Brett Hyde
3 courses · 38 reviews
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All Reviews
Prof Hyde really tries to get to know his students individually and foster connections. It's hard to get a hold of him outside of class and his office hour window is very short. The quizzes can be a little difficult, but a lot of the class is memorizable/based on the study guide. He speaks very quietly so make sure to sit near the front.
4/14/2026
Professor Hyde is incredible! He's incredibly excited about linguistics and always seems so happy to share his knowledge with the class. His dry humor makes class engaging and fun; I was always excited to come to class and learn.
3/15/2026
Hyde has been one of my favorite professors ever! He's hilarious, caring, and got me more excited about Linguistics than I could've imagined. He does speak very softly, so you'll need to pay close attention to what he says in class, but otherwise a very easy and interesting course!
12/9/2025
He's probably staring down awful grad placement rates and decided the solution was to crank the course difficulty to absurd levels. Still warm outside class, but in the room he mumbles through lectures, nitpicks assignments to absurdity, gives no credit if you don't have the exact thing he wants, nukes our grades, and calls it rigor. Brilliant.
12/5/2025
2-4 hrs/week
Kind of a lot of busy work. I took it bc ppl said it was an easy A, but it involved a lot more work than I expected...
5/22/2024
His lectures are interesting and he's a really funny person himself. The class is pretty easy and you just need to show up to lectures and understand the study guides to do well. I will say that you have to take quizzes in person and the other prof gave take-home quizzes.
12/19/2023
Honestly not a difficult class if you're willing to put in the work. The tests are a combination of the study guide (verbatim) and in-class material. Lectures weren't recorded, so going to class will save you on more than a few of the test sections. Hyde was a really cool, fun professor. He'll tell you exactly what to study for the tests.
1/17/2023
Overall great professor. I took this class to fulfill a requirement outside of my major and it was pretty much what I expected. I didn't find the material interesting, but it wasn't boring either. Sometimes, it'd be hard to stay awake during his lectures though. Study guides were easy and I didn't have to spend much time studying for the quizzes.
1/14/2023
Dr. Hyde truly cares about helping his students learn the material. The material itself is interesting, and he delivers it in a way that makes it easier to understand. Quizzes were reasonable, although it would've been nice to have more guided practice before them. Otherwise, he was an amazing professor, and the class was great. Highly recommend.
5/31/2022
I took this class pass/fail. It was a pretty easy pass. No final just quizzes every other week. If paid enough attention in class, you really didn't have to study for longer than like 30 minutes before. I love Prof Hyde!!! At first, I thought he was a meanie but then I realized he just has a dry sense of humor! He is hilarious!
5/8/2022
I took this class pass/fail. It was a pretty easy pass. No final just quizzes every other week. If paid enough attention in class, you really didn't have to study for longer than like 30 minutes before.nI love Prof Hyde!!! At first, I thought he was a meanie but then I realized he just has a dry sense of humor! He is hilarious!
5/8/2022
Super dry sense of humor, I enjoyed it but it's not for everyone. He'll def like you more if you ask good questions and are interested in the material. Not a hard intro class, the structure is v chill and he's a good teacher.
2/28/2022
Speaks kind of monotonous/deadpan and has a dry sense of humor, so some people might not like his lectures, but I find him hilarious. Quizzes and HW are easy if you listen to his lectures and read the book, and if you show that you're confused in class, he'll go over problems in different ways to make sure you understand.
12/11/2021
Super easy class: 2 attempts for quizzes, unlimited attempts for study guides, can change answers for discussions after seeing others' answers if you didn't like your answers
8/22/2021
Amazing class - made me decide to minor in linguistics. Just show up to lecture, and you'll do well. Plus, you'll want to show up.
11/16/2019
This was easily the closest thing to a joke class I've ever taken in college. However, Hyde truly is an interesting and nice guy, and is without a doubt THE single funniest professor I've had or will ever have. Super sarcastic/deadpan/jokingly mean. Class is pure fun, really - both the material and the overall experience.
6/15/2017
He is really hard to meet with outside of class, but you won't receive a good grade in upper level courses unless you do. Not a very dynamic lecturer. Focuses unnecessarily on his own work and interests, does not provide a good background in material. He does care about students, but this translates to having to meet with him more outside of class.
3/5/2017
Hyde was a really great professor. Witty, interesting, and knows his stuff. He was able to take what I would have assumed to be a really dry topic and liven it up. As he says, linguistics is like sunshine. In his class, it kind of is.
6/30/2014
Hyde is such a legit dude, really funny dry sense of humor and he cares about his students. This class did tend to drag a bit, however, because there is not a ton of active participation like in his intro class. No exams which is nice, but these are replaced with difficult (but not impossible) weekly assignments. Overall, a good class!
5/2/2014
AWESOME class! Such a funny teacher. He made me laugh on a daily basis. He is a fair grader and the class is interesting without having too much reading or being very difficult, which I appreciated. Highly recommend this professor and class to everyone.
2/27/2014
He's an entertaining, down to earth kind of guy, and likes to involve his students, whether by having students complete problems at the chalkboard or joking around. Prof. Hyde has a rule that if your cell goes off in class, you have to buy donuts for everyone. This semester, his phone went off, and he bought the class donuts!
11/10/2013
He's a really cool, nice guy. He teaches the class slowly and clearly. The exams are all extremely fair, and only one of the four exams is at all difficult.
4/2/2013
He is really good at keeping interest levels high, while also being there for any questions.
1/26/2012
Hyde is great! He has a delightfully dry sense of humor. He tells you EXACTLY what will be on the exams. He DOES care about your success and will help you if you need it. He is quite clear, and this material just isn't very difficult! He DOES give back exams, but doesn't let you keep them and give them to your frat or sorority. Sensible policy IMO.
4/2/2010
I can see why he has a following! He cares about his students and teaches well. I highly recommend taking a class with him before you graduate.
11/4/2007
Class does not challenge you at all. Need all of 3 brain cells to get A.
1/5/2005
Great guy, lots of fun. Really interested in finding students excited about linguistics. Candid, honest, and funny as hell. One of the best professors all around I've ever had.
12/23/2004
professor hyde is great, one of my favorite teachers at wash u. he makes an effort to stay on friendly terms with students even after class is over. but if you're looking to be challenged, his intro to linguistics class is sort of a joke. i wish he would have demanded a bit more from us.
12/22/2004
Amazing prof! He is the funniest, wittiest teacher and you need to take a class with him. (just don't wear flip flops!) If he picks on you, he loves you. And his children are adorable!!
12/20/2004
Dr. Hyde takes on various personalities, prefering to teach as he was taught. Obviously in command of the material, any possible questions are entertained, allowing for a deep understanding of the material.
12/19/2004
great prof. keeps things interesting. flirtatious. fun. picks on some students, but does it in a nice way. if you hate being called on in class, this is not the one for you
4/18/2004
One of the best professors at WashU. Amazing interaction with the students on an individual level which makes you feel really comfortable in a class of 50. Take this class!
3/5/2004
His lectures are kind of dry but he is hilarious and interacts really well with students. curves grades very nicely.
10/2/2003