Professor Crickette is a fantastic teacher and really tries to help students. However, the material is very difficult.

She's a really nice professor and she's willing to help anytime. However, sometimes she rambles on in Italian and expects you to keep up. Kinda confusing since I have no background in Italian.

Super nice

Valentina was nice and interesting, but not captivating. Sometimes her English grammar mistakes made class confusing. Her grading and testing methods made no sense. Overall, nice lady but blah teacher and blah class.

As a GE class, there were small online quizzes along with two small papers, a midterm, final paper and exam. Readings aren't too long and supplement lectures. All are fairly easy. Posts lectures online. Friendly professor who loves the subject and enjoys talking to students. I've recommended her to friends before.

Valentina is very personable and is always there to help students if they have questions. Going to class is mandatory because she has pop quizzes but she announces them prior (so they're not really pop quizzes) and she really helps students out. It is nice to participate, especially in a language class where you learn faster by doing so.

She is amazing! She is so nice and sweet, and she's funny too! She's an enthusiastic professor and she genuinely cares about her students understanding the material. I loved going to this class!

She really cares about each student and teaches clearly. The class was easy, even for people who don't pick up on languages well. She speaks a lot in Italian but, it's easy to decipher. She's amazing. Take her class.

She was a really good teacher, there were a lot of tests and quizzes but she gives you everything you need to get good grades on them, and makes it really easy to get a good grade in the class

Valentina Padula is really kind and her class was fun and informing. The “textbook” is a short, funny novel. There are extra readings each week that are poorly written and impossible to comprehend without a dictionary. Fortunately, she discusses each one. Exams are not quite what the study guides suggest, but they’re not too challenging.

She was amazing! So inspiring, clear and wonderful in office hours.

Valentina is a great professor! I just had her for my second quarter in a row and I wish I could take her class next quarter. She is very fair and teaches well. Overall she is just a great person. I felt like she truly cared about all her students- take her!

Oh Maria Elena Crickette... You have inspired me in so many ways. Before I took this class I had no idea what to expect, but because of her enthusiasm and overall passion for teaching (she is extremely clear), I became OBSESSED with Italian, and she really influenced me to pursue an Italian minor. If you ever read this, thank you so much.

Sweet, intelligent, helpful. I will probably get a B because of my own lack of organization (forgot a quiz, late on one short essay). Quizzes are easy (4). Two short essays.Two MC tests for midterm/final- provides study guides. One 8 pg. paper. SHOW UP TO CLASS. I rarely needed to read the book- everything in lecture. Interesting/ relevant.

Valentina is a remarkable professor and I definitely recommend taking one of her classes. Her lectures are so interesting and she is adorable. I absolutely loved having her!

Padula is one of the best Italian professors at UCSB. She is very helpful and wants you to do well. She is easy to talk to. The quizzes and pop quizzes were easy. Preparing for midterm and final helped out a lot. She is a nice lady and helps you understand the material and Italian culture. Highly recommend taking her if you want to learn Italian.

Amazing professor! Highly recommend taking her Italian culture class. Watched 6 Italian movies and all the readings were online. Two short reaction papers, four quizzes, a midterm and final. Tests were fair and topics were interesting.

She was a great teacher, not afraid to joke and tease with the class and always willing to further explain concepts if there was confusion.

She is an absolutely amazing professor. She explains everything very clearly and gives hints as to when pop quizzes will be. She answers questions clearly and her English is amazing as compared to some Italian professors. I'm taking her now for Italian 2!

Such an incredible teacher! Her lectures are very clear and you go home understanding every concept learned that day. You have homework everyday and a few compositions throughout the quarter. She is very kind! She will answer all your questions! It's an easy A as long as you study the material :) Because of her I want to major in Italian now!

Valentina is the best prof. I have had at UCSB HANDS DOWN! She is such a sweet lady and really cares about your success in the course. Go to her office hours and just talk about life! I love her so much and we are still great friends. She is an AWESOME prof. GO TO CLASS, study a little every night, and you will be golden.

She is star, a goddess. Really, get to know her because she will be the department head someday, if not higher than that. She loves Europe, and you can learn a lot in her class. But the best thing is the woman herself.

Valentina was a GREAT professor! She really wants her students to do well, but you have to put in the effort. I received an A but I also attended every class, participated, and did the assignments. She likes it when you participate and show that you are up for a challenge. I hope I get her for Ital 3!

Such an amazing teacher. She really cares about teaching the students Italian and makes the class relevant to travelling, studying abroad, and learning Italian culture. Goes above and beyond and teaches us about culture, food, transportation, etc in Italy. Very sweet and kind, understanding for all issues. Warns us about pop quizzes :) Amazing Prof