he is one of the best instructor in his teaching way and he explain very well. he has confidence in his teaching. overall, he is excellent.

The teacher teaches in a way that you can understand. Most of his methods of teaching are different from the book and expects you to study your notes. Overall he's a good teacher who is really helpful when you don't understand how to do your physics. Attendance is mandatory to pass his classes

His class is fun.He knows what is he teaching.He is excellent teacher.

Really helpful wants to see students succeed, a professor who loves what he teaches, makes class very interesting. Loved his class recommend for anyone to take him

He is like a genius.I like this teacher because his enthusasm, he wants students to learn physics as a practical and applicable.I like his teaching method

Amazing teacher! He's so dedicated in how he demonstrates to the class by using several examples that're visual, verbal, and props he made ESPECIALLY for the lesson. Ya, he has an accent, but he speaks English exceptionally well. He doesn't like to see or hear cell phones during lecture. Very distracting for everyone! He makes learning fun :)

He is excellent professor that I have seen ever.Take his class, you will never regret.His class is fully fun.

You won't regret attending class. So much more better than reading the book alone. Zaya is awesome and makes class fun with his personality and love for astronomy. A couple projects & writing assignments which were actually enjoyable. Study his notes well. Tests are a little hard. He gives extra credit. He is a man of faith which is awesome too.

Great teacher with enthusiasm. Does have an accent but if you can get through it he is great. Very personable, helpful, and funny. Come to class and study hard. Lab is also open all the time for homework help.

One of the greatest instructors I've had the pleasure to learn from. Zaya does have a bit of an accent to him, but once you look past that you can see that he really knows the material he is teaching and really cares for student understanding.

Zaya is by far one of the greatest professors I've had. He has a lot of enthusiasm and he cares very much about helping students understand the material. His lectures are so good that it almost makes you sad when the lecture is over. Would definitely take him again if he taught upper division Physics.

zaya is the best physics professor that i have ever seen i do not know why somebody from this class complain about his teaching way i personally understand very well in his class and of course he knows physics well and transfers his knowledge to his students. No matter what who is writing, the only thing that i learned about zaya is real physics.

zaya is the best physics professor that i have ever had. He explains physics in the best way. I do not understand why somebody from the same class complained about his teaching way because he knows physics very well and transfers his knowledge to student. I really learn physics in his class. TAKE HIS CLASS and learn real physics

I like Zaya's teaching method because it is different with others. He teaches you to use it in your future. He wants you to get the subject. He is very enthusiastic and passionate in teaching. I enjoyed in his class. He want all students to be succeed. He is great man with big heart and serious and nice personality,

Prof Zaya is probably one of my favorite professor at Merced. Do the homework, participate in lab, and study his lecture notes for the exam and you'll get an A! he also gives a little extra credit too. he is hilarious and makes class fun. he gives plenty of funny examples. He makes everything smooth and easy to understand! i highly recommend him!!!

I think professor Zaya is excellent. He is so clear with enthusiasm. He makes class fun and brings many examples from industrial. His back ground as quality engineer makes him more practical professor with amazing examples in life. His teaching way is perfect. He wants you to get the subject and learn it for future not just for passing the course.

Honestly a really great professor! I didn't understand anything about astronomy but still passed this class. His essays, homework, and projects are pretty easy- if you do it, you get the credit. He's also passionate about what he's teaching so it makes learning a lot better.

Honestly the best professor I have ever seen. He has great lecture. Easy to understand him. He solves many different problems and helps to make clear every thing. I strongly recommend him. You won't regret. Amazing class.

Great Professor its an easy A. Test were somewhat difficult. You will need the book and take lots of notes off PP.

Good professor, he makes lectures very intresting. Exams are pretty straightforward.

Go to class, ask questions, and study, which will 100% get you an A in physics. Zaya is the best professor to take physics with because he makes it fun! He is always cracking jokes and is so inspirational! Class consists of HW, tests, and one project, that's it.c

Zaya explains all concepts in the simplest way and is also funny so it makes it easier to remember his explanation. He does have a different accent but its easy to understand what hes saying or trying to say. I would say hes easily one of the best professors Ive had.

