Abdiel Onate

This review is for HIST/RAZA 520. I took summer session. All I can say is study the questions he gives you for the tests. You will find that info in the book. It helps if you form a study group, but this class is basically about finding out what's going to be on the test, reading it for yourself, and then memorizing it. I think Prof. Onate is not bad. His class was pretty easy. He did sort of go off on tangents and the lectures had a "fun facts" sort of feel as was pointed out earlier. His organization was ok, his lectures were some what interesting. I would reccomend him, because he seemed fair.

(This is for History 550, not available in the menu.) This compliments the review below. Although Professor Onate is very knowledgeable in Latin American history, as well as world history, and has a seemingly likable personality, this man does not teach. It is one thing to say that he cannot teach. But to be more specific, he DOES NOT teach at all. This occurs because he does not demonstrate control over the class discussion. Students are encouraged to ask questions. However, he entertains irrelevant ones and, because the student tends to argue about an opinion, he feels compelled to counter the argument as an automatic defense mechanism. His debates and discussions had no relevance to exam preparation whatsoever. Additionally, many of us had difficulties agreeing whether or not he was actually engaging in a lecture rather than giving us "fun facts" about the region's history. A student will ask another irrelevant question and then the cycle starts over again. This is the first instructor I have had where I literally believed it to be a good idea to leave the class halfway to keep my sanity. He is a great professor and very intelligent. He just does not throughly establish himself as the authoritative figure.

Are the above reviews serious? I dropped this guy's class after 3 hours because he was extremely disorganized and rambles with no apparent lesson plan. I'm willing to give anyone a chance---I try not to judge teachers too quickly---but by the end of the third hour I was pulling my hair out. I can't believe anyone would grade this guy highly. Sure, he seems like he has a friendly personality, but that's not enough to hold my attention. I prefer teachers who can teach.

Very good professor. Interesting lectures; straight-forward tests with no surprises that are designed to make the student work hard and think; very sweet, gentle personality. The only downside, I did not like the panel discussions, because some students in my class got very aggressive in expressing their opinions and Prof. Onate was not quick enough to step in and difuse the situation a few times. Otherwise, a good class.

I actually graduated a few years ago and therefore haven't had Dr. Onate recently, but he is one of the professors in the department who made the best impression on me. I had him two different times, for world history and also Latin American history, and I have to say I chose to take the second class with him on purpose, because I liked him so well. He's very easy-going and helpful, seems to genuinely care about the students, is interested in our participation in class, and is interesting. His lectures are especially good at giving you a good overview of the topic, instead of getting too specific too soon (so you're less likely to get lost). I would recommend him highly, to majors and non-majors- he makes history accessible to everyone. Plus he is just simply nice.

I really enjoyed having class with this teacher. He knows the material he teaches very well and he also has a great personality. I wish to take another class with him if he teaches one.