Francisco Wong-Diaz

This professor is very nice and easygoing in class. I think that he likes the students and wants to help us be a successful citizen. He talks about everything and not just politics. He sounds like a good Dad or grandpa. Bur I disagree with his view that 18 years olds should not be allowed to drink legally. Great class

Dr. Wong is a great lecturer that talks fast and uses no notes for his talks. I like his great sense of humor but watch out b/c he gets very serious too if the material is important. My guess is that he takes his course very seriously and wants you to really learn the stuff well so you can be empowered and not led by the nose. It is my favorite class this semster

This professor is very interesting and brilliant so you have to pay close attention in his classes and show up in class. He is tough on lazy students that come to waste their time. Go to the beach is what he will tell you!

I learned a heck of a lot from him so no complaints. Great one.

I had to purchase 2 books for his class. One of them being the one he wrote- We never opened his book once!!! He's an o.k. guy i guess, though he seems somewhat arrogant. And yes, he does seem to pay alot of attention to the pretty females in the class. He does things that are distracting, so even if he may talk about something interesting, its hard to concentrate on the content. This is why I say, just take a different teacher, if you can.

If you're in Mr. Wong's class, you don't need a textbook. Everything you need to learn you get from his very thorough lectures. I noticed how at first it seemed that he didn't like many people asking questions while he was lecturing, but I later discovered it's because his presentations are so well-thought out that usually there is really no need for questions. He has some republican views that bother the leftys. He doesn't mind a different opinion, but if you're going to make an opposing comment, get ready to back up your argument. Mr. Wong is always ready for a debate and if you're just spewing information you heard with no proof or evidence, he will give you exactly what you deserve: a rebuttal which will make you feel one inch high and it won't be done nicely. He's a really smart, informative guy and he really wants you to think TWICE before you give an opinion, since political opinions should be founded on strong solid grounds. Don't tell him you're against the War on Iraq because it's bad. Don't say it's bad for our country unless you have viable reasons why. Etc. If you say stupid things just for the sake of saying them, he will embarass you in front of the class for your ignorance. And in this way, you learn. It's like tough love.

Mr. Wong's POLS 1 class is made up of three tests (study guides are provided) and one response journal which is graded either pass/fail. The tests are usually true and false, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's easy. The questions are very tricky and well-thought out so you gotta know your stuff. There is not much in the way of public speaking-he does most of the talking and for the whole period. The only time he picks on you is if you're biting your nails are not paying attention. Or when you're reviewing returned tests. So check what you were doubtful on when taking the test because he will check if you did in this way. Take his class. It's difficult but he is fair and you'll really learn.

btw: he has very bad hand writing. Now that could use some work

This guy upset me and made me think a lot harder than other teachers. He is a maverick that analyses everything in depth, thinks strategically, ties (connects?) the dots and talks truth to power.

Mr. Wong is an intelligent man. He encourages you to think critically and intelligently. He is well informed on current politics. The textbook is a collection of essays that got me interested in politics, just make sure to keep up on the reading. He has a logical political viewpoint. His tests are multiple choice, but still pretty tricky. He does give out study guides before tests which helps alot. You need to study and know the material. And sometimes the board notes aren't as clear as they could be, but he explains everything very well. He is an awsome teacher. Don't pay mind to the ignorant people who gave Mr. Wong an F. They probably don't like to use their brains to think and learn.

Dr. Wong is my favorite teacher at city college. I really enjoyed his class and will be missing it. I totally recommend it

Dr. Wong-Diaz teaches a great IR class and I am enjoying it despite the tough reading materials. Great teacher with a well balanced perspective that mixes liberal, conservative, and others. A real maverick that challenges me to think and get the whole picture.

Mr. Wong-Diaz is a Cuban emigre and a Republican. This is apparently a large stumbling block for a number of students, and I suspect most of his F reviews are based on his conservatism.

Big deal. If you're a serious political science student, and someone serious about transferring to a four year school rather than taking a few classes in between working at the record store, you'll face a Republican political science teacher eventually, and probably several. But Mr. Wong-Diaz is fair, and his class is only very marginally biased towards realist and conservative political philosophies (obvious, as that's what he knows the most about, since he is one). There are definitely political science teachers at CCSF less fair than him, just they have a more agreeable viewpoint to most of the students.

His class is no bullshit - expect lots of lectures, and when you raise your hand, think your position. I have definitely seen him verbally dress-down students who regurgitate grade-school lefty ideals. That's not to say he will criticize anyone left-wing - I am one myself, and definitely felt that there was mutual respect between us. But your position against Iraq has to be based on more than "it's not nice" or "no blood for oil".

His class teaches students to think about politicial situations and that possibly the best position has to be achieved by nefarious means. If you're willing to question your ideas and modify them with new information, you'll do well.