He was an amazing professor. you can tell he loves to teach always excited to teach. Very interesting. Gave you homework but they were easy. Science has always been very confusing for me so the test were not so easy for me but if you love science you should totally take him!! Even if you don't you should still take him!

Amazing professor! His lectures are amazing and he uses good examples and demonstrations to help you remember certain topics. He lectures with the whiteboard though, so being in class is the only way to get the information. Study for exams!! For each exam, I made over 100 flashcards to study with. Maybe a bit excessive, but I aced every one!

Zaya is such a fun, animated teacher. He's made a subject I knew very little about extremely interesting. He's very very lenient with assignments and will let you turn them in late. He genuinely wants his students to pass his class. He knows physics with its applications in the real world. Gives you alive examples of everyday physics applications.

Zaya is a great professor! His lectures are entertaining and he is a funny guy. I highly recommend the book -- you will use it for the homework and read through the chapters for tests because there are a few questions from the reading. The homework is easy. study, do the work, pay attention and you'll pass. Extra credit is offered after each exam

Zaya knows physics. He is very nice. He is so passionate in his teaching way. Gives you a lot of different examples from daily life. Amazing man with big heart. Great class and great lecturer.

Zayas class is not easy, but what makes him great is his dedication to helping his students succeed. If you try hard, Zaya will take you the rest of the way. Have fun!

Very good professor. His lectures are very understanding and cares that his students get the concept his is teaching. My only advice for future students taking his class is study the material he teaches in order to pass his exam. I loved the way he taught his lectures because he explain the topic then walk though examples on the board.

I took Zaya a few years back for a summer astronomy class and it was honestly one of my favorite classes ever taken. I thought the lectures were fantastic (even though he literally used a marker on every little thing including trash cans). Uses a ton of helpful examples while lecturing. Totally recommend his astronomy class to everyone.

He is very animated which makes his lectures very interesting and helps you stay focused. You can tell he cares about his students. Learn to do the problems his way. Lots of students try using videos or chegg to solve problems and he ends up finding out because they completed the problems differently. I would definitely take him again.

This one of the greatest teachers I have ever met! He is extremely passionate and comes of humorous! HE makes this so interesting and understandable. He does only know the facts but understands them inside and out! You just need to pay attention and memorize and do homework. Homework is annoying but can beat his Lectures they are awesome!!!TAKE HIM

I took my Algebra and calculus base physics plus Astronomy with Zaya which took 4 semesters continuously . Zayas lectures are amazing and so inspiring and they always keep me entertained. He is for his students. He cares about his students and he puts maximum effort in to helping student learn. His enthusiasm in physics is exclusive. Take him.

One good thing about Zaya is his love to the topic that he is teaching. He lives with physics. He brings you many examples from different fields to help students to feel physics. I took both 4A and 4B physics . I learned how to solve problems which helps me a-lot in my engineering classes. Zaya is amazing man with lovely personality. Recommend him.

Zayas teaching style is so great. After lecture he goes over problems which it makes lecture more practical. He is an amazing lecturer. His labs are so straight. Exams are hard but if you attend and do whatever he says, then you are in good track. He has a big heart with helper manner. I recommend him hardly.

Zaya is the best teacher I have ever had, he makes the class fun but at the same time he trys his best to make the concept understandable, his style of teaching will change your perspective of physic. I took all my physics and Astronomy with zaya. He is extremely passionate and knowledgeable about the topic, and his lectures are easy to understan.

