Dizon, Erwin Guile M.

Mr · Director, Ricardo Leong Center for Chinese Studies · Lecturer

Chinese Studies (government and politics of China, China's foreign policy, China's economic diplomacy, China-ASEAN relations)

Career

Director, Ricardo Leong Center for Chinese Studies, Ateneo de Manila University · Chinese Studies Program · current
Lecturer, Ateneo de Manila University · Chinese Studies Program · current

Recent courses

Calm Hare

Serious no-slides POLSC talks, took him twice

Retake?Yes

Ok, Mr. Dizon for online setting. Disclaimer -- Since teaching a language is just so different, I am afraid my comments may not neatly apply to his Mandarin classes. His demeanor may still be similar though. *** Let's proceed. So far, sir EG is one of the best profs I met, so much I took him twice (POLSC 135.30 and POLSC 143: Chinese foreign policy and Chinese domestic politics respectively). He might be too serious for some for he cracks no jokes whatsoever (but not intimidating). Indeed, his sessions might be boring since it's just mere discussion. No fuss, no powerpoint presentations, none. If you're truly into really deep, professional conversations about equally serious topics, you might in fact enjoy his once-a-week synch sesh. I do not frequently attend his synch classes but I enjoy every time I attend one. How I wish he'd have sessions more frequently. Anyway, I think he's a great facilitator and discussant since he intelligently synthesizes the inputs of his students while including his own takes. He's HENYO. I think that matches with his apparent nerdiness. He knows his material. He knows what he teaches. Especially among political science students who may already have a position on everything PRC, as much as possible, he tries to present a more nuanced view of China. His readings are as academic as you'd like them to be. POLSC 135.30 and POLSC 143 are neither apologias or polemics. What are needed of his students are open minds and a clear hold of one's own principles so that you may savor the best of the courses he teaches. Beadles can attest well to this (cc and ): there's always room to negotiate deadlines with him since he's kind, understanding, and approachable. He does change deadlines, expand the time allotment for online quizzes, etc., but he never cancels requirements. You may take this positively or negatively. As far as I am concerned, our POLSC 143 class last sem was kinda disappointed with him since he never cancelled the last paper and we have a lot of requirements. To be fair with him, we are expected to have been writing it since the time he approved our research topics, so yeah. It's also a reminder that you do have to have him approve your paper's planned topics. He does have a lot of requirements. Every module (which lasts for around two weeks in a semestral set-up) is assigned 3-4 readings each of average length (on average around 14-15 pages but can be as short as 10 or as long as 20); 1, 2, or even 3 module assessments; and an online quiz. After two or three modules, the succeeding ones will be handled by groups who volunteer to take up topics for them to report. All modular requirements are due with the end of the module. There are individual and group module assessments, and the same applies for quizzes. When it is he teaching (usually through prerecorded lectures), everything is individual. When the modules are handles by group, everything is group work. The online quiz is due to be answered by the end of the module but IS timed to be done within 120 minutes. (However, for a group quiz, a member can peek at the questions and tell the rest of the group what they are. It doesn't matter if this member loses time. What's important is someone before the deadline answers the questions of the quiz on Canvas.) It's basically a series of module assessments compressed into that time frame. Why so? His module assessments basically consists of a question (that serves as a sort of a thesis statement) to be answered comprehensively and orderly, generously citing the readings enriched by one's own stock knowledge. You will notice the similarities the best when you do the modular reqs by group. Sir EG demands that you cite what you claim, and it is best not only to cite the material he has already given. I routinely used outside sources always in combination with the readings, and so far, this strategy worked very well for me. POLSC 135.30 and POLSC 143 both culminate in a research paper. You must make it sure the topic really deals with the content of the course: is it really foreign policy? does it really involve public administration in China? Be careful about Taiwan since it holds a special place in Chinese studies. I advise that you take it as a category in itself. Of course, you can still relate it with either foreign policy or domestic politics but it is really dependent on how you frame it and how you explain it to him. He's intelligent: don't make bola. Sir EG is not that easy to please but at the same time, it's hard to fail his subjects. A-able with dedication and effort. I hope you folks enjoy taking his classes.more

