Homework is extremely hard. Doesnt use textbook for reference. He has his own system to teach the class. Class materials are almost irrelevant to homework.

I don't think the accent is a problem. His handwritings are sometimes messy, but you can ask him to clarify. His homework is harder than other math 8 classes. We don't have final in final week, but we have 3 exams and the last one is during the dead week. It really helps to release your pressure and all the things tested are very fair.

Put this man on UCSB hall of fame.. Gives 3 midterms and no FINAL. Dennis provides practice midterm thats very similar to the actual test. midterm #2 is take home so you better skirt skirt and Chegg that woe!! seriously did not learn anything after week 3 and still going to pass this woe with an A!!! take him for math8. S/o to Dennis the GOAT xDDD

Worst professor ever! CAN'T UNDERSTAND HIS LECTURE !!! Even though a lot of people say this exams are easy, that may not be relevant in his upper division class. I got 89% course total, and I ended up getting an B+.

WORST prof I've ever had at UCSB. Lectures are impossible to understand and you basically have to teach yourself everything. Midterms weren't too hard but the final was horrible! If you can avoid taking math with him, I highly recommend!!

A little difficult to understand, I'll admit, and you have to spend some time outside of class to learn the material but he is very willing to help his students pass. He assigns homework once a week (about 15-20 questions). His study guides are EXACTLY like his tests, which are really easy, AND he offers extra credit. (the class avg was an A!!)

Labutin's lectures are very abstract most of the time and hard to understand. You have to go back and look through the examples on the slides in order to really understand what's going on. If you know calculus from high school, you'll be fine in 3B. If not - go to CLAS and TA office hours. I got an A+ because Labutin gives so much EC on exams.

This man is the definition of BRUTE manliness. Yet, he also exhibits the tender love of a mother that is missing while you are away from home. Sure, he has an accent heavier than the snowfall of a Russian winter. Sure, his lectures are mostly abstract. However, he offers so much extra credit in the tests, that you'll be fine in his warm embrace.

He has a russian accent that I had a very hard time understanding, which meant that I struggled through my quarter. I only passed because I remembered some material from taking Calc in high school, CLAS, sections, and CLAS drop ins. So be prepared to be spending a lot of extra time for the class if you're not great at math.

He makes the material very easy to understand, but if you don't get something, he highly encourages you to ask questions. Homework isn't bad at all. If you can do his homework, you'll do great in his exams. Usually does at least one take-home exam! He is also relatively lenient when it comes to grading, especially if it's a mistake most people do.

Professor Labutin was a great professor to take my first quarter at UCSB. As other reviewers have mentioned, he does have a Russian accent, however it is not difficult to understand and doesn't affect his teaching abilities. As long as you pay attention to lecture and do the homework. you'll do fine on the exam.

His lectures are clear, complete, and occasionally very funny. He does a great job of connecting the material of the class to other disciplines of math and bringing in connections to other areas of math to make the content more clear. He does a good job of not getting bogged down in the details and presenting the subject very clearly.

Best professor in UCSB

Labutin is fine, neither excellent nor bad at teaching. His class is not very hard. And he has accent but is not hard to understand. Some said he grades easy, but this is not the case for 118(seems he doesn't curve), e.g. 91.5 is A-.

I think his lectures would be easier to understand if I spoke Russian

Honestly, this is one of the most clear professors in terms of what he expects of you. His exams in the lower division classes (except for math 8, I think) are very heavily based off the homework you get. Leaves so much wiggle room for you to do well in class. Drops your lowest midterm score. Gives extra credit. If you can, take him for a class.

One of the best professors in UCSB. He gives a lot of extra credits and have take home final. He wants every student in his class to get an A, so he drops 2 of your lowest homework and 1 lower midterm. If you hand in homework for week 10, you get 100% credit of that homework.

Labutin has a very strong accent that sounds like French and Russian smushed together. His lectures are confusing but the amount of material in 4A is so minimal you can easily learn it on your own in a day. If that scares you then go to CLAS instead of lecture, as his lectures are very confusing due to his horrible lecture slides and techniques.

Didn't really understand what he was saying because of his accent. His slides back-track a lot, and makes the lesson go all over the place. He seems nervous when he lectures. Section is where you'll get the most help. And go to CLAS. On the bright side, the midterm and final are almost the same as the practice exams he gives out.

Lecture is rambling, and attendance is not mandatory. Just go to section and do the weekly assignments online. very easy class, he curves each individual test generously. 1 take home midterm, 1 in class midterm, and in class final. definitely an easy A

All of the notes are posted online, you don't even need to attend the class. Tests are pretty easy if you have done the practice tests and make them understand. If you don't love math so much but just for good grade, here is for you.

Went to lecture maybe 4 times. The lectures do not help, this was mostly a self-taught class.

I don't understand him for the whole quarter, and I self-studied by reading textbook and going to CLAS. However, tests are easy and he curved a lot. Easy A as long as you study. Going to lectures is unnecessary.

Struggled to enjoy this class. A combination of Labutin's thick accent and excessively detailed slides made lecture boring and confusing. Homework takes time, be warned. I relied on section, CLAS and the (awesome) textbook to get me through the class. Overall, the class was not unreasonable--tests were manageable (and that's most of your grade).