Castillo, Harvey James teaches at Ateneo de Manila University. Across 39 comments from students, they hold a rating of 4.7 out of 5. Of those comments, 38 read positive and 1 read neutral. They are listed for 6 sections this term.
You're in absolutely great hands! <3 Sir Harvey is a professor who really, really values his students' insights and ideas, and will really go out of his way to involve people in the class. He's patient even if you're struggling to formulate your thoughts and ideas, and will figure out a way to get back to you if you're not immediately ready to participate. As the others have said, he allows code-switching, and is open to having students recite in Taglish so long as it helps them express themselves better. So long as you've read the readings and are willing to analyze them closely, you'll be more than okay in his class discussions. (Like the others have said, he's very into pop culture, and will occasionally make jokes and references during the discussions XD) We had five quizzes (in place of longer tests, like a midterm). Three were objective, with identification questions and true-or-false questions; and the other two were essay-type questions. I would say they're fairly straightforward so long as you pay attention to the class discussions, the readings, and occasionally, the Canvas modules. He also gives bonus items, typically related to current events or pop culture. We also had two "thought papers" where you present your ideas and insights on a particular reading as bullet points. You're only given one page for each paper, so make sure you can explain yourself properly but concisely. The key is to be able to present novel insights - ideas which were not discussed in class. The papers do not need to cover the entirety of the reading - it's perfectly fine (and perhaps more practical, given the length of the paper) to focus on specific aspects of the reading that stood out to you. I think he gives samples for the thought paper, so you can refer to those. Lastly, the final assessment is a group oral exam - you attend as a group, but you are graded individually. Sir will give you a list of the possible questions ahead of time. You'll do well so long as you go through the readings and pay attention during class discussions. All in all, as someone who's not very fluent in Filipino - definitely A-able with reasonable effort! Good luck,! <3more
Fancy Zebra
You're in absolutely great hands
positive
You're in absolutely great hands! Sir Harvey is a professor who really, really values his students' insights and ideas, and will really go out of his way to involve people in the class. He's patient even if you're struggling to formulate your thoughts and ideas, and will figure out a way to get back to you if you're not immediately ready to participate. As the others have said, he allows code-switching, and is open to having students recite in Taglish so long as it helps them express themselves better. So long as you've read the readings and are willing to analyze them closely, you'll be more than okay in his class discussions. (Like the others have said, he's very into pop culture, and will occasionally make jokes and references during the discussions XD)We had five quizzes (in place of longer tests, like a midterm). Three were objective, with identification questions and true-or-false questions; and the other two were essay-type questions. I would say they're fairly straightforward so long as you pay attention to the class discussions, the readings, and occasionally, the Canvas modules. He also gives bonus items, typically related to current events or pop culture.We also had two "thought papers" where you present your ideas and insights on a particular reading as bullet points. You're only given one page for each paper, so make sure you can explain yourself properly but concisely. The key is to be able to present novel insights - ideas which were not discussed in class. The papers do not need to cover the entirety of the reading - it's perfectly fine (and perhaps more practical, given the length of the paper) to focus on specific aspects of the reading that stood out to you. I think he gives samples for the thought paper, so you can refer to those.Lastly, the final assessment is a group oral exam - you attend as a group, but you are graded individually. Sir will give you a list of the possible questions ahead of time. You'll do well so long as you go through the readings and pay attention during class discussions.All in all, as someone who's not very fluent in Filipino - definitely A-able with reasonable effort! Good luck, OP!more
Kind Otter
Gentle recits but you have to master the readings
positive
CourseFILI 12
I had Sir Castillo during the second sem of my freshman year, but for FILI 12. Not exactly sure how will he teach FILI 11, but here is my exp with him: Teaching style: There will be a LOT of recitations during class, where he would call students to answer his questions. Don't be too intimidated tho, as sir is gentle and encouraging, and would sometimes even guide you if you're unsure of what to answer. BUT honestly, his questions can be very very hard to answer if you didn't master the readings, so when he has assigned you readings, please please do take the time to read and understand them fully. Materials: I LOVE his readings and lessons. They're thought provoking, relevant, and thick with discourse. I would literally leave every class session with a new or refined perspective on society. Grading: I find that sir has quite high standards, but it is made up for by his ability to give comprehensive comments thatll surely help you with improving your work. I would say B-able, but A with a lot of effort Requirements: For fili 12, we had short quizzes, two short papers, and 1 oral exam (Our finals). The quizzes and papers were relatively okay to work on, but the oral exam requires heavy preparation. We had to prepare answers to 40 prompts, and they weren't easy questions. I'd say though that sir's recitation oriented discussions and high standards helped me drastically with gaining the skills to succeed in the oral exam, so please participate a lot in his class to gain an upper hand and a good grade in the exam! Overall, I learned a lot from sir's class - he's arguably the literature prof to whom I've grown the most in my whole life. But I wouldn't say it was an easy ride either with his high standards. Take him if you want to be pushed to your limits in a good and radical way!more
All comments
Noble Gecko
hi!! they're just short quizzes that are usually short essay type. he usually asks analysis questions of the readings or about the literary time period you're in. it's also helpful to be updated on recent relevant social issues bc he gives those as questions and extra credits sometimes!more
Daring Crane
positive
CourseFILI 12
hi, op! i agree^^ sir harvey is my fili 12 teacher rn and i can say that i genuinely enjoy the subject! his discussions are really engaging. he encourages everyone in class to share their thoughts abt the readings.
