Home is where the heart is
A look into the lives of Enrique Álvarez and Michael Leeser By Sarah Tatum
T
he study abroad program in Valencia offers students and faculty members the opportunity to create a home away from home. With the help of Florida State University’s International Programs, they are able to establish temporary roots in a new culture and environment. Enrique Álvarez and Michael Leeser are associate professors of Spanish at FSU, where they have taught for the past 11 years. Since 2012, they both have been establishing their own sense of place in Valencia when teaching during various academic sessions. They also have been partners for almost 20 years. Their home environment in Tallahassee is well established, but they appreciate being able to create a second, comfortable home in Valencia. “I love being in a place where we can walk everywhere, and you walk out of your building and are confronted with life,” Leeser says. Both feel that the culture and structure of Valencia’s program creates a unique learning environment for students as well as for themselves. “In the summer sessions, we establish a very specific kind of relationship with our students that you don’t get in Tallahassee,” Álvarez says. Álvarez’s academic focus in Tallahassee is Spanish literature and cultural studies, in addition to studies in gender with a focus on Alvarez (left) and Leeser in Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences.
16 Summer 2015
masculinity, and he teaches Spanish Read- and Latin American studies. He then moved ing and Conversation in Valencia. Leeser to the United States in 1997 and received his focuses on second-language acquisition and Ph.D. in 20th-century Spanish literature and bilingualism in Tallahassee, and he teaches cultural studies. Studies in Hispanic Languages in Valencia. “I love Florida State for many, many, They met at the University many reasons—I can’t begin to name of Illinois at Urbana-Chamall of them, but the way they have been paign while earning their since day one, the administrators, and Ph.D.s; Álvarez was in his second year and Leeser in his first. academics, and colleagues have been “We found each other as life about our relationship by not making companions; our life together an issue about it, it’s been really good.” has been a fantastic accom— Enrique Álvarez plishment of commitments,” Álvarez says. The two have found a pleasing balance Leeser completed his B.A. at Wheaton between work and home life. They have the College in Illinois and his M.A at Middlebury same colleagues but teach different types of College in Vermont. He received his Ph.D. in classes for FSU’s Modern Languages and Hispanic linguistics and acquisitions. Linguistics Department. They also enjoy “We are so happy to have them coming to their time together, especially traveling, but teach from the Spanish program of FSU’s have their own personal interests they like to Modern Languages and Linguistics departtake on. Leeser likes competitive sports, for ment to the Valencia study center,” says FSU example, while Álvarez enjoys music shows. Program Director Ignacio Messana. “They “We have lots of things in common,” Ál- bring all the knowledge and all the coordivarez says, “and we agree to disagree some- nation with the ‘home campus’ for us, plus times, but we get along together very well.” all the academics, good teaching, and experiBoth are from small towns—Álvarez is ence. And, of course, all the fun. I am proud from Navia, Spain, which is located in the to say that for me, they are good faculty, and Principality of Asturias region, and Leeser above that, good friends.” Students taking classes with the professors is from Macungie, Pennsylvania, which is enjoy the knowledge they bring to the proabout 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Álvarez moved to England to complete his gram. Karen Orellana, who took Leeser´s B.A. at London University, studying Spanish 2015 course in Valencia, admits not knowing much about her temporary new home before arriving in the country. “Coming to Spain I didn’t know about the culture, and I have asked him so many questions and he has answered all of them without hesitation,” she says. Annie Strickland, a student who took Álvarez’s summer 2015 course, says he is “a cool guy and has a lot of experience in the field.” Álvarez and Leeser agree that the most rewarding part of their Valencia experience is being able to watch their students grow. They teach students beyond the classroom and use the local community to help their students grow as Spanish-speaking students, and say they enjoy hearing their students become excited about the material they are learning. “The student gaining enthusiasm and wanting to explore the culture is the best rePhoto courtesy of Michael Leeser ward as a teacher,” Leeser says. NOMADIC NOLES