I took physics 4A and physics 4B with this professor. All you need to do is paying attention to his lectures. His lectures are very clear and he explains every concept with using a lot if examples. The exams are not difficult if you do the homework. The homework questions are like a study guide for his exams. You will enjoy learning physics :)

I love Zaya's physics classes. I took 4A and 4B. I got an A in both courses. He is really understanding and friendly. His lectures are organized, and easy to follow. His exams are literally from books, homework, and lecture problems. Physics is not a easy A course, but Zaya makes it interesting and easy for you to understand and learn it. Tnx

Zaya is an amazing teacher. You can tell that he loves his students and wants them to do well. If you have any questions, interrupt the lecture right away and he is happy to explain. He just wants you to understand! If you show up on time, don't miss class, stay off your phone, and don't talk to your buddy during lecture--it will go a long way! GL.

a good teacher. hilarious, involved, animated. very excitable. sometimes it seems he gets off track but her really knows his stuff. big class and little interaction. tests are easy enough if you study. take pictures of the board. sometimes his english and grammar can be confusing. power through. it's worth it. attend class & he'll curve ur grade up

Zaya is a really cool guy but he is also very moody. So just do a vibe check, if he's having a bad day don't interrupt his lecture. He is really amazing at making things simple for students. I had a really hard time in 04A and I ended up really enjoying his class. He loves a hard worker so stay off your phone and pay attention during lecture.

Professor Zaya was a definitely one of the most caring and entertaining professors I have ever had, and I would recommend him to anyone interested in taking science classes. His lectures were specific and did a very good job explaining concepts, and this good explaining is what caused my grade and many other's to be quite frankly above average.

I found Professor Pourtarvirdi to be one of my most interesting and caring professors I have had in college. He keeps his lectures interesting and informative. He makes himself very available for his students, and gives a completely fair amount of work.

I took professor Pourtarvirdi's class this summer it was really hard but I really loved the way he teaches. It is so beautiful and very thoughtful when he talks about physics. He is very sensitive if his students cheating so you better not cheat in his class and if he finds out you will get dropped. He cares a lot about his students. Thank you Zaya

Zaya is the most dedicated professor to his students. His enthusiasm in knowledge of the topic is exemplary. He wants you really to work. Otherwise you will not learn. If you want really to learn physics and at the end of semester come up with full hands, take his class. I love his teaching method. Very clear, very patient, and available for class.

Zaya is my favorite professor at Merced College. He really cares about his students and wants everyone to succeed. Yes, he gives a good amount of homework and his exams are long, but they are only to help you understand the material more. We are all STEM majors if you take physics 4C. You should be able to put in the work. Definitely recommend Zaya

Very helpful teacher. Very enthusiastic in his subject teaching. Very knowledgeable. Zaya is the beat physics professor I have ever seen. Easy to understand his lectures. I took 4A and 4B with Zaya. I will miss him. I recommend him strongly. He puts you in to work. Its a lovely class. He is a man with a big heart.

The lectures were easy to follow along with and the workload wasn't bad at all. The tests were a little difficult but the projects were interesting. I liked that Prof. Pourtavirdi would send out announcements to let us know about special events in the night sky like keeping a lookout to see Jupiter and Saturn. Overall, I really enjoyed this class.

I took physic 4 A, B, and C with him. He is amazing with what he does, he patient in what he does, therefore, I can say he gives the best lecture and most of the time he does many problems from books and from other sources. if you attend and show you care about the class he also will care more for you. He also doesn't like plagiarism.

Class just started fall 21 online course. Very organized modules and easy to follow and do assignments. Very clear. Semester is 18 weeks and not feeling any pressure. Just follow instructions and done. Recommend his class.

After attending in university, I have a massive amount of respect and gratitude for Zayas classes. His lectures are much like running a marathon for your brain and the class does require you to read the book and really practicing lectures. So if you do you are set to be successful in upper level courses after transferring. You will not regret.

Excellent four semesters physics 4A,4B,4C plus Astronomy with Zaya. Very smart and well done labs, exams in a variety of ways. Lots of hands on. Cares for your success and understanding. You need to study as it is required for these type of courses. I truly learned a lot and feel ready for the next level in engineering school.

I am currently in the UC university and I finished Statics and Dynamics, thermodynamic and I can only tell you that all the notes from the Physics 4A, 4B ,4C I took at Merced College with Zaya were extremely useful. He was very thorough with the problem solving and his style of set up with variables helped me a lot with these courses. Thanks!

I am currently attending De Anza college. I took Astronomy and Physics 2A with professor Zaya. I would love to take physics 4A, 4B, and 4c from him again. He is such a caring person and wants you to learn something and gives you some useful notes. He gives everyone extra credit at the end of the semester, very respectful and very meaningful labs.

