questions per week of reading to prove that you read the material. very passionate about the subject matter and would recommend to anyone for ENG1B. make sure that you do all of the reading and stay on top of the essays,as for there is a large amount of both.after all,it is ENG1B.

It was the most difficult class I ever took. However, more than 10 years have passed and I still remember the learning from that one semester with Mr. Bell. I thank him for his patience and the hard work required to pass this class. It teaches not only English, but handling life! thanks Mr. Bell.

Insightful and likes to joke around with the students. He brings in subjects to the topic that may make you wonder like, "what does this have to do with invisible man?" but it's his way of getting you to find a relationship between subjects to better understand it. Great instructor if you are into the socratic seminar type. Glad I'm taking him.

He was my favorite teacher at CCSF. Loved how he taught, 20 years later I still think he's the best! He makes you think and get creative.

Loren is a fantastic teacher. He really wants the students to learn from his class and for them to use the knowledge he is giving the class. He tends to ramble a lot and off on tangents but he is an awesome teacher because he truly cares. His office hours are really helpful and he will stay late to help the students. Effort Success

I am glad I took his class in the morning because he will make you laugh before the end of every class. Professor Bell teaches by showing you structure, origin of words, the process of critical thinking, which gets intense. He lightens it up with lots of humor. The class is not easy, but one that will make you better in most other subjects.

He was a great teacher but its a lot of work. Get ready to spend nights without sleep w/ his papers&reading assignments. Insanely smart guy, will be able to lecture about any topic and have you leave the class knowing all sorts of random things. Great teacher but you're gonna be doing WORK. 10 page research paper but you end up being able to do it

I like Professors Bell, his class is very interesting. He will make you laugh in the class. He is very helpful and Willing to help every student. TAKE HIM.

This was the most inspirational teacher in my life! He teaches his students to think and learn. He wants them to be curious. Great teacher, there are very few like him. By the way, very stylish and a good cook too)

I took his ENG1A class a while back but Prof. Bell is one of the few professors who has truly inspired me. He is unorthodox and maybe a bit eccentric but he is one of those professors who will permanently change how you see the world. He requires a LOT of work and he is a very harsh grader. He will smell a BS essay a mile away so be original.

At first I didn't get his style of teaching. It almost seemed like he rambled on about un-relating topics (I assumed he took too much acid in the 70's) but then as time went on, EVERYTHING made sense. I literally still reference the things I learned in his class frequently (and it's been over 2 years). He teaches you to think and truly inspired me.

Loren Bell is by far the best teacher i've come across at CCSF. He really did change my life and the way I think about things. He helped me become a better critical thinker. I transferred from CCSF a year ago, but I often remember him and think maybe I'll drop by CCSF to say hi to him if I'm ever in the bay. I'd write more if i had more charachters

Professor Bell is an amazing professor. He does require a lot of homework/reading for his course about 2-3 medium sized articles as well as a chapter or 2 from the books he requires. Grades appropriately and is hilarious as well. Sometimes during discussion he may get off topic, but overall he is fantastic I would take one of his courses again.

What an amazing guy, ground breaking lectures that are out of this world, I feel sad that our semester is coming to an end honestly, I took him in 1A and 1B and wish I could keep taking him further at SF State, first time in life I am truly sadden a class is ending.

I took Prof. for my 1A class which was ok. Really nice guy. Doesn't give much feedback on your paper but DOES LET YOU TURN IN IT AS LATE AS YOU WANT sometimes. Talks a lot about politics. Cool ass old dude. I would take him again. 4 essays Community and culture. The 3rd was on combining the first two.

What a great professor. In English 1B, not only you learn english but also you use your mind in critical thinking. He makes the class fun. I highly recommend this class for ESL students.

So far I'm taking Bell for English 1B and I would describe him as a good teacher. The only thing is, he doesn't assign many essays throughout the semester but by the end of it you have to work like hell to make up for all the essays that weren't assigned. He also loves talking about politics which I don't mind but overall a good professor.

I too was confused regarding structure of class as the whole was a bit out of the ordinary. But, I did the work, went to class, and participated. In a nutshell, he teaches the stuff that society often forgets and makes you write papers about topics that are central to yourself as a person. You don't come by professors like these too often.

His way of teaching was overwhelming and I was failing at first, so make sure you pick it up quick and write how he wants you too! He outlines how you should write for his class, STICK TO IT! If he tells you how he wants an essay to be written, WRITE IT THAT WAY! He loves originality and can sense when your writing is not genuine. Take notes!

I loved this class. It was way more than I expected, he makes us think and gives us opportunity to share our ideas during lecture, it's like cracking your head open and seeing things in a new perspective. The book selection is really good too, interesting and captivating material.

Took him in Fall 2019. There are small homework assignments given throughout the semester, 3 essays, and a final. The final is a discussion about the book you're reading which was super easy. He is extremely flexible with deadlines and if you follow format and instructions for the essay, you'll be set. He's also very motivational and admirable

Made me think about the world in a new way lol. Very philosophical which I enjoy. Read 4 different books (short) and did discussions and essays on them. Weekly homework. Helped me learn how to write essays better. Takes a long time to pass back hw and essays tho. Chill work in the beg. but at the end, had to write back-to-back 4 essays...

I wanted to go on here and tell y'all that Loren Bell was the best professor I've ever had. He made the class think in ways we wouldn't have expected from an English class. I will cherish the moments that I remember from this class. Hopefully some of yall feel the same. OH AND YEAH, a bunch of essays near the end.

He gave insightful lectures. But the conversation and lecture are only good when students read the assignment and contribute. He assigns books not just written by white guys but indigenous novels too. I took two of his English classes and even asked him to write my letter of recommendation when I transferred to university.