[{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:52:30.145311+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQxMTQwODI5","source_instructor_id":"rmp:304379","instructor_name":"B. Venkat Mani","course_label":"GERMAN276","course_id":"GERMAN/LITTRANS 276","course_uid":"course_3fde17c982ca5b41401a7070","review_date":"2025-05-03 01:15:29 +0000 UTC","comment":"Professor Mani genuinely cares SO much about his students and I have never yet witnessed a professor teach so passionately. If you have the opportunity to take a class with him, go for it!!","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/304379","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":2.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:52:30.145311+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQxMTI0MDQy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:304379","instructor_name":"B. Venkat Mani","course_label":"GERMAN276","course_id":"GERMAN/LITTRANS 276","course_uid":"course_3fde17c982ca5b41401a7070","review_date":"2025-05-01 20:43:43 +0000 UTC","comment":"Best Prof at UW take him at all costs","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/304379","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":2.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:52:30.145311+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQxMTIzOTg0","source_instructor_id":"rmp:304379","instructor_name":"B. Venkat Mani","course_label":"LITTRANS276","course_id":"GERMAN/LITTRANS 276","course_uid":"course_3fde17c982ca5b41401a7070","review_date":"2025-05-01 20:40:56 +0000 UTC","comment":"TAKE HIS CLASSES. Professor Mani is the kindest most respectful and encouraging professor at UW Madison. He truly cares for everyone one of his students. ","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/304379","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":2.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:52:30.145311+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQxMTIyOTM4","source_instructor_id":"rmp:304379","instructor_name":"B. Venkat Mani","course_label":"GERMAN276","course_id":"GERMAN/LITTRANS 276","course_uid":"course_3fde17c982ca5b41401a7070","review_date":"2025-05-01 19:51:59 +0000 UTC","comment":"This class was already amazing because of the topics discussed- refugees, migration, displacement, memories, trauma, history. However, Professor Venkat Mani is super kind, understanding, and wants everyone to truly engage with the materials. Ive had a great experience in this class, you do need to read but the discussions are valuable. ","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/304379","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":4.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:52:30.145311+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM2MDg2MTcw","source_instructor_id":"rmp:304379","instructor_name":"B. Venkat Mani","course_label":"GERMAN276","course_id":"GERMAN/LITTRANS 276","course_uid":"course_3fde17c982ca5b41401a7070","review_date":"2022-04-15 22:26:47 +0000 UTC","comment":"Spring (2021-2022) He is an amazing professor and incredibly caring. The class consists mostly of readings/ movies/ and some music. The midterm/ final we wrote mini essay response to questions but its open note. Lecture is pretty important if you want to get key ideas. Fun part of his class is he uses twitter to allow us to give our reactions.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/304379","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":2.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:52:30.145311+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM0NjE4OTg3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:304379","instructor_name":"B. Venkat Mani","course_label":"LITTRANS276","course_id":"GERMAN/LITTRANS 276","course_uid":"course_3fde17c982ca5b41401a7070","review_date":"2021-04-25 17:02:38 +0000 UTC","comment":"Professor Mani is the best professor I have ever taken. It is a literature class so expect some readings but movies are also assigned sometimes. If you participate frequently, he will love you and class will be a breeze. If you need a non-elementary literature credit, this IS the class to take.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/304379","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":2.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:52:30.145311+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTMzMjA2OTk0","source_instructor_id":"rmp:304379","instructor_name":"B. Venkat Mani","course_label":"GERMAN276","course_id":"GERMAN/LITTRANS 276","course_uid":"course_3fde17c982ca5b41401a7070","review_date":"2020-05-05 16:06:36 +0000 UTC","comment":"Professor B has been by far my favorite professor during my time at UW. While you have to be prepared for every lecture, his lectures and discussions prepare you so well for the midterm and final. If you are looking to fill a requirement, I definitely recommend taking a course with B!","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/304379","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":3.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:52:30.145311+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTI0NjA3OTc5","source_instructor_id":"rmp:304379","instructor_name":"B. Venkat Mani","course_label":"LITTRANS276","course_id":"GERMAN/LITTRANS 276","course_uid":"course_3fde17c982ca5b41401a7070","review_date":"2015-04-16 11:14:19 +0000 UTC","comment":"I have a problem with his teaching style, his tests are easy.  