Hi, Professor Pourtarvirdi is definitely one of the best Physics teachers you can ever have. His video lectures and problem solving videos explain the concepts so extremely well and in detail that you understand the material right away when watching the videos. He also has his students very well prepared to succeed on the exams as well.

Zaya is the best professor on the planet. He is passionate about physics and about teaching it effectively.

Professor Pourtavirdi is hands down the greatest professor I've ever had. he is the most passionate professor ever and truly cares about your success. You want to do good for him in a way. If you watch the lectures and take good notes you will do very well. The homework is harder than the lectures but the exams are just like the lectures.

He is the best physics professor I have taken. I've taken two other professors who are good but not as good as Professor Zaya. I have taken him for Physics 4A, 4B and will be taking him for 4C in the spring. I highly recommend this professor he has all the best characteristics that students look for. Physics is hard so take the class seriously.

Amazing Physics professor, takes time to help and make sure you understand the material, physics is not easy, but he makes it understandable.

Professor Zaya is one of the best physics instructors that I had so far. His lectures are so clear and he makes the concept easy to understand. This was my last semester at Merced College and I would definitely recommend him for your future physics or Astronomy courses.

Physics 4B is usually one of the hardest class for college students but Zaya makes sure that you learn and understand the topics fully, which is really helpful for your transition from college to University.

Professor Zaya knows how to teach!!! I transferred already and kept all my notebooks for 4A, 4B, and 4C. I am at a UC now and i still look at the notes I took in class. The way he teaches is made for students to succeed, he is highly organized and breaks down concepts really well. One of the BEST Professors at Merced College. I would grade him 100%

He does all things to succeed students. He loves his students. He wants you to learn. Its hard class but with Zaya physics is so sweet. You need to work of course. Take him. You will enjoy learning physics.

Zaya is the most enthusiastic professor I have ever worked with. He loves teaching and he cares deeply if you’re successful. I wish I could’ve taken his class in person instead of online!

Professor Pourtarvirdi is by far my favorite professor. His online lectures are amazing and he is so funny without trying to be. Work is manageable and interesting. If you like math I highly recommend. Please take his course!

The best class ever take. I took this class in CSUSATN, MJC but never understood because of how professors were explaining the topics which it was awful. Professor Zaya explains the topics like a story. Amazing explanation. Now I can say I learned physics after three semesters.Thank you Zaya. It was short six week semester. Miss you.

I took Zaya for summer 2022. It was a short 6 weeks but, really learned something from his class. He talks slowly but very detailed. He is really nice person and I do recommend taking his class for physics even though you know nothing about physics at first.

Took this course in the summer. It was only 6 weeks course. Very heavy but learned a lot. Professor Zaya is the best lecturer ever seen. His labs are very clear and shows all required steps. His class needs a lot of work but at the end you know that you learned the topics. I recommend to take his classes you will not be regret.

The only important thing I can say is that you learn, you understand and you are able to solve physics problems by the way that professor Zaya teaches. I wish had more professors like Zaya so I would be more higher now. You need to study and his classes are not joke. Be serious from the beginning. Take him. You will enjoy.

Ohhh boy. This man is different in his explanations. He does have amazing lectures. Amazing labs and you have to really work. The end is happy ending. The end is you be ready to fly in to any engineering majors. I really missed Zaya in how he is lecturing. He does have a beautiful lovely accent. Easy to understand him. He helps you any time.

Nothing but Love and respect for this professor. I am in love with professor Zaya. Love the way he explains everything, there is a lot of memorization in this course but he will go over everything with you one by one and tell you techniques to remember the material. I was honored to have him as my astronomy professor. Live you Zaya.

Professor Zaya is by far an AMAZING instructor. He is known for being "The Best" for a reason. I am very happy that I took him for Physics class. He thoroughly prepares his students for upcoming hw and exams and is very helpful. Replies your email promptly. Lectures are excellent detailed.I HIGHLY recommend Professor Zaya.