How can I judge this man? He is serious, he is brilliant, he is really funny and sounds like a comedian, he is demanding,he wants you to learn,learn, learn,he cares about you like a tough love Dad,he can be irritating, he does not let you get away with bs. On my first weeks I was confused about this man. What the heck was he trying to do? Politics were bs for me but now it made sense and it was very scary to learn that I was responsible for what happened because if I did not keep up somebody else would make the decisions for me. This man opened my eyes. He showed that he cared for students a lot. No babysitting in class use your time well because you cannot regain it ever again. Use your time to learn. He is the very best teacher.

Francisco R. Wong is a very brilliant and interesting man. He makes very good points on politics, and really makes the students think about and challenge their beliefs. It was pretty annoying during the semester that students that didn't work hard enough would complain about him being a bad teacher, and although some of these accusations were based on false premeses, some of them were true.

For instance, he doesn't keep track of his students and where they are in the book. I got a B on one test instead of an A because he didn't assign the reading on the judicial branch, and on those questions I simply didn't know how to answer. His handwriting is also not the best, and he has very poor organization skills as far as writing on the board goes. There are a lot of arrows that point to things, and so when you review your notes, you get misinformed. I eventually just started transcribing what he said, because that made more sense to me later one.

As far as the class goes, it is very difficult-- the most difficult class I've taken at City College. There is a lot of reading involved, and you MUST do the workbook. I suggest to anyone taking this class to ALWAYS stay on top of the reading, because once you get behind it is very difficult to get back on track. In addition, before every chapter read the question in the student guide, and keep the question in your mind while reading the chapter, and then after you read the chapter, answer the question. If you can devote your self to read and answer in the student guide 2 or 3 chapters a week (appx. 25-50 pages depending), then you will do well. Flash cards helped me greatly when taking this class.

Finally, his views are very obviously conservative, but I don't think that's a legitimate criticism. He is a very bright man, and is certainly not brainwashed, hateful of women, or racist. He simply gives the students a different opinion. It's actually quite a releif since City College is already so liberal and he's really not even that conservative. From what I've gathered from him, I would think that I'm more conservative than he is.

At any rate, good luck to anyone taking his class. Study hard!

This class was somewhat difficult. There was a lot of relatively heavy (COLLEGE LEVEL)reading, the exams were true/false and had to be thought carefully about, his lectures were intense, and he didn't stand for anyone messing around (ie: eating dinner, talking w/friends, phones ringing, etc.) in class.

So really, it was like being at a University, and not a free community college.

I think all the negative reviews of Dr Wong-Diaz were based on a lack of ability to recognize an attempt at challenging people to actually think about a subject as opposed to simply spewing popular sentiment. (Which is what most of the "teachers" that I've had at this school do.)

Dr. Wong is a very kind and caring man. He helped a great deal during the semester when I needed support. I am away from home and working and living alone then my mother got real sick and I had to leave town. Dr. Wong was kind to me and kept me informed through e-mail and even returned my phone calls. He asks and deserves respect. I admire and respect him a great dea. I am African American and felt a lot of warmth from this man. He likes to tease you to get you to smile and it helps. He does not deserve verbal or written abuse by sour grapes and nasty people. My friends in the class liked him very much.

Well educated teacher i must say, but i hate the fact that he has a little accent, his tests are all true/false, and his handwritting is horrbile. Furthermore..i think he's a great professor, at least he knows what he's talking about. His lectures are great and are very interesting. Oh..and he gives no homework except a 15-minute presentation. First i was a little scared of doing it, but i still did it and passed. I would have done a little better in the class if i read the right chapter for one of his exams. My fault there. Overall..he's good.

Well I totally disagree with the negative view.My experience was very positive and I learned much in the IR class. Everyone in the college knows that it is a great class and that you have to study hard. Since he does not give + or - final grades I question the negative views here too. I liked this teacher and recommend this course very much to anyone interested in international relations

I think that this course is very demanding but if you stick it out long enough then you will begin to figure it all out. Dr. Diaz is a very serious professor, serious in that he thinks that what he is doing affects the world. I enjoyed his sharp sense of humor. He expects you to take his class seriously and reminds you all the time that we live in a very dangerous world and if you are an IR student you have a duty to know and learn as much as you can. The tests are not that bad if you read the book carefully and take the best notes.He writes journal articles, books, and newspaper articles so he really knows what is happening around the globe.

No doubt this is the best teacher at City College, bar none, and probably the most brilliant. I am so glad that he decided to stay here teaching. Know this He is really tough on you because he expects you to produce your best and at the same time he really helped me alot to get through the course. He is very parental really and a really great guy.I think that he is overworked.