Brave Gecko

Chill class, plus points, even mahjong once

positive

Sir Dizon is a very chill prof in a rather chill class. He gave us the opportunity for plus points by attending a seminar, and we even played mahjong once. As all CSP/CHN classes, we use simplified. If someone w/ background in the language is in the basic class (11), there's definitely some slight expectation that they'd do better especially in pronunciation. If not, I think Sir Dizon is a bit more forgiving and considerate. He teaches vocabulary, basic sentence construction, and proper pronunciation from the lesson PDFs that he gives out, and he makes each student recite the words from the lesson's vocabulary and corrects if necessary. He also made us do voice recordings of Chinese tongue twisters, 1-100 in Chinese, self-introduction, etc. Also had homework where we just had to make sentences from specific words taught in the lesson (which we had to record ourselves speaking as well) or answer questions that use words taught in the lesson. Type of test involves translating a Chinese word to English (can't remember if vice versa too), rearranging the given Chinese words to form a coherent sentence, and translating a whole sentence from Chinese to English and vice versa. I think the same goes for those w/o background. Iirc, the distribution is like 25 identification, 5 multiple choice. The opposite goes for those w/o background. I can't remember if they had to extensively remember how the words are written in Chinese or if pinyin sufficed tho. Idk if he grades high in voice recordings and orals as well bc we never got our grades for the former before auto-pass. Haven't been through his orals, but I remember him saying that it's just you introducing yourself and talking about something in Chinese. But yeah, the tests were doable and it was an overall fun, chill class. Would definitely recommend!more

Dapper Ibis

Chill forum-style class, A-able with effort

positive

4.0 attainableYes
WorkloadLight

His classes are very chill, you'd feel like you are in a forum rather than in a class. You would be discussing contemporary and timely issues which imo helped me understand why China behaves in this certain way. Overall, the class is A-able with effort. He grades based on your essay per module, one presentation, finals, and a final paper. There are no quizzes and homework!! He also gives a lot of bonus talks and papers.more

Anonymous

positive

i took him na! he’s very chill talaga like what the above comments say. there is a group presentation, and papers per new topic. he is very approachable, he knows his stuff! there was also a final paper but it didn’t push through bc of covid. in general, he’s a good prof. take him!more

Kind Bison

positive

Agree with everything! Lots of opportunities for bonus points, too! As long as your beadle knows how to negotiate, then you'd be good. He also has his light moments. You can joke around with him every once in a while. He's also very open to consultations and it really helps with major requirements like the final paper.more

Rapid Finch

bump for online class pls!

Quiet Seal

Show interest and you'll be fine

I think CSP profs are generally great. Show your interest and eagerness to learn the language and the culture, and you'll be fine.

Rapid Tiger

Participate and submit, B+/A-able with effort

positive

4.0 attainableYes

I had him for another Chinese class but I can assure you that you are in good hands. Participate in class and submit the necessary requirements and you'll be fine. Very B+/A-able prof with effort.more

Anonymous

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Calm Hare

Serious no-slides POLSC talks, took him twice

Retake?Yes

Brave Gecko

Chill class, plus points, even mahjong once

positive

Dapper Ibis

Chill forum-style class, A-able with effort

positive

4.0 attainableYes
WorkloadLight

Anonymous

positive

Kind Bison

positive

Rapid Finch

bump for online class pls!

Quiet Seal

Show interest and you'll be fine

I think CSP profs are generally great. Show your interest and eagerness to learn the language and the culture, and you'll be fine.

Rapid Tiger

Participate and submit, B+/A-able with effort

positive

4.0 attainableYes

Anonymous

Bakit ung ako nagpost neto nireject amp HAHAHAHAHHAHA PERO FF

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Teaching

Dizon, Erwin Guile M.

What students said

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