GERM 4600

The paper for this class was not required to be in German. Most of the readings were not in German. This class was not conducted in German. Of all of the German language courses I have taken at UVA, this has been the least beneficial. I am extremely disappointed and frustrated.
Professor Bennett was totally unapproachable. This course was meant to be a seminar, a time during which we would be able to discuss, as a class, topics that were important to us. Instead, every class was spent listening to him and his opinion, including the classes during which we presented on our final paper topics. Often, he would ask questions that could have led to a good discussion, but he instead would either A) interrupt you before hearing your entire answer, but disagree based off your first few words or B) cut you off before you could let a word out and continue off on his own opinionated rant. In addition, I, and at least one other person in the course, were not able to actually choose the topics of our papers. Professor Bennett told me what he thought would be a topic of interest to me. When I told him I did not think that I would be able to write 20 pages about the topic (because it was of no interest to me), he disagreed with me. I wrote on the topic he chose.
Overall, I dreaded going to this class and wholeheartedly believe that it was a waste of my time. I know that the other three students in the course did not do the readings, they didn't even buy the books he requested we buy, because the books did not benefit our German, our common knowledge, our paper topics, and it was a given that he would talk for the entire class, often not even discussing the books.
Professor Bennett seems like a nice man; he was very willing to edit our papers when requested and offered many times to help get us access to sources we may need. The class, however, was simply a platform for him to talk. I will suggest other students avoid his classes, in case they are anything like this one.
I am extremely disappointed that my fourth-year seminar was not even conducted in German. This was a missed opportunity for some serious German language practice. I hope that in the future, for the sake of the students and the department, the course will be led differently.