See how faculty & students endorse my teaching!
These are 4 common points that they bring up:
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Engaging classroom discussion, fosters critical thinking
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Simplfying complex ideas
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Utilizing pop-culture references and digital humanities in lectures
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Highlighting real-world relevance in historical materials
Faculty 1 (College of Education)
I am writing to recommend Jeffrey’s course on Social Justice in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). I had Jeffrey as a guest lecturer in the 2024 Spring at the College of Education at the University of Arizona, and I very much enjoyed the portions of the class as well as the discussion sections that he taught.
He teaches in a fun way and makes everything clear. His step-by-step approach, complemented by a comprehensive learning sheet and his expertise, creates an engaging and effective learning environment, making complex system operations understandable.
Jeffrey excels in helping students appreciate the real-world applications of GIS. He demonstrates operations by incorporating concepts of redlining and using the latest data, marking the course not only as an operational lesson but also as an opportunity to learn about our society and history.
In conclusion, Jeffrey’s clear instructions and engaging lecture delivery foster a positive and inclusive classroom atmosphere, where students feel supported and motivated to explore the depths of GIS. I enjoy his ability to convey material in a lively and precise manner, making the course profound and interesting.
Student 1 (Nursing major)
Jeffrey Liu was the proctor for my Introduction to Buddhism discussion section. He brought an incredible energy to the discussion section that made exhausted students excited and engaged. The atmosphere Jeffrey Liu created allowed for students to be comfortable with sharing their thoughts and answers to questions, which Jeffrey asked to start conversations among his students. He also allowed us students to interact with each other through occasional group activities. My favorite part of the class, however, was when Jeffrey was teaching us the topics of Buddhism with such passion and in a perspective that made it engaging to learn about. I had learned about Buddhism before, but Jeffrey used pop-culture references and jokes that not only helped me stay focused, but also helped me better understand Buddhist themes I didn’t fully grasp in the official class. The references and jokes he told, even now, stay fresh in my head.
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Jeffrey Liu took time to view each student as an individual, and I never felt mistreated or disrespected in any of our interactions. I was able to learn about my classmates through Jeffrey’s interactions with them during discussion. At his tutoring hours, there were often numerous students, each with their own set of questions, but Jeffrey took the time to address everyone’s concerns till they left satisfied. I had never felt truly seen as a student with their own goals until I attended Jeffrey’s class and tutoring hours. His careful attention to students and his passion for teaching left an impression on me that he is one of the best teachers I’ve had.
Student 2 (Engineering major)
I am writing this letter to recommend Jeffrey Liu for the Graduate Teaching Award. I had Jeffrey as my class graduate instructor in the 2023 Fall semester of my Introduction to Buddhism class here at the University of Arizona, and I very much enjoyed the portions of the class as well as the discussion sections that he taught.
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What most impressed me about Jeffrey’s teaching skills is his ability to carefully control the level of detail on topics for which he has expert knowledge, without subtracting from the value of the lesson. In certain times during the semester, Jeffrey would have many things to discuss with us, and had to sometimes shorten the level of detail he would give during his discussion sections. In other instances, he had a bit more time to get into detail about topics, where I would notice his deep understanding of the material and his ability to explain complicated ideas to his students in a way that made the content enjoyable and interesting to learn. In both of these situations, Jeffrey demonstrated the ability to teach content with varying levels of time available to him, keeping the material valuable to us students no matter the circumstance.
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Jeffrey Liu also has many positive personal attributes that make him a great teacher. He is attentive to his students, answering questions and guiding discussion so as to keep them engaged in the topics he is communicating. Further, Jeffrey maintains an energy and an obvious joy for the content he teaches that makes the class atmosphere relaxed while still keeping student attention, which in my personal experience is the best possible atmosphere for education as it allows students to take in information out of interest rather than stress.
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In conclusion, I believe that Jeffrey Liu is more than deserving of the Graduate Teaching Award. He has demonstrated an expert understanding of his subjects, an appreciation for his students, and has many personal qualities that make his teaching enjoyable and engaging for students. If you have any questions or want more information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Student 3 (Computer science major)
Professor Jeffrey Liu is an excellent teacher in Buddhism and East Asian Studies. His unique way of teaching has significantly influenced my understanding and interest in the subject.
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In Professor Liu's class, he reviews the material with us, making sure everyone is on the same page. He always gives us questions to keep all of us engaged and thinking actively. The videos he shows at the end of each class are not just interesting; they also connect directly into our coursework. Writing about worksheets for these videos has been a great way for me to reinforce my understanding.
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I remember struggling with an essay once and feeling unsure if it met the requirements. Professor Liu took the time to sit down with me and go through it, gently pointing out the paragraph that needed to be improved. His patience and detailed feedback showed me how dedicated he is to our learning.
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What really sets Professor Liu apart is his ability to simplify complex topics, making them easy and enjoyable to learn. His classes aren't just only about learning but they're about understanding and appreciating the depth of Buddhism and East Asian cultures.
Student 4 (Architecture major)
Jeffery’s discussion class helped me better understand the topics we covered during the week in the lecture classes. His classes followed a simple three-part agenda and every class he followed it soundly. He rarely held the class back longer than the bell time along with making sure the class runs its full length and not releasing us early. His presentation slides each week were extremely clear to look at, read through, and pull away main ideas.
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My favorite thing about being in Jeffery’s class was how easy it was to follow along with his teaching. The class time for Jeffrey’s once a week discussion class was at 10am on a Friday, which is an undesirable time for class for a college student. Jeffery even said it himself when he used to sleep through early morning classes as a college student. As opposed to bombarding us with information in the early morning, Jeffrey took a different approach to capture the attention of his sleepy students: Cat and anime memes for humor. At any given time in the class, he would insert a meme of his favorite anime and utilize it to represent a metaphor that made it easy to understand a previously learned concept. I would always smile and laugh a little whenever Jeffrey would do this, and I’d be more engaged with the content he is covering. This ability to shift the energy and boost the morale of the class was the most advanced teaching capability I saw Jeffrey demonstrate consistently over the semester, which was awesome to be in the presence of.
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Jeffery’s teaching style is very calming and relaxing to be in the presence of. He does not present himself as intimidating or imposing as the one in charge, rather he comes off as very easy and pleasant, always sporting a smile when teaching what he loves. I loved being in Jeffrey’s class, and he made my Friday mornings worth waking up for.