Walking the talk
FSU students leave their chairs behind to use Valencia as the ultimate classroom
Photo by Amy Huber
Assistant Professor Amy Huber’s students in her Sketching in the City course complete a drawing exercise in Valencia’s Plaza de la Virgen.
By Emily Voytecek
can learn from these opportunities in a way that complements coursework. hen students decide to “It does no good to have a student study at FSU Valencia, they come 4,000 miles and keep that student are preparing for an experi- in a classroom,” says William “B.J.” Biringence of a lifetime. Students er, a professor in residence at FSU Vabuzz over what they are going to eat, lencia. where they will travel over the weekBiringer, having worked with FSU Vaend, and which photos to post to Insta- lencia for 19 years, knows the benefits of gram. But left out of this excitement is taking students outside the classroom, an important aspect of study abroad: and even Tallahassee-based faculty the classes. Students might assume that members who are new to Valencia take because they are taking FSU courses, their classes on field trips. classes will be the same as in TallahasFor example, in summer 2019, during see. However, most students will also be her first time teaching in Valencia, Amy able look forward to exciting classes that Huber, an assistant professor of interior are more than long lectures. design on the Tallahassee campus, decid At FSU Valencia, professors develop ed to take students outside the classroom curricula to ensure that students experi- to “use the city as a canvas,” Huber says. ence the city while taking the course. StuBecause of his experience, Biringer dents benefit from the opportunities has devised a specific approach to teachthe city provides, such as festivals, mu- ing students while abroad, which reseums, and historical ruins. Classes are volves around Valencia itself. He takes carefully tailored to ensure that students the students out on “field work” to gain first-hand experience of the materials they “When you’re here looking at are studying. For inhistorical venues and historical stance, in summer Biringer dismonuments in a city like Valencia, it 2019, cussed the presence makes an impact on the mind that is of the Roman empire in Spain, with his looking to fill itself with culture.” Spain: Culture and — William “B.J.” Biringer Civilization course. In-
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12 Nomadic Noles // Summer 2019
stead of looking at pictures of artifacts on a computer screen, he took the students to museums such as L’Almoina to see Roman ruins in real life. L’Almoina features architectural ruins left behind by the Romans, such as roads and communal baths. Biringer believes that seeing these historical remains up close has an influential impact on students. “You can interact with it, and I think that makes a world of difference,” Biringer says. “When you’re here looking at historical venues and historical monuments in a city like Valencia, it makes an impact on the mind that is looking to fill itself with culture.” A student in Biringer’s Spain: Culture and Civilization course, Gabby Gajo, a junior international affairs major, enjoyed the frequent excursions. “Not a traditional class but so much better because we can talk and learn about something and then go out and see it and experience it firsthand,” Gajo says. Besides L’Almoina, the class visited Valencia’s city hall and Spain’s National Ceramics Museum, also located in Valencia. Biringer’s academic and life experience in Valencia means he has inside knowledge about important Valencian cultural activities that take place outside museums. Biringer is heavily involved with the Valencian Fallas festival and
