I got an A in this course by sitting in front, it's not necessary, but easier for participation. Once she knows who you are, I feel the class is much easier, as she interacts with you more. Honestly, most of the lecture material is background/research info, as the readings become the material to use for Midterm, Project, and Final. I didn't read Bonvillain, I skimmed Professor Goodwin's book, read many of the articles, missed a few lectures, and felt completely prepared for the exams. She is intent on getting a discussion going during lectures, and her enthusiasm is wonderful, albeit sometimes kooky. She is approachable and friendly, and I enjoyed visiting her for a review session, as she made me feel like I had mastered her class. Although her material was not what I had been interested in before, I now LOVE the subject...not everyone will, but it isn't hard to do well. So, just participate a bit and follow the explicitly clear questions for the essay-based exams, and there's no reason you won't get an A! This class taught me a lot about personal interaction, and it became an interesting subject to get into. No doubt she's one of the best, if not the best, professors I've had in my college career! Take Goodwin just because she's smart and sweet and you'll probably learn a lot without a lot of stress!

Professor Goodwin is so sweet. Lectures were pretty much just reading transcriptions and watching video clips...over and over again. I personally could not concentrate because I wasn't use to her style of teaching...also because most of my attention was drawn at the white clumps of saliva that would collect at the edges of her mouth...it just made me want to wipe my own lips. Anyways there is a lot LOT of reading...I was surprisingly able to keep up with all the reading up until the midterm...and did pretty well on it. The average for the midterm was a low B and I got a 92%...but then I also had the best study group of my life (my grade on the midterm being the second lowest of the 5 of us). The article readings are way more important than either of the books used in class...so really study the articles. There is also a section for this class in which you have to submit a "precis" assignment before every section. The TA just checks you off to see if you did the assignment, so you get full credit...you can easily BS the precis each week and get by. There is also a group project thats worth 30% of your grade. So long as you pick a good topic, good group members and are/act interested in the topic you picked...you should do well because the average for the group projects was a low A. Also, she gives you the questions for her exams the lecture before...so...I did NONE of the readings after the midterm...but I went to EVERY lecture and had a great study group for the final...and was able to pull off an A. Lastly, she is very personable (although she often, but unknowingly, uses an intense stare that pierces through her glasses and paralyzes you with awkwardness if you're sitting in the front rows), concerned with student learning and actually enjoys writing letters of recommendations. I regret not knowing her better, because she would have given me a letter of rec if I asked for one. So I would definitely recommend Professor Goodwin!!

A very nice professor, interesting lectures, lots of reading though, but the material is quite interesting. I pulled an A-, I read for the first 3 weeks, then just skimmed and cramed at the end. She gives out study guides, all that would be on the exam, just answer those questions and you are home free!

Don't let her seemingly unorganized teaching style deter you from taking the class--she does a great job exposing students to what the field of Linguistic Anthropology has to offer...I left the class more interested in the field of Linguistic Anthropology than before I took it.
The material is quite interesting. As long as you do the readings (especially the articles) and fill out the studyguides she gives, you'll ace the final. She really sets everything up so that you can slam-dunk the tests. Very concerned about student learning, good about making herself available in office hours. And a very sweet person :)

I have so many good things to say about professor Goodwin and this class that I dont know where to begin... This is so far one of many favorite classes, partly because of Goodwin's enthusiasm but also because I realized how important language is in society. This class requires work and effort, Goodwin expects hands on experience in a field project and the reading load is heavy but all the work pays off as it leads to profound understanding about language and society. Goodwin inspired and motivated us all to perform our best, an admirable characteristic in a professor. She is approachable, concerned, and fully deovited to her field and her students. Three words: Take this class!

Entering this class, I had low expectations for it (I'm not a linguist by trade). By the end of the quarter, the care and concern Professor Goodwin and her T.A. had exhibited made this course into one of my favorites to date. This is a methods course, so you will be expected to complete some heavy-duty fieldwork. Don't be intimidated ... if you want to be a field linguist or a linguistic anthropologist, this *is* the class for you to try your hand at it. The readings were all excellent, and there was ample material provided in class to do well on both the project and any tests. In addition, Professor Goodwin demonstrated an enormous amount of concern with student welfare. She is very approachable and encourages discussions within the lecture. I would highly recommend her for all anthropology students.