He is extremely condescending and only appreciates the reading comprehension that is in line with his own. Extremely annoying .","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/304379","quality_rating":2.0,"difficulty_rating":1.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:52.991010+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQwNjM1Mjg1","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2642532","instructor_name":"Melissa Sheedy","course_label":"GERMAN276","course_id":"GERMAN/LITTRANS 276","course_uid":"course_3fde17c982ca5b41401a7070","review_date":"2025-02-03 23:05:50 +0000 UTC","comment":"Took her Kafka class and would take again! One of my favorite professors at Madison!!","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2642532","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":1.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:52.991010+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQwNTA5MjE3","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2642532","instructor_name":"Melissa Sheedy","course_label":"GERMAN276","course_id":"GERMAN/LITTRANS 276","course_uid":"course_3fde17c982ca5b41401a7070","review_date":"2025-01-08 18:27:39 +0000 UTC","comment":"TAKE SHEEDY.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2642532","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":1.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:52.991010+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTQwMjk3MDYw","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2642532","instructor_name":"Melissa Sheedy","course_label":"GERMAN276","course_id":"GERMAN/LITTRANS 276","course_uid":"course_3fde17c982ca5b41401a7070","review_date":"2024-12-14 19:03:41 +0000 UTC","comment":"Took Kafka. Not difficult, very fun professor. Very kind, interacts with everyone, and is cool. 2 absences total, and we read cool material. You can get by with not doing all of the readings, but as you get grouped with random peers a lot, not reading hinders discussion and makes things awkward. ","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2642532","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":1.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:52.991010+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM5OTgwODU1","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2642532","instructor_name":"Melissa Sheedy","course_label":"GERMAN276","course_id":"GERMAN/LITTRANS 276","course_uid":"course_3fde17c982ca5b41401a7070","review_date":"2024-11-19 17:18:14 +0000 UTC","comment":"German 275. Easy class, you can tell the professor cares about the subject. Also she's very sweet and clearly cares about you as a person.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2642532","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":1.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:52.991010+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM5MDIyMTEw","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2642532","instructor_name":"Melissa Sheedy","course_label":"GERMAN276","course_id":"GERMAN/LITTRANS 276","course_uid":"course_3fde17c982ca5b41401a7070","review_date":"2024-03-04 20:00:31 +0000 UTC","comment":"Melissa is the best! Very friendly, knowledgable, and caring. Would definitely take a class from her again!","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2642532","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":1.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:52.991010+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM1Nzc5MjU0","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2642532","instructor_name":"Melissa Sheedy","course_label":"GERMAN276","course_id":"GERMAN/LITTRANS 276","course_uid":"course_3fde17c982ca5b41401a7070","review_date":"2022-01-20 22:02:34 +0000 UTC","comment":"Prof Sheedy is amazing and the course is very interesting. Criteria for assignments, quizzes, and papers are extremely clear and grading is fair. Highly recommend!","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2642532","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":2.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:52.991010+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM1NjA1NTM2","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2642532","instructor_name":"Melissa Sheedy","course_label":"LITTRANS276","course_id":"GERMAN/LITTRANS 276","course_uid":"course_3fde17c982ca5b41401a7070","review_date":"2021-12-20 12:42:15 +0000 UTC","comment":"Professor Sheedy is amazing! Very easy lit course if you put in the work. There are weekly discussion posts, 5 short quizzes, 2 short papers, and a final project. Grading was very easy and Melissa sets up the expectations well. Lectures are mandatory and you need to sign in at the beginning of each lecture. Would highly recommend for a lit course.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2642532","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":1.