You'd be lucky to have Professor Zaya for physics classes.He is an expert in his field and one of the best lecturer I've ever had - and I've had a lot. He cares deeply about student success in class - but more importantly, for your future career. He answers your emails very soon. You have to spent at least 8 hours per week on his courses.

Professor Zaya is the man of his words with big heart. I took physics 4A online and found him very organized and helpful in all course section. His modules are easy to follow with great instructions. Lectures are excellent explained and recorded. He makes the topics easy to understand with very high detailed. Just follow his method and do your job

Actually find professor Zaya very enthusiastic for teaching of the subject.I am taking Astronomy with him in person class and He is very kind and respected to all his students and see all with same eye. He simply asked everyone to ask any questions regarding their topic and never shy. I feel very comfort and free to ask question in his class. Love

very easy going professor teaches everything that will be on the tests. most of the test questions are from the homework and he goes over the homework questions in the class.

You're going to have to spend 30 hours most likely a week. Zaya is a really difficult professor. I don't know if all these reviews are actually real or not, but Zaya's exams can be difficult. 10-12 question in a 3 hour period, where you have to submit your notes before the end of the timer or else it's an automatic zero.

Great professor. There are a few essays in this class which was expected, but overall I would take this course again.

Class was hybrid with labs in person. Zaya is a great professor. Explains all details in his lectures. Very enthusiastic in teaching and respected. Be serious in his class as he is very serious. Recommend him 5 out of 5.

it is hard watch his videos but that is important professor want us to learn everything but his videos are too long zaya he is really nice and caring .he cares for his students. class is not too hard but watching his lecture are really hard .

Took this class in summer. Short six weeks semester with many many topics to learn.Professor managed the course and all modules as excellent. Done 14 labs with 5 exams and with 12 quizzes and 14hw assignments. Very heavy class but at the end came out with learning difficult topics. Very amazing lectures with very good lab explanations. Amazing.

Professor is very passionate about physics as you can see this in his lectures. His lectures are amazing and very detailed. He replies to emails before the end of the day unlike many professors I have previously had. Overall, I would strongly recommend him as he is the right person to learn physics from. Amazing class.

He is probably the best professor I've had at Merced College, he gives you everything necessary to be successful in the class, it's all up to you.

Loves his teaching style. His lectures are so amazing and makes easy to understand. Gives you a lot of assignments. You should work and take class seriously. Highly recommend professor Zaya.

I took all physics courses with Zaya.There are not enough words to convey how much Zaya cares about these topics and his students. He is very available to students and will do his best to help you succeed. However, this is not a class where you can do the least amount to pass. Read the textbook, watch lectures, do the online homework on time.

I took Professor Pourtarvirdi's physics course as a dual enrollment student in high school. Although the material was very challenging, he is a kind and good teacher. Please consider taking his class if you are opting for an online physics course. He responds to some emails, but not all.

He's pretty good I took him and did a tesla coil experiment and i ended up with a faulty transistor so when i ran the experiment the transistor melted. I showed him what happened and he told me i used the wrong one, and recommended a different one. I turned in the project and did really good. He's strict and straight to the point hard class.

Professor Zaya inspires me to love Physics and continue to learn more. I wish I took the Thermodynamics class more seriously but I can sincerely say his lectures are well thought out which also helps me understand! His exams are tough. Fun lectures despite their lengths.

Class is hard work, but Zaya cares and is passionate. It is not an easy course. The homework and exams do reflect if there is an understanding of topic. There are different ways to do problems and concepts, but accuracy comes from slides and it takes up some time. The difficult is made with patient effort to be visually understandable, TY Prof!

The course did require time management and not to fall behind. That said not perfect class and I appreciate because effort to go over material is done by Professor for the students that is true. The course is not two chapters each week but spread up to a month. It is a good different teacher who cares and has best intention to help.

I think someone has a vendetta against him or something the reviews are really not indicative of how he teaches. For me he's always willing to answer a question and he really encourages it, as long as you pay attention he's a great professor to take. If you want to mess around using chegg all semester, not your guy, but I would definitely recommend

I do not comprehend negative reviews. Very good professor. Provide clear instructions and inspirational. Some students not ready for stem career

Amazing Professor, changed my life.