he’s not strict naman! you can use taglish in class but sa quizzes you need to use tagalog. it’s good to take note that sir appreciates those na nag eeffort and nag rerecite. (recitation contributes to ur grade.) also, make sure to read your readings before each meeting. hope this helps! ❤️more
Dapper Puffin
positive
yes!! sirs discussions are always fun and interesting, even if you’re not very confident in your Filipino. after a while, you get used to sharing your insights on the readings and it’s pretty rewarding when sir tells you that you answered well in class recit! just work hard to understand the readings beyond surface level, and always review before class 💗more
Happy Heron
Sir Harvey is THE GOAT
positive
WorkloadHeavy
Sir Harvey is THE GOAT!! One of the most remarkable profs I’ve ever had in Ateneo and I’m saying this as a senior! 🙌
I wouldn’t say workload was light - but the class really makes all the readings worth it. Make sure not only to read but also to analyze and think critically about the readings. Ask yourself: How does the text relate to the political context of its time and how does it connect to our contemporary issues?
He would also give surprise short quizzes about the readings. The bonus questions are on current events so it helps to read the news before class. Other than those, we also had a midterm paper and a final research paper iirc. Make sure to get good groupmates and utilize the consultations with him because he gives super helpful feedback.
Grading-wise: easy B/B+, but I managed to get an A because I recited a lot and did well in quizzes. Recit points will really carry a bulk of your grade so make sure to recite.
Overall, the two Fili classes I had under him really made me a more critical and enlightened person. You'll definitely leave Sir Harvey's class with a different perspective on the world. More than the grade, it's the lessons and way of thinking you take with you that really matter. I would take him again if I could!more
Happy Yak
MAHUSAY NA PROPESOR, you r in good hands OP
positive
MAHUSAY NA PROPESOR, you r in good hands OP
Anonymous
positive
CourseFILI 12
The best FILI 12 prof!!! 💗
Maganda ang readings ni sir! Mostly puro pop culture! May isang reading ata na about sa Little Miss Philippines ng Eat Bulaga HAHAHA
Malaking hatak sa grades ang recitation kaya magbasa palagi ng readings. May time lang na halos kalahati ng students sa class ay absent dahil nag-review para sa quiz sa next class namin kaya ipinag-volunteer na lang ang recitation.
May announced at unannounced quizzes kaya palaging magdala ng 1/4 sheet of paper :)))
Two papers sa class ang requirements tapos bulleted points ang gagawin sa sentences unlike sa ibang classes na essays.
Ang final exam ay oral exam (groups of three/four) tapos ibibigay naman ni sir ang questions ahead of time! :)))
Grading: B+ to A
Nagkataon lang din na konti pa lang ang requirements noong advisory marks (midterms) kaya naging B ang naging grade at kaya naman bawiin para maging B+ at A!more
Vivid Alpaca
positive
love him!!
Vivid Lynx
BEST FILI PROF EVER, do the readings
positive
CourseFILI 11
Retake?Yes
4.0 attainableYes
WorkloadLight
I LOVE HIMMMMMM I LOVE THAT MAN BEST FILI PROF EVERi was lucky to get him for both fili 11 and fili 12 so both subjects were amazing since he was alr familiar w us + we were alr familiar w himsir is very kind and fun to be with in class. he is very understanding and open-minded. madali lang naman klase ni sir as long as you pay attention in class and DO THE READINGS. large emphasis on the readings, if you dont do the readings dont go to class sir is very flexible with language, he allows you to recite in taglish / english as long as you get to express yrself better, even in oral exams (basta all written works are in filipino)my favorite prof ever so far in my college career. easy b / a with effort; work hard in his class this class made fili sooooo worth it. you wont regret sir harvey 100/10more
Dapper Panda
One of the best profs ever fr!!!
positive
One of the best profs ever fr!!!
