Michael Olmert

This professor has taught: ENGL244, ENGL289P, ENGL304, ENGL311, ENGL312, ENGL346, ENGL354, ENGL379B, ENGL379M, ENGL379T, ENGL409M, ENGL412, ENGL439K, ENGL451, ENGL454, ENGL479F, HONR228A, THET428E

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Michael Olmert ENGL479F Expecting an A Anonymous 05/24/2024	Mr. Olmert is the Greatest English professor at UMD. Super chill and easy class. To provide a bit of detail, essentially, the class is based on two tests (super easy). You will be watching Aaron Sorkin's TV shows and movies in class the entire semester. The test is composed of a small quiz of 10 questions based on key details in the various movies and shows (little moments). Basically, the answers are whenever the professor pauses the video to mention an important historical fact or information about the movie (assume it will be on the quiz). Additionally, the quiz also includes a couple of things from his class Facebook group page that you have to follow. You will also have to submit a list of 10 favorite quotes (from the script of the works or directly from what you hear in the movie/show. You do not have to read the script; it's not a script writing class. I'm only mentioning this for ease.) as well as 10 vocabulary words with definitions. Beyond that, for both exams, you have two writing assignments. For both works, you need to write in single spacing. First, there are 3 questions you have to answer in a 1-paragraph format for each. The other is basically like a 5-page research paper (kind of, not really), where the prompt might be something like "how was the work so far done XYZ..." and you start the work with an Aaron Sorkin quote. You need a citations page at the end. Those three things (quotes & vocabulary words, 3 paragraphs for each of the short answer questions, and the 5-page paper) will be what you need for each quiz. Make a habit of establishing a rapport with him, go to his office hours. He shares his cell # with everyone and no elms. All is hard copy. If your a senior and looking to end your last semester on roller skates but also actually get a more edified with movies and pop culture. This is it !!! Amazing, (I got an 'A') !!!!
Michael Olmert ENGL244 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/30/2023	Olmert is great! Materials were great since they weren’t the usual things you’d think you’d have in an English course. Can get a bit disorganized throughout the semester, the class is on facebook not canvas and we never actually got a syllabus but he is very understanding, and made a lot of adjustments of due dates based on our needs. He is a bit sweary and can get loud so beware of that but he has good humor and wants everyone to pass. He gave us his phone number and told us to call him whenever haha, I recommend.
Michael Olmert ENGL244 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/19/2023	Olmert is an enthusiastic, interesting professor. He definitely does not teach in the orthodox way, but that should not discourage you. Just a few disclaimers: he does not use an ELMS page, and he does not really have an organizational structure for his course. If these points bother you too much, then you might not like the course, but if you can bare with those changes, his class can be enjoyable. There are not many assignments throughout the semester, so when you do have assignments, they require you to study and think about them a bit. I think he really wants you to take away something from the course besides its academic content.
Michael Olmert ENGL244 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/14/2023	Olmert is an amazing dude! He is very passionate about what he teaches and makes class fun and engaging. He genuinely cares about what his students get out of the course and is always asking us what he can do to help us learn better. Very easy to talk to and casual. His class is very flexible, and he often moved around deadlines to accommodate what worked best for us. He makes the plays and poems and stories we read and watch really interesting! The only work you have to do is a few essays throughout the semester. The only reason he doesn't get 5-stars is because his very casual, unstructured class might not appeal to some people that thrive in a much more structured environment with hard set schedules and deadlines.
Michael Olmert ENGL439K Expecting an A Anonymous 01/09/2023	Olmert has been the most influential professor I have had so far in college. He is extremely passionate and knows what he is talking about. I have never met someone so knowledgeable about the world. I looked forward to class every week and would fill my roommates in on what I learned after class. If you have the chance, take his course. I promise it will change the way you view how professors teach. Olmert is different. His class runs off a Facebook page and he gets loud and excited. He genuinely cares and wants everyone to succeed. No matter what the topic is he will be there to talk it through with you and offer literature to learn more. The information in this class was very interesting but Olmert made the course what it was. Had anyone else been teaching, I do not think I would have been as focused. The fast pace of the class forces you to pay attention. However, if you miss anything Olmert will happily go back through it. This truly was an amazing course and I plan on taking another one of Olmert's classes next semester.
Michael Olmert ENGL439K Expecting an A+ Anonymous 12/14/2022	Without a doubt, Olmert is the single greatest professor I have EVER had at this university. Seriously. He is so kind, so funny, so approachable, and so much fun. I actually loved going to class. The 75 minutes never ever felt like a chore. His enthusiasm is infectious and he knows so, so much. (You’ll probably learn more from him than another professor). But more importantly than that, he cares so deeply about your performance in class and your interest in the material. In fact, he would tell us at least once a week, “I’m on your side.” He really is. Take any class he teaches. You will not regret it. Take the promise from a perfect stranger: You will LOVE Olmert. I could not offer higher praise to anybody at this university.