Is best physics professor in Merced! Simple to get good grade, just follow lectures and read material and A+. Follow basic instructions and get good grade. Not for every student it may seem

Get ready to jump for joy, Professor Zaya's class is delight! His brief but brilliant lectures are gift, giving you tons of time to soak up knowledge.! Zaya is gem, showering his students with care, understanding, and prompt yet fair grades. He lights a spark in all, inspiring to shine as brightly as he does one day!

I LOVE THIS PROFESSOR. THANK YOU!! I learned so much from your class, you are incredibly inspirational and an amazing person. THANK YOU!! take him no regrets!

He made Physics 2A fun for me. He is very knowledgeable, helpful, caring, and a GREAT pedagog. He has a great ability to make all physics concepts very digestible. Don't be afraid to ask questions if you ever need it. I would greatly recommend his class to anyone interested in taking Physics 2A. THANK YOU!

This guy is the greatest. He is very understanding, and actually cares that you are learning. He is a delight in class and very friendly, I am excited to take him for Physics 4B.

Turn in your assignments on canvas and study the exam reviews for the exams. He grades extremely generously, allowing late work and giving extra credit on homework and exams. He genuinely wants everyone to get a good grade in his class. He's very friendly too. If you do not do well in this class, work on yourself or consider a different major.

I took both physics 04A & 04B with this professor and passed both with an A. It was tough and does require tons of lecture and study time. I personally felt like I can manage this class and also have a social life which is all the matters to me lol

I am not sure why so many of his ratings here are so poor. He is very understanding and lenient, he just doesn't tolerate students who don't put in the work. His lectures are easy to understand, he gives extra credit on almost every homework problem, and he grades labs very easily. I would recommend taking him in person. He's wonderful.

i took physics3080. Great teacher. I was VERY scared to take a physics class. I am horrible at math and have failed physics in the past. He made it very easy to learn each section and gave you extra help if needed. He is a caring teacher. I deff recommend if you aren't good at math. I was expecting to barley get by with a C, ended up getting an A!

Amazing professor. Really sparked my interest in analysis and study of circuits and Kirchoff Principles. A great and caring teacher who would not stop at any cost to make sure students understood all topics covered.

Taking physics requires advanced math skills. In-person attendance is required but online lectures are also made available. VERY INTERESTING CLASS. You will learn so much! Calculating formulas can be challenging if you struggle in math, but he allows notes for exam. If you apply yourself and participate, you will pass! Highly recommend!

Professor Pourtarvirdi is an excellent teacher; he grades fairly and gives good feedback on your assignments. The online Labs were always more challenging for me, but his lecture videos explained everything in a simple way, so I was set up for success. Highly recommend taking Physics with him - Migel Marquez

I took Zaya all of Phys A B and C and my summer semester was almost unbearable with him, first thing he lets you know is that you should only focus on his class and he means it. But over the years in regular semesters it's actually really great. Very informative and passionate lectures and above all else his examples clear stuff up. Very nice teach

Prof Zaya is very passionate about his job. His exams are very similar to the practice exams he provides, and he's also a very generous grader. 10/10

I don't understand people who don't like zaya, he's genuinely one of my favorite professors. I took him for phys 04A, B, &C and passed all with A's. As long as you do the work and not slack you'll be alr. Plus his exams are almost identical to the practice tests. If you fail then you're prob doin something wrong

He is a really great person and professor. Highly recommend him if you want a professor who genuinely loves the subject and teaches like it. Anyone leaving bad rating is almost certainly the problem. It's physics, it's not easy, if you treat it like some humanities class, that's your fault and you will not do well.

Prof. Zaya is the G.O.A.T. of physics 1, 2, and 3. If you want to fully understand each and every concept and have a passionate and caring teacher then you must take his class, IN PERSON PREFERABLY. Exams are near-perfect and reflect the course material very well. If you are lost about anything he will help you understand and comprehend everything!

Really amazing, inspirational professor. He teaches so good and simplifies physics so that it is easy to learn and understand the basics. His lessons are great and he uses good examples and breaks down every step.