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:52.991010+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM1NTkzMTEx","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2642532","instructor_name":"Melissa Sheedy","course_label":"LITTRANS276","course_id":"GERMAN/LITTRANS 276","course_uid":"course_3fde17c982ca5b41401a7070","review_date":"2021-12-19 01:29:44 +0000 UTC","comment":"I loved Melissa! She puts her students first always and it shows. Super easy Lit credit with their being no discussion section and honestly not that much reading. Grade consisted of weekly discussion posts, attendance, 5 quizzes, two small papers, and a final project. Super easy A if you put in a little effort.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2642532","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":2.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:52.991010+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM1Mzc1MDYy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2642532","instructor_name":"Melissa Sheedy","course_label":"LITTRANS276","course_id":"GERMAN/LITTRANS 276","course_uid":"course_3fde17c982ca5b41401a7070","review_date":"2021-12-05 23:45:33 +0000 UTC","comment":"Very student-focused and related what we learned in class to the world around us. I am not a literature person, but I did fine in this class.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2642532","quality_rating":4.0,"difficulty_rating":2.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:52.991010+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM1MjcyMjEy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2642532","instructor_name":"Melissa Sheedy","course_label":"LITTRANS276","course_id":"GERMAN/LITTRANS 276","course_uid":"course_3fde17c982ca5b41401a7070","review_date":"2021-11-19 03:06:45 +0000 UTC","comment":"Professor Sheedy is so so sweet; she is very passionate about the topics and tales we discuss in class. I was skeptical about taking the class given my lack of knowledge on the topic, but all of the tales have been really fun to read. Read the tales, post insightful discussion prompts and sign the attendance sheet in lecture and you will get an A.","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2642532","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":2.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:52.991010+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM1MjIzNTY1","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2642532","instructor_name":"Melissa Sheedy","course_label":"LITTRANS276","course_id":"GERMAN/LITTRANS 276","course_uid":"course_3fde17c982ca5b41401a7070","review_date":"2021-11-11 03:33:28 +0000 UTC","comment":"She's a sweetheart and this class is sooooo easy. There was a "textbook" that is a book that you read some fairy tales for but I just got a rental from the library","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2642532","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":1.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:52.991010+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM0Nzc2NDM1","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2642532","instructor_name":"Melissa Sheedy","course_label":"GERMAN276","course_id":"GERMAN/LITTRANS 276","course_uid":"course_3fde17c982ca5b41401a7070","review_date":"2021-05-12 18:52:50 +0000 UTC","comment":"I took German 276 for my literature class requirement, seemed easy, and it was. If you need to fill your lit requirement take this! the class can get kinda annoying because she grades so easily that you feel like not trying and the discussions get boring but its definitely worth taking if you need it. She is very nice! I really liked her","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2642532","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":1.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:52.991010+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM0NjkzMDgy","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2642532","instructor_name":"Melissa Sheedy","course_label":"LITTRANS276","course_id":"GERMAN/LITTRANS 276","course_uid":"course_3fde17c982ca5b41401a7070","review_date":"2021-05-03 23:23:17 +0000 UTC","comment":"literally SO sweet, i couldn't recommend this professor more. she's super engaged and super passionate abt what she teaches, while at the same time being respectful of students and their time. hw and participation are both easy grades that encourage active learning, so even tho i took this course for fun i genuinely feel like i learned a lot!!","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2642532","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":1.0},{"observed_at":"2026-09-07 16:18:52.991010+00:00","run_id":"20260907T155543-ce3781c4","source_review_id":"UmF0aW5nLTM0NTcwODc2","source_instructor_id":"rmp:2642532","instructor_name":"Melissa Sheedy","course_label":"GERMAN276","course_id":"GERMAN/LITTRANS 276","course_uid":"course_3fde17c982ca5b41401a7070","review_date":"2021-04-19 00:03:49 +0000 UTC","comment":"Professor Sheedy is amazing! I loved her positive energy. She was so caring and helpful and we often got to see her cat, Pushkin! Very manageable course if you do the readings and participate in lecture. Lots of group discussions but okay bc the readings were usually short! I loved learning about the fairytales & for a Com B class, this was fun!","source_url":"https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/2642532","quality_rating":5.0,"difficulty_rating":2.0}]