Mellow Finch
Loved 8am sync discussions, thought papers were outlines
positive
WorkloadLight
had him online in '20-'21
dont remember much but i do remember loving sync class discussions even if it was at 8 am. readings were interesting and he was considerate. our thought papers were only outlines (not essays) and our final proj was a literary thing you had several options for what to do. idk how he is onsite, i assume heavier workload, but i think you're in good handsmore
Anonymous
You are in good hands under Sir Harvey
positive
CourseFILI12
Retake?Yes
you are in good hands under sir harvey!!! his fili12 class was one of the most memorable classes i’ve taken even if it was online then <33 as long as you read the materials beforehand and share your insights you’ll be goodmore
Brave Viper
Nice and approachable, but not an easy A
positive
Retake?Yes
WorkloadLight
Highly recommend if you’re genuinely interested in the course! Sir Harvey allows you to recite naman in English so if you’re more comfortable with that make sure you participate in the discussions because it takes up a bulk of the class proper. All outputs are expected to be written in Tagalog naman. I’d say the workload is manageable but if you’re more comfortable writing in English you should work on it a bit earlier lang 🤣 This is actually my 2nd Sir Harvey class so I’ll be biased HAHA but I don’t have anything bad to say about him. He’s nice and easy to approach but don’t expect an easy A you really have to put in the work for it.more
Jolly Zebra
Masaya kung interested ka; recite ka lagi
positive
WorkloadMedium
ok naman. mas may potensyal ang klase niya kung 3-hr timeslot instead of the usual 1.5 kasi medyo malaking part ng klase ang nakalaan sa panonood ng mga pelikula. masaya naman, at kung genuinely interested ka sa mga keywords na nasa course title, you'll have a good time.
workload: 1 group report (about a reading), 2 journal entries (short papers due at the end of sem), and 1 final project (either a research paper or creative output, done in triads)
grading: ok naman, sakto lang. hindi giveaway yung A but you'll get it if pinag-isipan mo talaga yung mga sinusulat mo sa papel.
about sir harvey: mabait naman. wala naman akong masasabing hindi maganda about him.
tip: recite ka lang lagi sa class, gusto niya laging may nagsasalita sa klase at nagseshare ng thoughtsmore
Kind Llama
Recite hard, recits can pull a B/C+ toward A
positive
4.0 attainableYes
sir's great :>if u're not the type to excel in Filipino assessments, then you should recite. hindi uubra ang hiya since malaking part ng grade mo yung recitation (noong advisory marks consultations nasabi niya sakin na kahit puro B/C+ assessments ko, nagrerecite kasi ako kahit papano kaya nahatak pa to B+ and possibly A pa raw) ++ the fact na all of his meetings throughout the sem will be recitations about the assigned readings, kahit katatapos lang mag quiz matik recits agad so u better read your literature ika niya. Be ready rin sa mga follow up questions. kahit oo tama sagot mo may kasama pa rin niyang follow-uppwede ka rin pala kumain habang nagdidiscuss siya!! pero baka minsan mapagtripan ka niya tho (not in a bad way) since madalas niya namemention na ako yung kumakain palagi sa klase niya HAHAHAOverall he's ferpect and gen z friendly, maging updated ka rin sa nangyayari sa syudad since extra credit niya yon sa quizzes.And I'll believe u'll enjoy class legitp.s. maging beadle ka or notable person sa class niya, may pahatak raw sa kanila hehemore
Earnest Heron
You do not know how lucky you are.
positive
You do not know how lucky you are.
Anonymous
Keep up on current events for quizzes
positive
the best prof you will EVER have. tip: keep up on current events because he tends to have pop quizzes and his bonus questions are usually about them
Happy Osprey
Best FILI prof, easy A/B with effort
positive
CourseFILI 11
Retake?Yes
4.0 attainableYes
WorkloadLight
I LOVE HIMMMMMM I LOVE THAT MAN BEST FILI PROF EVER
i was lucky to get him for both fili 11 and fili 12 so both subjects were amazing since he was alr familiar w us + we were alr familiar w him
sir is very kind and fun to be with in class. he is very understanding and open-minded.
madali lang naman klase ni sir as long as you pay attention in class and DO THE READINGS. large emphasis on the readings, if you dont do the readings dont go to class
sir is very flexible with language, he allows you to recite in taglish / english as long as you get to express yrself better, even in oral exams (basta all written works are in filipino)
my favorite prof ever so far in my college career. easy b / a with effort; work hard in his class this class made fili sooooo worth it. you wont regret sir harvey 100/10more
Anonymous
You're in good hands, OP!
positive
You're in good hands, OP!
Lively Panda
You won the lottery, OP.
positive
You won the lottery, OP.
Noble Seal
Take him, enthusiastic, clear, and understanding
positive
Retake?Yes
take him. FR. he’s so enthusiastic and explains stuff well. also very very understanding and nice.