He is definately a good teacher, but he would be even better if weren't for his atrocious handwriting, heavy accent, and very constant way of talking down to students and just being plain rude to those who question certain points in the lectures. There is no explanation for his rudeness. His lectures are good, but he talks so fast that it is often hard to get down all of the information you need. You have to sort through his negative stories of the Clinton Administration and praise of the war in iraq. His grading system is fair, even though it is only based on three tests and one homework packet that is turned in at the end of the semester. Just attend ALL meetings, and study your ass off for the tests. Read the questions correctly, because you might find yourself putting true for something you could have sworn was false. Take Mr. WD if you need POLI SCI for your major or have alot of time on your hands for studying.

Funny, entertaining, intelligent...too bad he's TOO conservative! I looked forward to going to his class, but during his stories, he manages to make fun of liberals, women, and anyone who protests. He is too supportive of the Bush administration, specially during the Iraqi war, and has swallowed the pill the administration fed us. Despite his views, he was supportive when I missed his class and he gave me information via e-mail about what I should be studying. I learned the material that we needed to learn and learned it well. However, I somehow wished that he stayed on the class itself instead of spreading his propaganda. The book is a great source and has lots of essays. I kept it. As a working advocate/lobbyist, it has been a good resource.

This man knows what he is talking about; unfortunately, his view is slanted way to the right. His bias is apparent but he does a good job relaying a lot of information. Mr. W-D can be a a bit harsh at times to students that slack off in class. If you do your reading in conjunction with attending the lectures, you will get a good understanding of the material. It is imperative that you read the chapters a couple of times over since the book is concentrated with a lot of information. The tests are tricky -- make sure that you read the questions carefully since some questions can be interpreted one way or the other. The ambiguity of some test questions probably was the disturbing aspect of this class (or the spittle collected on the side of his mouth -- thank God he would periodically drink from his water bottle.)

Yesss. The other reviews are right on about Professor Wong-Diaz. Man, this guy is really something. First of all, he lectures from his head and with no notes. Next, he writes the complete outline of his talk on the board so he is easy to follow. Third,he tells great jokes and good stories and then makes you think when he says things that challenge your beliefs. Like abortion or freedom of speech or important stuff like terrorism. Next, he is a no nonsense guy and he will push you to pay attention/take good notes/ and study hard. He sometimes is too parental but what the heck, some of us did not have good parents anyhow. One thing that everyone liked the best about Dr. Wong-Diaz is that as smart as he is he stayed here at City to teach minorities, working class,and immigrant people how to succeed in this tough system.

Dr. Wong's international relations class influenced my decision greatly to pick this major. I can't lie - this is one of the more difficult classes I had taken at city college, yet it was also most rewarding. Now I'm at a UC and I had just finished an upper division international relations course with an A. Dr. Wong's class prepared me very well for succeeding at the next level and I thank him dearly for it.

I took both polisci 5 and polisci 1 from Dr. Wong-Diaz and it was a great experience. I learned so much!! This man is a great teacher and his lectures are relevant and first class--better than the ones I have had at UCB since I transferred here. One thing I liked about him was his direct approach and honesty. Every class began with "are there any questions?" and if so he would give you a complete straight answer. He is not just a teacher but also a practitioner of politics telling you how the world really works. The exams are very fair and he grades you up as you learn ad improve. In ps 5 you must give oral presentations and write a short memo. They were very useful training to me b/c I can compete for good grades since I know how to write and present my own research. This is a wonderful professor and I strongly recommend his classes.

Professor Wong-Diaz cares not to hear any of his students opinions, spouts endlessly on his conservative drivel, all the while foaming at the mouth on both sides. His exam questions are not straight forward, his lectures do not pertain to the exams, and the book sucks. He has a penchant for pretty girls, as evidenced by his allowing 5 minutes to everyone to present projects and then allowing the girl in the see through top 15 minutes to talk about nothing, while he had previously sent people back to their seats after 2 minutes of talking about nothing. Fun to joke around with outside of class, but if you're not a hardline conservative with a thick skin for bullshit, don't take him!

Dr. Wong is a good teacher, but he is not a good writer. The book he wrote was confusing and his voice of tone is terrible. The lecture is also very confusing too because you don't know where to follow from the book. Overall, I think he is an ok teacher.

It's no secret that Professor Wong-Diaz is politically conservative; and some students seem to get really upset with him because of this. But personally, I think it's good to get an under-represented political perspective--if for no other reason than to understand "the other side." And I say this as a very politically progressive Democrat.

As this was an introductory survey of basic International Relations theories and systems, his views really had no impact on the quality and balance of what we were supposed to learn. All theories--from Liberal/Neo-liberal to Realist to Marxist--were presented and presented accurately, in my opinion. His conservative views were more of an interesting (and to some, irksome) side note.

Yes, he is a strict instructor and requires that students come to class prepared. If you come to class unprepared--conservative or progressive--you will get put in your place.

Overall, I think he is a good instructor who cares very much about teaching and about his students. Take him--but remember to keep an open mind. You don't always have to agree to learn.