Michael Olmert ENGL439K Expecting an A Anonymous 11/10/2022	While Olmert is enthusiastic about his course material, a lenient grader, and encourages students to be a part of the conversation, he is incredibly disorganized, forgetful, and not great at technology. He doesn't know how to use ELMS and only uses Facebook. You will have to keep a master document of all the study terms for the exams yourself because he does not know how to organize the study terms all in one place. Additionally, he has a tendency to suddenly go SUPER LOUD and start shouting when he gets particularly excited, which is something to keep in mind if you're sensitive to loud noises and/or have hearing issues. He is also not very careful when he speaks and ends up spitting his words out. Unfortunately, this means that if you're trying to talk to him in close quarters in settings like office hours, you could end up getting spit on. One time, he almost forgot to come to the right time that we agreed I would meet him for office hours. Though Olmert's casual attitude means that it's easy to open up and talk to him, he sometimes crosses the boundaries and gets too close- I am uncomfortable with being touched by others and he kept touching my arms in these tapping motions in office hours every time he was trying to make a point.
Michael Olmert ENGL379T Expecting an A+ Anonymous 05/18/2022	Olmert picks favorites and lets his favorite students get away with anything. To become a favorite though all you need to do is demonstrate genuine interest in the subject, talk to him outside of class a couple times, and sit near the front and speak up in class. If he sees that you are engaging with the materials for the course, and genuinely interested in learning, then he'll give you a good grade regardless of how you do on the essays and tests (or if you even do them.) The tests are annoying and require you to memorize lots of dates, but once you know the format they aren't that hard. He's a pretty easy grader on essays. Take a class with Olmert only if you are interested in the topic. He knows a ton about what he teaches, and he genuinely loves what he is teaching, and his students. If you like the topic you'll have a great time. If you aren't interested and engaged it'll be really bad.
Michael Olmert ENGL310 Expecting a B Anonymous 12/21/2010	I also had Olmert for ENGL241. Anyone who gives this guy less than a five will not be please with any professor at UMD. This guy is the real deal. He knows so much about English lit, and yes he does go off on tangents and sometimes says random things but that's just who he is, and it's endearing. He's taught at UMD forever, and cares a lot about his students. I highly recommend his classes, or just meeting him in general. It's a real treat. And that's coming from someone who isn't a lit. nerd.
Michael Olmert ENGL241 Expecting an A mmcnama3 12/02/2010	Olmert is the best. He is hilarious, engaging, and his lectures are always interesting. He uses the novels as a starting-off point to discuss other things, which can sometimes get off topic, but in a nice way. Discussion was easy if you spoke up, and there were tons of extra credit opportunities. The novels are interesting and easy to read and understand. Take ENGL241 with Olmert!!
Michael Olmert ENGL311 Expecting a B Anonymous 05/28/2010	B.S. class. He talks too much about irrelevant things, and none of it was intersting. AVOID THIS CLASS AT ALL COST UNLESS YOU ARE A VERRYY INTO BRITISH LITERATURE!!! Worst class ever for me. And hope you do not end up with the worst TA to ever exist.
Michael Olmert ENGL241 Expecting an A cgut117 05/11/2010	Olmert is so far my favorite professor on campus. He is funny, and awesome. This class was one you definitely have to work in if you want an A. There are 8 novels you have to read, and you're going to fail if you don't read them. However olmert offers over 15 extra credit assignments a semester and you can get up to 10 points each... if you do them you can really get an A. A lot of the extra credits are movies, and sometimes they require reading more novels, but obviously they are optional. Olmert just talks about life and stuff that applies to everyone. He's a really cool guy.
Michael Olmert ENGL311 Expecting an A Anonymous 03/23/2010	Olmert has a cult of personality that has grown around him, and I can't really understand why so many people like him. His lectures are so peppered with tangents that it's hard to tell what's important, the readings were stuffy and boring, and he blatantly plays favorites in the class. Don't expect to be called on much if you're not in Olmert's little club of followers who have already taken a class with him. Also, for the tests, he basically expects you to memorize dates, names, and ESPECIALLY his ideas. Admittedly, he knows the time period and its literature very well, but that's no reason to quash individual interpretation of the works. This class was a very cursory , reductive overview of 18th century literature. Good for people who don’t really like to read or come up with their own ideas.
Michael Olmert ENGL244 Expecting an A Anonymous 11/29/2009	he is the man. i got in because he filled one of my cores... best decision ever! the plays he chose were awesome, not the same stuff you read every year.
Michael Olmert ENGL244 Expecting an A Anonymous 04/21/2009	He's an awesome professor! The plays you read are actually really interesting. I took this class because it was the only one I could get into at the last minute and I actually enjoyed this class the most. There is so much extra credit that its hard not to get an A.
Michael Olmert ENGL244 Expecting an A boringb 12/08/2008	Great teacher! He makes you actually enjoy the assigned plays and coming to class. Lectures are always interesting. Papers and exams are graded by TAs. None of the work is very hard. Gives a ridiculous amount of really easy extra credit, so the only way you can fail is if you don't even try.
Michael Olmert ENGL241 Expecting a B gkay 09/19/2008	Professor Olmert is an awesome teacher and you will enjoy going to class. The only problem was in ENGL 241 you arent graded by your professor but by your TA's(so dont end up with the TA who gives only Cs Ds and Fs). I ended up scraping by with a B- because I did a lot of extra credit.