I really like this professor, he gave an interesting perspective on linguistics and made it interesting even for those who aren't into linguistics. The class does get repetitive and is a lot like other LING classes. This is a very section-heavy class, but it was overall an easy A.

Professor Kennedy made every lecture entertaining and was very caring about his students. While this class was extremely easy, I relied a lot more on the book than the lectures to learn the material (but everyone is different!). I feel like I learned so much about not only linguistics, but the world as well. If you can, please take this class!

Bob Kennedy and Robert Kennedy are actually the same person. His lecture is very inspiring. The assignments are self-checked, which is easy to get full points. Exams take really small proportion because of pandemic. Although it is online, he did not raise the difficulty of the class, super nice and caring!

Pretty easy class during an online quarter. Easy to talk to, tells us stories during class. Material is pretty easy to understand and TAs are very helpful. Sections are mandatory but if you miss there is an assignment where you can make up the work. Midterm is not that bad and had no time limit. Overall def recommend.

Bob Kennedy, what a man. Great professor, super laid back and chill. Content is interesting and covers some GE's. Really accommodated for the COVID-19 circumstances, and cares about his students a lot. Very communicative, and sections are optional. Take him and LING 15 if you can!

Bob is the best, I absolutely love him and his class. He's funny, considerate, and passionate about his subject. I think he really wants the best for his students, and has been very accommodating with the current circumstances. Definitely one of my favorite professors I've had so far at UCSB!

Had Prof. Kennedy for LING 15 and let me say, he was easily the most accommodating and empathetic professor I have had in my time at UCSB. Understood the students point of view during the coronavirus pandemic and adjusted the class accordingly so that students could gain a real understanding of linguistics while not giving students anymore stress.

I took ling 15 online during quarantine and he honestly was so clutch during it. He adjusted the grading so that assignments were worth 70% and the midterm and final were both 15%. His lectures were entertaining and he was really really accommodating. I am so freaking glad I took this class

I LOVE Bob, he's funny and sweet and he seems to genuinely care about his students. He seems to prioritize that everyone learns more than trying to punish students with tough grading, and is clearly very passionate about his subject. I highly recommend that anyone take a course from him, no matter the major. Definitely worth the time!

Def fav prof at UCSB. Kennedy is a genuine guy and is passionate about what he's teaching. The material itself isn't difficult; show up to lecture and take good notes and there's no reason you need to do any of the readings. Midterm and final are fair + straightforward (MC and free-response). Easy and fun group project + only 4-5 hw assignments.

Take this class for the easy A and WRT req! Super friendly and generous professor. Lectures sometimes dull but good content. No reading needed, just attend lecture and take good notes. Grade solely based on 3 short homework assignments, a group project, a midterm, and a final. Do well on homework assignments, and you'll get the A! Bob is the GOAT!

His lectures can get boring, but when it's 9am, everything is boring. Very passionate about linguistics. I loved ling20, deciding to minor in TESOL because of that class. Assignment every week, straightforward midterm and final.

Assignments every week, after the midterm got significantly harder. Read the book to pass quizes. Attend lecture to pass the midterm and final. Midterm and final were fine but you need to study and everything is off the slides. You have to work for your grade, if you slack off it will show.

I thought I would take this course after taking LING 70. HUGE mistake. I took it mainly for Area C and should have just taken a math course. If you are not interested in the technicality of how language works, phonemes, sound waves, frequencies of sounds etc..., you will find this class so so boring. I so regret it. Class would go the FULL 75mins.

I took Ling20 with professor Kennedy in the fall of my 1st year. Overall the lectures were boring, but the professor was good. Online quiz every Tuesday and an online assignment (50% of grade) due every Friday afternoon. Midterm and final weren't super difficult if you study. Easy GE class but don't expect to be wowed by the material.

I liked Kennedy a lot as a person, however the class was a little more difficult than anticipated. But he is very good at answering student questions. 50% of your grade comes from weekly homework assignments that are relatively easy to complete if you understand the concepts. 20% midterm 20% final 10% online quizzes you take on the readings 1x/week

I changed my major and avoided several classes because of this guy. He doesn't care about his students, only enjoys hearing himself speak. Have fun spending hours memorizing useless info that isn't applicable to anything else but his boring class. Terrible.

Kennedy's voice is very monotone, and the class wasn't what I expected from an into linguistics class. It was math heavy in languages and not very interesting. Kennedy is a nice guy and always tells "dad" jokes. 1 midterm & final (25% each) with MC/free response. Not my favorite subject, but Kennedy cares a lot about his students.

Tough professor and class, would recommend ling 70...

For a class about language, his control of English is certainly lacking. In many cases, particularly on homework assignments, the questions were very poorly worded, so much so that most time spent in section was spent with the TAs apologizing for the poor wording and explaining what it is meant to ask. Lectures are more example than content based.

He's a great prof and if you've ever taken a ling class before, the lecture will be super easy to understand. I didn't go to most lectures and I rarely did the readings. just make sure you ask your TAs or Prof about homework because that's worth a LOT of your grade. also take advantage of the EC he offers!!

Awful class with an unhelpful professor and TA's. Don't take this class if you want an easy GE, I advised Ling 70 for that.

This is the worst class I have ever taken at UCSB. LING 15 has no structure, there is no textbook being followed ad everything graded is on a whim because the professor doesn't know what he wants to count as incorrect or not. DO NOT take this class.

I'd take a class with Kennedy again, but mainly because it was so easy. Truthfully, I just didn't enjoy his lectures. It's a cool class, but it felt like we didn't start covering real world issues until the last 3 weeks. The first weeks mainly involved him complaining about trivial linguistics issues. He's a nice guy, but the class wasn't for me.